Arc Extinguishing Material Patents (Class 218/158)
  • Patent number: 10354814
    Abstract: A quenching plate arrangement for a switching device has plural quenching plates for arc splitting and/or lengthening; a guiding plate, the quenching plates being arranged substantially next to one another to firm a stack, the guiding plate laterally delimiting the stack, the guiding plate protruding beyond the quenching plates in a main extension direction; and a DC-suitable switching device having a first contact and a second contact, at least the second contact being movable relative to the first contact, a first and second running rail arrangement for conducting an arc with respective first and second current directions, the two running rail arrangements having respective first and second running rails, the two first and two second running rails respectively running in opposite directions from the first and second contacts, and the first running rails being connected in an electrically conducting manner in closed loop form, with the quenching plate arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Karsten Gerving, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Ralf Thar
  • Patent number: 10301449
    Abstract: A thermoplastic resin composition that can have high reflectance and light efficiency and excellent discoloration resistance even at high temperature and high humidity conditions over a long period of time includes (A) a polyester resin; (B) a white pigment; and (C) a sodium phosphate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Lotte Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Hong, Tae Gon Kang, Chan Moo Park, Sang Hwa Lee, Yoo Jin Jung, Jong Cheol Lim
  • Patent number: 10026537
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, subsea fault tolerant transformer includes an arrangement of two tanks mounted one above the other. A lower tank houses the transformer windings and core and is below and abutting an upper tank. Both tanks are filled with respective dielectric oil. The electrical terminals for the primary and secondary power connections are on the second/instrument tank and the conductors pass through the instrument tank and then through the shared wall to the transformer tank. The design allows for enhanced cooling of the transformer through a single wall portion of the lower tank as well as fault tolerance associated with double barriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Andreas Bjoerkhaug
  • Publication number: 20150060411
    Abstract: Provided are: a hermetically-enclosed tank that is filled with insulating gas; a blocking unit that is provided within the hermetically-enclosed tank and is configured with a movable arc contact and a fixed arc contact opposing each other; a plurality of energizing units, within the hermetically-enclosed tank, that are provided around the blocking unit about its axial line as a center and located away from each other; and a fixed-side auxiliary conductor that is provided between a gas space which stores the energizing units and a gas space on the side of the fixed arc contact. A communication hole is formed on the fixed-side auxiliary conductor so as to communicate the gas space provided between the energizing units with the gas space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Yamashita, Daisuke Yoshida, Hirokazu Otani
  • Patent number: 8680421
    Abstract: An encapsulated switchgear that includes a housing defining, an insulating space, and an electrical active part arranged in the insulating space, the insulating space with an insulation medium. The switchgear is characterized in that the insulation medium with a dielectric compound having a boiling point of above ?25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Maik Hyrenbach, Ole Granhaug, Max-Steffen Claessens, Per Skarby
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130270228
    Abstract: A switchgear includes a fixed contactor provided in a tank filled with insulating gas, and a movable contactor provided in the tank, the movable contactor being connected to and disconnected from the fixed contactor so as to move forward and backward. The switchgear includes an arc extinction member including a surrounding portion which is slidably connected to the outer circumferential surface of the movable contactor halfway in a movement range from a close contact state to an open contact state and is formed so as to surround an arc space portion in a sealed manner, the surrounding portion being formed with a through hole through which the arc space communicates with the outside of the arc space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Katsushi Nakada, Katsuhiko Horinouchi
  • Publication number: 20120168407
