With Venting Means Patents (Class 218/157)
  • Patent number: 11943881
    Abstract: An arc flash management system including a cabinet having multiple walls surrounding electrical equipment capable of producing arc flash, at least one aperture within one of the walls, and an arc exhaust attachment emanating from at least one of the apertures for directing possible arc flash away from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Hollinger, Alan Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11936168
    Abstract: A pressure release device includes a movable pressure release wall that can be moved relative to a pressure release opening. The pressure release wall, by virtue of its position relative to the pressure release opening, controls the passability of the opening. A detent stop is arranged in a path of movement of the pressure release wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Rose-Poetzsch, Christian Bradler, Tom Fedtke
  • Patent number: 11002253
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided having a foundation, a tower with a tower wall, at least one component to be cooled within the tower wall, a first cooling unit within the tower wall for cooling the components to be cooled, a second cooling unit, which is provided at least partially outside the tower wall, and a medium-voltage switchgear assembly within the tower wall. The wind turbine further has at least one fault arc duct between the medium-voltage switchgear assembly and the second cooling unit. At least one cooling duct or a cooling line between the first and second cooling unit is also provided. The second cooling unit has a heat exchanger which is coupled to the cooling duct or the cooling line, and a pressure-release unit which serves to guide a pressure wave formed inside the medium-voltage switchgear assembly and transmitted via the fault arc duct to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Malte Könitz
  • Patent number: 10971316
    Abstract: A pressure trip unit for an electrical switch, including an actuating element and at least one flow channel per electrical pole, is disclosed. In an embodiment, the at least one pole of the electrical switch includes at least two switching contacts for making or disconnecting a flow path. The switching contacts of the at least one pole of the electrical switch are disconnectable via the actuating element which can respond to a pressure generated in a disconnection zone of the, in each case, two switching contacts by an electric arc drawn in the event of an electrodynamic recoil of the switching contacts. Further, the disconnection zone is connectable to the actuating element via the flow channel, the at least one flow channel including a nonreturn valve to permit a flow only from the disconnection zone in the direction of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Oliver Andersen, Pawel Biedunkiewicz, Joerg-uwe Dahl, Erhard Deylitz
  • Patent number: 10784660
    Abstract: A modular bucket assembly of a low voltage switchgear includes a box shaped bucket having an interior bucket side wall, an exterior bucket side wall with vents in a first periphery, a bucket rear wall, a bucket top wall and a bucket bottom wall. All of the bucket walls define an auxiliary compartment of a switchgear cabinet. The vents in the exterior bucket side wall define an arc gas venting passage in communication with an interior of the auxiliary compartment for exhausting arc gasses to an exterior of the cabinet. The modular bucket assembly further comprises a metal enclosure mounted on the bucket bottom wall. The metal enclosure has a side opening with a second periphery such that the second periphery overlaps the first periphery of the exterior bucket side wall. The metal enclosure is configured to house direct power connected devices and protective fuses and withstand arc fault pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Rahul Rajvanshi
  • Patent number: 10736239
    Abstract: A high performance computing (HPC) and storage hyperconverged design with high core densities coupled to a board integrated Non Volatile Memory (NVM) storage ecosystem, has a novel racking and highly efficient cooling system which eliminates the hot/cold aisles normally found in a Data Center. This design enables a dramatic increase in compute cores, Random Access Memory and NVM densities directly on the board, enabling quicker processing and more efficient throughput individually or working in parallel with other compute/storage boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: John Robert Jensen
  • Patent number: 10679812
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes a casing having a housing space open to an external to the casing through an opening. A base is joined to the casing to close the opening. A coil, a pair of fixed contact elements and a pair of movable contact elements are housed in the housing space. A vent hole set to a dimension making it possible to extinguish flame passing therethrough is formed in a portion where the casing and the base are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ANDEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Tanaka, Makoto Kamiya, Mikihiro Kamiya
  • Patent number: 10672580
