Electromagnetically enhanced contact separation in a circuit breaker
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsStefan Rakuff, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, Paul Robert Gemin, Ganesh Krishnamoorthy, Ashraf Atalla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of a circuit breaker are described where a movable bridge connector is employed as part of the conductive path when the circuit breaker is in a closed configuration. When the circuit is opened, the connector is displaced from the two fixed contacts otherwise bridged by the connector. In one such embodiment, the circuit breaker utilizes the electromagnetic forces generated in response to the opening event to break the circuit.
Claims20
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a latch assembly configured to release and to engage a cradle of the circuit breaker;
- a handle yoke configured to move between an open position and a closed position when the latch assembly is engaged to the cradle;
- a dual-break linear contact assembly comprising:
- a bridge connector configured to conductively connect stationary bus bars;
- a guide rod attached to the bridge connector and defining a linear movement path for the bridge connector;
- and
- a magnetic core disposed about the linear movement path and comprising at least a set of arc chute plates;
- a linkage assembly mechanically coupling the cradle, the handle yoke, and the guide rod, the linkage assembly comprising a spring which, at an operational current level, holds the bridge connector in place at the stationary bus bars when the latch assembly and cradle are engaged and when the handle yoke is in the closed position.
A dual-break linear contact assembly comprising:
- a bridge connector configured to conductively connect contacts of two stationary bus bars, wherein an electromagnetic repulsion force is generated and acts on the bridge connector when a current passes through the stationary bus bars and the bridge connector, wherein the electromagnetic force pushes the bridge connector away from the stationary bus bars;
- and
- a biasing spring component that applies a force in opposition to the electromagnetic repulsion force to hold the bridge connector component in contact with the stationary bus bars when the current is below a current threshold.
A method for interrupting a circuit path, comprising:
- connecting stationary bus bars with a bridge connector component, wherein an electromagnetic repulsion force is generated acting on the bridge connector component when a current is passed through the stationary bus bars and the bridge connector component, wherein the electromagnetic repulsion force pushes the bridge connector component away from the stationary bus bars;
- applying an opposing force to the bridge connector component to overcome the electromagnetic repulsion force when the current is below a specified threshold;
- and
- separating the bridge connector component from the stationary bus bars when the current exceeds the specified threshold, wherein the electromagnetic repulsion force exceeds the opposing force when the current exceeds the specified threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.