Contact Structure Patents (Class 218/123)
  • Patent number: 11804346
    Abstract: An arc shield surrounding an outer peripheral side of a fixed electrode and a movable electrode is provided, in addition to a fixed-side insulating unit in which a fixed-side insulator is provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the fixed side in the axial direction of the arc shield, and a movable-side insulating unit in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the movable side in the axial direction of the arc shield. The movable-side insulating unit has an insulator group in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected in the axial direction, an insulator-group-side sub shield surrounding the outer peripheral side of a movable-side energizing shaft, and an insulator-group-side sub shield support part which is on the outer peripheral surface of the insulator-group-side sub shield and interposed between two adjacent movable-side insulators of the insulator group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11749477
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter. The interrupter includes a first movable electrode to which a first contact is connected and a second movable electrode to which a second contact is connected. The interrupter is operable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the first contact and the second contact are separated by a contact gap distance. In the closed state, the first contact and the second contact touch each other. The circuit breaker includes an ultrafast actuator operatively connected to each of the first and second movable electrodes. The ultrafast actuator is configured to change the vacuum interrupter from the closed state to the open state by simultaneously moving the first contact in a first direction along a first distance portion of the contact gap, and the second contact in a second direction along a second distance portion of the contact gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Asish Das, Santhosh Kumar Chamarajanagar Govinda Nayaka, Andrew L. Gottschalk, R. Michael Slepian, Jayaraman Muniyappan
  • Patent number: 11728113
    Abstract: An electrical breaking contact, in particular a radial-magnetic-field electrical breaking contact, is provided for a medium-voltage vacuum interrupter, the contact including: a rod extending along a longitudinal axis, said rod being configured to be passed through by an electrical current, a contact body extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and including a first fastening surface, the contact body and the rod being coaxial, wherein the rod includes: a second fastening surface securely fastened to the first fastening surface, an abutment surface radially exterior to the first fastening surface (4), the abutment surface being distant from the contact body along the longitudinal axis and turned toward the contact body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Anthony Papillon, Mathieu Bono
  • Patent number: 11636992
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a pair of fixed terminals, a movable contact piece, and a magnet portion. The pair of fixed terminals includes fixed contact. The movable contact piece that includes a movable contact disposed facing the fixed contact and that is movable in a first direction in which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and in a second direction in which the movable contact separates from fixed contact. The magnet portion generating a magnetic field for extending an arc generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact. At least one of a corner portion in the first direction side of the fixed terminal located in an arc extension direction in which the arc is extended or a corner portion in the second direction side of the movable contact piece located in the arc extension direction has a chamfered shape in a range where the arc passes through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Otsuka, Ryota Minowa, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Yasuo Hayashida, Shingo Mori, Naoki Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11414616
    Abstract: A lubricating grease composition containing a base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 10 mm2/s or more and 60 mm2/s or less at 40° C.; a thickener containing at least one soap selected from a metal soap and a metal complex soap; and a solid lubricant containing porous polyamide particles. An amount of the porous polyamide particles blended is 1% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less based on a total mass of the lubricating grease composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NOK KLUEBER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wataru Sawaguchi
  • Patent number: 11417483
    Abstract: A power contactor and a method for producing a housing body for a power contactor are disclosed. In an embodiment a power contactor includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, a switch element configured to provide an opened position and a closed position, wherein the switch element, in the closed position, contacts the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact with one another, and wherein the first electrical contact and the second electric contact are insulated from one another when the switch element is in the opened position and at least one temperature sensor integrated into the power contactor, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the power contactor in a pre-defined distance from the first electrical contact and/or the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: TDK ELECTRONICS AG
    Inventor: Robert Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11282661
