Circuit breaker with arc shield
AssigneeCarling Technologies, Inc.
InventorMichael Fasano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit interrupter having a first contact positioned on a moveable contact arm that is moveable into and out of physical contact with a stationary contact. An arc horn shield positioned on or affixed to an escapement that is coupled to the moveable contact arm, the arc horn shield including a substantially U-shaped tab that is provided as a protrusion with an arc receiving surface such that when the moveable contact is moved into the vicinity of the protrusion, any arc that may be formed between the contacts is passed from the moveable contact to the arc receiving surface to minimize damage to the moveable contact and extinguish the arc.
Claims18
A circuit interrupter comprising:
- a set of contacts including a stationary contact and a moveable contact;
- a contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact positioned at the first end;
- a linkage coupled to the second end of said contact arm, said linkage coupled to an overcurrent measurement device and to a handle;
- an escapement coupled at a first end to said contact arm at a location between the first and second ends of said contact arm, said escapement coupled at a second end to the handle, wherein actuation of the handle causes said moveable contact arm to move to either open or close said set of contacts;
- and
- an arc horn shield mounted onto said escapement, said arc horn shield including a protrusion extending from a side portion thereof defined by a tab that includes an arc receiving surface such that when the moveable contact arm is displaced to an open position, said moveable contact is moved into a vicinity of the arc receiving surface.
A circuit interrupter comprising:
- a first stationary contact;
- a second moveable contact;
- a contact arm having a first end and a second end, said moveable contact positioned toward the first end;
- a handle;
- an escapement coupled at one end to a point along a length of said contact arm and at another end to said handle, wherein actuation of said handle causes said moveable contact arm to move said moveable contact into and out of physical contact with said stationary contact;
- and
- an arc horn shield mounted onto said escapement, said arc horn shield including a protrusion extending from a side portion thereof defined by a tab that includes an arc receiving surface such that when the moveable contact arm is displaced to an open position, said moveable contact is moved into a vicinity of the arc receiving surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.