Magnetic Or Electrodynamic Force Patents (Class 335/195)
  • Patent number: 11257646
    Abstract: A contact device includes a moving contactor, a pair of moving contacts arranged in one direction, a pair of fixed terminals, and a pair of fixed contacts. At least one fixed terminal, selected from the pair of fixed terminals, includes a contact holder. The contact holder includes a first fixed extension and a second fixed extension. As for either a current component flowing in the one direction into the fixed contact or a current component flowing in the one direction out of the fixed contact, the current component flowing through the first fixed extension has a larger amount of current than a current component flowing through the second fixed extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Harano, Tatsuo Aratani
  • Patent number: 11004640
    Abstract: A relay has a case, a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact, a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact, a movable touch piece including a first movable contact that is disposed facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact that is disposed facing the second fixed contact, the movable touch piece being disposed in the case and disposed so as to be movable in a direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact come into contact with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and in a direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact separate from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact, a drive shaft connected to the movable touch piece and extending in a movement direction of the movable touch piece, and a coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Minowa, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Yasuo Hayashida
  • Patent number: 10964503
    Abstract: A relay has a case, a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact, a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact, a movable touch piece including a first movable contact that is disposed facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact that is disposed facing the second fixed contact, the movable touch piece being disposed in the case and disposed so as to be movable in a contact direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact come into contact with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and a separation direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact separate from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact. The first fixed terminal includes a first contact support configured to support the first fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Minowa, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Yasuo Hayashida, Shingo Mori, Naoki Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10937617
    Abstract: A relay has a case, a first fixed terminal including a first fixed contact, a second fixed terminal including a second fixed contact, a movable touch piece including a first movable contact that is disposed facing the first fixed contact and a second movable contact that is disposed facing the second fixed contact, the movable touch piece being disposed in the case and disposed so as to be movable in a direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact come into contact with the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and in a direction in which the first movable contact and the second movable contact separate from the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact. The first fixed terminal includes a first contact support disposed in the case and configured to support the first fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Ryota Minowa, Hiroyuki Iwasaka, Shingo Mori
  • Patent number: 10453629
    Abstract: A contactor and a contactor system are provided. The contactor comprises: a fixed contact; a movable contact capable of moving towards or away from the fixed contact; two arc ignition sheets for the movable contact, being positioned respectively at two sides opposite to each other of the movable contact in a first direction and fixed and electrically connected to the movable contact; two arc ignition sheets for the fixed contact, being positioned respectively at two sides opposite to each other of the fixed contact in the first direction and fixed and electrically connected to the fixed contact; and two arc-extinguishing chambers being arranged respectively on extension lines extending from the movable contact to the two arc ignition sheets for the movable contact in the first direction, wherein the two arc ignition sheets for the movable contact form an incomplete encirclement for the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sooar (Beijing) Investment Management Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yin Nan, Congli Wang, Mingliang Zhang, Lingqian Meng
  • Patent number: 9536691
    Abstract: This specification describes axial relays. One of the axial relays includes first and second adapters positioned along an axis defining an axial direction, a contact extending along the axial direction between the first adapter and the second adapter, and a driver configured to move the contact relative to at least one of the first and second adapters between a first position and a second position by moving the contact along the axial direction or rotating the contact around the axial direction, such that a first end of the contact is conductively coupled to the first adapter and a second end of the contact is conductively coupled to the second adapter when the contact is at the first position, and the first adapter is conductively decoupled from the first end of the first adapter when the contact is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Davis, Jyoti Sastry, Ankit Somani, James C. Schmalzried