    Abstract: Provided is a small-sized, reliable vacuum interrupter that does not involve upsizing and complication of the reduction load application mechanism. A vacuum interrupter of the present invention includes a magnetic body disposed on a circumferential edge around a stem surface of at least one of a moving current-carrying stem and a fixed current-carrying stem. The magnetic body includes a lower magnetic permeance portion having a lower magnetic permeance than the other portion. The lower magnetic permeance portion produces a magnetic field parallel to the axial direction. Arc discharge is driven in the direction of the parallel magnetic field, thus being extinguished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiki Donen, Toshihiko Takematsu, Satoshi Ochi, Yuichi Takai
  • Patent number: 10923298
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a compact pole unit with an encapsulated body having ring(s) and conducting terminals that each extend from the encapsulated body. The body includes a vacuum interrupter and a coupler assembly that may be integrated into the pole unit. The coupler assembly includes a contact spring positioned an end of the compact pole unit, as well as a plunger that may be biased by the contact spring. The circuit breaker also includes an actuator positioned at the end of the pole unit that is opposite the coupler assembly. The circuit breaker also may include a second actuator that is will be connected to the contact spring of the coupler assembly via the plunger, and if so the breaker may be operated via either actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Steven Zhenghong Chen
  • Patent number: 10614969
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electrode material (1), wherein the electrode material includes: a center part (2) containing Cu, Cr and a heat resistant element and having superior large-current interruption and capacitor switching capabilities; and an outer circumferential part (3) disposed on an outer circumference of the center part (2). The outer circumferential part (3) contains Cu and Cr and has superior withstand voltage capability. The electrode material (1) is manufactured by molding a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat resistant element, molding a Cr powder integrally around an outer circumference of the molded body of the solid solution powder and infiltrating the integrally molded body with Cu etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Ishikawa, Shota Hayashi, Hideaki Fukuda, Kosuke Hasegawa, Kenta Yamamura
  • Patent number: 10304644
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum interrupter for a circuit breaker capable of forming and releasing a short circuit by moving two movable electrodes in forward/backward directions, and a driving method therefor. The vacuum interrupter according to the present invention includes: a housing with a vacuum state therein; and first and second movable electrodes partially accommodated within the housing, and attached to first and second movable contacts at respective ends thereof, wherein the first and second movable electrodes are capable of moving in forward/backward directions, and the first and second movable contacts contact each other and separate from each other by the movement in forward/backward directions of the first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hui-Dong Hwang, Young-Hwan Chung, Nam-Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 10141143
    Abstract: One embodiment describes a method that includes in a first switching operation of an electrical power switching system including three separately controllable single pole, single current-carrying path switching devices that provide three-phase power to a load, and control circuitry coupled to the switching devices to control closing and opening of the current-carrying paths, commanding at least one of the switching devices to open or close in advance of at least one other of the switching devices based upon a current zero-crossing or a predicted current zero-crossing of input three-phase power; and in subsequent switching operations alternating which of the three switching devices is closed or opened in advance of another of the switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher H. Bock, Christopher J. Wieloch, James J. Kinsella, Stefan T. Dziekonski, James P. Miller
  • Patent number: 9570245
    Abstract: Provided are a method for producing an electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker, whereby withstand voltage, high current interruption performance and capacitor switching performance can be improved; an electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker; and an electrode for a vacuum circuit breaker. A contact material for an electrode for a vacuum circuit breaker has an integral structure consisting of a central member and a Cu—Cr outer peripheral member, the central member having been produced as described above and comprising 30 to 50 wt % of Cu of a particle diameter of 20 to 150 ?m and 50 to 70 wt % of Mo—Cr of a particle diameter of 1 to 5 ?m, while the outer peripheral member being formed of a material, which is highly compatible with the central member, shows excellent interruption performance and had high withstand voltage, and being provided outside the central member and fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Meidensha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Noda, Hiromasa Sato
  • Patent number: 9496106