    Abstract: A device for diverting energy away from an arc flash occurring within an electrical power system is provided. The device comprising an arc source configured to create a second arc flash, a plasma gun configured and disposed to inject plasma in proximity of said arc source in response to the arc flash, an arc containment device configured and disposed to house said arc source and said plasma gun, said arc containment device comprising a cover configured and disposed to cover said arc source and said plasma gun, said cover comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface being proximal to said arc source and said plasma gun, said inner surface including an insulative ceramic plasma spray coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Delfino, David Vincent Bucci, Aaron Engel, William Ladner
  • Patent number: 8129648
    Abstract: An overvoltage arrester includes at least two electrodes and a melt element that connects one of the electrodes to an outer terminal of the overvoltage arrester. An extinguishing device is designed to extinguish an electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Gero Zimmermann, Thomas Westebbe, Peter Bobert
  • Patent number: 8115134
    Abstract: An arc extinguishing resin processed article having excellent flame retardancy is disclosed, in which the contribution to rise in inner pressure is small, a pyrolysis gas that can efficiently extinguish an arc generated upon the interruption of a circuit can be generated, and heat resistance withstanding the rise in temperature generated in such a case and pressure resistance withstanding the rise in inner pressure are provided, and a circuit breaker using the arc extinguishing resin processed article are disclosed. The arc extinguishing resin processed article comprises a resin composition comprising (A) a polyolefin resin containing a hydroxyl group in an amount of from 0.2 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Fa Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Yanase, Toshiyuki Kanno, Shuichi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8089023
    Abstract: An arc-extinguishing processed resin article is disclosed that exhibits an excellent arc-extinguishing behavior, heat resistance, pressure resistance, and molding processability, and a circuit breaker that uses this arc-extinguishing processed resin article are provided. The circuit breaker includes a stationary contactor that has a stationary contact point, a movable contactor that has a movable contact point contacting the stationary contactor and that carries out a switching operation with the stationary contactor, and an arc-extinguishing device that extinguishes the arc generated when the stationary contactor and movable contactor engage in a switching operation. The circuit breaker uses, as the arc-extinguishing device, an arc-extinguishing processed resin article obtained by molding a resin composition containing (A) polyolefin resin that has the hydroxyl group substituted for a portion of the hydrogen atoms in the methylene chain and that contains 0.2 to 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kanno, Hironori Yanase, Shuichi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20110309715
    Abstract: A dielectric insulation medium. The insulation medium is characterized in that it comprises a fluoroketone having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Max-Steffen Claessens, Per Skarby
  • Patent number: 7893380
    Abstract: An arc-interrupting compound, such as melamine, and to a method of extinguishing an arc by disposing the composition along the path of the arc, for contacting the arc. In one embodiment, the binder, or at least a portion of the binder, is a polymer that contains a functional group that binds to a coupling agent that is included in the arc-extinguishing composition. The coupling agent ties the polymeric binder to the arc-extinguishing compound, e.g., melamine, to provide new and unexpected physical strength and stability to the composition. In this embodiment, the molded composition, including the arc-interrupting compound coupled to the binder, maintains excellent arc-interrupting capability, while providing chemical stability and electrical insulating properties as well as unexpected physical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Moore
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100282714
    Abstract: A gas tank is hermetically filled with an insulating gas. A gas filling opening is provided on the gas tank, which includes a flange at its end. A gas filter device is fixed to the gas flange of the gas filling opening. The gas filter device includes a gas filter formed with a porous insulating material having pores with a diameter in a range from tens of micrometers to hundreds of micrometers. The gas filter has stability against the insulating gas and a decomposition product of the insulating gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Osumi, Kazumichi Hata
  • Patent number: 7754991
    Abstract: This electrical switchgear has an interrupting chamber enclosing an interrupting gas (G) substantially devoid of SF6 and of CF4, and a first arcing contact (10) and a second arcing contact (18), the two arcing contacts moving causes an electric arc (26) to strike, while at least one irradiation wall (22) is provided that is suitable for being reached by the electric arc. At least two component materials that are part of at least one element selected from the interrupting gas, the first and second arcing contacts, and the or each irradiation wall, are suitable for decomposing under the effect of the electric arc, so as to form decomposed species (e1, e2) suitable for combining in the interrupting chamber, in order to form at least one new gaseous species (G1), before the electric arc is extinguished, the dielectric properties of said at least one new gaseous species being superior to the dielectric properties of said interrupting gas (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bessede, Oana Aitken