  • Patent number: 9013253
    Abstract: A relay includes two stators each having a fixed contact, and a movable element having movable contacts. Each of the stators includes a stator proximity plate portion adjacent to the movable element, and the movable element includes a movable element proximity plate portion adjacent to the stators. A direction of current flowing in the stator proximity plate portions is set to be same as a direction of current flowing in the movable element proximity plate portion to generate an inter-plate attraction force for attracting the movable element proximity plate portion onto the stator proximity plate portions. The movable element proximity plate portion is biased by the inter-plate attraction force toward a direction for bringing the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Anden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akikazu Uchida
  • Patent number: 8841979
    Abstract: A relay includes two stators each having a fixed contact, and a movable element having movable contacts. Each of the stators includes a stator proximity plate portion adjacent to the movable element, and the movable element includes a movable element proximity plate portion adjacent to the stators. A direction of current flowing in the stator proximity plate portions is set to be same as a direction of current flowing in the movable element proximity plate portion to generate an inter-plate attraction force for attracting the movable element proximity plate portion onto the stator proximity plate portions. The movable element proximity plate portion is biased by the inter-plate attraction force toward a direction for bringing the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Anden Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akikazu Uchida
  • Publication number: 20130307649
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, includes a fixing contact; a movable contact configured to be moved to or from the fixing contact in an approaching and separating direction; a movable part; a driving part configured to drive the movable part; a pressing part configured to press the movable contact based on the driving of the movable part; and a magnetic body provided at an external periphery side of at least one of the fixing contact, the movable contact, and an air space in the approaching and separating direction of the fixing contact and the movable contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventor: Masato Morimura
  • Patent number: 8587394
    Abstract: A reed switch assembly of a magnetic latching relay includes a movable reed, an immovable reed, a movable contact and an immovable contact. The movable contact and the immovable contact are disposed at respective ends of the movable reed and the immovable reed. The end with the movable contact of the movable reed is bent twice to form a reverse U-shaped end. The end with the immovable contact of the immovable reed is bent twice to form a U-shaped end. The reverse U-shaped end of the movable reed and the U-shaped end of the immovable reed are interlaced. The present invention further comprises a tension spring. One end of the tension spring is fixed to the reverse U-shaped end of the movable reed, and another end of the tension spring is mounted to a base of the magnetic latching relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Dongguan Sanyou Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Yang Song
  • Patent number: 8373525
    Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor has a stationary core; a coil arranged around the stationary core; a movable holder movable toward the stationary core; a movable core coupled to one end of the movable holder for being attracted to the stationary core by the excitation of the coil; and a nonmagnetic structural component arranged on the movable core facing the stationary core. The nonmagnetic structural component is a flat plate structural component with high flexural rigidity, overlaid on the surface of the movable core to face the stationary core. The nonmagnetic structural component and the movable core are held between a cushioning spring and a coupling pin. The cushioning spring is contained in the movable holder and buts the back face of the movable core not facing the stationary core. The coupling pin crosses the nonmagnetic structural component with both ends engaged with a pair of holder legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Watanabe, Hideki Daijima
  • Patent number: 8179217
    Abstract: A polar electromagnet device has a drive shaft comprising an axis center supported so as to reciprocate in an axis center direction at a center hole of a spool wound with a coil, and a movable iron core attached to a lower end of the drive shaft on the axis center. The drive shaft is reciprocated with the movable iron core which reciprocates based on excitation and demagnetization of the coil. A permanent magnet is integrally arranged at the movable iron core on the same axis center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Kawaguchi, Kazuchika Hiroki
  • Patent number: 8159319
