Apparatus for remote closing of fuse circuits

Apparatus for remote closing of fuse circuits for overhead power lines is described which apparatus comprises a rod of insulating material for insertion into the bottom of a fuse tube, the rod having a cord attached thereto and extending to the ground for swinging the fuse tube so that the fuse tube can be moved to a position for closing a disconnect, thereby rendering it unnecessary to close a transformer or tip switch from the pole or from a bucket truck. The rod has an enlarged cushioned head and can be removed by releasing the tension on the pulling cord, and the rod will slide out of the fuse tube and fall to the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to apparatus for remote closing of a disconnect for 
overhead power lines. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Switch devices now available for connecting electrical apparatus to an 
overhead power line have resulted in serious injuries to linemen using 
such devices. 
Mannen, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,936,193, shows a switch stick for manipulation 
and installation of fuses on overhead power lines which includes a shaft 
10 described as of a length of about fifteen feet about two inches in 
diameter, intended for installing a fuse weighing approximately thirty 
eight pounds. The switch stick includes a rope operated carrier slidable 
along the stick for releasably supporting a fuse member, the stick having 
means at its upper end to engage a fuse mounting. 
The Mannen structure is cumbersome and not easy to manipulate to remove or 
replace a fuse and is limited to the length of the shaft. The metal parts 
which are included also can involve electrical hazards. 
Hubbard, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,060 shows a remote closing power load 
pickup device for moving a conductive switch member 14 to circuit closing 
position by pulling on a lanyard or cord 76 which is permanently attached 
to a lever arm 70, the lever arm 70 being attached by rivets 87 to the 
contact section 50 which carries the conductive switch member 14. 
One serious objection to the Hubbard structure is that it is necessary to 
initially climb a pole to install the device and then climb the pole a 
second time to remove the lanyard. 
It has also been proposed as shown in Electrical World, May 1, 1980, 
published by McGraw-Hill P.O. Box 430, Hightstown, N.J. 08520 at page 57 
and 58, to employ a fuse holder of the type shown in the Mannen patent, 
and which fuse holder can be hooked into notched arms carried by an 
insulated support, and to mount a clamp intermediate the ends of the fuse 
holder. The attachment takes from five to fifteen minutes to install. The 
clamp has an arm extending therefrom with a cord attached to the arm to 
swing the fuse holder to closed position. Thereafter by inserting a 
switching tool or stick, with or without a pig tail attachment, into an 
opening in a release lever and elevating the clamp. It is intended to snap 
free from the fuse holder. 
A serious objection to the structure just described is that it is necessary 
to climb the pole to place the fuse holder into its notches, and then to 
climb the pole again to manipulate the hot line tool or stick for removal 
of the clamp from the fuse holder. 
The apparatus of the present invention is simple and easy to use, is safe, 
and avoids the necessity for a second climb. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the invention apparatus is provided for remote closing 
of fuse circuits and in which a pivotally carried fuse tube, supported 
from an overhead power line has a rod of insulating material inserted 
therein, the rod having a cord attached thereto for swinging the fuse tube 
to an upward position to close a disconnect, the rod having an enlarged 
cushioned head and being removable by releasing the tension on the pulling 
cord so that the rod will slide out of the fuse tube and fall to the 
ground pulling the rod from the ground. 
It is the principal object of the invention to provide apparatus for 
swinging a fuse tube to an upright position by a rod inserted therein and 
actuated by pulling a cord attached to the rod, the cord also aiding in 
removal of the rod from the fuse tube after completion of the movement of 
the fuse tube. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for swinging a 
fuse tube to a connecting position which has a high order of safety and 
which will reduce the climbing required by the lineman with presently 
available apparatus. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for use with a 
pivotally carried fuse tube which is simple and inexpensive in 
construction, and is reliable for safe operation. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for the 
purposes referred to which can be readily retrieved in a simple manner. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the 
character aforesaid which upon removal will not be hazardous to the user. 
Other objects and advantageous features will be apparent from the 
description and claims.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings 
herein are illustrative merely and that various modifications and changes 
can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit 
of the invention. 
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. 
