Bounce-resistant contacts for a switch
US4169973A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1978 |
| Grant date | Oct 2, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H1/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bounce- and weld- resistant contact assembly includes a pair of spaced contact plates with facing contacts on their ends. A switch blade is rapidly movable into and out of engagement with the contacts. The contacts are convexities coined into the plates which add no mass to the plates. Thus, the natural frequency of the plates is maximized and the magnitude of oscillation of the plates, when the contacts are rapidly engaged by the blade, is minimized. Legs on leaf springs act against concavities formed in the plates opposite the convexities. The legs conformally nestle in the convexities so that their frictional engagement therewith and the spring force co-act to quickly damp the high frequency, low magnitude oscillations of the plates. The low mass coined contacts also permit close spacing of the plates to maximize magnetic forces thereon due to current flow therethrough. These forces aid the spring and the leg-concavity friction in quickly damping oscillations of the plates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.