Synchronous contactor
US5559426A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 1994 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H33/022
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A contactor for selectively connecting at least one alternating current (AC) power line to a load and sourcing an AC current having periodic zero crossings includes a fixed contact; a movable contact mechanism; an operating mechanism for engaging and moving the movable contact to an open position in the absence of a closing signal; and a synchronized opening mechanism for disabling the closing signal in synchronization with a zero crossing of the AC current. The operating mechanism is disengaged from the movable contact, in a closed position, by a gap having a predetermined length in order that the contacts are separated at the AC current zero crossing. The contactor may further include a vacuum bottle for enclosing the fixed and movable contact therein. The movable contact may be carried within the vacuum bottle by a bottle stem which protrudes from the bottle and has a surface for engagement by the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism may include a crossbar and an arm having a surface for engaging and moving the bottle stem. The gap may be an overtravel gap between the arm and the bottle stem. The length of the gap may be determined by a length of the bottle stem or, alte…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.