Claims:
I claim
1. A tool carrying case for accommodating in separately nested relation therein a plurality of electrical fuses of the same or different lengths which include reduced-diameter pressure-vulnerable end portions and enlarged collar portions, and a power line maintenance linesman's tool including fittings for detachable connections to opposite ends of such fuses, one of said fittings having a flexible conductor extending therefrom and terminating in an extended hook portion;
2. A tool carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said tray portion includes holding means for detachably securing said tool thereto.
3. A tool carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said holding means includes a hold-down strap device.
4. A tool carrying case according to claim 2, wherein said holding means includes an aperture through said tray portion through which said extended hook portion press-fits so as to positionally secure that portion of said tool.
Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The special tool herein referred to is of the "jumper line" type as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 2,228,824, and which when assembled includes a fuse to limit the current available through the system, such as for example to a faulted load when the tool is temporarily connected in series with the load being tested. To enable the linesman to cope with a variety of KVA conditions his carrying kit typically includes a variety of differently sized fuses. The present invention provides an improved tool accessory and fuse carrying case embodying novel features of construction whereby to facilitate accommodation of the tool as well as a variety of substitute fuses to meet a variety of field conditions, in such manner as to store the tool parts and fuses compactly within a minimum sized carrying case and in such manner as to be restrained against shifting about when the case is closed and being carried from place to place, while being at the same time readily accessible for use when the case is opened. It is to be understood that the present invention relates only to the carrying case for accommodating the tool and its accessories as referred to hereinabove, and bears no relation to the tool per se as described in detail hereinafter; and I make no claim thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the case cover in open position and showing the special tool mounted therein on its special carrying tray;
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the case as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrates the tool carrying tray as being swung upwardly to show the fuse carrying arrangement in the lower level of the case;
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating in better detail the nature of the special tool being accommodated in the case as shown at FIGS. 1-3; and
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken as suggested by line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As illustrated herein, the carrying case of the invention is designed to accommodate in compactly and securely stowed positions therein a specific type linesman's test tool such as is best shown at FIG. 4 and is generally designated 10; as well as an assortment of fuses such as are indicated by the numeral 12 which are to be selectively employed therewith. The case is designated generally by the numeral 15 and includes a box-like body portion 16; a top cover or lid portion 18; and an inside tray 20. The tray is provided with a finger lift tab 21. As best shown in FIG. 2, the cover 18 is hinged to the body 16 as illustrated at 22, and the tray 20 is hinged to the body 16 as illustrated at 24 so as to be independently swingable between "open" and "closed" positions as shown in the drawing herewith. Latches (or any other suitable form of locks or the like) as shown at 26--26 provide for holding the closed case parts securely together while the case is being carried from place to place, and a suitable carrying handle as shown at 28 is provided to facilitate its handling and transport.
The carrying case of the present invention is specifically designed to accommodate the certain type of linesman's test tool device which is illustrated in detail at FIG. 4 herewith. As shown therein, the tool is assembled by first selecting from the case an appropriately "sized" fuse which has been "capacity" prescribed according to conventional schedules relating transformer KVA with relevant fuse sizes; and then attaching thereto requisite "jumper line" accessories such as to enable a linesman to temporarily by-pass an electrical device requiring repair/replacement, while at the same time avoiding an electrical overload on the by-pass system.
Thus, more specifically as shown herein, when assembled the tool includes a hanger fitting as shown at 30 which is adapted to be set-screw-fastened or otherwise attached to the upper end of a "size-wise" preselected fuse 12 taken from the kit as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, herewith. Thus, the fitting 30 adapts the fuse 12 to be hung upon a live wire such as shown for example at G (FIG. 1) in U.S. Pat. No. 2,472,000. Typically, the hanger 30 includes a lifting lever such as shown at 32 which is pivotally mounted on the fitting and is formed with an eye portion 34 into which the linesman's conventional type "switch stick" may be engaged. Thereby the linesman is provided with physical control for positioning the device relative to a live wire and in the hooking of its line clamp mechanism 36 thereon, whereby the fuse may be brought into electrical connection with the live wire. Also, as shown herein, such tools typically include a bottom fitting as illustrated at 38 which is also adapted to be set-screw or otherwise fastened to the lower end of the preselected fuse 12. The fitting 38 electrically connects the fuse 12 to a conductor 40 which in this case is illustrated as a resiliently coiled cable, and therethrough to a so-called switch-stick "head" 42. This "head" includes a hook portion as shown at 44 terminating in an enlarged diameter head portion 45.