    Abstract: A single- or multi-pole power circuit-breaker, comprises main contacts, overload- and/or short-circuit current-actuated tripping means, an actuating mechanism for the main contacts, an arc chute and a pressure trip unit having a return element and an actuating element responsive to an overpressure in the arc chute. The tripping of the power circuit-breaker by a trip mechanism is executable both by the tripping means and the pressure trip unit. The pressure trip unit is arranged immediately adjacently to both the arc chute and a main busbar. A tripping lug mechanically engages with the trip mechanism such that an overpressure in the arc chute is transmitted virtually instantaneously to the pressure chamber. The actuating element is configured to switch over directly from a home position to a tripping position, against the force of the return element, in a case of overshoot of a pressure threshold value set by the return element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Gazik, Volker Heins
  • Patent number: 10468861
    Abstract: Provided is a distribution panel. The distribution panel includes a main busbar compartment in which a main busbar is provided and which is provided as an independent space and an arc duct provided at a rear side of the main busbar compartment to discharge an arc generated in the main busbar compartment. The main busbar compartment includes a communication hole defied in one surface of the main busbar to allow the main busbar compartment to communicate with the arc duct and a relief device rotatably provided on one side of the communication hole to open or close the communication hole. The relief device is bendable in multi stages. Thus, the arc may be effectively discharged while reducing a size of the distribution panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seog Won Lee, Ji Hoon Ma, Jong Doo Kim, Seung Hwan Mun
  • Patent number: 10431963
    Abstract: A switchgear enclosure includes an exterior housing. A plurality of compartments within the exterior housing includes at least a first switching device compartment, a bus compartment, and a first cable compartment. A plurality of interior partitions arranged to subdivide the exterior housing into the plurality of compartments includes at least a first partition between the first switching device compartment and the first cable compartment, and a second partition between the bus compartment and the first cable compartment. An exhaust system includes a vent path structure arranged within the exterior housing to at least partially surround the bus compartment and the first cable compartment, a channel formed between the vent path structure and the exterior housing, and a first vent device in the first partition. The first vent device is configured to fluidically connect the first switching device compartment to the channel via the vent path structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Samir Rajauria, Ayyappa Reddy Jakkireddy, Guru Moorthy Kurra, Lenin Pokkula, Steven Edward Meiners
  • Patent number: 10381824
    Abstract: Power receiving/distributing equipment is composed of a switchgear incorporated for each major electric path section, wherein, when arc fault occurs on an electric path to which a circuit breaker is connected, a high-speed closing device closes to detour arc current so as to flow to a ground conductor, thereby eliminating arc at a fault electric path portion. The high-speed closing device is connected to one pole or both poles of a breaking portion of the circuit breaker, and is incorporated into an insulating support member on a corresponding pole electric path so as to be able to be drawn as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Numata
  • Patent number: 10164411
    Abstract: A switchgear according to the present invention includes: an air intake mechanism attachment body arranged on an air intake portion provided on a housing; an air intake opening provided in the air intake mechanism attachment body; a check valve type shutter which is arranged on the inner side of the air intake opening on the housing, performs an air intake from the outside of the housing, and blocks the air intake opening in the occurrence of an internal short circuit fault; and a ground fault partition body which is arranged between said check valve type shutter and a conductive portion in said housing and in which the length of at least one side is longer than said check valve type shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu Kozuru, Toru Yamaji, Nobukazu Nagayasu, Takahiro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10020643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure of a switchgear with an arc protection system including an arc optical sensor to detect an arc, a relay to determine an occurrence or non-occurrence of a fault current by receiving an arc signal detected by the arc optical sensor, and an arc eliminator to earth an arc-generated side bus bar in response to an operating signal with respect to the determined fault current, wherein the arc eliminator has a test position or a service position within the switchgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Menglei Zheng
  • Patent number: 9899810
