US 12,031,581 B1
Bearing assembly for electrical switch
Donald Fletcher Swing, III, Birmingham, AL (US)
Assigned to Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/031,580.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/530,598, filed on Jul. 10, 2017.
Int. Cl. H01H 31/28 (2006.01); F16C 33/38 (2006.01); F16C 33/60 (2006.01); F16C 35/07 (2006.01); H01H 3/32 (2006.01); H01H 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/605 (2013.01) [F16C 33/3806 (2013.01); F16C 35/07 (2013.01); H01H 3/32 (2013.01); H01H 31/28 (2013.01); H01H 2003/326 (2013.01); H01H 2009/0094 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A high-voltage electric switch comprising:
a first electrical terminal configured to be supported on a frame member;
a second electrical terminal configured to be supported on the frame member;
a conducting member for providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal; and
a shaft assembly supporting one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal for pivoting movement to move the conducting member between a first position and a second position, the conducting member providing electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal while the conducting member is in the first position, electrical communication between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal being interrupted while the conducting member is in the second position, the shaft assembly including a housing, a shaft extending at least partially through the housing and coupled to the one of the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal, and a pair of bearing assemblies supporting rotation of the shaft relative to the housing, each of the bearing assemblies including,
an inner race coupled to the shaft;
an outer race;
a cage including a planar body having a first side, an opposite second side, an outer radial edge, an inner radial edge, and a plurality of openings, the cage further including a plurality of projections protruding from the first side of the planar body, each of the plurality of projections including an inner end and an outer end disposed radially outwardly from the inner end, and each inner end being spaced apart radially outwardly from the inner radial edge, each of the plurality of openings positioned between adjacent projections and positioned along the outer radial edge and spaced apart from the inner radial edge, each of the plurality of openings includes an inner opening edge disposed radially within the outer radial edge and radially outward from the inner radial edge, wherein the outer radial edge and each inner opening edge at least partially form an outermost perimeter of the planar body, the cage positioned between the inner race and the outer race; and
a plurality of balls, each of the plurality of balls being received in an associated one of the plurality of openings, the plurality of balls positioned between the inner race and the outer race.