Direct current contactors with improved evacuation air pathways

Abstract

In a particular embodiment, a DC contactor with improved evacuation air pathways is described that includes a weld plate having a port. The contactor also includes an arc chamber and a plunger tube with a cavity that is interconnected to the port and the arc chamber by air pathways. In this embodiment, the contactor also includes an upper static core disposed at least partially within the plunger tube and a shaft assembly coupled to a shaft disposed within the upper static core. The contactor also includes an arc shield within the arc chamber and one or more vent pathways in one or more of the arc shield, the shaft assembly, or the upper static core. In this embodiment, the one or more vent pathways in the air pathways interconnect the port, the arc chamber, and the plunger tube.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.