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electrode assembly and a vacuum interrupter including the same. The electrode assembly is provided in an insulating vessel which is in a vacuum state, and switches a main circuit. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode, a coil conductor, a first conductor, and a second conductor. The coil conductor induces a flow of a current in a first direction and a second direction between the other side of the first conductor connecting pin and the one side of the second conductor connecting pin, and the first direction and the second direction are mutually opposite circumference directions. Accordingly, an arc gas is effectively spread by using mutually opposite flows of currents in a circumference direction, thereby enhancing break performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Seop Ryu
  • Patent number: 9418806
    Abstract: A power switching apparatus comprising a vacuum interrupter assembly and a switching assembly connected in parallel between a pair of terminals, each of the terminals being connectable in use to an electrical circuit. The vacuum interrupter assembly includes at least one vacuum interrupter having a pair of electrically conductive rods connected at a first end to a respective one of the terminals and extending at a second end into a vacuum tight enclosure. A first electrode is mounted at or near the second end of a first of the electrically conductive rods and a slotted coil including a support base mounted at or near the second end of a second of the electrically conductive rods. A second electrode is mounted on an inner surface of the slotted coil and a third electrode is mounted on the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Rama Shankar Parashar
  • Patent number: 9360430
    Abstract: A device for sustaining a plasma in a torch is provided. In certain examples, the device comprises a first electrode configured to couple to a power source and constructed and arranged to provide a loop current along a radial plane of the torch. In some examples, the radial plane of the torch is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J Morrisroe
  • Patent number: 9245700
    Abstract: A circuit breaker including a first and a second contact movable relative each other between an open position, in which the contacts are at a distance from each other, and a closed position, in which the contacts are in electrical contact with each other. The first contact includes one or more contact elements adapted to be in electrical contact with the second contact when the contacts are in the closed position, and a mesh made of metal arranged in thermal contact with the contact elements. The mesh is arranged to at least partly surround the contact elements to allow heat to conduct from the contact elements to the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Richard Thomas
  • Patent number: 9198275
    Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices that can be used to sustain a low flow plasma. In certain examples, the low flow plasma can be sustained in a torch comprising an outer tube and an auxiliary tube within the outer tube. In some examples, the auxiliary tube comprises an effective length to match the shape of a low flow plasma sustained in the torch using a flat plate electrode. Methods and systems using the torches are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: PERKINELMER HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventor: Peter Morrisroe
  • Patent number: 9040862
    Abstract: An electrode assembly for a vacuum interrupter is configured such that supporting members can support most of a contact electrode plate and a supporting electrode plate in an axial direction with coil conductors interposed therebetween. Accordingly, an impact generated between electrode assemblies upon a closing operation of the vacuum interrupter may be evenly distributed onto the supporting members, which may result in preventing each of the electrode plates and the coil conductors from being deformed. Also, the supporting members are inserted into the electrode plates and the coil conductors, thereby effectively preventing a current from flowing via the supporting members. In addition, the supporting member may be wide and large so as to simplify an assembly operation and reduce an assembly time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Seop Ryu
  • Patent number: 8952826
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brad R. Leccia, Steven Castelein, Robert Yanniello, Johan De Jong
  • Patent number: 8895883
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed. The circuit breaker includes a first current path section and a second current path section. At least one of the first and second current path section includes a first current path section member and at least one second current path section member. The at least one second current path section member is arranged in spaced relation to a surface of the first current path section member. The at least one second current path section member is electrically coupled with the first current path section member via at least a first coupling surface portion of the surface of the first current path section member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Ulf Akesson
  • Patent number: 8779317
    Abstract: The contact assembly for a vacuum interrupter, comprises: a fixed contact; a fixed electrode coupled to the fixed contact; a movable contact movable to a first position at which the movable contact comes into contact with the fixed contact and a second position at which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact; a movable electrode coupled to the movable contact and movable with the movable contact; and a contact support member installed to be in contact with the movable contact on the circumference of the movable electrode and increase a contact area contacting the movable contact together with the movable electrode in order to reduce stress applied to the movable contact and the movable electrode when the movable contact moves to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20140103012
