Abstract: A switching device for industrial equipment having at least one pair of contacts includes a transfer member rotatably mounted in the switching device. The transfer member is configured to receive a first force applied to the switching device in a first direction and to receive a second force applied to the switching device in a second direction. A rocker arm, rotatably mounted in the switching device, engages the transfer member to receive the first force over a first angle of rotation and to receive the second force over a second angle of rotation. The second angle of rotation is less than the first angle of rotation. A lever arm is pivotally mounted within the switching device. The lever arm engages the rocker arm to move between an Off position and an On position, and a plunger is actuated by the lever arm to selectively open and close the contacts.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact disposed on a moveable contact arm, the moveable contact being configured to be pivotable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact by pivoting of the moveable contact arm about an axis. The moveable contact arm defines a pivot angle with respect to the stationary contact as the moveable contact arm pivots about the axis. A biasing member exerts a biasing force on the moveable contact arm which pivotally biases the moveable contact toward the stationary contact when the pivot angle is less than a zero-bias angle and which pivotally biases the moveable contact away from the stationary contact when the pivot angle is greater than a zero-bias angle.

Abstract: A switch apparatus usable in a DC circuit employs a rotatable shaft having conductors that are removably connected with two or more pairs of contacts that are situated on line conductors and load conductors and that are connected in parallel by the conductors on the shaft. In rotating the shaft to open the switch, one pair of the contacts is electrically disconnected prior to electrical disconnection of the other pair of contacts. Further rotation of the shaft causes the other pair of contact to eventually become disconnected. Electrical arcs thus form only at the air gaps between the other pair of contacts and the conductor. Magnetic field elements in the form of permanent magnets are situated in the vicinity of the air gaps of only the other pair of contacts and apply Lorentz forces to the arcs to extinguish them.

Abstract: A current switch includes a blade-shaped movable contact that extends in a radial direction from a rotation center, and that reciprocates such that a free end of the movable contact draws a rotation locus, a fixed contact that includes a plurality of pairs of energizing contacts that come into and out of contact with the movable contact, a movable arcing contact that is provided on the movable contact, fixed arcing contacts that are provided on a pair of energizing contacts, and a pair of permanent magnets that are arranged within the pair of energizing contacts adjacent to the fixed arcing contacts.

Abstract: To provide an electric current switching apparatus having a fixed-side electrode unit and a movable-side electrode unit that are arranged to align central axes thereof with each other and to face each other, in which a movable contact provided in the movable-side electrode unit reciprocates on the central axis to contact or separate from a fixed-side contact provided in the fixed-side electrode unit, thereby switching electric current flowing through these electrode units, the electric current switching apparatus including a plurality of permanent magnets that are provided in at least one of the fixed-side electrode unit and the movable-side electrode unit, that have bodies arranged on the central axis to align magnetizing directions thereof with the central axis, and that are arranged to cause same poles of adjacent ones of the permanent magnets to face each other as if butting with each other.

Abstract: An improved arc extinction apparatus that can be used in an improved DC switch apparatus includes a pair of magnetic field elements in the exemplary form of permanent magnets to apply Lorentz forces to the arcs. The magnetic fields are arranged in the vicinity of the air gaps that form between the ends of a pivoting conductor and a pair of contacts such that the system is optimized to extinguish an arc at one air gap when current is flowing through the conductor in a first direction and is further optimized to extinguish an arc at the other air gap when current is flowing in an opposite direction through the conductor. This is accomplished by providing a magnet at each air gap of the circuit, with the magnetic fields being oriented parallel with the pivot axis and having their north poles pointed in the same direction.

Abstract: An electromechanical circuit breaker for establishing and breaking the current in a main circuit includes a fixed contact element and a moving contact element, which in a first position are in electrical contact with each other for carrying the current of the main circuit, the moving contact element being adapted to be displaced to a second position in which it is separated from the fixed contact element so that the current in the main circuit is cut off. The circuit breaker is provided with a blow-out device including a magnetizing coil traversed by a magnetizing current for producing a magnetic field adapted to drive an arc generated by the separation of the two contact elements into an arc extinction element.

Abstract: A method of forming a switch assembly that includes a magnetic intensifier constructed to extend in generally close proximity to one of the stationary contact and the arc contact. During communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier manipulates a magnetic field associated with current passing through the switch assembly and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. Preferably, the magnetic intensifier is formed integrally with a turnback associated with one of the stationary contact or the arc contact. Such a construction simplifies the manufacture and assembly of the contactor assembly and provides efficient and repeatable arc suppression.

Abstract: A U-shaped magnetic plate is positioned on the side of a movable contact shoe opposite to a fixed contact shoe, and the tips of the respective legs of the magnetic plate face via a gap the movable contact shoe in a closed condition of the movable contact shoe. A magnetic plate is attached to the surface of the movable contact shoe at the side of the fixed contact, so that the magnetic plates form a closed magnetic circuit surrounding the movable contact shoe. If a high current, such as short circuit current, flows, a magnetic flux passing through the closed magnetic circuit induces an attractive force between the upper end surfaces of the U-shaper magnetic plate and the end surface of the magnetic plate. Accordingly, the movable contact shoe is rapidly opened to quickly interrupt the current, before a signal from an overcurrent trip apparatus operates an opening and closing mechanism. The opening speed of the movable contact shoe is increased when high current flows.

Abstract: An arc isolation shield for molded case circuit breakers is inserted between the circuit breaker case and cover and attached to one leg of the operating cradle. The knee of the circuit breaker moveable contact arm contacts the bottom of the shield and moves the shield in unison with the contact arm to protect the contact arm, contact braid and operating spring upon contact separation under severe overcurrent conditions.

Abstract: A circuit breaker is formed of a stationary contact member bent back into a U-shape and having a stationary contact at a bent back portion thereof, a moving contact member situated adjacent to the stationary contact member to be able to contact with the stationary contact, a plurality of grids laminated vertically with a space therebetween, and a unitary molded insulator situated around the stationary contact member. The insulator includes a pair of side walls facing to each other, and a plurality of slots arranged in the opposed side walls to vertically space apart from each other. The grids are inserted into the slots to be vertically piled when the circuit breaker is assembled. The circuit breaker can be easily assembled.

Abstract: An arc quenching device for a circuit breaker having a stationary contact member and a moving contact member includes a magnetic element formed of an arc quenching core and a base plate. The arc quenching core includes a back wall, and two side walls extending from lateral sides of the back wall. The base plate extends substantially perpendicularly from a lower side of the back wall in a direction as in the side walls, and is fixed to the stationary contact member. The base plate includes a U-shaped magnetic driving core situated near a stationary contact point and extending upwardly from the base plate to surround the stationary contact point, and an arc horn integrally formed with the base plate and obliquely extending toward the back wall from a portion near the stationary contact point. Arc formed between the stationary contact member and the moving contact member is moved by magnetic driving force formed by the magnetic driving core to the arc quenching core to be quenched therein through the arc horn.

Abstract: A subframe is coaxially pivotally mounted with a movable frame of the operating mechanism of a molded case circuit breaker and is locked to the frame by a bell crank pawl which is pivotally mounted on the subframe. A leaf spring assembly rigidly attached to the subframe overlies the movable contact finger to engage the same in the circuit ON condition of the circuit breaker to provide desired contact force. The bell crank pawl is released upon an incrementally small amount of initial movement of the movable contact arm in response to blow-open magnetic repulsion forces to release the movable contact finger for pivotal opening movement relative to the movable frame of the circuit breaker operating mechanism.