  • Publication number: 20090289038
    Abstract: A subsea arrangement including at least one canister including a chamber accommodating at least one circuit breaker. The chamber is filled with a gaseous dielectric medium constituting a quenching medium for the at least one circuit breaker in the chamber. The pressure in the chamber is balanced against ambient sea water pressure by a pressure balancer, which includes at least one pressure container containing a pressurized gaseous medium of a same type as the gaseous medium in the chamber. The pressure container is connected to the chamber via a control valve, which is arranged to be controlled by the ambient pressure so as to feed pressurized gaseous medium from the pressure container into the chamber when the ambient pressure increases in order to maintain the pressure in the chamber equal to the ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventor: Tor-Odd Ronhovd
  • Publication number: 20080237194
    Abstract: An arc extinguishing composition including an arc-quenching metal hydrate (herein defined as a metal compound that produces water vapor (H2O) when in contact with an electrical arc), and one or more binders. The compositions contain an arc-quenching metal hydrate compound, such as Mg(OH)2, with or without a second arc-quenching compound, such as melamine, and these metal hydrate-containing compositions are used in a method of extinguishing an arc by disposing the molded compositions along a path of an electrical arc, for contacting the arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: S & C ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Moore, Keith W. Benson
  • Publication number: 20080169271
    Abstract: An arc-interrupting compound, such as melamine, and to a method of extinguishing an arc by disposing the composition along the path of the arc, for contacting the arc. In one embodiment, the binder, or at least a portion of the binder, is a polymer that contains a functional group that binds to a coupling agent that is included in the arc-extinguishing composition. The coupling agent ties the polymeric binder to the arc-extinguishing compound, e.g., melamine, to provide new and unexpected physical strength and stability to the composition. In this embodiment, the molded composition, including the arc-interrupting compound coupled to the binder, maintains excellent arc-interrupting capability, while providing chemical stability and electrical insulating properties as well as unexpected physical strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: S & C ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Moore
  • Patent number: 6631058
    Abstract: A technique for reducing arc retrogression in a circuit interrupter includes providing a source material in a parallel current carrying path in the interrupter. The source material and parallel current carrying path support no current during normal operation. Upon interruption of a primary current carrying path, current flows through the source material, causing surface ablation of material which enhances the dielectric of the arc plasma, permitting more rapid entry of the arc into a dissipating structure such as a splitter plate stack. The source material transitions to a higher resistance level by heating to limit current flow during interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Mallonen, David J. Benard, Paul T. Nolden, Mark Clayton
  • Patent number: 6594126
    Abstract: A technique is provided for forcing greater voltage investment in an arc developed during interruption of a current carrying path. A source element is provided in a secondary current carrying path parallel to a primary path through the device. Upon interruption of the primary current carrying path, an arc is forced to migrate towards a dissipating structure under the influence of an electromagnetic field. The source material then begins to carry current and undergoes surface ablation, releasing gas which is directed towards the migrating arc. The arc is thus caused to expand further, increasing voltage investment and resulting in more rapid extinction and reduction in let-through energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward A. Mallonen, David J. Benard, Paul T. Nolden, Mark Clayton
  • Patent number: 6570481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker having a crossbar (7) that is supported swingably onto a base (1B) to hold swingably movable contacts (4), and has the small reduction of overtravel in the elapsed years, and can reduce its size. The bending modulus of elasticity Eb, Ec of the base (1B) and the crossbar (7) at the ordinary temperature/ordinary humidity satisfy following relationships Eb+Ec≧17000 MPa  (1) 8000 MPa≦Eb  (2) 9000 MPa≦Ec  (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunichi Katsube, Kazunori Fukuya