    Abstract: A vacuum interrupter, including a hollow housing, a plurality of end shields, a first shield, a second shield, a third shield, a first conductive rod, a second conductive rod, a static contact, and a moving contact. The hollow housing includes an inner wall. The end shields are disposed on an upper end and a lower end of the inner wall of the hollow housing. The hollow housing is double layered and made of ceramic. The first shield, the second shield, and the third shield are disposed on the inner wall between end shields on the upper end and end shields on the lower end of the inner wall in the form of an inward embedment or an outward embedment. The first conductive rod and the second conductive rod are vertically inserted into the hollow housing from a top and a bottom of the hollow housing, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Xi'an Jiaotong University
    Inventors: Zhiyuan LIU, Yingsan GENG, Jianhua WANG, Sheng ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20140048514
    Abstract: A contact assembly for use in a vacuum switch includes an electrode stem and a contact coupled to an end portion of the electrode stem via a threaded fastener which threadingly engages a threaded portion of the electrode stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: GANESH K. BALASUBRAMANIAN, Stephen D. Mayo
  • Publication number: 20130220977
    Abstract: A vacuum interrupter for a circuit breaker arrangement including a cylindrically shaped insulating part, within which a pair of electrical contact parts are coaxially arranged and concentrically surrounded by the insulating part, wherein the electrical contact parts are arranged for initiating a disconnection arc only between corresponding inner contact elements after starting a disconnection process, and corresponding outer contact elements are arranged for commutating the arc from the inner contact elements to the outer contact elements until the disconnection process is completed wherein each inner electrical contact element is a TMF-like contact element for generating mainly a transverse magnetic field, and each outer electrical contact element is an AMF-like contact element for generating an axial magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: ABB Technology AG
  • Patent number: 8455780
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a voltage assembly having at least one short circuiting device in which a moving contact piece can be closed onto a fixed contact piece. In order to prevent breakdown at least two separated vacuum zones are arranged along a moving path of the fixed contact piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Dietmar Gentsch
  • Patent number: 8450630
    Abstract: Exemplary contact backings for vacuum interrupters are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Paul N. Stoving
  • Patent number: 8294057
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a vacuum switch which can achieve a reduction of an electric loss and an improvement of a heat transmission performance by preventing an air gap portion from being generated between an electrode and a conductor rod and preventing the electrode and the conductor rod from generating any positional displacement. An electrode for a switch in accordance with the invention is provided with the conductor rod, a contact point electrode inserted to the conductor rod, and a coupling plate fixing both the elements to an outer side in a diametrical direction of the conductor rod and the contact point electrode, thereby fixing both the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Miki Yamazaki, Kenji Tsuchiya, Ayumu Morita, Masato Kobayashi, Shuichi Kikukawa, Shigeru Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8269129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum switch tube, which includes a first conductive rod and a second conductive rod. A first contact is disposed at the first conductive rod. A second contact is disposed at the second conductive rod. The first contact and the second contact include conductive members and magnetic members, and are sealed in a vacuum tube body and correspondingly disposed. A front end of the first contact is disposed with a convex hemisphere. A front end of the second contact is disposed with a concave hemisphere matching with the front end of the first contact in shape. Therefore, the vacuum switch tube increases surface areas of the contacts, and reduces a resistance increase caused by the poor contacting effect. Meanwhile, a rotating magnetic field is formed between the convex hemisphere and concave hemisphere contacts, thereby facilitating arc-extinguishing and enhancing a breaking capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Beijing Orient Vacuum Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianchang Ren
  • Patent number: 8269127
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tulip contacting device for a vacuum circuit breaker employed to quickly break off an electric power system, in which contact fingers are bidirectionally rotatable in a state of being restricted at an outer diameter portion of a mover holder, such that the flexibility of the contact fingers can be increased, whereby it is possible, upon connecting the vacuum circuit breaker to a case, to flexibly deal with the variation of axial angles of terminals inserted in both sides of the tulip contacting device, and also springs may be coupled to the contact fingers, respectively, so as to effectively prevent separation and overall destroy of the contact fingers from the mover holder during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Kwan Seo
