Arcing Chamber Patents (Class 218/156)
  • Patent number: 12154746
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an arc extinguishing assembly, including side members which are spaced apart by a certain distance and disposed to face each other; an exhaust which is installed on an upper part of the side member; a plurality of grids which are installed between the side members and having both ends fixed to each of the side members; an arc guide having one end coupled to the side member and installed under the plurality of grids; and a magnet which is installed such that both ends are respectively coupled to the side members under the plurality of grids, and forms an electromagnetic force in a direction toward the grid, and a circuit breaker including the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Han Baek Chung
  • Patent number: 11830690
    Abstract: An arc-extinguishing unit structure for a direct current air circuit breaker according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a plurality of grids; side plates coupled to both sides of the plurality of grids so that the plurality of the grids are mounted so as to be spaced apart from each other; an exhaust cover positioned above the side plates and the plurality of grids; an arc guide coupled to the side plates so as to be located under the plurality of grids; a magnet coupled to the arc guide, wherein the magnet is magnetized with different poles on the basis of the plurality of grids and the vertical orientation of the arc guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: LS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Il-Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11824329
    Abstract: An arc mitigation apparatus for an air insulated switchgear includes: a flap; a switch; and a control mechanism. The flap is installable in a wall of a compartment of a medium voltage switchgear. When the flap is installed in the wall of the compartment of the medium voltage switchgear, the flap permits when open air and/or gas passes through the flap from inside the compartment to outside the compartment. When the flap is installed in the wall of the compartment of the medium voltage switchgear, the flap is movable from a closed position to an open position due to a pressure difference between an inside of the compartment and an outside of the compartment. The switch activates based on movement of the flap. The control mechanism sets a flap threshold pressure for the flap with respect to the pressure difference that will move the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jiri Horak, Vaclav Kral, Jozef Bihary
  • Patent number: 10332709
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay according to the present disclosure includes an excitation coil generating a magnetic field during energization, a movable core driven by the magnetic field generated by the excitation coil, a movable element including a movable contact and moving to follow the driven movable core, a plurality of stationary terminals each including a stationary contact that contacts the movable contact during the energization of the excitation coil, a stationary yoke formed of a magnetic material and supported by at least one of the plurality of stationary terminals, and a movable yoke formed of a magnetic material and arranged to face the stationary yoke, the movable yoke being in contact with the movable element and moving together with the movable element. Since the stationary yoke is supported by the stationary terminal, increase in temperature of the stationary terminal can be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ANDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Tanaka, Makoto Kamiya, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 9922780
    Abstract: A switching device including a switching chamber, in which a stationary switching piece is arranged opposite a movable switching piece, where the stationary switching piece is placed on a plastic carrier part and this component combination of stationary switching piece and plastic carrier part is configured as an exchangeable switching piece assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ludwig Niebler, Vadzim Kulinovich, Tobias Viehauser
  • Patent number: 9774106
    Abstract: A remotely controllable grounding system including at least one movable rod element having at least one conductive and isolating sections and at least one conductor configured to be electrically connected to ground and the movable rod element. The grounding system including at least one pair of positive and negative grounding terminals arranged to be fixedly connected to electric equipment to be grounded. The grounding system includes a rod propulsion system arranged to be remotely controlled and configured to move the at least one movable rod element from an ungrounded position (U), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are isolated from one another by the isolating section, into a grounded position (G), in which the positive and negative grounding terminals are galvanically connected with one another by the conductive section and in which grounded position the conductive section is connected to ground via the at least one conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Erik Doré, Björn Sandin, Olle Ekwall
  • Patent number: 9520256
    Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor includes a contact device including a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact contacting to and separating from the pair of fixed contacts. The pair of fixed contacts includes support conductor portions supported with an upper surface of a contact housing case, and C-shaped portions each including an upper plate portion linked to an end portion of the support conductor portion, an intermediate plate portion extending downward from a side of the upper plate portion opposite to that of the other support conductor portion, and a lower plate portion extending from a lower end of the intermediate plate portion toward a side of the other support conductor portion and formed with a contact portion on an upper surface thereof. The contact housing case includes contact bearing portions bearing a side of the lower plate portions of the pair of fixed contacts opposite to the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: FUJI FA COMPONENTS & SYSTEMS CO., LTD., FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naka, Kouetsu Takaya, Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9350123