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which a preferred 
embodiment of the invention is illustrated a pole 10 is shown having an 
insulator 11 carried thereon for an overhead power line 12. The pole 10 is 
also shown as carrying electrical apparatus such as a high voltage 
transformer 13 for energization by the power line 12 through a conductor 
14. 
The power line 12 has thereon a hot line clamp 15 connected by a conductor 
16 to an elongated insulated supporting body 17 which can also, if 
desired, by supported by a bracket 18 carried on the pole 10, or in any 
other desired manner. 
The insulated supporting body 17 has, at the lower end thereof, spaced 
hooks 19 for the reception of pivot pins 20. 
The pivot pins 20 are carried contiguous to one end of a conductive tubular 
switch member 21 pivotally carried on the hooks 19, which preferably is a 
fuse tube, and which has mounted therein a detachable fuse link 22 which 
will be melted in the event of an overload. The conductive switch member 
21 has at the end opposite the pivot pins 20, an outwardly extending 
contact bar 23 for engagement with a contact bar 24 carried on the 
supporting body 17, and with which it is retained in engagement by a 
pivotally mounted latch 25 carried on the tubular switch member. The latch 
25 is releasable, if desired, by movement of a handle 26 with a hot line 
tool or stick (not shown). 
The apparatus 30 for the tubular switch member or fuse tube 21 is shown in 
detail in FIGS. 3 to 7, inclusive. 
The apparatus 30 preferably includes a rod 31, preferably of molded glass 
fibers, flattened at one end as at 32 with a longitudinally extending 
arcuate face 33 for reception in the tubular interior of the switch member 
21 which contains the fuse link 22. The size of the flattened end 32 may be 
varied as desired to accommodate it to the interior of the switch member 
21. The face 33 has an inner beveled end 34. The rod 31 is preferably 
circular in cross section for the remainder of its length as at 35. The 
rod 31, intermediate its ends, has a stopper ring 36, one end of which, at 
37, is beveled for purposes to be explained. 
The rod 31 is secured to a ball 38, preferably of rubber, which has a 
collar 39 extending therefrom to serve as a stop. In spaced relation to 
the collar 39 a stop ring 40, preferably of rubber, is provided on the rod 
31, to provide a location on the rod 31 for attachment of a cord 42 of 
nylon or polyethylene, having a diameter of one quarter of an inch, and 
which may be of a length of approximately fifty feet. 
The outer end 43 of the rod 31 is preferably beveled to facilitate 
insertion in the fuse tube 21. 
In one specific embodiment the rod 31 will be of an overall length of about 
fourteen inches, with a diameter of three eighths of an inch. The portion 
32 will have a length of about five inches. The flattening of the portion 
32 of the rod 31, varied to suit the interior space available in the fuse 
tube 21, may require the removal of one sixteenth to one eighth of an inch 
for the flattening. The ball 38, preferably of rubber, can have a diameter 
of two and one half inches. 
In use, the fuse tube 21, has the rod 31 inserted therein along the fuse 
link 22, the insertion being facilitated by the beveled end 43, to the 
extent permitted by the stopper ring 36. 
The hot line clamp 15 is attached to the overhead power line 12 and the 
clamp 15 and its conductor 16 are attached to the supporting body 17. The 
pivot pins 20 of the switch member or fuse tube 21, with the fuse link 22 
therein, are inserted in the hooks 19, the conductor 14 is connected to 
the transformer 13 and the cord 42 is dropped to the ground. 
With the lineman on the ground the cord 42 is pulled to swing the switch 
member 21 upwardly to engage the contact bars 23 and 24 for retention by 
the latch 25. 
If there is a primary fault the fuse link 22 will explode, generate gas and 
the apparatus 30 will be ejected by the pressure on the end 43 of the rod 
31. The beveled end 37 of the stopper ring 36 will permit the escape of 
gas generated by the explosion so that no damage to the apparatus 30 or to 
the switch member 21 will result. 
Upon cure of the primary fault, the portion 32 of rod 31 can be inserted 
and operated as previously explained. If there is no primary fault and the 
fuse link does not explode, upon releasing of tension by the lineman on 
cord 42, the rod 31 will slide out of the fuse tube 21 and fall to the 
ground. The portion 32 of the rod 31 can be inserted in another fuse tube 
21 and the apparatus operated as previously described.