  • Patent number: 8269128
    Abstract: A vacuum switch tube is provided, which includes a first conductive rod disposed with a first contact and a second conductive rod disposed with a second contact. The first contact and the second contact are disposed facing each other and sealed in a vacuum tube body. Contact bodies of the first contact and the second contact are spheres with spherical caps at two ends being cut off. The first contact and the second contact respectively include conductive members and magnetic members extending in the same direction and joining with each other to form the contact bodies. The cross section shape of the magnetic members is divided by a neutrality line into two unequal regions. The magnetic member of the first contact and the conductive member of the second contact are correspondingly disposed. The conductive member of the first contact and the magnetic member of the second contact are correspondingly disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Beijing Orient Vacuum Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianchang Ren
  • Patent number: 8263894
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode for a vacuum interrupter, capable of reducing damage of contacts due to heat concentration to the center of the contacts, by reducing magnetic flux concentration to the center of the electrode, and capable of rapidly extinguishing an arc by diffusing the arc by forming a wide range of magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Jun Tak, Jae Seop Ryu
  • Publication number: 20110186546
    Abstract: A vacuum switch tube is provided, which includes a first conductive rod and a second conductive rod disposed with a first contact and a second contact respectively. The two contacts are sealed in a vacuum tube body and disposed facing each other. A front end of the first contact is a convex hemisphere. A contact body of the second contact is an annular body matching with the front end of the first contact. The first contact includes a first conductive member and a first magnetic member. The first conductive member and the first magnetic member extend in the same direction and match with each other. The first conductive member and the first magnetic member of the first contact are yin-yang-fish matched in shape, the cross section shape of the first magnetic members is divided by a neutrality line into two unequal regions. The second contact includes a second conductive member and a second magnetic member for forming the contact body of the second contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BEIJING ORIENT VACUUM ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: JIANCHANG REN
  • Publication number: 20110186547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum switch tube, which includes a first contact and a second contact disposed on conductive rods respectively. The two contacts are disposed facing each other. The two contacts are cylinders and include conductive members and magnetic members to form contact bodies. The cross section shape of the magnetic members is divided by a neutrality line into two unequal regions. The magnetic member of the first contact and the conductive member of the second contact are disposed corresponding to each other. The conductive member of the first contact and the magnetic member of the second contact are disposed corresponding to each other. The two vacuum switch contacts are anti-symmetrically disposed, such that a rotating magnetic field having rotating lines of magnetic force is formed, so that re-ignition possibility during voltage breaking is effectively reduced, and an arc voltage is decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: BEIJING ORIENT VACUUM ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: JIANCHANG REN
  • Patent number: 7906742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact arrangement for a vacuum interrupter chamber (1), which comprises a pair of inner contact pieces (11, 12), configured as RMF contact pieces, and a pair of outer contact pieces (21, 22) which are connected in parallel and are mounted closely adjacent to the inner contact pieces (11, 12). At least one of the inner contact pieces (11, 12) is movably mounted. The outer contact pieces (21, 22) are also configured as RMF contact pieces. During interruption, the resulting electric arc can commutate completely or partially to the pair of outer contact pieces (21, 22). The inner contact pieces are substantially discoid. Advantageously, the contact pieces (11, 12, 21, 22) are coaxially positioned in relation to each other. The outer contact pieces (21, 22) are advantageously pot-shaped or tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Steffens, Dietmar Gentsch, Kaveh Niayesh
  • Publication number: 20100270267
    Abstract: The contact member has a finely-dispersed Cr layer 2 having a thickness between 500 ?m and 3 mm formed on the surface of a Cu—Cr alloy base material 1 through surface treatment by friction stir processing. The Cu—Cr alloy base material 1 contains 40 to 80 wt-% of Cu and 20 to 60 wt-% of Cr. The surface of the finely-dispersed Cr layer 2 is planarized after the surface treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: JAPAN AE POWER SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Noda
  • Patent number: 7820934