    Abstract: An elbow with an internal assembly system that includes an elbow body, a cable connection, a first tap, a second tap, a mid-section, a rotating nut and an axial bore. The cable connection adapted to receive a cable having a cable connector, the first tap adapted to receive a first interface device with a threaded stud and the second tap adapted to receive a second interface device. The rotating nut is located in the mid-section and has a threaded bore in communication with the first tap and an opposing closed end with a keyed opening for receiving a tool. The tool is inserted through the axial bore and into the keyed opening to rotate the rotating nut to secure the threaded stud in the rotating nut and secure the cable connector in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC
    Inventor: Larry Norman Siebens
  • Patent number: 9006602
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes an enclosure, a first fixed conductor, one side of the first fixed conductor being bent at a right angle and another side of the first fixed conductor being fixed on one side of the enclosure, a second fixed conductor configured to be spaced apart from the first fixed conductor and configured to be fixed on another side of the enclosure, a screw configured to form an axis on inner of the enclosure and being spaced apart from the first and second fixed conductors and a movable conductor configured to move along the axis through a rotation of the screw, one side of the movable conductor being in contact with the second fixed conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Choon Kim
  • Publication number: 20150093604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety apparatus and a protection method of a secondary battery, which can prevent explosion and fire of the secondary battery using a switch or a rupture switch attached on the outside of the secondary battery if a swelling degree of the secondary battery reaches a predetermined value when the secondary battery is swelled due to abnormal usage such as overcharge, short-circuit, reverse-connection and heat-exposure of large-capacity lithium polymer battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Sooyeup Jang, Jeon Keun Oh
  • Patent number: 8993916
    Abstract: Equipment protection systems, arc containment devices, and methods of assembling arc containment devices are disclosed. In one example, an electrical isolation structure includes a conductor base, a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining an isolation chamber, a containment shield disposed on the conductor base within the isolation chamber, and a biasing assembly positioned between the cover and the containment shield. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to enclose the plurality of electrode assemblies. The containment shield is configured to at least partially contain the arc products within the containment chamber. The biasing assembly is configured to permit the containment shield to move away from the conductor base to thereby define a gap between the conductor base and the containment shield to enable at least some of the arc gases to vent from the containment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Naga Palvadi, Ravi Kumar, Chandrakanth Gopularam
  • Patent number: 8981248
    Abstract: A circuit protection device is provided for use with a circuit that includes at least one pair of conductors. The protection device is configured to generate an arc. The protection device includes at least a pair of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to the at least one pair of conductors and a conductor base to support the pair of electrode assemblies. The protection device includes a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining at least one isolation chamber, wherein the electrode assemblies are disposed within the isolation chamber. The protection device includes a containment shield moveably coupled to the cover. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to contain charged particles produced by the arc. The containment shield is operative to move relative to the cover in response to a change in pressure produced by the arc within the containment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivas Naga Palvadi, Sudhakar Sambaiah Pachunoori, Ravi Kumar
  • Patent number: 8952252
    Abstract: Electrical enclosures are provided that include arc resistant features designed to add structural strength for arc containment, to inhibit arc propagation, and/or to direct the release of pressure within and/or from the enclosure in order to provide arc resistant electrical enclosures. In general, the arc resistant features may be designed to provide enclosures where in the event of an arc fault, the doors and covers remain closed, parts are not ejected from the enclosure, holes are not produced in the enclosure, indicators located in close proximity to the enclosure do not ignite, and/or grounding connections remain effective. Further, the foregoing features may be designed to provide electrical enclosures that comply with industry guides and standards for arc resistant ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachel M. Bugaris, David T. Rollay, Chester Malkowski, Jerome Charles Lange, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150014279
    Abstract: A protection device for providing protection against the particles generated by an electric arc when a first electrically conductive part and a second electrically conductive part of an electrical connection unit are separated from each other, the protection device including at least one protection element disposed in the proximity of the place at which the first part and the second part separate in order to form a shield against the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Didier Rodrigues, Denis Frigiere, Jean Marc Willieme, Frank Jacquier
