US 5,004,874 A · Direct current switching apparatus

Abstract

Direct current switching apparatus having two arc extinguishing chambers each comprising a pair of spaced conductors providing cooperable arc runners divergent toward a row of non-ferromagnetic splitter plates and a stationary contact conductively mounted on one conductor, the stationary contacts of respective chambers being mounted on respectively opposite conductors, corresponding conductors in respective chambers being conductively connected to each other and to power terminals of the apparatus, permanent magnets applying a magnetic field across the respective chamber for moving an arc within the chamber, ferromagnetic plates providing flux return paths to optimize and maximize the magnetic field, a movable contact extending into each chamber bridging the stationary contacts and movable to separate from the stationary contacts, drawing an arc therebetween in each chamber, the arc in one chamber bridging the pair of conductors within that chamber establishing a circuit comprising the arc between the conductors and the power terminals in shunt of the movable contact, thereby eliminating the arc in the other chamber, the bridging arc being extinguished in the splitter plates, interrupting the circuit. The magnetic fields are applied in opposite directions in the respective chambers for non-polarized operability of the apparatus and are distorted within the splitter plate area to drive and maintain an arc at a stable arc position against a thickened sidewall portion to withstand erosion.

Claims27

Dependent claims

Direct current switching apparatus comprising:

a pair of arc extinguishing chambers each comprising a spaced pair of fixed conductors, respective conductors of one said chamber conductively connected to respective corresponding conductors of an other said chamber and to respective power terminals of said apparatus;
a first stationary contact conductively mounted on one of said conductors in said one chamber and a second stationary contact conductively mounted on an opposite one of said conductors in said other chamber;
and
a movable contact extending within each said chamber movable into and out of bridging engagement with said first and second stationary contacts, said movable contact establishing first and second arcs between said movable contact and said first and second stationary contacts, respectively, upon movement out of bridging engagement therewith, said first arc transferring from said movable contact to an opposite said conductor in said one chamber establishing a current path comprising said first arc directly between said respective spaced pair of conductors, eliminating said second arc.

1 more element

Direct current switching apparatus comprising:

first and second arc extinguishing chambers each comprising a plurality of arc splitter plates and a pair of spaced arc runners;
means electrically interconnecting corresponding arc runners of each said chamber with a respective power terminal of said apparatus;
a first stationary contact mounted on one of said arc runners in said first chamber and a second stationary contact mounted on an opposite one of said arc runners in said second chamber;
and
a movable contact bridging said stationary contacts in a closed position and movable to an open position to separate said movable contact from said stationary contacts;
an arc drawn between said movable contact and said first stationary contact in said first chamber transferring from said movable contact to an other of said pair of spaced arc runners within said first chamber, said arc bridging said arc runners in said first chamber establishing a current path between said power terminals through respective said arc runners and said electrically interconnecting means in shunt of said movable contact, eliminating an arc in said second chamber.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Direct current switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Direct current switching apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27