By means of this arrangement the linesman is enabled to initially engage the upper end of his "switch-stick" into the lifting eye portion 34 of the lever 32 and to then drape the clamp device 36 thereof over the live wire so as to make electrical connection therewith. He thereupon maneuvers his control stick so as to electrically interconnect the bottom fitting (via the conductor 40 and head hook 44) with the conductor "downstream" of the device which is to be "jumped."
It is to be specifically noted that fuses of the type that are employed in connection with such operations and such as are designated generally at 12 herein have protruding from their "bottom" ends so-called squibs as shown at 46. These squibs must (during transportation and/or other handling of the fuses) be protected against pressure-contacts from external sources. Also, such fuses include adjacent their "hanger" ends enlarged diameter collars as indicated at 48 in the drawing herewith. To accommodate the "kit" of fuses as shown herein at FIGS. 2, 3, 5, the bottom of the case of the present invention provides a special fuse "nesting" arrangement. As shown herein, such an arrangement may comprise a special "liner" 50 attached to the bottom of the case body portion 16. Or, the wall of the case per se may be so formed.
As shown herein, the liner comprises a specially shaped molding or the like which may be fabricated from any preferred material and formed into the desired shape by any suitable process so as to present at its upper surface as best shown in FIG. 2 a series of parallel "valleys" as indicated at 52. Thus the valleys 52 are adapted to accommodate a supply of fuses as explained hereinabove so as to be individually nested in parallel, independently available relation. It is to be particularly noted that the liner 50 also includes transversely directed cooperating ridges as are illustrated at 54, 56, 57, which are disposed at different positions longitudinally of the assembly thereby providing intermediate cross valleys 58 into which the collars 48 of the fuses are received. Thus, the valleys and ridges cooperate to lock fuses of assorted sizes into the fuse cradling structure, and a large assortment of differently "sized" fuses may thus be laid down and accommodated in the valley portions 52 of the liner 50. Also, along the opposite edge of the liner 50 it is formed with a single upstanding ridge 59 which is located so as to cooperate with the squib ends of the fuses (without interference with the squibs per se) so as to more securely locate the fuses against accidental dislodgement from their proper positions in the case.
The tray portion 20 of the case is so dimensioned and hingedly positioned interiorly of the case that when the tray 20 is lowered into the case and the cover 18 is closed and latched relative to the case body 16, the tray 20 is thereby secured in bearing relation against the upper surfaces of the fuses so as to prevent them from any accidental dislodgements from the valley portions 52 of the liner 50. Furthermore, as best shown at FIG. 3, the tray 20 is circularly apertured as indicated at 60 to accommodate in press-fitted relation therein the enlarged end portion 45 of the tool hook 44. Accordingly, when the tray 20 is lowered into the case so as to rest upon the fuses the testing tool 10 may then be bedded in the tray 20 in compact folded condition as best shown at FIG. 1.
A hold-down device in the form of a snap-strap 62 is provided to detachably clamp the heavier fuse portion 12 of the tool firmly against the bottom of the tray. Incidental to stowing the tool in the tray the enlarged head portion 45 of the hook member 44 is press-fitted through the aperture 60 in the bottom of the tray, so as to protrude therethrough as shown at FIGS. 2, 3. Note that the aperture 60 is so located in the bottom of the tray 20 as to cause the head portion 45 of the hook to protrude into the bottom section of the case adjacent the end thereof so as to completely clear the ends of the fuses 12 therein and to avoid any interferences with them and/or their squib portions 46.
Thus, the hook end portion 45 is employed to positionally stabilize the tool when bedded in the tray, and when the cover 18 is lowered and latched in closed position it bears against the upper portion of the hook 44 as it appears in FIG. 1, thereby assuring that the hook may not accidentally retract from the aperture 60. This cooperative arrangement of parts assures an improved nesting arrangement for the tool in the case; while at the same time providing utmost convenience with respect to the availability of the tool and fuse components upon opening of the case.
The case body, tray, and lid portions may be fabricated of any suitable sheet-like material according to strength and stiffness and wearability requirements as dictated by the weights of the tool and the fuses to be accommodated and as illustrated at 64 the corners of the case body and cover portions will preferably be reinforced. In all respects the case parts will of course be designed and constructed to meet specifications in accordance with the field use conditions anticipated to be encountered.