  • Publication number: 20140360985
    Abstract: A switch includes a pair of fixed contacts disposed at a predetermined distance from each other; a movable contact arranged to be capable of contacting with and separating from the pair of fixed contacts; and an arc extinguishing container internally mounted with the pair of fixed contacts and the movable contact. The arc extinguishing container includes a resin container having a terminal retention plate portion adhesively bonded a pair of external connection terminals, and a side plate portion extending downward from an outer circumferential portion of the terminal retention plate portion, and formed with an open face, and a metal bucket-shaped body internally mounted with the movable contact and the pair of fixed contacts inserted into the side plate portion of the resin container. The are extinguishing container is formed by bonding the resin container and the metal bucket-shaped body to each other by an adhesive agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kouetsu Takaya, Kenji Suzuki, Yoshinobu Sugata, Masaharu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8866034
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter for cooling and quenching an electrical arc having a housing with a first contact and a second contact movable with respect to the first contact. An arc splitter is located in an arcing chamber, and an arc runner is located near the second contact. The arc runner has an arc strap facing toward the first contact, a first wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from the arc strap, a second wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from to the arc strap and opposite the first wall. The arc runner generates a magnetic force on the arc forcing the arc toward the arc splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Publication number: 20140305906
    Abstract: Provided is a molded case circuit breaker including a front space, a rear space divided from the front space, a fixed contact unit provided on one side of the front space and in electric contact with one of a power supply and a load, a movable contact unit installed in the front space to be movable and in contact with the fixed contact unit, a switching device installed in the rear space and operating to allow the movable contact unit to be in selective contact with the fixed contact unit, an operation device installed in the front space and the rear space and transferring the movable contact unit according to operation of the switching device, an arc extinguishment chamber installed on the one side of the front space and extinguishing an arc induced while the fixed contact unit is being separated from the movable contact unit, and a barrier preventing backward movement of the arc from at least one position of a moving way of the movable contact unit, the position separate from the fixed contact unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 8809720
    Abstract: An arc extinguishing mechanism for the mold cased circuit breaker comprises a plurality of arc grids stacked on one another in a perpendicular direction and supporting plates for supporting the arc grids, and each of the arc grids comprises a U-shaped plate portion made of a ferromagnetic material, and having two leg portions, a plurality of supporting protrusions laterally extending from the U-shaped plate portion to be flush with the U-shaped plate portion, thus to allow the U-shaped plate portion to be coupled to the supporting plates for support, and bent portions extending from the leg portions, respectively, by being bent in a perpendicular direction, to minimize an air gap between the adjacent arc grids stacked on each other so as to increase a force of inducing arc generated in the arc chamber toward the arc grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Jin Ham
  • Publication number: 20140224772
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes: a first arc-extinguishing chamber and a second arc-extinguishing chamber that interrupt a current by opening contact points and extinguish an arc during the current is being interrupted; and a connection unit that connects the first arc-extinguishing chamber and the second arc-extinguishing chamber to each other. The first arc-extinguishing chamber and the second arc-extinguishing chamber are connected to the connection unit in such a manner that shaft lines of the arc-extinguishing chambers form an angle of substantially 90 degrees. The first arc-extinguishing chamber is arranged on a side of the connection unit in such a manner that the shaft line thereof is substantially horizontal, and the second arc-extinguishing chamber is arranged on an upper side of the connection unit in such a manner that the shaft line thereof is substantially vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Tanigaki, Daisuke Yoshida, Tomohito Mori
  • Publication number: 20140202991
    Abstract: An outer peripheral wall surrounds a heating chamber that communicates with an arc chamber through an opening that separates fixed contacts from each other in a circumferential direction. The outer peripheral wall includes a heat-resistive cylindrical heat-flow receiving wall portion that is arranged at a position opposed to the opening in a radial direction, and a cylindrical wall portion that is connected to the heat-flow receiving wall portion in a direction of a center axis and also connected to a fixed-side energizing member at its one end on the opposite side to where the wall portion is connected to the heat-flow receiving wall portion, and is made of an insulating material. With this configuration, the outer peripheral wall surrounding the heating chamber can be protected from damage and heat deterioration due to the influence of hot gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Yamashita, Daisuke Yoshida, Hirokazu Otani
  • Patent number: 8772665
