Circuit breaker with arc restricting device
US4453053A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 25, 1982 |
| Grant date | Jun 5, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2002 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H9/38
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising a pair of contactors each comprising a rigid conductor with a contact secured thereon, wherein at least one of the contactors is also provided with an electrically conductive projection secured on the rigid conductor in proximity to the contact, the contact and the projection having their peripheries surrounded by a high resistivity arc shield of a resistivity higher than the rigid conductors. An arc extinguishing plate assembly is also provided to cool and extinguish an arc drawn across the gap between the contacts. With this arrangement, the arc is confined and has its voltage raised by the effects of the arc shield, and the size of the foot of the arc is limited such that it does not spread to the surface of the conductor in the vicinity of the contact. Further, the foot of the arc is caused to shift from the contact to the projection, substantially preventing wear of the contact and further extending the length of the arc to more effectively cool and extinguish the arc.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.