    Abstract: A concept of a double-breaking contact system with a rotating contact arm is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a novel arrangement of fixed conductors that cross over the contact arm is presented. A double-breaking contact system for a low voltage circuit breaker of at least one embodiment includes a double-breaking contact arm extending along a longitudinal axis and being rotatable across a central bearing; a first fixed conductor and a second fixed conductor, each conductor contacting one end of the contact arm, respectively and having first segments below the contact arm, second segments above the contact arm and third segments crossing over the contact arm and connecting the first segments with the corresponding second segments of each conductor; wherein the first segments and/or the second segments are arranged parallel to each other for guiding a current in a parallel direction through the respective first and/or second segments, but reverse to the current in the contact arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: James Ferree
  • Patent number: 8138872
    Abstract: A contact device has a first yoke having a substantially U-shape, a second yoke bridged over both ends of the first yoke, a spool wound with a coil disposed between the first yoke and the second yoke, a movable iron core inserted into a center hole of the spool in a reciprocating mariner, and a contact mechanism unit formed above the second yoke driven with a drive shaft having a lower end fixed to the movable iron core, which reciprocates based on excitation and demagnetization of the coil, and an upper end projecting out from an upper surface of the second yoke. An insertion hole communicating to the center hole of the spool and through which the movable iron core reciprocates is formed in the first yoke. An annular auxiliary yoke including an insertion hole communicating to the insertion hole of the first yoke and through which the movable iron core reciprocates is provided at a lower surface of the first yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuhiro Yoshihara, Kazuchika Hiroki
  • Patent number: 8138863
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay has a movable contact arranged at one end of a drive shaft that reciprocates in an axis center direction based on excitation and demagnetization of an electromagnet block, and a pair of adjacently arranged fixed contacts with which the movable contact is operable to contact and separate. A first electromagnetic iron piece, a second electromagnetic iron piece and the movable contact are inserted to the drive shaft so that the first electromagnetic iron piece and the second electromagnetic iron piece sandwich the movable contact. The second electromagnetic iron piece is biased to one end side of the drive shaft with a coil spring inserted to the drive shaft. When the movable contact contacts to the pair of fixed contacts, the second electromagnetic iron piece forming a magnetic circuit with the first electromagnetic iron piece pushes the movable contact to the pair of fixed contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Tanaka, Ikuhiro Yoshihara, Ryuichi Hashimoto, Kazuchika Hiroki, Hideaki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7990239
    Abstract: At least one electrical contactor is provided that includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. The fixed contact includes a center leg and first and second arms that extend in opposite directions from the center leg. The movable contact associated with each fixed contact includes first and second blades positioned on opposite sides of the center leg. The first and second blades extend parallel to the center leg of the fixed contact such that when current flows through the electrical contactor, the current flow creates a force to push the first and second blades into the first and second arms of the fixed contact. The electrical contactor includes an actuating arrangement having a pair of cam members. The movement of the cam members causes pegs on each of the first and second blades to travel within the cam channel, thus opening and closing the contactor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: M&FC Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Brown, William R. Mazza, Jr., Oliver Burstall, Alan Syrop
  • Patent number: 7948336
    Abstract: A mold cased circuit breaker is disclosed that enables a user to easily discern an actually connected state between stationary contactors and movable contactors and forcibly separates a connection therebetween if there arises electrical fault, wherein the circuit breaker comprises: a first isolation link hinged at a lower end thereof to a shaft unit and selectively engaged at an upper end thereof with a lateral surface of a lever; a second isolation link centrally formed with an oblong hole for accommodating a guide pin protruded on a side plate and linked at one end thereof to an upper end of the first isolation link; and an isolation lever adjacently positioned at one end thereof to the other end of the second isolation link, and so positioned at the other end thereof as to selectively engage with a nail, and rotatably mounted at the side plate to rotate the nail by way of operation of the second isolation link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Young Park
  • Patent number: 7911303
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a vacuum valve, an electromagnet including a first coil for driving an operating shaft of the vacuum valve toward an opening direction by electromagnetic repulsion, a movable core and a permanent magnet. Further, an operating mechanism is provided which excites the first coil to close the vacuum valve, holds the vacuum valve closed by an attractive force of the permanent magnet and excites the first coil in a direction reverse to an excitation direction in closing operation to open the vacuum valve. In the circuit breaker, together with the first coil, a second coil is disposed which is excited simultaneously with an electromagnetic repulsion coil for a quick opening operation by electromagnetic repulsion is provided in the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Morita, Minoru Hosoda, Yoshihiko Matsuda, Masato Suzuki, Keiichi Miyashita, Shigetoshi Oouchi, Masaaki Saitou, Akihito Yano
