Abstract: An electrical loadbreak fuse and canister assembly with arc quenching means operative upon withdrawal of the fuse from the canister or upon insertion of the fuse in the canister under either load or fault conditions. The canister, formed of a glass filled polyester tube, is designed to extend within the enclosure for an electrical device to be protected by the assembly, and is provided with a flange at the outer end for mounting on the enclosure. A fixed loadbreak contact at the inner end of the canister is enclosed within a non-conductive sleeve having a collar formed there around. The inner end of the fuse is provided with a loadbreak contact probe having a non-conductive tip and with a non-conductive disc mounted between the fuse and the contact probe. Both the sleeve and collar, and the disc serve to defuse and cool ionized gases generated by arcing between the loadbreak contacts within the canister.

Abstract: An electrical loadbreak device in which the arc established between two loadbreaking contacts is first confined to a narrow gap between the confronting surfaces of two insulating members formed of arc quenching material before reaching a larger volume space. Spiraled grooves are formed in one of the confronting surfaces to provide channels of increased length for the arc such that the arc voltage may be higher and to increase the exposure of the arc to the arc quenching material. The grooves further act to provide "spoiling" action to create turbulence in the hot gases. The hot gases emitting from the grooves impinge upon a baffle which is contoured to promote further turbulence and cooling of the hot gases.