Solid Patents (Class 218/117)
  • Patent number: 11948762
    Abstract: An electrical contactor has an arc extinguishing component. The electrical contactor includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact that, when the contactor is open, define a gap therebetween. The arc extinguishing component includes a magnet adjacent a first side of the gap and an electrically non-conductive shutter adjacent an opposing second side of the gap. The electrically non-conductive shutter capable of reciprocating from a first position to a second position wherein the first position is outside of the gap and the second position is within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Potter, Patrick W. Mills
  • Patent number: 11688570
    Abstract: A switching device for low-voltage or medium-voltage applications including: one or more electric poles; for each electric pole, at least a fixed contact and at least a movable contact, each movable contact being reversibly movable between a coupled position, at which the movable contact is coupled with a corresponding fixed contact, and an uncoupled position, at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, wherein a separation gap is present between the movable contact and the fixed contact, when the movable contact is in the uncoupled position. The switching device includes, for each electric pole, at least an arc-diverting element made of electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gabriel Lantz, Matthias Bator, Markus Abplanalp, Ralf-Patrick Suetterlin
  • Patent number: 11217939
    Abstract: A power circuit shut off device includes a housing and a switch portion provided in the housing, and an operating member configured to turn on or turns off the switch portion. The switch portion includes a pair of terminals arranged along a bottom face of the housing, an electric conductive member having contact point portions and that is elastically urged toward the pair of terminals, and an insulating movable member configured to move along a direction in which the pair of terminals are arranged. The pair of terminals are brought into electric conductive to each other when the pair of terminals contact the contact point portions respectively. The insulating movable member is moved between a shut-off position and a conductive position by an operation on the operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shintaro Yagi, Osamu Furugoori
  • Patent number: 10964498
    Abstract: A gas-insulated low- or medium-voltage load break switch includes: a housing defining a housing volume for holding an insulation gas at an ambient pressure; a first arcing contact and a second arcing contact arranged within the housing volume, the first and second arcing contacts being movable in relation to each other along an axis of the load break switch and defining a quenching region in which an arc is formed during a current breaking operation; a pressurizing system having a pressurizing chamber arranged within the housing volume for pressurizing a quenching gas from an ambient pressure p0 to a quenching pressure pquench during the current breaking operation; and a nozzle system arranged within the housing volume for blowing the pressurized quenching gas in a subsonic flow pattern from the pressurization chamber onto the arc formed in the quenching region during the current breaking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Bernardo Galletti, Elham Attar, Jan Carstensen, Magne Saxegaard, Martin Kristoffersen, Martin Seeger, Michael Schwinne, Nitesh Ranjan, Patrick Stoller
  • Patent number: 10950400
    Abstract: An electric contact system includes a moving member movable in a vertical direction, a movable contact mounted on and moved with the moving member, a static contact, and an arc extinguishing device including a movable bracket movable in a horizontal direction and an arc extinguishing sheet mounted on and movable with the movable bracket. The movable contact moves between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. When the movable bracket is moved to a first position, the arc extinguishing sheet is moved beyond a contact area between the movable contact and the static contact and allows the movable contact to electrically contact the static contact. When the movable bracket is moved to a second position, the arc extinguishing sheet is moved into the contact area between the movable contact and the static contact to electrically isolate the movable contact from the static contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Xiaoning Zhang, Teng Zou
  • Patent number: 10937605
    Abstract: An electrical contact system includes a static contact having a static contact point, a movable contact having a movable contact point, a rotating member on which the movable contact is mounted, and an arc extinguishing device having an arc extinguishing sheet. The movable contact is rotatable with the rotating member between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. When the movable contact is rotated to the switch-on position, the arc extinguishing sheet is rotated beyond a contact area between the movable contact point and the static contact point, allowing electrical contact of the movable contact point with the static contact point. When the movable contact is rotated to the switch-off position, the arc extinguishing sheet is rotated into the contact area between the movable contact point and the static contact point, electrically isolating the movable contact point from the static contact point and cutting off an electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoning Zhang, Teng Zou
  • Patent number: 10867767
    Abstract: An interruption apparatus includes a first portion having a trip unit and a second portion having a detection system. The first and second portions are individually selectable based upon the particular application and are then movable from a detached configuration to a connected configuration. The first and second portions are selected from a plurality of first portions and second portions having different specifications. A desired first portion having a first interruption rating and a desired second portion having detection capabilities that are suited to the particular application can be assembled together to provide a field-configurable interruption apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Todd Matthew Lathrop, Jeffrey Wayne Lockhart, Andrew Robert Zahn, Lanson Dwight Relyea, Jay Nicholson Haugen