  • Patent number: 7872551
    Abstract: A relay includes a contact point block having a support shaft with both ends spanning a contact point base, a plunger having a movable contact at a lower end thereof, and a movable iron piece configured to drive the plunger and to have a plate spring. The relay also includes an electromagnetic unit and a base block having a fixed contact point at a position opposite to the movable contact point. The movable iron piece is supported on the supporting shaft. The plunger is inserted through an operation hole of the contact point base. Upper and lower surfaces of the contact point block are held by the electromagnetic unit and the base block. The electromagnetic unit directly fixes the iron core to an upper surface of the contact point base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Yojiro Saruwatari, Tatsuo Shinoura, Akira Ota
  • 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: 7772943
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly resists blow-open under conditions of increased current flow. The contact assembly includes parallel conducting surfaces on fixed and moveable conductors that generate forces biasing the contacts together under current flow conditions. The assembly also includes a magnetic armature and yoke that exert a magnetic force to resist movement of the contacts toward the open position. Current flowing through both the fixed and moveable conductors contribute to the magnetic force. A spring may additionally bias the contacts to the closed position. The contact assembly may be used in remote-controlled circuit breaker applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, Brian Timothy McCoy
  • Patent number: 7663457
    Abstract: Magnetically latching and releasing a voice coil actuator for controlling electrical switchgear. The voice coil actuator includes a voice coil magnet disposed on a common longitudinal axis with respect to a voice coil assembly. A coil of the voice coil assembly exerts a magnetic force on the voice coil assembly, thrusting the voice coil assembly towards the voice coil magnet. At least one pair of latching members mounted to the voice coil assembly creates a permanent magnet circuit between the latching members and the voice coil magnet. The permanent magnet circuit maintains the position of the voice coil assembly relative to the voice coil magnet, even when power to the coil is removed. This latch can be released by applying a current in the coil or by applying an external, physical force to a member coupled to the voice coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Bela Peter Szeifert, Michael Peter Dunk
  • Patent number: 7646269
    Abstract: A shunt assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a conductor assembly having a load conductor and a movable contact assembly with a number of movable contact arms. The movable contact assembly is movable in response to a fault current. The shunt assembly includes a number of flexible conductive elements each having a first end electrically connected to the load conductor, a second end electrically connected to a corresponding one of the movable contact arms, and a number of bends disposed between the first and second ends. At least one constraint element is disposed proximate a corresponding one of the bends and constrains movement of the flexible conductive element in response to the fault current, thereby translating the magnetic repulsion force associated with the fault current into a corresponding torque of the movable contact arms of the movable contact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Paul R. Rakus, John J. Shea, William C. Pollitt
  • Patent number: 7646270
    Abstract: A spring assembly is provided for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft. The yoke assembly is coupled to the pole shaft and is movable among first and second positions corresponding to the separable contacts being closed and open, respectively. The spring assembly includes a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly, and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly. The second spring rate is different than the first spring rate. The number of first springs and the number of second springs bias the yoke assembly toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Spitsberg, Robert M. Slepian, Perry R. Gibson, David A. Parks, Douglas C. Marks, Paul R. Rakus, Nathan J. Weister, Henry A. Wehrli, III
  • Patent number: 7474179
    Abstract: A contact spring assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly having stationary electrical contacts. The movable contact assembly includes a carrier assembly, and movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly and carrying movable electrical contacts. The contact spring assembly includes a first contact spring housing member, a second contact spring housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first contact spring housing member, a spring guide disposed between and coupled to at least one of the first and second contact spring housing members and including spring holes, springs received in the spring holes, and sliders coupled to the springs. The springs and sliders individually bias the movable contact arms and movable electrical contacts toward engagement with corresponding stationary electrical contacts. A movable contact assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corportion
