Vacuum switch
US4243859A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1978 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2033/6648
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved vacuum switch has slotted, flexible, discus-shaped contact discs attached to the current carrying contact bolts. In the open circuit case, a gap exists between each contact bolt and its corresponding contact disc and between the two discs. In the closed circuit case, the contact bolts drive the contact discs against one another, slightly deforming the contact discs, resulting in a low resistance current path. As the switch starts to open, the contact bolts first separate from the adjacent disc surfaces. As the switch opens further, any arc that ignites exists only between the contact discs. Tangential slots in the contact discs guide the arc toward the center of the contact discs. The flexible discs assume their previous undistorted shape when the switch has opened.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.