MODULAR DISCONNECTING SWITCH

A switch including separate switch portions or parts which may be arranged or assembled in various combinations for outdoor or indoor use. The switch parts include a universal tongue adapted to act as a terminal pad and mounting piece for a switch and a universal jaw piece adapted to be assembled on the terminal pad portion of the tongue in various arrangements or configurations. A hinge piece is adapted to pivotally support a blade which may be moved in and out of engagement with the previously described jaw for providing electrical interconnection between circuits connected thereto. The hinge member may also be disposed on the terminal pad portion of the tongue. Electrical contact pieces may be provided as part of a switch, which include copper rivets the heads of which are encapsulated in tungsten alloy or similar material adapted to make repeated electrical contact operations under load conditions without rapid deterioration. When the contact pieces wear, the rivets may be removed and replaced with similar tungsten alloy encapsulated rivet members. This removes the need for complete disassembly of a switch member in the field and complete replacement of a blade. The previously mentioned jaw and hinge member may be mounted in various combinations or arrangements on separate terminal pads. The terminal pads may then be secured to various commercially available and standard support insulators.