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, John J. Shea, Douglas C. Marks
  • Patent number: 7351927
    Abstract: A flexible conductive element is provided for the conductor assembly of an electrical switching apparatus. The conductor assembly includes a load conductor, a movable contact assembly including a number of movable contact arms, movable electrical contacts mounted on the movable contact arms, and a plurality of flexible conductive elements. Each flexible conductive element includes a first end electrically connected to the load conductor, a second end electrically connected to a corresponding one of the movable contact arms of the movable contact assembly, and a plurality of bends between the first end and the second end. A first one of the bends is in a first direction and at least a second one of the bends is in a second direction which is generally opposite the first direction, in order that the flexible element is generally S-shaped. A conductor assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Rakus, Nathan J. Weister, Roger J. Briggs, James R. Schachner, Wilbert E. Lindsay, Michael C. Watts
  • Patent number: 7323958
    Abstract: Multipole circuit breaker comprising single-pole breaking units in the form of cases with two large side faces and having at least one movable contact which operates in conjunction with at least one stationary contact, an operating mechanism common to a set of breaking units to command opening or closing of the contacts of said units, first line-side electrical connection means, second load-side electrical connection means; the breaking units are grouped on two superposed layers, at least one layer comprising at least one pair of units, the operating mechanism comprising mechanical connecting means to simultaneously actuate the single-pole breaking units of each layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Henri Auque, Marc Serpinet
  • Patent number: 7221924
    Abstract: A notch filter with a high Q factor, which is integrated with a first and a second cascoded LNA, is totally contained on an integrated chip. The notch filter, comprising two Q-enhancement circuits, is coupled to the second differential LNA. The two Q-enhancement circuits are combined to generate sufficient negative impedance to compensate for the loss in the on-chip low Q inductors. To improve the image rejection of the notch filter in a wide frequency band, the notch filter uses an automatic current tuning circuit which consists of an analog multiplier and fixed and voltage controlled current sources. Furthermore, by modifying the connection and location of the tunable varactor, another wideband tunable notch filter is implemented. The notch filter can be applied in all current wireless receiver systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Yuanjin Zheng, Sheng Jau Wong, Yong Xu
  • Patent number: 7221246
    Abstract: A rotor assembly may include first rotor half, a first spring supported with the first rotor half, a second rotor half, and a second spring supported within the second rotor half, wherein the first rotor half and the second rotor half are adjoined to enclose the first and second springs. A coiled section of each spring may surround a rotor center pin. A contact arm positioned between the springs may include a non-circular opening. A method for assembling such a rotor assembly is further described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Samir Rajauria, Wolfgang Meyer-Haack, Janakiraman Narayanan, Sanjoy Bhattacharjee, Hemant Anjaria, Praveenkumar Verma
  • Patent number: 7148774
    Abstract: A circuit breaker contact assembly includes a line conductor having a folded back fixed contact end, a fixed contact mounted on the contact end, and a movable contact arm having an inner edge and first and second ends. A movable contact is mounted on the first end. The movable contact arm is pivotable about the second end between a closed position in which the inner edge extends adjacent the contact end with the movable contact in contact with the fixed contact to form a reverse current loop, and an open position in which the movable contact is pivoted away from the fixed contact. The contact arm includes a first inner longitudinal member extending along the inner edge and a second outer longitudinal member. The first inner longitudinal member has a higher electrical conductivity than the second outer longitudinal member, which has a higher shear strength and a lower specific density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Jeffrey A. Miller
  • Patent number: 7148775
    Abstract: A contactor assembly for a circuit breaker is disclosed. There is provided a contactor assembly, wherein stationary pins fixed to a rotary shaft and supporting one ends of springs and limit pins contacting the upper surface of the movable contactor and supporting the other ends of the springs are connected by link plates, comprising a movable contactor provided on the upper surface of the movable contactor with groove surfaces having a constant first curvature radius and curve surfaces having a constant second curvature radius larger than the first curvature radius. By this, a contact pressure provided by the springs is constant, and a separating position can be maintained when separating the contactor by an electromagnetic repulsive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Young Park
  • Patent number: 7145419