    Abstract: A method for fixing an element to a part of an electrical apparatus may include interposing an extender between the element and the part, where the extender is able to exert forces on the element and the part to position the element with respect to the part and/or to secure the element in position with respect to the part, by friction between one side of the extender and the element and between another side of the extender and the part, and to ensure positioning and/or securing of the element with respect to the part prior to final fixing, and to perform final fixing by performing two welding operations respectively between the element and the extender and between the extender and the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Cardoletti, Hans Schellekens
  • Patent number: 7802480
    Abstract: A apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a high voltage vacuum device includes a microcircuit embedded within the vacuum containment that transmits a wireless signal upon detection of a high pressure condition and/or light generated by arcing between the electrical contacts of the high voltage device. The wireless signal can be transmitted via RF or optical means. The microcircuit is powered by energy sources produced within the vacuum device such as magnetic fields generated by current flow through the device, or light generated by arcing between the contacts. Alternatively, the microcircuit can be powered RF or optical signals transmitted to the microcircuit from outside the vacuum device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Thomas and Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick C. Mosely, Steven Jay Randazzo
  • Publication number: 20100230388
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrode for a vacuum interrupter, capable of reducing damage of contacts due to heat concentration to the center of the contacts, by reducing magnetic flux concentration to the center of the electrode, and capable of rapidly extinguishing an arc by diffusing the arc by forming a wide range of magnetic flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: LS INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jun TAK, Jae Seop RYU
  • Patent number: 7662208
    Abstract: An electrical contact used herein comprises chromium; one of copper and silver; and a carbide, in which the electrical contact comprises a matrix and chromium, the matrix phase mainly comprising one of copper and silver, and the chromium being surrounded by the carbide and dispersed in the matrix. The electrical contact contains 1 to 30 percent by weight of a carbide, with the balance being copper. Another electrical contact contains chromium, copper, and a carbide and has a weight ratio of chromium to the carbide within the range of 1:1.5 to 1:50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kikuchi, Ayumu Morita, Masato Kobayashi, Satoru Kajiwara, Noboru Baba
  • Publication number: 20090173160
    Abstract: A apparatus for detecting a high pressure condition within a high voltage vacuum device includes a microcircuit embedded within the vacuum containment that transmits a wireless signal upon detection of a high pressure condition and/or light generated by arcing between the electrical contacts of the high voltage device. The wireless signal can be transmitted via RF or optical means. The microcircuit is powered by energy sources produced within the vacuum device such as magnetic fields generated by current flow through the device, or light generated by arcing between the contacts. Alternatively, the microcircuit can be powered RF or optical signals transmitted to the microcircuit from outside the vacuum device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Roderick C. Mosely, Steven Jay Randazzo
  • Patent number: 7497122
    Abstract: A method for detecting a high pressure condition within a high voltage vacuum device includes detecting the position of a movable structure such as a bellows. The position at high pressures can be detected optically by the interruption of a light beam reflected by a hemispherically shaped reflector. The hemispherical reflector allows the source light fiber to oriented parallel to the detection light fiber, providing a more compact and efficient fiber routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Thomas and Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Grace Montesclaros, Roderick C. Mosely, Steven Jay Randazzo, Bryce Sollazzi, Robert James Speciale
  • Patent number: 7334319
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve the breaking ability of vacuum interrupter in the medium- and high-voltage range. Said aim is achieved whereby the contact pieces which may be displaced relative to each other are moved with a relatively high speed during a first phase (S1) of the separation process until about ¼ to ½ of the ultimate separation (extinction stroke Eh) and are brought to the given ultimate separation (isolating stroke Eh) during a second phase (S2) with relatively low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg Kusserow, Roman Renz
  • Patent number: 7313964
    Abstract: A method for detecting a high pressure condition within a high voltage vacuum device includes detecting the position of a movable structure such as a bellows. The position at high pressures can be detected optically by the interruption of a light beam reflected by a hemispherically shaped reflector. The hemispherical reflector allows the source light fiber to oriented parallel to the detection light fiber, providing a more compact and efficient fiber routing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Jennings Technology
    Inventors: Mary Grace Montesclaros, Roderick C. Mosely, Steven Jay Randazzo, Bryce Sollazzi, Robert James Speciale
  • Patent number: 7250584
