Load break switch arc suppression
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJohn W. Cannon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to an improved load break switch having auxiliary contact members for making contact while the main contact members separate. When the moveable auxiliary contact member, i.e. flipper blade, opens, an arc is drawn causing deformation of the auxiliary stationary contact member. This can prevent proper operation, e.g. latching of the moveable contact member. Arc supporting means, connected in a low impedance circuit to the stationary contact are secured adjacent to the stationary member and intermediate the latter and the open position of the moveable member along the opening path of the latter. The arc is thus rapidly transferred from the stationary contact to minimize contact deformation.
Claims16
In a load breaker switch of the type comprising main contact members adapted to be disengaged from one another, auxiliary stationary contact means and auxiliary moveable contact means adapted to engage one another and to make contact while the main contact members disengage and to thereafter break contact by rapid movement of the auxiliary stationary member along a predetermined path to an open position, the combination comprising:
- (a) means to prevent disengagement and movement of said auxiliary moveable contact means until after disengagement of said main contact members;
- (b) arc supporting means secured adjacent to, and connected in a low impedance electrical circuit with said auxiliary stationary contact means;
- (c) said arc supporting means being disposed adjacent to the path of movement of said auxiliary moveable member at a position of the path intermediate said auxiliary stationary member and said open position to provide for transfer of arc attachment from said auxiliary stationary member upon disengagement of said auxiliary members so as to reduce physical deterioration of said auxiliary stationary member.
A load breaker switch, comprising:
- (a) a main contact member;
- (b) a longitudinal blade assembly pivotally mounted for engagement with said main contact member;
- (c) a longitudinal flipper blade assembly pivotally mounted to said longitudinal blade assembly;
- (d) a pair of stationary contact members arranged about the plane of pivotal motion of said flipper blade and spring biased to engage one another;
- (e) said flipper blade being adapted to stab into said pair of stationary contact members subsequent to pivotal closure of said blade assembly and its engagement with said main contact member and to disengage from said pair of stationary contact members subsequent to disengagement of said blade assembly from said main contact member;
- (f) at least one arc supporting means displaced from the plane of pivotal motion of said flipper blade assembly and sufficiently displaced from said stationary contact members in the direction of the path of opening of said flipper blade assembly to provide for a point of arc attachment upon disengagement of said flipper blade assembly from said pair of contact members to reduce physical deterioration of the latter;
- and
- (g) an arc chute assembly arranged about the plane of pivotal motion of said flipper blade assembly, said pair of stationary contact members, and said arc supporting means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.