    Abstract: A switchgear enclosure includes a first circuit breaker compartment having an opening therein defining a first air outlet. A second circuit breaker compartment is adjacent to and vertically below the first circuit breaker compartment. A first door is associated with the first circuit breaker compartment and a second door is associated with the second circuit breaker compartment, with each door having an opening therein defining a door air inlet. A main bus compartment is adjacent to at least the second circuit breaker compartment and has an opening therein defining a second air outlet. An air passage fluidly connects the second circuit breaker compartment with the main bus compartment so that air entering through the door air inlet of the second door can flow into the main bus compartment via the air passage and flow out of the second air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Rahul Pawar
  • Patent number: 9797954
    Abstract: A system for management of a circuit breaker counter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a data processing unit receiving state change data and measurement data of at least one of a circuit breaker and a current measuring unit and transferring an event on the basis of the state change data and measurement data; and a counter managing unit counting a total operation, a load-breaking operation and a fault-breaking operation of the circuit breaker, based on the event and the measurement data, and outputting and storing respective count accumulation values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hye-Ryun Hyun, Man-Sun Lee, Kang-Soo Lee, Jun-Soo Jang, Hyo-Sung Song, Il-Lae Jo, En-Jin Sin
  • Patent number: 9673006
    Abstract: A gas exhaust diffuser for a circuit breaker, comprising a first casing extending longitudinally along a principal axis with an open end to allow gas to enter and a closed end, and a second casing coaxial to the first casing, extending along the principal axis, with at least one outlet to allow gas to escape, the closed end of the first casing being arranged in the second casing and the first casing having at least two radial openings near its closed end to provide a fluid communication between the first and second casing. A plurality of incurved elements are positioned radially in the second casing at the at least one radial opening to create a rotation of an entering exhaust flow in a plan perpendicular to the principal axis, thereby generating a substantially helicoidally-shaped exhaust flow path in the second casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Victor F. Hermosillo, James M. Main, Steven Grosick, Andrew Chovanec
  • Patent number: 9607794
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) includes a case, an interrupter assembly, an exhaust guide part, an exhaust cover, a sealing groove and a sealing projection. The interrupter assembly is mounted inside the case, and has an arc gas exhaust port to exhaust an arc gas generated inside the case. The exhaust guide part is disposed between the interrupter assembly and the terminal part, and has an exhaust chamber therein to provide an arc gas passage between the arc gas exhaust port and a vent chute of the terminal part. The exhaust cover is mounted to the case in a structure covering the exhaust guide part, to seal the arc gas passage. The sealing groove is formed in an inner surface of the exhaust cover. The sealing projection is formed on the arc gas exhaust port of the interrupter assembly, to be inserted and coupled into the sealing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bong Yun Jang
  • Patent number: 9577412
    Abstract: A switchgear housing assembly includes a first switchgear housing including a cable compartment portion and a circuit breaker portion, a busbar portion, and a second switchgear housing a cable compartment section, a busbar section, and a circuit breaker section. An exhaust duct is arranged between the first and second switchgear housings. The exhaust duct is selectively fluidically exposed to at least one of the cable compartment portion, cable compartment section, the circuit breaker portion, and the circuit breaker section. A floating flap assembly is operatively associated with at least one of the first and second switchgear housings. The floating flap assembly includes a floating flap member. The floating flap member is selectively slideable between a closed position and an open position in response to a pressure rise in one of the cable compartment portion, cable compartment section, circuit breaker portion, and circuit breaker section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Prakash, Chandrakanth Gopularam, Debabrata Mukherjee, Amit Narang, Prashant Sudhakar Zende
  • Patent number: 9520698
    Abstract: An outdoor enclosure for housing power distribution equipment is disclosed herein. The outdoor enclosure includes improved means for evacuating arc flash gases from inside the enclosure to the atmosphere, comprising an expansion chamber and improved chimney. The chimney includes a chimney base and chimney capping structure arrangement designed to allow for the safe ventilation of arc fault gases to the atmosphere, while maintaining weather-proof characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Denis Pare, Martin Stefanka
  • Patent number: 9478951
