Vacuum interrupter, retaining clip therefor and associated method
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsMartin Bernardus Johannes Leusenkamp, Jun Yan, Yucheng Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retaining clip is for a vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter includes a tubular ceramic member, a tubular shield member, and a pair of separable contacts. The shield member is disposed internal with respect to the ceramic member. The separable contacts are disposed internal with respect to the shield member. The retaining clip comprises: a base mounted on the ceramic member; and at least one flexible arm extending from the base. The flexible arm engages the shield member in order to retain the shield member on the ceramic member.
Claims17
A retaining clip for a vacuum interrupter, said vacuum interrupter comprising a tubular ceramic member, a tubular shield member, and a pair of separable contacts, said shield member being disposed internal with respect to said ceramic member, said separable contacts being disposed internal with respect to said shield member, said retaining clip comprising:
- a base structured to be mounted on said ceramic member;
- and
- at least one flexible arm extending from said base,
- wherein said at least one flexible arm is structured to engage said shield member in order to retain said shield member on said ceramic member,
- wherein said base is annular-shaped;
- and wherein said at least one flexible arm is a plurality of flexible arms.
A vacuum interrupter comprising:
- a tubular ceramic member;
- a tubular shield member disposed internal with respect to said ceramic member;
- a pair of separable contacts disposed internal with respect to said shield member;
- and
- a retaining clip comprising:
- a base mounted on said ceramic member, and
- at least one flexible arm extending from said base,
- wherein said at least one flexible arm engages said shield member in order to retain said shield member on said ceramic member,
- wherein said ceramic member comprises a wall portion and a protrusion extending inwardly from the wall portion;
- and wherein said at least one flexible arm is at least partially disposed between the protrusion and said shield member.
A method of assembling a vacuum interrupter, said vacuum interrupter including a tubular ceramic member, a tubular shield member having a central axis, a pair of separable contacts, and a retaining clip, said retaining clip comprising a base and at least one flexible arm extending from said base, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing said ceramic member;
- mounting said retaining clip on said ceramic member;
- disposing said shield member internal with respect to said ceramic member;
- pushing said shield member into said retaining clip in order to retain said shield member on said ceramic member, said base being mounted on said ceramic member, said at least one flexible arm engaging said shield member;
- disposing said separable contacts internal with respect to said shield member;
- and
- moving said at least one flexible arm away from the central axis during the pushing step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.