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US 6,392,181 B1Granted
ARC extinguishing device with a high speed whip
AssigneeCleaveland/Price Inc.
InventorsCharles M. Cleaveland, Arthur E. Bisig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air switches are provided with a whip element of strong nonmetallic material, such as of a fiber reinforced plastic or polymer material, with a conductive path, e.g., by metalizing. The whip element can replace the formerly used metal whip in quick break devices for faster separation with less chance of arc restriking and facilitates achieving higher current and voltage ratings.
Claims20
A rapid arc extinguishing devices for use in combination with an air break switch, comprising:
- a whip element and a latch element each having a respective attachment device for securement to a conductive contact element of a switch;
- the whip element comprising a nonmetal composite member, of a flexible fiber reinforced plastic polymer material, and a conductive pathway supported by the nonmetal composite member from one end secured by its attachment device to a second end that is last to disengage from the latch element during operation of the device.
An air break switch comprising:
- a pair of main switch contacts each with a line terminal for connection with segments of an electrical line;
- a switch opening mechanism for opening the main switch contacts;
- a rapid arc extinguishing device, for extinguishing arcs occurring on opening of the main switch contacts, including a whip element attached in electrical contact with one of the main switch contacts and a latch element attached in electrical contact with the other of the main switch contacts;
- the whip element comprises a flexible fiber reinforced plastic polymer member with a flexible conductive path extending from end to end of the polymer member;
- the latch element comprising a substantially rigid conductive metal member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.