  • Patent number: 10804056
    Abstract: An electrical switch. The electrical switch includes at least one fixed contact and a movable contact contacting the fixed contact. At least one shutter element is arranged to move in synchronism with the movable contact. The shutter element is positioned in an extended position between the fixed contact and the movable contact and in a contracted position outside the patch of the movable contact allowing the movable contact to turn from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Fredrik Strand, Mikko Välivainio, Jukka Lintamo, Juha Soldan
  • Patent number: 10770248
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a molded case circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a contact unit of a molded case circuit breaker. A molded case circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fixed contact; a movable contact rotatably provided on a shaft body to be brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contact; and an insulating barrier that enters between the fixed contact and the movable contact during interruption, wherein the insulating barrier is coupled to the movable contact to rotate along a circumferential surface of a shaft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kihwan Oh, Kyunghwan Oh
  • Patent number: 10717368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power contact (10) for a charging plug (100) and/or for a charging socket, wherein the power contact (10) has a first connection region (21) for galvanically connecting to an electrical energy receiver or energy transmitter, and a second connection region (31) for galvanically connecting to a charging line (120), wherein the power contact (10) is characterised by the following features: the power contact (10) is formed as two parts and has a base component (30) and a contacting component (20) that can be connected to the base component (30), wherein the contacting component (20) is designed such that it can be detached from the base component (30), such that the contacting component (20) of the power contact (10) can be exchanged; the first connection region (21) is arranged in the contacting component (20) and the second connection region (31) is arranged in the base component (30); and, when connecting the contacting component (20) to the base component (30), the first connection
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT E-MOBILITY GMBH
    Inventor: Martin Wenz
  • Patent number: 9728951
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved leakage protection socket with reverse connection protection function. The electromagnetic tripping mechanism comprises a trip coil, an iron core and a permanent magnet that fit with a return spring, the iron core has, in its front end, a boss to pull the lock for horizontal movement, the movable input contacts are clamped by a rib slot of an upper tripper that can moves upward and downward along with the reset button. There is also provided a reverse connection trip device, which has a slope that coordinates with the boss of the iron core, upon reverse connection, the trip coil generates a magnetic field in the same orientation with the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Wenzhou Van-Sheen Electric Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Huadao Huang
  • Patent number: 9172236
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device, comprising at least one surge arrester and one switchgear assembly, which is connected in series to the surge arrester and which can be triggered thermally, wherein the aforementioned components form a structural unit, and the thermal tripping means is arranged in the area of the expected heating up of the surge arrester when overloaded. According to the invention, the thermal tripping unit is configured as a stop element through which operating current or surge current does not flow. In the event of thermal overload, the stop element opens a releasing device of the switchgear assembly, wherein said switchgear assembly has an increased self-extinguishing capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: DEHN + SÖHNE GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Hirschmann, Georg Wittmann, Edmund Zäuner
  • Publication number: 20150027988
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to switchgear equipment for electrical power systems. A switchgear comprises a switchgear body housing, having an upper boot and a lower boot, the upper boot having an insulating material and the lower boot having an insulating material, a vacuum interrupter having at least one stationary electrical contact, a moveable contactor coupled to a moveable electrical contact, and at least two bushings having conductor material passing therethrough, the switchgear further comprising at least one of a bushing boot having at least one of a helical groove and an array of heat-removal fins, a flexible, insulating cover enclosing at least a portion of the vacuum interrupter and an adjacent bushing, a helical groove in the upper boot, and a finned connector constrained within a channel in the moveable contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Rajesh Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140367361
    Abstract: A gas circuit breaker includes: a pair of electrodes provided so as to be able to come in contact with and separate from each other; and an insulating material that is placed so as to generate a decomposition gas in response to a direct or indirect action from an arc occurring between the pair of electrodes when a current is broken, wherein the decomposition gas generated from the insulating material when the current is broken is configured to be utilized for extinguishing the arc, and wherein an ablative material that does not include hydrogen atoms but has a carbon-oxygen bond in a main chain or ring part is used as the insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Horinouchi, Motohiro Sato, Kazuki Kubo, Yuhei Awano
  • Publication number: 20140166621