    Abstract: A contactor assembly for a circuit breaker comprises a first spring supporting pin, a cam plate, a second spring supporting plate, a link, and a spring. When a movable contactor is rotated without a rotation axis, a fluctuation of a rotation center of the movable contactor is not generated and a current limiting function is fast performed. Also, after contacts are separated from each other, the movable contactor is prevented from returning towards fixed contactors and the separated position is maintained for a predetermined time. An assembly process of the contactor assembly is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Gi Kim
  • Patent number: 7138892
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a circuit interrupter. The exemplary circuit interrupter includes conductive spanner that completes an electrical pathway between first and second electrical conductors. To facilitate a good electrical connection between the conductive spanner and the first and second conductors, the exemplary interrupter includes a biasing mechanism that biases the conductive spanner toward the first and second conductors. However, in the event of a fault condition, for instance, the conductive spanner is displaced away from the first and second conductors by magnetic forces, and the electrical path is interrupted. To facilitate this displacement, the biasing mechanism presents an opposing force to displacement relationship with a negative slope. That is to say, the biasing force provided by the biasing mechanism decreases as the distance between the conductive spanner and the first and second electrical conductors increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Benard, Mark A. Clayton
  • Patent number: 7068131
    Abstract: A switching contact arrangement is for a power switch, wherein a plurality of contact levers are pivoted on a contact support via a bearing pin. The contact support is provided with at least three support elements for radially supporting the bearing pin. In order to simplify production of the contact support, at least three of the support elements are configured as a one-piece shaped element that forms the contact support. At least one of the support elements can have a metal element that is at least partially embedded in a plastic shaped element of the contact support. The metal element can be configured as a sheet metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Liebetruth, Sezai Türkmen
  • Patent number: 6987657
    Abstract: A device for protection against voltage surges comprises a stationary electrode and a movable electrode arranged facing an arc extinguishing chamber. The movable electrode is driven by a mechanisms, by an electromechanical actuator and/or by an electromagnetic circuit. At rest, the movable electrode is situated at a distance from the stationary electrode. When a voltage surge occurs between the electrodes, an arc arises and extends in the chamber in which it is extinguished. If the arc continues, in particular in the case of a follow current of high energy, the movable electrode is driven to a disconnected position moving away from the stationary electrode, which has the effect of lengthening the arc even more in the chamber to facilitate its extinction and perform disconnection of the circuit. A pair of contacts may be associated in series to the electrodes, one of the contacts being stationary and the other being fixedly secured to the movable electrode. A spark gap can also be associated to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Eric Domejean, Marc Rival
  • Patent number: 6975190
    Abstract: A contactor device of a repulsion-type circuit breaker includes a first movable contactor with a first movable contact to be driven by an open-close mechanism; a fixed contactor; a second movable contactor having second and third movable contacts; a first contact spring for urging the first movable contactor toward the second movable contactor; and a second contact spring for urging the second movable contactor toward the first movable contactor and the fixed contactor. The first movable contactor, fixed contactor, and second movable contactor are arranged such that when an over-current flows, an electromagnetic repulsive force is generated so that the first and second movable contactors are rotated against the first and second contact springs to open between the first movable contact and the second movable contact and between the fixed contact and the third movable contact before the open-close mechanism opens the first movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akifumi Sato, Koji Asakawa, Mitsuhiro Mitsushige, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Hideto Yamagata
  • Patent number: 6970059
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing having first and second openings, with stationary and movable separable contacts disposed therein. An operating mechanism is disposed in the housing, is coupled to the separable contacts and is structured to move those contacts between open and closed positions. A trip mechanism is disposed in the housing and cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. A slot motor assembly is disposed about the separable contacts and has upper and lower slot motor portions. The upper slot motor portion is disposed above the movable contact and the lower slot motor portion is disposed below the stationary contact. The upper slot motor portion includes a rigid, laminated steel member having a general U-shape, with a bight portion, and first and second legs. The first and second legs engage the housing at the respective first and second openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mueller, Thomas A. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 6952149