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an arc extinguishing mechanism includes a plurality of grids disposed in a longitudinal direction, each having protruding portions at both ends thereof so as to define a space therebetween, a fixing portion to support the grids, insulating plates fixed to both sides of the grids, a stator located below the grids, the stator including an arc runner and a stationary contact disposed at an upper side of the arc runner, and a mover contactable with or separated from the stationary contact with moving up and down within the space, wherein an interval between the insulating plates within the space is shorter than a width of the mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Gyu An
  • Publication number: 20140175056
    Abstract: A switching device includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which have a first connection and a second connection, whereby the first connections are arranged on the first side of the switching device and the second connections on the second side of the switching device, each current path has at least one contact pair, that has a first contact and a second contact, whereby at least the second contact is arranged on a contact member that is movable to the first contact and whereby in the switched-on status of the switching device, both the contacts are in contact with each other, each contact pair has at least one extinguishing device, whereby the extinguishing devices of both the current paths are arranged in a direction from the first connections to the second connections, behind one another and at least partly covering each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Karsten Gerving, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Ralf Thar
  • Publication number: 20140158666
    Abstract: A circuit protection device is provided for use with a circuit that includes at least one pair of conductors. The protection device is configured to generate an arc. The protection device includes at least a pair of electrode assemblies electrically coupled to the at least one pair of conductors and a conductor base to support the pair of electrode assemblies. The protection device includes a cover coupled to the conductor base and defining at least one isolation chamber, wherein the electrode assemblies are disposed within the isolation chamber. The protection device includes a containment shield moveably coupled to the cover. The containment shield defines a containment chamber configured to contain charged particles produced by the arc. The containment shield is operative to move relative to the cover in response to a change in pressure produced by the arc within the containment chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Srinivas Naga Palvadi, Sudhakar Sambaiah Pachunoori, Ravi Kumar
  • Patent number: 8681482
    Abstract: This disclosure describes examples of an apparatus to enclose components of a switching assembly of an automatic transfer switch. In one embodiment, the apparatus, or arc chamber cover, has a housing made of material with optical properties that permit observation of the interior of the housing. A mounting assembly couples to the housing. The mounting assembly secures the apparatus to the automatic transfer switch. In one example, the mounting assembly comprises feet comprising a material with mechanical properties that can withstand pressure and other forces inside of the interior chamber. The apparatus also includes one or more baffles to control the flow of gasses and control electric arcs within the switching assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suresh Srikantaiah, Arthur Michael Evans, Sudarshan Allada, Pravin Pralhad Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 8592709
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure, a plurality of circuit breaker sub poles, each enclosed within a chamber of the enclosure, and a plurality of arc chutes, each installed on one of the chambers enclosing the circuit breaker sub poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yatin Vilas Newase, Janakiraman Narayanan, Soundararajan Narayanasamy, Sachin Kurkure, Mahesh Jaywant Rane
  • Publication number: 20130200046
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical circuit breaker comprising an arc formation chamber and an arc extinguishing chamber, the arc formation chamber being at least partially bounded by a side flange or at least a part of a side wall consisting of a polymeric composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer, a triazine based flame retardant, at most 0-5 wt. % of phosphorous or halogen containing flame retardants, and 0-15 wt. % of a reinforcing agent, wherein thermoplastic polymer comprises a polyamide with a melting temperature of at least 260° C. and the triazine based flame retardant comprises at least 20 wt. % of melam, wherein the weight percentages (wt. %) are relative to the total weight of the polymeric composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: DSM IP ASSETTS B.V.
    Inventors: Rob Joseph Catharina Emiel Demandt, Johannes Hoekstra, Robert Hendrik Catharina Janssen
  • Patent number: 8481881
    Abstract: A polyphase (e.g., three-phase) metal-enclosed, gas-insulated high-voltage circuit breaker and a switchgear including the circuit breaker is provided. For each phase, the circuit breaker includes one power arcing chamber pole per phase which are accommodated together in a common circuit breaker housing, and which have at least two connecting outputs per phase. The circuit breaker housing has a number, corresponding to the number of arcing chamber poles of chambers open at their front ends, in which the arcing chamber poles are arranged. The open front ends of the chambers are each respectively closed by means a corresponding dome-like lid covering the corresponding front ends so that a gas link between the individual chambers is provided for via the connection spaces created by the lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: David Saxl, Markus Amberg