  • Patent number: 6565983
    Abstract: An electrical contact element for electrically connecting an electric device and providing current transmission in an electric device wherein the electrical contact element comprises a metallic body, and wherein at least one contact surface, present on the body, is completely or partially coated with a friction-reducing layer. The friction-reducing layer comprises a metal salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Sylva Arnell, Bengt Stridh
  • Patent number: 6361848
    Abstract: A switch having a molded article of which the entirety or a part is composed of an organic and inorganic complex composition is provided, wherein the base inside of the base of a box is composed of for example an organic and inorganic complex composition with the resin content at 15 to 70 wt % and the content of one or more inorganic compounds capable of dehydration at 150° C. or more at 80 to 30 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shunichi Katsube, Tosikazu Uemoto, Kenichi Nishina, Kazunori Fukuya, Shinji Yamagata, Satoru Yamasaki, Mitsugu Takahashi, Kazuharu Kato, Takao Mitsuhashi, Hiroshi Adachi, Shoji Yamaguchi, Itsuo Nishiyama, Fumiaki Baba
  • Patent number: 6288621
    Abstract: An electrical circuit breaker pole comprises an arc extinguishing chamber with two side flanges, a rear wall, separators, a front opening, a lower arcing horn electrically connected to the stationary contact and an upper arcing horn. The rear part of the lower arcing horn is of large width. It is bordered by a periphery made of gas-generating material interposed between the edge of the rear part and the side flanges. This arrangement fosters breaking of arcs of weak intensity, in high voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Marc Rival
  • Patent number: 6218636
    Abstract: An electrical arc extinguishing chamber designed to be placed facing separable contacts of a switchgear apparatus and to extinguish the arc generated by separation of the contacts comprises two side walls facing one another and a plurality of spaced apart plates arranged between the side walls and secured by the side walls. The side walls have a stratified composite structure with at least two layers. The layers comprise a polyamide fabric impregnated with thermosetting resin. The chamber thus obtained has advantageous breaking strength properties. The edges of the side walls do not present any dielectric weakness points. The chamber is particularly suitable for low-voltage switchgear of high power ratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Marc Blancfene, Marc Rival
  • Patent number: 5990440
    Abstract: A switch containing a switch case, contacts adapted to be opened and closed, an arc extinguishing chamber disposed in the vicinity of the contacts, and an arc extinguishing material capable of reducing the amount of metal particles and free carbons to be scattered from components disposed within the switch by an arc generated when the contacts are opened or closed or capable of insulating the metal particles and the free carbons to convert into an insulator, thereby inhibiting a decrease in arc resistance expected to occur upon the generation and extinction of the arc and a decrease in insulation resistance expected to occur within and around the arc extinguishing chamber and at inner wall surfaces of the switch case upon and after the extinction of the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Yamaguchi, Itsuo Nishiyama, Fumiaki Baba, Mitugu Takahasi, Takao Mitsuhashi, Kazuharu Kato, Osamu Hiroi, Tadaki Murakami, Hiroshi Adachi, Kenichi Nishina, Kazunori Fukuya, Shinji Yamagata, Shunichi Katsube
  • Patent number: 5907270
    Abstract: A current-limiting switch, with current connections and contacts, at least one of which is movable, having an associated drive, for opening the moving contact when a predefined electric current intensity is exceeded, are provided. The drive is a thermoelectric drive where a disk-shaped resistor body is present, in a closed housing made of insulating material, for high-intensity discharges, plurality of resistor bodies and associated electrode disks, acting as contacts, are connected electrically in parallel and mechanically in series in the housing made of an insulating material (1). This results in increased switching capacity with compact design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: David Walter Branston, Wilfried Jaehner, Fritz Pohl
  • Patent number: 5847630
    Abstract: A compact current limiting circuit breaker utilizes a polymer current limiter, an arc rail and an arc gap for effective overcurrent protection. Upon the occurrence of contact separation an arc is drawn between the circuit breaker contacts and driven toward an arc rail. Commutation of the arc from the stationary contact to the arc rail effectively changes the current path to incorporate the polymer current limiter which rapidly suppresses the overcurrent. Circuit isolation is achieved by extinction of the arc within the arc gap between the movable contact and the arc rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Arnold, Randall L. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 5841088