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling and limiting the damage caused by arcs in electrical distribution equipment provide a cooling assembly that uses a filter or other porous substrate to absorb the energy from the arc byproducts. The filter-based cooling assembly may be used with a passive arc management device having a chamber sized and shaped to control and/or extinguish arcs and ventilation ports for expelling the arc byproducts into the cooling filter assembly. The filter-based cooling assembly may be installed in line with, at the end of, or as a substitute for, any ventilation conduits or tubes in the arc management device, or in the backplane of the arc management device, or the like, to absorb energy from the arc byproducts, cool them to a safe temperature, and vent them inside the equipment cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Faber, Cameron Woodson
  • Patent number: 9425591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arc deflecting and ventilation assembly (100) comprising of a slotted unit (102), wire mesh arrangement (106) and an array of are plates (108). The slotted unit (102) is provided with a plurality of slots (104) and is fixedly mounted to the electrical enclosure (109) and is provided with an open face (110), a closed face (112) and a wall structure (114). The arc deflecting and ventilation assembly (100) provides ventilation to the electrical enclosure (109) during normal conditions and also in an event of arcing. The present invention also provides systems (101) for arc deflecting and ventilation of hot gases generated within electrical enclosures (109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Gautam Sharma, Nithiyiaprakash Jagadeeswaran, Siva Chavali
  • Patent number: 9396891
    Abstract: A switchgear has an interrupter unit that includes an arc gap. A first and a second switching contact piece are movable relative to one another. A switching-gas duct originates in the arc gap and connects the arc gap to the surroundings of the interrupter unit. A hollow vessel arrangement delimits at least some sections of the switching-gas duct and is connected to one of the contact pieces. The hollow vessel arrangement includes an external outlet opening for the switching-gas duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Radu-Marian Cernat, Volker Lehmann, Andrzej Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 9330866
    Abstract: Electrical switching device having a housing, at least two switching chambers within the housing with contacts to interrupt at least one current path, an arc extinguishing device for each switching chamber, and at least one guide channel within the housing, which directs the arc gas exiting the arc extinguishing device towards at least one of the exhaust openings to allow the arc gases to exit the housing, whereby each switching chamber has a guide channel, and whereby the guide channels of the different switching chambers are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: EATON ELECTRICAL IP GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Karsten Gerving, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Ralf Thar
  • Patent number: 9287073
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes an arc exhaust port for exhausting an arc generated in the inner box; an outer box receiving the inner box and including an arc passage for exhausting the arc from the exhaust port to an outside; and an arc guide part for guiding the arc from the arc exhaust port into the arc passage, wherein the arc guide part includes: an upper guide; a lower guide spaced apart from the upper guide; and a connecting part connecting the upper and lower guides to each other in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bong Yun Jang
  • Patent number: 9271421
    Abstract: The arc-resistant MCC is provided with either the expansion chamber or the plenum. Arc flashes create pressure. Different arc-resistant MCC bases are used depending on whether the expansion chamber or the plenum is to be attached, as the expansion chamber and the plenum deal with the created pressure in different ways and are accordingly attached to the MCC base in different ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Ajit Pharne, Pablo A. Medina Rios, Reid Barkley, John Kaminski, Jeffrey D. Lord, Felix Galvan
  • Patent number: 9263206
    Abstract: A switching device, in particular an electrical power circuit breaker, is disclosed for protecting an electrical circuit. The switching device includes two pole terminals, a switching mechanism for automatically interrupting the electrical connection of the two pole terminals in the event of an overload, electrical components for controlling the switching device and a pole cassette in which the switching mechanism is disposed in a switching chamber. The pole cassette includes at least one gas duct which is connected to the switching chamber in a gas-communicating manner and is designed to discharge gas from the pole cassette past the electrical components to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Torsten Ahlert, Jörg-Uwe Dahl, Thomas Leye
  • Patent number: 9263216
    Abstract: A circuit breaker which includes a shielding component. The shielding component includes an external portion which defines a space external to the circuit breaker housing. The external portion prevents insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box closer than the distances defining the space. This can have the advantage of preventing arcing from the breaker contacts to the breaker box. The external portion may also prevent insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box such that a vent in the circuit breaker housing is blocked. In some implementations, the shielding component contains an internal portion which extends into the circuit breaker housing and is disposed to impede debris generated by contact arcing, or other debris, from entering the mechanism of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CARLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jianzhuan Lin, Michael Fasano