  • Patent number: 8330068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical switchgear unit designed to be fixed onto a fixing support and comprising at least one electrical switching module and at least one module housing a complementary electrical function, at least one of the complementary modules being situated next to at least one of the above-mentioned switching modules, the or each switching module comprising an arc extinguishing chamber. This unit is characterized in that the arc extinguishing chamber of the module situated facing the complementary module presents a cambered face towards the inside of said arc extinguishing chamber so as to create a space E,F inside said chamber enabling a part of the volume of the complementary module to be housed, and in that the ends of said arc extinguishing chamber encroach on the volume of the complementary module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Amblard, Noël Le-Corre, Luc Moreau
  • Patent number: 8237074
    Abstract: A switching device has an input terminal and an output terminal for connection to electrical conductors, and two switching contacts which, when closed, close a current path between the input terminal and the output terminal. A disconnect device is operatively connected to at least one of the input terminal and the output terminal for disconnecting the two switching contacts. An arc quenching chamber composed of a plurality of metal plates is arranged in the region of the switching. At least two of the metal plates abut one another at least over a region to attain high reliability and operational safety even after repeated disconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Moeller Gebäudeautomation GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Tetik, Roman Kolm
  • Patent number: 8232499
    Abstract: A contactor assembly is adapted for switching power to a circuit having a power source. The contactor assembly includes a housing, carry contacts, and arc contacts. The housing defines an interior compartment and includes internal chamber walls that laterally extend within the compartment to define a protection chamber. The carry contacts are disposed in the protection chamber of the housing. The carry contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit. The arc contacts are disposed in the housing outside of the protection chamber. The arc contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit. The internal chamber walls of the housing prevent material that is expelled from one or more of the arc contacts when an electric arc emanates from one or more of the arc contacts from contaminating one or more of the carry contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Bush, Marcus Priest
  • Publication number: 20120138575
    Abstract: A polyphase (e.g., three-phase) metal-enclosed, gas-insulated high-voltage circuit breaker and a switchgear including the circuit breaker is provided. For each phase, the circuit breaker includes one power arcing chamber pole per phase which are accommodated together in a common circuit breaker housing, and which have at least two connecting outputs per phase. The circuit breaker housing has a number, corresponding to the number of arcing chamber poles of chambers open at their front ends, in which the arcing chamber poles are arranged. The open front ends of the chambers are each respectively closed by means a corresponding dome-like lid covering the corresponding front ends so that a gas link between the individual chambers is provided for via the connection spaces created by the lids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: David SAXL, Markus Amberg
  • Patent number: 8168911
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an arc quenching system is provided. The quenching system includes an ablative device positioned within a chamber. On end of the ablative device includes an opening that receives a stationary contact. A movable contact arm travels within a channel between the closed position and an open position. When an abnormal operating condition is detected, the circuit breaker trips causing the contact arm to move. This generates a plasma arc that evaporates material from the ablative device. The evaporated material generates a pressurized gas that cools and quenches the plasma arc to improve the performance of the circuit breaker during undesired operating conditions such as a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Ranjit Manohar Deshmukh, Ranganath Gururaj, Kamal Pandey
  • Patent number: 8097824
    Abstract: Disclosed is an arc extinguishing device of circuit breaker for manual motor starter capable of swiftly extinguishing and discharging an arc generated by a fault current flowing into a motor circuit during an interruption operation of a circuit breaker, thereby enhancing the performance of interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hwan Chang Kil
  • Publication number: 20110309052
    Abstract: A moving seal for an air circuit breaker provides an arc creepage surface that is positioned between a pair of separable contact assemblies when the moving seal is fit into an inlet of the arc chamber. The arc creepage surface has a surface contour that increases a length of an arc travel path between the separable contact assemblies, relative to a straight line distance between of separable contact assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian John SCHALTENBRAND, Mark Anthony JANUSEK, Robert William MUELLER, James Michael SMELTZER, William Michael RANDAL
  • Publication number: 20110297649
    Abstract: A mold cased circuit breaker, which includes a casing, a switching unit disposed in the casing to open or close an electric circuit, and movable and stationary contactor units present within the casing, includes an arc-extinguishing unit. The arc-extinguishing unit includes a pair of side plates facing each other with being spaced from each other, at least one first grid arranged between the side plates and spaced apart from one another with preset intervals, and a second grid coupled to upper ends of the side plates, spaced apart from the first grid, and having a bent portion with a preset angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Young Gyu AN