    Abstract: A switch comprising a switch case, contacts adapted to be opened and closed, an arc extinguishing chamber disposed in the vicinity of the contacts, and an arc extinguishing material capable of reducing the amount of metal particles and free carbons to be scattered from components disposed within the switch by an arc generated when the contacts are opened or closed or capable of insulating the metal particles and the free carbons to convert into an insulator, thereby inhibiting a decrease in arc resistance expected to occur upon the generation and extinction of the arc and a decrease in insulation resistance expected to occur within and around the arc extinguishing chamber and at inner wall surfaces of the switch case upon and after the extinction of the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Yamaguchi, Itsuo Nishiyama, Fumiaki Baba, Mitugu Takahasi, Takao Mitsuhashi, Kazuharu Kato, Osamu Hiroi, Tadaki Murakami, Hiroshi Adachi, Kenichi Nishina, Kazunori Fukuya, Shinji Yamagata, Shunichi Katsube
  • Patent number: 5828026
    Abstract: The stock contains an insulating-material matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix and is distinguished by a cellular structure. The predominant portion of the cells is filled with a material having arc-extinguishing properties or contains a material which, on exposure to an arc, forms arc-extinguishing gas. For the purpose of improving the making and breaking capacity, such a stock can advantageously be employed in a gas-blast circuit breaker in which arc-extinguishing gas is blown onto the switching arc. This involves the stock preferably being positioned at such points guiding the arc-extinguishing gas, at which the stock is exposed to the radiation of the arc and the thermal action of arc gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Bodo Bruhl, Elias Julke, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lutz Niemeyer, Leopold Ritzer
  • Patent number: 5753877
    Abstract: An electrically insulated turbulator for use in an electrical device for automatically interrupting an overload current is a one-piece molded assembly with an arcuate portion arranged around a terminal screw and a downwardly turned flange for shielding the terminal from the ionized gases in the arc chute. The arcuate portion has several fins and spaced-apart planar portions, both of which are located in the path of the ionized gases. The planar portions have surfaces which cooperate with the fins to create a turbulent flow pattern to decrease the length of the gas flow, and thereby optimize the cooling effect on the gases and for directing the gas flow in a desired direction. The turbulator is preferably made of a gassing material which contributes to the deionizing of the gasses, which lessens the buildup of gas pressure. It also preferably has a blowout membrane in order to limit the back pressure in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Hartzel, Robert J. Tedesco, William D. Munsch, Michael J. Erb
  • Patent number: 5608198
    Abstract: An arrangement in an electrical switching device for protection against electrical arcs comprises a tripping mechanism, a stationary contact carrier, a movable contact carrier, an exhaust vent, an arc runner, and an arc extinguishing barrier. The stationary contact carrier has a stationary contact mounted thereon, and the movable contact carrier has a movable contact mounted thereon. In response to an overcurrent condition, the tripping mechanism causes the movable contact carrier to rotate from a closed position to an open position, thereby generating an electrical arc. In the closed position the movable contact abuts the stationary contact, and in the open position the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact. The arc extinguishing barrier is composed of an outgassing material and is located between the stationary contact and a portion of the tripping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Clark, Greg Ghere, Jeffrey M. Kaufman, Terry D. Repstien, Willard J. Rezac, Steven C. Wilgenbusch
  • Patent number: 5463199
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an arc chute adjacent the arc path between a fixed and a movable contact. To aid in extinguishing the arc under short circuit conditions, an arc suppressor element is fixed on a movable surface adjacent the movable contact; and preferably on the arm itself facing the fixed contact and arc chute. The arc suppressor is made from a thermoplastic material such as nylon 6/6 which has high temperature resistance and high dissipation factor, and absorbs a relatively large amount of water. During interruption of a high current arc, heat shock liberates gases and water vapor from the suppressor material to neutralize arc ions and blow the arc toward the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory T. Divincenzo, Stefan Gabrielson