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a cassette. The cassette includes a separable current path having a movable contact arm, two arc receptors each disposed for receiving an electrical arc in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition, and two slot motors each disposed proximate the movable contact arm for magnetically driving the movable contact arm to a blown open position in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition. The slot motors each have two side legs opposing each other and defining a space therebetween for receiving the movable contact arm, each side leg having a magnetic core and an insulative layer and being biased toward the interior of the side walls of the cassette, wherein each side leg is restrained from being magnetically attracted toward the movable contact arm during a short circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim
  • Publication number: 20040239459
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switch contact arrangement (2) for a power switch (1) provided with a device for increasing the contact force acting between switch contacts (7, 16). The device comprises a cavity (24) which is made in a stationary conductive element (3) of the switch contact arrangement (2) in such a manner that the direction of the current in the conductive element (3) adjacent to the stationary switch contact (7) runs essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conductive element (3) and therefore essentially parallel to the direction of current in an associated displaceable conductive element (12). The above-mentioned arrangement is suitable for low-voltage power switches with a selective form, whereby the switch contacts (7, 16) thereof allow a short-circuit current to be guided without premature opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Michael Hahn
  • Patent number: 6717089
    Abstract: An electric pole for a low-voltage power circuit breaker, comprising: a fixed contact and a movable contact which can be mutually coupled/uncoupled; at least two conducting elements, suitable to electrically connect the movable contact to a power supply grid, the conducting elements being arranged so that the electric currents flowing through them are equally orientated; means for mechanically supporting and actuating the movable contact; and at least one insulating element which is interposed between the conducting elements and is suitable to contrast, by friction with the conducting elements, electrodynamic repulsion forces that are generated between the fixed contact and the movable contact during opening in short-circuit operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Service S.r.l.
    Inventors: Lucio Azzola, Eligio Zanchi
  • Patent number: 6590173
    Abstract: A current-interrupting section of a molded case circuit breaker includes fixed contact shoes and a rotary bridge-type contact shoe held in a contact shoe holder. A pair of pressure springs is assembled in the contact shoe holder to press the rotary contact shoe to the fixed contact shoes. The pressure spring is torsion coil springs and have U-shaped offset arm portion drawn out from the center of the coil. A pair of the torsion coil springs is arranged above and under the rotary contact shoe. Furthermore, legs of the torsion coil springs at ends are hooked to sidewalls of the contact shoe holder. The offset arm portions at the center of the torsion coil springs engage the rotary contact shoe at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotational center of the rotary contact shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoshi Uchida, Fumiyoshi Kawahara, Syuichi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6480080
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a switching mechanism and a current-interrupting section. The current-interrupting section is composed of an insulated case, fixed contact shoes arranged diagonally opposite to each other, a bridging rotary contact shoe, a contact shoe holder, and arc extinguishing devices. The fixed contact shoes are composed of linear contact shoe conductors to reduce a height of the section, and the fixed contact shoes are arranged vertically in parallel and opposite each other so that the fixed contact shoes and the rotary contact shoe form a Z-shaped conducting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Asada, Naoshi Uchida, Kazunori Yonemitsu, Masaru Isozaki, Toshiyuki Onchi
  • Patent number: 6441709
    Abstract: The current-limiting mechanism is provided in particular in order to protect electromechanical contactors from being welded by a short-circuit load. In a first step, the current-limiting mechanism closes a bridging contact of a first bridging current path in order to reduce the current load on the contactor. In a second step, its bridging function is taken over by a switching arc and by a second bridging current path, In the further course of the disconnection process, the switching arc commutates from the bridging contact onto associated running rails or arc runners and runs into an arcing chamber of the current-limiting mechanism. As a result, the short-circuit is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Fritz Pohl
  • Patent number: 6429759
    Abstract: A contact arrangement for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The movable and the stationary contacts within the breaker are each split and angled such that one contact forms a female V cross sectional shape and the other forms a mating male V cross sectional shape. Together, these contacts split the current in a manner which reduces the popping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Schlitz, Shridhar Nath