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to prevent local spikes from being created in a contact element of a contact arrangement used for interrupting a current in a distribution network, said contact element comprising a contact support (8) that encompasses a hollow cylindrical wall section (9) and a bottom wall (10), and a contact disk (11) which is located opposite the bottom wall (10) in a longitudinal direction while slots (2) are provided for generating a magnetic field. Said aim is achieved by providing the slots (2) with rounded edges (3) having a defined radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Caspar Asmus, Klaus Oberndörfer, Roman Renz
  • Patent number: 7225676
    Abstract: A method for detecting a high pressure condition within an interrupter includes measuring the intensity of light emitted from an arc created by contacts within the interrupter, comparing the measured intensity with a predetermined value, and providing an indication when the measured intensity exceeds the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Jennings Technology
    Inventor: Steven Jay Randazzo
  • Patent number: 7173208
    Abstract: A vacuum interrupter for reducing contact resistance and thereby reducing electromagnetic repulsive force between electrodes, is obtained. The vacuum interrupter includes a stationary electrode rod fixedly placed on one closed end of a cylindrical evacuated envelope closed at both ends thereof; a movable electrode rod movably placed on the other closed end; disc shaped contacts placed on opposing ends of the electrode rods; and reinforcement members for reinforcing the contact placed between each electrode rod and the associated contact. In such a configuration, a coefficient of linear expansion of the reinforcement member differs from that of the contact, and the reinforcement member and the associated contact are jointed by soldering at a plurality of opposing parts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takakazu Harada, Hiromi Koga, Shinichi Miki
  • Patent number: 7041929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact arrangement for a vacuum switch tube for low-voltage power switches. The aim of the invention is to reduce the contact force required to control short circuit currents. To this end, a twin-contact contact arrangement is used wherein every contact comprises a plurality of separate individual contacts having a defined spring rate. At least one of the contact bodies (4) is configured as a two-layer spiral contact with a lower layer consisting of a highly elastic material and an upper layer (7) consisting of a highly electroconductive material. A contact coat (9) consisting of a contact material is provided on the upper layer in the outer zone of every contact arm (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes-Gerhard Banghard, Klemens Fieberg, Michael Hahn, Werner Hartmann, Roman Renz
  • Patent number: 6965089
    Abstract: An improved vacuum interrupter is disclosed. The vacuum interrupter includes a ring-shaped structure placed between a contact support structure and an electrical contact associated with the contact support structure. A resistivity of the ring-shaped structure is higher than that of the contact support structure, so that current traversing the ring-shaped structure on its way from the contact support structure to the electrical contact is evenly distributed. The ring-shaped structure may be fit into an end portion of the contact support structure, the end portion having an diameter less than an outer diameter of the support structure, but greater than an inner diameter of the support structure. Alternatively, the end portion may be used without the ring-shaped portion, in which case the electrical contact may be shaped to fit into the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventors: Paul N. Stoving, E. Fred Bestel
  • Patent number: 6891121
    Abstract: An integrated contact for power switchgear, its arc proof component, magnetic field generating component and conductive component are set in an open container. The conductive component and the magnetic field generating component are mutually combined and set at the bottom of the container, the arc proof component is set on top of the combination of the conductive component and the magnetic field generating component. The conductive component passes through the center of the container, and from top to down, it equally divides the container; the magnetic field generating component is isolated by the conductive component and set at the other part of the container. The contact surface of the invention has multiple pole axial magnetic fields, the contact is suitable used for integrated contact for interrupting high volume current in arc extinguished chamber of vacuum interrupter. The invention belongs to electrical equipment field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianchang Ren
  • Patent number: 6891120
    Abstract: A multipolar integrated contact for power switchgear, its arc proof component, magnetic field generating component and conductive component are set in a container with top opened. Conductive component and magnetic field generating component are mutually combined and set at the bottom of the container, arc proof component is set on top of the combination of conductive component and magnetic field generating component. Conductive component passes through center of the container, and from top to down, it equally divides the container; magnetic field generating component is isolated by conductive component and set at other part of the container. Contact surface of the invention has multipolar axial magnetic field, the contact is suitable used for integrated contact for interrupting high volume current in arc extinguished chamber of vacuum interrupter. The invention belongs to electrical equipment field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Bo Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianchang Ren