Electric circuit breaker arc chute composition
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsIra B. Goldman, Raymond K. Seymour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A current limiting circuit breaker having a pair of separable contacts closely spaced for electrodynamic repulsion upon the occurrence of a short circuit overload condition utilizes an arc chute to cool and extinguish the arc that occurs when the contacts become separated. The arc chute contains a plurality of metal arc plates supported by side plates which also assist in cooling and extinguishing the arc. The side plates are formed from a suspension of wollastonite fibers within a melamine resin matrix. The wollastonite provides good mechanical strength and temperature-resistance properties while the melamine provides a continuous source of arc-quenching gaseous molecular compounds.
Claims19
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- a molded plastic case and cover;
- a pair of separable contacts within said case;
- an operating mechanism moving said contacts between open and closed positions;
- and
- an arc chute facing said contacts and extinguishing an arc which occurs when said contacts become separated during overcurrent conditions, said arc chute including a plurality of spaced metal plates supported between a pair of side supports and an apertured back support, said side supports each comprising a resin reinforced with wollastonite fibers.
A molded case circuit breaker comprising:
- a molded plastic case and cover;
- a pair of separable contacts within said case;
- an operating mechanism moving said contacts between open and closed positions;
- and
- an arc chute facing said contacts and extinguishing an arc which occurs when said contacts become separated during overcurrent conditions, said arc chute including a plurality of spaced metal plates supported between a pair of side supports and an apertured back support, said back support comprising a resin reinforced with wollastonite fibers.
An arc chute comprising:
- a pair of opposing apertured side supports and a perforated back support;
- a plurality of metal plates having tabs extending from opposing edges, said tabs being located within corresponding apertures formed within said side supports;
- said side supports having hooked extensions formed within a top surface and arranged over edges formed within a top surface of said back support;
- and
- said side supports each comprising a resin reinforced with wollastonite fibers.
An arc chute comprising:
- a pair of opposing apertured side supports and a perforated back support;
- a plurality of metal plates having tabs extending from opposing edges, said tabs being located within corresponding apertures formed within said side supports;
- said side supports having hooked extensions formed within a top surface and arranged over edges formed within a top surface of said back support;
- and
- said back support comprising a resin reinforced with wollastonite fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.