Multi-finger electrical contact assemblies , circuit breakers, and methods having increased current withstand capabilities
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorJames Edward Ferree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-finger electrical contact assembly having unequal electrical resistance in current paths through each finger providing relatively high current withstand capability. The multi-finger electrical contact assembly includes three or more fingers each with a coupled conductor, wherein one or more outer fingers and coupled conductor of the assembly have greater electrical resistance than an inner finger and coupled conductor. Multi-phase circuit breakers including the multi-finger electrical contact assembly and methods are provided, as are other aspects.
Claims20
A multi-finger electrical contact assembly, comprising:
- three or more fingers, each finger including a corresponding moveable contact thereon, the three or more fingers arranged to have at least two outer fingers and at least one inner finger located between the at least two outer fingers;
- and
- three or more electrical conductors having first ends and opposite second ends, each finger electrically coupled to a first end of a corresponding electrical conductor, and
- wherein an electrical resistance between a second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled to one of the outer fingers and a corresponding moveable contact of the one of the outer fingers is greater than an electrical resistance between the second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled to the at least one inner finger and a corresponding moveable contact of the at least one inner finger.
A circuit breaker, comprising:
- at least one multi-finger electrical contact assembly, comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a second terminal;
- three or more fingers arranged to have at least two outer fingers and at least one inner finger located between the at least two outer fingers, each finger including a moveable contact thereon configured to be contactable with the first terminal;
- and
- three or more electrical conductors having first ends and opposite second ends, each finger electrically coupled to a first end of an electrical conductor, and each second end of the electrical conductors coupled to the second terminal, and
- wherein an electrical resistance between a second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled to one of the outer fingers and a corresponding moveable contact of the one of the outer fingers is greater than an electrical resistance between the second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled to the at least one inner finger and a corresponding moveable contact of the at least one inner finger.
A method of increasing current withstand capability in a multi-finger electrical contact assembly, comprising:
- providing at least two outer fingers, each of the at least two outer fingers having a moveable contact;
- providing at least one inner finger located between the at least two outer fingers, the at least one inner finger having a moveable contact;
- providing three or more electrical conductors, each electrical conductor having a first end and an opposite second end, first ends of the electrical conductors coupled to each of the at least two outer fingers and the at least one inner finger;
- and
- providing electrical resistance between a corresponding moveable contact of one of the outer fingers and the second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled thereto that is greater than the electrical resistance between a corresponding moveable contact of the at least one inner finger and the second end of a corresponding electrical conductor coupled thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.