  • Publication number: 20150136740
    Abstract: An arc baffle includes a first baffle member having a number of first venting holes disposed therein, each being structured to receive ionized gases produced by an arcing event; a second baffle member having a number of second venting holes disposed therein; a section of porous material disposed between the first baffle member and the second baffle member; and a cover disposed adjacent the second baffle member on the opposite side of the section of porous material. The first venting holes are laterally spaced from the second venting holes by a predetermined distance such that ionized gases produced by the arcing event passing through one of the first venting holes must travel at minimum the predetermined distance generally along the section of porous material before passing through one of the second venting holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD AFSHARI, JAMES ALAN TRAX, JASON ERIC BASTA, DOEL COLLAZO, ANTHONY JOHN FISHOVITZ, RAYMOND PETER GUNDY, II
  • Publication number: 20150129555
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) includes a case, an interrupter assembly, an exhaust guide part, an exhaust cover, a sealing groove and a sealing projection. The interrupter assembly is mounted inside the case, and has an arc gas exhaust port to exhaust an arc gas generated inside the case. The exhaust guide part is disposed between the interrupter assembly and the terminal part, and has an exhaust chamber therein to provide an arc gas passage between the arc gas exhaust port and a vent chute of the terminal part. The exhaust cover is mounted to the case in a structure covering the exhaust guide part, to seal the arc gas passage. The sealing groove is formed in an inner surface of the exhaust cover. The sealing projection is formed on the arc gas exhaust port of the interrupter assembly, to be inserted and coupled into the sealing groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bong Yun JANG
  • 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: 20150014280
    Abstract: A switchgear includes an interrupter unit. The interrupter unit is provided with first and second switching contact pieces that are movable relative to one another. A switching-gas duct that runs through the interrupter unit originates at an arc gap in which an electric arc can burn. The duct connects the arc gap to the surroundings of the interrupter unit. At least some sections of the switching-gas duct are delimited by mutually encompassing elements similar to an annular duct. One of the elements is a first member which is braced at the end similar to a pipe joint and which has a free end that projects in the direction of the arc gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Radu-Marian Cernat, Volker Lehmann, Andrzej Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 8922977
    Abstract: In an electrical distribution cabinet a mechanism providing quick, reliable, passive arc blast control has a flue chamber surrounding the likely arc site such as an electrical connection point. The flue chamber provides a flue channel which lengthens the arc and attenuates the current and temperature until the arc is extinguished. Preferably, the flue chamber and channel are formed of opposable open-faced polyhedral structures, one fitting inside the other. The mechanism is particularly suited for draw-out circuit breaker connections in a switch gear cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Robert Faber
  • Publication number: 20140339197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arc extinguishing chamber of an electric protection apparatus comprising an arc formation chamber containing a stationary contact and a movable contact which, when they separate, form an arc between them, said arc formation chamber communicating with the inlet of a second chamber, called arc extinguishing chamber. This chamber comprises a wall called balancing wall, substantially solid at least on its central part, said wall being located downstream from the arc extinguishing chamber and being formed and arranged with respect to the arc extinguishing chamber in such a way as to slow down the exhaust flow of the breaking gases on the side of the arc extinguishing chamber where the gases go first, and enhancing flow of the exhaust gases on the opposite side, the exhaust gases being stopped by the central part of the wall and escaping via the edges of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Luc Moreau, Loic Rondot
  • Publication number: 20140319100
    Abstract: A device for cooling exhaust gases caused by an electrical arc in high or medium voltage switch gear, which device comprises a housing with an inlet and an outlet for passage of the gases, wherein a hydrous mineral is arranged in the housing for cooling the gases with the water contained in the hydrous mineral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: EATON INDUSTRIES (NETHERLANDS) B.V.