  • Patent number: 6426688
    Abstract: A circuit breaker rotary contact arm is used within a plurality of single pole modules ganged together to form a single multi-pole circuit breaker. To provide for use in quiescent conditions having high ampere ratings, low ampere rated rotary contact arm assemblies are combined in parallel to form a higher rated single pole module, which are then ganged together to form a single multi-pole circuit breaker having a high quiescent ampere rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Francesco DeVizzi, Stefan Kranz
  • Patent number: 6403901
    Abstract: A contact system having a two-armed contact arm equipped at its opposite ends with contact pieces that can be brought into and out of contact with corresponding contact pieces of stationary busbars. The contact arm is mounted rotatably on a central bearing axis using an elongated hole, the two lever arms being acted upon by contact force springs that brace with one end against a switching shaft or a switching shaft segment. To provide a uniform contact pressure in the presence of differing wear of the contact pieces, the elongated hole extends in a direction that differs substantially from the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the contact arm and substantially from the longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal action direction of the contact force springs extends neither perpendicular to the longitudinal axis nor perpendicular to the extension direction of the elongated hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Boeder, Guido Dedenbach
  • Patent number: 6400244
    Abstract: A three-position control apparatus has a control shaft secured to a Maltese cross provided with two drive slots and rotated from a determined angular position to an angular position from among two other determined angular positions. The Maltese cross is rotated in this way by one or the other of two studs fixed to a drive shaft and associated with a cam that is complementary to the Maltese cross. Rotation of the drive shaft is limited by the action of a fixed stop abutment which stops the rotation in each of the two rotation directions at the two chosen starting and finishing end positions, and by a complementary shaft-stopping mechanism that prevents the shafts from rotating from the determined intermediate position by interposing a stop element in the path that is followed by a projecting complementary element carried by one of the shafts as it rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Dario Bergamo, François Biquez
  • Patent number: 6396369
    Abstract: A circuit breaker rotary contact assembly employs a rotor assembly to operate the moveable contact arms. Separate pivots are provided to the rotor assembly and the moveable contact arms to ensure that the contacts close prior to complete rotation of the rotor assembly. The additional rotation force provided by the rotor assembly then translates into lateral displacement of the moveable contacts relative to the fixed contacts, resulting in contact wiping function. An alternate embodiment utilizes a common pivot for both the rotor assembly and the moveable contact arms, while providing post closure motion by means of a fixed contact compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dan Schlitz, Gary Douville, Thomas O'Keeffe, Stephen Wuest
  • Patent number: 6392512
    Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) including a stationary line bus assembly (47). The stationary line bus assembly (47)comprises a bus body (124) supported by support legs (132) with the bus body (124) having a first longitudinal end portion (125) and a second longitudinal end portion (126), with each end portion terminating at a common end portion (127). The second end portion (126) includes a stationary contact bus (46) in a spaced relationship from the first end portion (125). A line terminal (18) is mounted on the first longitudinal end portion (125) and a contact (44) is attached to the second longitudinal end portion (126). In one embodiment, a bus support (130) is attached to the bus body (124) in the space between the first end portion (125) and the second end portion (126) and separated from the support legs (132) of the bus body (124) by an insulating barrier (134). The stationary bus support (130) can have several configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Ferree, Neal B. Reeves, Bernard DiMarco
  • Patent number: 6348847
    Abstract: A making operation preventing device 130 has a releasing trigger 19 for retaining, via a releasing latch 18, a breaking lever 36 to which a torque in a counterclockwise direction is applied by an opening torsion bar 34; a releasing electromagnet 20 for opening an on-off contact 10 by releasing the engagement between the releasing trigger 19 and the releasing latch 18 to rotate the breaking lever 36 in a counterclockwise direction; a cam 3 rotated as one body with a gear 40 connected via a link 41 to a making lever 37 to which a torque in a counterclockwise direction is applied by a closing torsion bar 35; a making trigger 15 which retains a second pin 13 attached to the cam 3 via a making latch 14 and maintains the closing torsion bar 35 in a prestressing state; a releasing electromagnet 16 for driving a trigger lever 16d in a right direction to release the engagement between the making latch 14 and the making trigger 15, and an interlocking electromagnet for rotating the trigger lever 16d in a counterclockwi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuya Nakajima, Kyouichi Ohtsuka