  • Patent number: 7989726
    Abstract: The gas-tight, high or medium voltage electric switch device (1), containing an insulating gas under pressure, comprises switch contacts (2) capable of occupying an open position and a closed position and disposed inside a composite insulator formed by a rigid tube (3) surrounded by an elastomer casing (4) whose outside surface defines a succession of annular fins. The rigid tube and the elastomer casing are arranged so as to define an observation window (7) that is at least translucent, and through which the open or closed position of the switch contacts is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Areva T & D SA
    Inventors: Christian Lindner, Jean-Luc Bessede, Yannick Kieffel
  • Publication number: 20110114602
    Abstract: A contactor assembly is adapted for switching power to a circuit having a power source. The contactor assembly includes a housing, carry contacts, and arc contacts. The housing defines an interior compartment and includes internal chamber walls that laterally extend within the compartment to define a protection chamber. The carry contacts are disposed in the protection chamber of the housing. The carry contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit. The arc contacts are disposed in the housing outside of the protection chamber. The arc contacts include conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: BERNARD BUSH, MARCUS PRIEST
  • Patent number: 7893379
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrical switching device, e.g., a generator circuit breaker, and to a method for improved switching-gas cooling. Gas jets are formed by a nozzle body in the exhaust area, are directed against a baffle wall and are swirled. The baffle wall is a component of the switching chamber enclosure and has a high thermal capacity and/or thermal conductivity, so that the switching gas vortices produce a highly efficient switching gas cooling on the baffle wall by turbulent convection. Exemplary embodiments relate inter alia to the design of the baffle wall and of the nozzle body. Advantages include: protection of the switching chamber enclosure against hot gases, improved switching gas cooling, and increased breaking capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schoenemann, Jochen Kiefer, Patrick Huguenot, Max Claessens, Stephan Grob, Xiangyang Ye
  • Patent number: 7875822
    Abstract: A multiphase current interrupter is provided for interrupting a phase current between two contacts in an electrical phase. The current interrupter includes a first ablative chamber disposed around contacts for a first electrical phase. The first chamber has an ablative material thereon that causes a shock wave when an electrical arc is generated in an arc zone for the first electrical phase during a separation of the contacts therein. The current interrupter further includes at least a second ablative chamber disposed around contacts for at least a second electrical phase. The second chamber has an ablative material thereon that causes a shock wave when an electrical arc is generated in an arc zone for the second electrical phase during a separation of the contacts therein. An interconnecting structure provides fluid communication between the first ablative chamber and the second ablative chamber. The interconnecting structure is adapted to dissipate a shock wave generated in any of the ablative chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thangavelu Asokan, Sunil Srinivasa Murthy, Kunal Ravindra Goray, Nimish Kumar, Adnan Kutubuddin Bohori
  • Patent number: 7812276
    Abstract: An arc member is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating mechanism for opening and closing separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts to attract an arc generated thereby. The separable contacts include a stationary contact and a movable contact. The stationary contact has an edge, which is disposed in a plane. The arc member includes an arc element disposed between the stationary contact and the arc chute. The arc element has first and second portions and first and second arc attractors. The first arc attractor extends outwardly from the first portion toward the plane of the edge of the stationary contact to draw the arc from the separable contacts to the arc member. The second arc attractors, which are disposed on the second portion of the arc element, direct the arc into the arc chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James G. Maloney, Michael J. Erb
  • Patent number: 7705263
    Abstract: An arc chute assembly includes a housing having a lateral axis and a quenching portion disposed within the housing. The quenching portion includes at least two deion plates being spaced along the lateral axis of the housing and each having a cut portion wherein the cut portions are staggered along the lateral axis with respect to one another and are configured to mitigate an arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Jaywant Rane, Janakiraman Narayanan, Yatin Vilas Newase, Pankaj Agrawal
  • Patent number: 7646271
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an enclosure with a first side and a second side opposite and distal from the first side. A number of separable contacts are enclosed by the enclosure. An operating mechanism is structured to open and close the separable contacts. A plurality of terminals are electrically interconnected with the number of separable contacts. The terminals protrude through the second side of the enclosure. A number of phase barrier apparatus is disposed on the second side of the enclosure. Each of the number of phase barrier apparatus includes a plurality of separate phase barrier members, each of which is disposed about a corresponding one of the terminals, and a number of interlocking members. Each of the number of interlocking members interlocks with an adjacent pair of the separate phase barrier members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Gottschalk, Frankie K. Ostrowski, Kelly J. McCarthy, Paul R. Rakus
  • Patent number: 7439469