    Inventor: Arend Lammers
  • Patent number: 8842421
    Abstract: An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure has a vent opening and a vent flap. Normally the vent flap is open to allow air to circulate through the enclosure. However, in the event of an arc fault explosion in the enclosure, the vent flap is forced to close by the explosion. As the vent flap closes, a flexible latch member moves along a keeper and prevents the vent flap from reopening. In some embodiments, the latch member contacts the keeper and props the vent flap open for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Central Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Paul W. Gingrich
  • Patent number: 8829381
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an increased interrupting rating without increasing the size of the circuit breaker while maintaining full compliance with UL and IEC standards. An adhesive is applied to a bottom surface near the exhaust outlets of interrupters. The interrupter housing is formed by joining two pieces, and the adhesive is applied across both pieces. The adhesive adheres to a bottom interior surface of a base of the circuit breaker, anchoring the interrupter assembly to the base. The adhesive prevents the two pieces of the interrupter housing from separating during an interruption event, and prevents the interrupter assembly from being lifted away from the base during the interruption event. The adhesive can act as a barrier to prevent interruption gas and pollution that do not escape out of the exhaust ports of the base from entering between the bottom of the interrupter assembly and the interior of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Wehr
  • Patent number: 8822870
    Abstract: A dielectric insulation medium including a fluoroketone containing 5 carbon atoms, in a mixture with a dielectric insulation gas component different from the fluoroketone, in particular air or an air component, the dielectric insulation medium, in particular the dielectric insulation gas, having a non-linearly increased dielectric strength that is larger than a sum of dielectric strengths of the gas components of the dielectric insulation medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Javier Mantilla, Max-Steffen Claessens, Nicola Gariboldi, Stephan Grob, Per Skarby, Thomas Alfred Paul, Navid Mahdizadeh
  • Publication number: 20140175062
    Abstract: Electrical switching device having a housing, at least two switching chambers within the housing with contacts to interrupt at least one current path, an arc extinguishing device for each switching chamber, and at least one guide channel within the housing, which directs the arc gas exiting the arc extinguishing device towards at least one of the exhaust openings to allow the arc gases to exit the housing, whereby each switching chamber has a guide channel, and whereby the guide channels of the different switching chambers are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Karsten Gerving, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Ralf Thar
  • Publication number: 20140166623
    Abstract: A muffler for enhanced arc protection is described. In the case of an internal arc event in an electrical enclosure, the muffler exhausts arc gas and plasma parallel to the enclosure surface, instead of directly forward where persons may be located. The muffler includes perforated plates and baffle plates in its interior space. The perforated plates have offset perforation patterns from one another, and the baffle plates are provided on opposing walls, causing the plasma and gas to make multiple directional changes. The perforated plates also filter the arc gas and plasma. These directional changes and filtering result in an energy reduction from the exhaust, which provides an increased margin of safety. In addition, the muffler provides an adequate level of ventilation in the enclosure, thus keeping the components cool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Michael Page, II
  • Patent number: 8748771
    Abstract: A switchgear panel comprises an enclosure having an internal volume suitable to accommodate corresponding electrical or electronic equipment, and an arc protection assembly which is operatively associated to a wall of the enclosure. The arc assembly comprises at least a first barrier element having a first surface which is provided with one or more first through openings defining each a respective same first venting area, and a second barrier element which comprises a second surface provided with one or more second through openings defining each a respective same second venting area. The first venting area of each first through opening is different from the second venting area of the second through openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Walter-Salvatore Franco
  • Patent number: 8735759
    Abstract: A debris collection slot or groove formed near the exit of a vent channel in a circuit breaker. Debris is produced during a circuit interruption, causing the debris to travel into the vent channel toward an opening where it exits the circuit breaker. Too much accumulated debris can lead to a ground strike or a cross-phase condition. The debris collection groove, formed near the exit opening of the vent channel, has no significant effect on the internal pressure generated during the circuit interruption. Multiple grooves can be formed near the exit opening for trapping more debris. When the vent channel is bent, the grooves are positioned on the outer curve of the last bend of the vent channel to trap the higher-density debris traveling around the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Potratz, David R. Pearson
  • Patent number: 8680420
    Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a mechanism for moving and/or extinguishing an arc fault occurring in a first compartment of the electrical enclosure. The mechanism is positioned adjacent to a busbar in a second compartment of the electrical enclosure. In the case of a first arc fault occurring in the first compartment, an explosion occurs which results in a pressure wave. The pressure wave causes the mechanism to move into the second compartment and make electrical contact with the busbar, which causes a short and/or a second arc fault in the second compartment, thereby extinguishing the first arc fault in the first compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Monahan
  • Patent number: 8648274
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus and devices for an arc resistant electrical enclosure that includes a duct system of adjacent pressure relief chambers separated by flame arresting ventilation partitions to provide a torturous mechanical maze to relieve internal pressure and extinguish internal hot flames within the flame arresting duct system prior to exiting the enclosure expelling gasses into the external environment. The adjacent partitioned pressure relief chambers for routing pressure and or flames through the duct system with ninety degree turns from one pressure relief chamber into the next adjacent pressure relief chamber. In an embodiment, a set of ventilation panels is located within one or more of the adjacent pressure relief chambers and each next pressure relief chamber can have a volume that is less than the volume in the preceding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Electrical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Nels Carlson, Gregory Allen Sanders
  • Patent number: 8642913
    Abstract: A venting assembly is provided for an arc chute of an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing and separable contacts. An arc and ionized gases are generated in response to the separable contacts tripping open. The arc chute includes a plurality of arc splitters each having first and second opposing sides, an interior passage, and an exterior. The venting assembly includes a first portion coupled to the first side of at least one of the arc splitters and including a venting segment with first venting apertures. A second portion is coupled to the second side and includes a second venting segment having second venting apertures. The first and second venting segments are spaced from the exterior of the arc splitters to form first and second cooling chambers for cooling the ionized gases. The first and second venting apertures vent the ionized gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James Gerard Maloney
  • Patent number: 8638184
    Abstract: An arc chute for a DC circuit breaker is disclosed which includes at least one stack of a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates, the at least one stack defining a first axis A in parallel to a stacking direction; an arc space adapted to allow an arc to extend along the first axis, wherein a second axis traversing in parallel to the metal plates the at least one stack and the arc space substantially orthogonal to the first axis. Further, an arc-chute housing having at least one side wall, the at least one side wall being substantially parallel to the second axis, wherein the distance between the at least one sidewall and the metal plates is, for example, less than 5 mm, such as less than 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Philippe Noisette, Yoann Alphand, Marc Blanc
  • Publication number: 20140021170
    Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes an arc exhaust port for exhausting an arc generated in the inner box; an outer box receiving the inner box and including an arc passage for exhausting the arc from the exhaust port to an outside; and an arc guide part for guiding the arc from the arc exhaust port into the arc passage, wherein the arc guide part includes: an upper guide; a lower guide spaced apart from the upper guide; and a connecting part connecting the upper and lower guides to each other in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Bong Yun JANG
  • Publication number: 20130334174
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an increased interrupting rating without increasing the size of the circuit breaker while maintaining full compliance with UL and IEC standards. An adhesive is applied to a bottom surface near the exhaust outlets of interrupters. The interrupter housing is formed by joining two pieces, and the adhesive is applied across both pieces. The adhesive adheres to a bottom interior surface of a base of the circuit breaker, anchoring the interrupter assembly to the base. The adhesive prevents the two pieces of the interrupter housing from separating during an interruption event, and prevents the interrupter assembly from being lifted away from the base during the interruption event. The adhesive can act as a barrier to prevent interruption gas and pollution that do not escape out of the exhaust ports of the base from entering between the bottom of the interrupter assembly and the interior of the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Wehr
  • Patent number: 8598484
    Abstract: An enclosure is provided for use with a circuit protection system having at least one exhaust duct configured to route exhaust gases out of the circuit protection system. The enclosure includes a first barrier coupled to the circuit protection system, a second barrier coupled to the circuit protection system, and a top wall coupled to the first barrier and the second barrier. The first barrier and the second barrier define an exhaust plenum coupled in flow communication with the at least one exhaust duct. A vent extends through the top wall and is coupled in flow communication with the exhaust plenum to route the exhaust gases out of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Engel, Daniel Edward Delfino, Michael Lafond