    Abstract: A contact bus bar assembly for supplying power to a load, and further pertains to a switching device which can be connected to such a compact bus bar assembly, and to a power distribution system. The bus bar assembly includes at least two electrically conductive tracks which are at least partly covered by an electrically insulating cover. An outer surface of said insulating cover is provided with a plurality of ribs arranged in a region connecting pin terminals. The switching device may additionally comprise a separating element provided with a plurality of second ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Rockwell Automation AG
    Inventors: Thomas Strebel Marzano, Willy Feller
  • Publication number: 20140110377
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric switch having a first contact element, an insulating element, and a second contact element. The first contact element includes a first contact surface on which the insulating element is disposed. The second contact element includes a conductive member moveable relative to the first contact element and the insulating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicants: RAYCHEM INTERNATIONAL, TYCO ELECTRONICS UK LTD
    Inventors: Melvyn McGann, Brendan Normoyle, Leslie Allen
  • Publication number: 20140061161
    Abstract: A conduction breaking device includes a conductive body arranged between a pair of devices in an electric circuit, a gas generator, which is arranged away from the conductive body and generates gas, and a cutting member, which is arranged between the conductive body and the gas generator. The cutting member is moved due to gas from the gas generator to cut the conductive body, divides the conductive body into a first cut piece and a second cut piece, which have cut ends separated from each other, and breaks the conduction between the devices. The conduction breaking device includes an arc-extinguishing chamber. In the arc-extinguishing chamber, the conductive body is cut by the cutting member and an arc occurring between the cut end of the first cut piece and the cut end of the second cut piece is extinguished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki NAKAMURA, Takaki FUKUYAMA, Yoshiaki KAMEDA
  • Publication number: 20140048513
    Abstract: It is possible to extend an arc as far as an arc extinguishing chamber without increasing an opening distance of a movable contact, and to increase an arc voltage, thus improving the breaking performance, without changing a switching mechanism or increasing a size of the external form of a circuit breaker. A circuit breaker includes a breaking portion having a fixed contact and movable contact, and an arc extinguishing chamber disposed so as to enclose the breaking portion. An insulating arm made of an insulator is provided to be capable of advancing into and withdrawing from the space between contact points of the fixed contact and movable contact. Further, the insulating arm advances to a position between the contact points when the movable contact carries out an opening operation, and withdraws from the space between the contact points when the movable contact carries out a closing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Yutaka SATO, Akifumi SATO
  • Publication number: 20130026138
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes: an upper conductor; a lower conductor; a movable contact provided in the upper conductor; a fixed contact fixedly provided in the lower conductor; a moving side tulip contact provided in the movable contact; a moving side shield fixed to the upper conductor; a fixed side tulip contact provided in the fixed contact; a fixed side shield fixed to the lower conductor; and an insulating screen unit installed to selectively block the opening end of the moving side shield and covering an end of the movable contact when the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Hyuk LEE
  • Publication number: 20120152903
    Abstract: A breaking device with an arc breaking shield comprising at least one stationary contact collaborating with a movable contact supported by a contact-holder arm and an actuating device of the movable contact in a casing. A movable arc breaking shield is commanded in movement to occupy a rest position and a laminating position. The movable breaking shield is connected to the contact-holder arm by an actuating rod in such a way that movement of the contact-holder arm results in movement of the movable breaking shield, the actuating rod being respectively connected to the movable breaking shield and to the contact-holder arm by a second and third pivot-pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Didier VIGOUROUX, Eric DOMEJEAN, Yves BELIN
  • Patent number: 8133602
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case, a cap assembly, and an arc interrupter. The electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator interposed between the anode and the cathode. The case houses the electrode assembly and has an opening for the electrode assembly, and the cap assembly is coupled to the opening of the case and is electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The arc interrupter includes an interrupting member movably disposed in the cap assembly and a driving member connected to the interrupting member to transfer the interrupting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20110221381
    Abstract: A switch for an electric motor has a switch arm comprising a lever and an arc barrier formed integrally with the lever. The switch has first and second electrical contacts. The switch arm and second electrical contact are moveable relative to the first contact between an open position and a closed position. The arc barrier is positioned adjacent the first contact in the closed position. The arc barrier limits the risk of electrical arcing associated with the electrical contacts. The switch is suitable for use in an electric induction motor. For example, the switch can be adapted to de-energize auxiliary start windings when an electric induction motor is up to speed and/or to provide a signal indicating the motor is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Wayne J. DeVries, Craig E. Wallace, Donald E. Morgan
  • Patent number: 7935907