    Abstract: An electric switching device, designed to carry a low-voltage, in particular a circuit-breaker or contactor, having at least one arc-quenching unit (16;18) is provided. Connection contacts (8) are mounted in a housing (2) that can be sealed by a cover (4) and switching chambers (10) are configured in the housing. To adapt the device to different current ranges, the housing (2) and cover (4) are equipped with guide and retaining elements (12, 26, 28, 30) for cooling plates (16) that can be inserted and for arc-quenching laminated cores (18) that can be interchanged with the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Karsten Gerving
  • Patent number: 7265311
    Abstract: An arc chamber barrier for a circuit breaker is provided. The arc chamber barrier has a body with a first interlock component that is structured to engage a second interlock component disposed in the circuit breaker primary cover. The arc chamber barrier body is further structured to be disposed in an elongated contact chamber at the interface of an arc chamber portion and an operating mechanism portion. In this configuration, the arc chamber barrier first interlock component resists displacement of the arc chamber barrier body when a pair of separable contacts moves between the second, closed position and the first, open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Caton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Schaltenbrand, Robert William Mueller, Mark Anthony Janusek, Keith Edward Thomas
  • Patent number: 7081596
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arc-quenching device for circuit breakers having double-break contacts for use in low-voltage distribution systems. Provided around a prechamber (41) is a magnetic shield (91) for the purpose of intensifying the magnetic blowing action on an arc formed between the arc guide rails (51, 61) of the prechamber. In addition, a blowing loop (81) is inserted in the arc-quenching circuit and extends in sections parallel to an arc guide rail (61). Prechamber insulation having a bulge constricting the arc area likewise serves the purpose of optimizing the arc run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Schneider, Siegfried Mayer, Norbert Papok
  • Patent number: 7034242
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter arc chute includes first and second support portions, an exit portion supported by the support portions, and a plurality of arc plates supported by the support portions. The exit portion has one or more vent openings. The arc plates have a first edge offset from the exit portion and an opposite second edge distal from the exit portion. A plurality of insulating dividing members are disposed between the arc plates. The members have a first edge proximate the exit portion and an opposite second edge distal from the exit portion. The second edge of the members extends beyond the arc plate first edges and toward the arc plate second edges. The first edge of the dividing members extends beyond the arc plate first edge and away from the arc plate second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Paul R. Rakus, Thomas C. Pendrick, Francois J. Marchand, Glen C. Sisson
  • Patent number: 6917269
    Abstract: An electric arc extinction chamber system, especially for low-voltage circuit breakers of very high nominal current intensities, wherein parallel electric arc extinction chamber inserts are provided in a housing extending over the entire width of a pole-face arc. The housing of the chamber is sub-divided by a partition wall or several partition walls which are embodied as components of the housing. The compartments thus formed receive arc splitter cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Detlev Schmidt, Michael Sebekow, Günter Seidler, Ingo Thiede, Sezai Türkmen
  • Patent number: 6825431
    Abstract: An arc chamber for low-voltage circuit breakers, whose particularity consists of the fact that it comprises: multiple substantially U-shaped metallic plates; an enclosure made of insulating material which is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and comprises two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and a rear wall, the side walls having, on the inside, multiple mutually opposite slots for the insertion of the metal plates, the bottom and top walls each having at least one opening and the enclosure being open at the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Service S.r.l.
    Inventors: Lucio Azzola, Michele Ferrari
  • Patent number: 6794595
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a pair of separable contacts arranged in an opening volume. A plurality of flat de-ionization fins are arranged inside an arc extinguishing chamber opening out onto the opening volume. The chamber is bounded by two opposite side walls, a rear wall located away from the opening volume, a bottom wall and a top wall. Each fin has a free attack edge exposed to the arc. The free edges of the fins laterally bound a longitudinal gulley extending in a heightwise direction from the bottom electrode to the top wall, and longitudinally from a first longitudinal end opening out onto the opening volume at a second longitudinal end tapering to form a stack near to the rear wall, passing via a narrow intermediate portion. A bottom longitudinal electrode partially covers the bottom wall and extends longitudinally facing the gulley at least from the second contact up to the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Richard Charles, Stéphane Dye, Luc Moreau
  • Patent number: 6791440
    Abstract: An electrically isolating iso bearing for a circuit breaker is provided that comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a body extending therebetween, said inner surface comprising a pair of bosses and a pair of openings, said outer surface comprising at least one boss, said body comprising a pair of rotor protective flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Edward Harmon, Gary Steven Douville, Chanchal Kumar Garg, Linda Yvonne Jacobs, Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr.