Circuit interrupter with pivoting contact arm having a clinch-type contact
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsJohn A. Wafer, Miguel B. Yamat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit interrupter includes two parallel pivoting contact arms, the lower of which is connected to a stationary conductor member using a clinch-type contact. The contact arm has an axle member rigidly attached thereto which is supported by a bearing member attached to the conductor. In one embodiment, the bearing member comprises a pair of bifurcated arms which are clamped about each end of the axle member. In an alternative embodiment, the conductor member lies generally parallel to the lower contact arm and is slotted to form a pair of elongated conductor arms, each of which supports a journal bearing member. One end of the axle is extended through each journal bearing.
Claims13
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- first and second separable contacts;
- a pivoting contact arm supporting one of said contacts, and comprising an axle member extending through one end of said contact arm and rigidly secured thereto;
- and
- conductor means comprising a journal member having a pair of bifurcated upright arms perpendicular to said axle member, each upright arm holding said axle member between the bifurcations thereof to allow pivoting movement of said contact arm, current flow through said contacts also flowing through said conductor means to cause said bifurcations to squeeze together to generate a radial clamping contact force on said axle member and provide a low resistance electrical path between said conductor means and said contact arm.
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- first and second separable contacts;
- a pivoting contact arm supporting one of said contacts and comprising an axle member extending through one end of said contact arm;
- and
- conductor means comprising a slotted bifurcated conductor member lying substantially in the same plane as said contact arm, and a pair of arm members at the open end of said slot each perpendicular to said conductor member and supporting a journal bearing, said axle member extending through each of said journal bearings to allow said contact arm to pivot therein;
- current flow through said contacts also flowing through each of said arm members to cause said arm members to squeeze together and generate a clamping contact force between said journal members upon said contact arm in a direction parallel to said axle member to establish a low-resistance electrical path between said perpendicular arm members and said contact arm.
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- first and second separable contacts;
- first and second pivoting contact arms supporting said first and second contacts, respectively;
- an operating mechanism connected to said first contact arm for operating said circuit interrupter between open and closed positions;
- an axle member extending through one end of said second contact arm;
- conductor means comprising a bifurcated member supporting said axle member to allow pivoting movement of said second contact arm, current flow through said contacts also flowing through said conductor means so as to cause said bifurcated member to squeeze together to generate a clamping force on said second contact arm and provide a low resistance electrical path between said conductor means and said contact arm;
- and
- electromagnetic drive means for generating contact opening force upon said second contact arm when current flows through said contacts, said contact opening force being sufficient to overcome said clamping force and separate said contacts upon severe overcurrent conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.