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US 10,141,125 B2Granted
Contact for bus plug switches
OwnerGarrett Garciainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention improves bug plug technology by providing a rotatable contact head to align contact surfaces in parallel. The parallel alignment avoids pitting of the surfaces by eliminating sparking gaps, improves the surface area-in-contact, and lengthens the useful life of the contact components. The novel features include minimizing heel-toe incursion during contact.
Claims9
A single-pole electrical switch for a bus plug, comprising:
- a stationary contact having a first contact surface;
- a moveable contact having a second contact surface, the moveable contact mounted to a contact head pivotally-mounted to a rotating contact arm about a pivot axis, the moveable contact rotatably moveable between an open position and a closed position, the closed position bringing the first and second contact surfaces into mutual contact and completing thereby an electrical circuit, wherein in the closed position the pivot axis is entirely in a plane bisecting the second contact surface at a right angle;
- a switching means to move the contacts between the open position and the closed position;
- whereby, when the switching means moves the movable contact into the closed position, the contact surfaces are aligned by articulation of the pivotally-mounted second contact, and pitting of the contact surfaces by electric current flowing there through is prevented by intimate engagement.
1 more element
A method of making a bus plug, comprising the steps:
- providing, for each pole of an electrical circuit, a single pole switch comprising a stationary contact having a first contact surface;
- a moveable contact having a second contact surface, the moveable contact rotatably moveable by means of a rotating contact arm between an open position and a closed position, the closed position bringing the first and second contact surfaces into mutual contact and completing thereby an electrical circuit;
- mounting pivotally the contact head to the rotating contact arm about a pivot axis wherein in the closed position the pivot axis is entirely in a plane bisecting the second contact surface at a right angle;
- ganging each single pole switch together by a switching means to move the contacts in unison between the open position and the closed position;
- mounting the ganged switch inside a plug-in housing having an input port and an output port;
- connecting each single-pole switch electrically to a corresponding pole in the input port;
- and
- connecting each single-pole switch electrically through a fuse to a corresponding pole in the output port;
- whereby, when the switching means moves the movable contact into the closed position, the contact surfaces are aligned by articulation of the pivotally-mounted second contact, and pitting of the contact surfaces by electric current flowing there through is prevented by intimate engagement.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.