    Abstract: A contact system for a short-circuiting device for a switchboard, the contact system including at least one fixed contact piece connected to a main voltage source. The contact system also includes at least one moving contact piece and an insulating screen penetrable using the at least one moving contact piece so as to make contact between the at least one moving contact piece and the at least one fixed contact piece. The screen is disposed between the at least one fixed contact piece and the at least one moving contact piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Robert Espeseth, Ole Granhaug, Jan-Henrik Kuhlefelt, Thor Endre
  • Publication number: 20100032411
    Abstract: An insulating tube (18) located between the main contacts (12b, 14b) and the arcing contacts (12a, 14a) of an interrupting chamber (10) of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker makes it possible to modify the distribution of the equipotential lines (V) during breaking. Thus, it is possible to reduce the electric field on the contacts, and thus to improve the breaking and the dielectric strength in the open position. The insulating tube (18) can also serve for transmitting movement between the contacts (12, 14) for triggering the circuit-breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SA
    Inventors: Joel Ozil, Christophe Creusot, Jean-Luc Bourgeois, Yannick Kieffel
  • Patent number: 7138597
    Abstract: The support for the moving contact of a circuit breaker has a piston that is driven by arc gases generated by initial separation of the contacts through magnetic repulsion to rapidly open the contacts. A pair of telescoping shield sleeves that have aligned openings through which the moving contact is extended to close with the fixed contact are oppositely driven transversely to piston movement by the arc gases to cut off the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Jeffrey A. Miller
  • Patent number: 6414256
    Abstract: The present invention provides a current limiting circuit breaker having a current responsive device for opening a pair of contacts or switch upon short circuit conditions. The current responsive device utilizes an insulating object driven by a magnetic force caused by a short circuit current. Upon opening of the contacts with the use of the insulating object, let-through current flows through a secondary contact, positioned on the insulating object, to a positive temperature coefficient resistivity element which limits the current and arcing in the contacts. The PTC elements could be pure metallic materials such as pure tungsten, pure iron, etc. Conductive polymer and ceramic PTC materials could also be used for some specific applications. The present invention also provides a method of electrically connecting a drive plate and a line terminal on the current limiting circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: William Weizhong Chen, Frank Ehrenberger, Aaron Bottorff, Matt Sortland
  • Patent number: 6229426
    Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) is shown having a movable electrical contact (36) adapted to move into and out of engagement with a stationary electrical contact (38, 40). A current carrying thermostatic trip member (42) has a portion movable in response to changes in temperature with a motion transfer member (46) transferring the motion to latch/catch mechanism (20, 24, 30, 32). The catch portion (30, 32) comprises a generally U-shaped adjustment element (30) formed of thermostatic material whose legs are fixed to the base (32a) of a catch member (32) which in turn is pivotably mounted in the casing of the circuit breaker. The bight (30c) of the adjustment element is free to move in response to temperature changes relative to the catch member. Overcurrent will cause the thermostatic trip member to transfer motion to the bight of the adjustment element causing the adjustment element and catch member to pivot and release a latch to thereby open the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael J. Lavado, Nathaniel Wicks, Peter G. Berg
  • Patent number: 6084193
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter in the form of a circuit breaker (10) is shown having a movable contact (14a) which moves between contacts engaged and contacts disengaged position relative to a stationary contact (16a). An arc paddle (20) is mounted in a housing (12) for spring biased pivotal motion of an arc dissipating portion between a position out of alignment with the movable and stationary contacts and in engagement with the side of the movable contact when the contacts are in the contacts engaged position and a position in which the arc dissipating portion is in alignment with and in between the contacts when the contacts are in the contacts disengaged position to force arcs which occur between the contacts to extend their travel path and dissipate the arc in an improved shortened period of time. In an alternative embodiment the arc paddle (22) is generally U-shaped having two legs (22a, 22b) connected by a bight (22c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Nicholas V. Pellon
  • Patent number: RE42319
    Abstract: A voltage suppression device for suppressing voltage surges in an electrical circuit, comprised of a voltage sensitive element having a predetermined voltage rating, the voltage sensitive element increasing in temperature as voltage applied across the voltage sensitive element exceeds the voltage rating. Terminals are provided for electrically connecting the voltage sensitive element between a power line of an electrical circuit and a ground or neutral line of the electrical circuit. A normally closed, thermal switch is electrically connected in series with the voltage sensitive element between the power line and the voltage sensitive element, the thermal switch being thermally coupled to the voltage sensitive element wherein the thermal switch moves from a normally closed position to an open position to form a gap between the thermal switch and the voltage sensitive element when the temperature of the voltage sensitive element reaches a level indicating an over-voltage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: MERSEN France SB SAS
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Martenson, Jerry L. Mosesian