Interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker
First Claim
1. An interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising:
- a first and a second stationary contact;
a moving contact assembly comprising a substantially U-shaped conductor, a first moving contact mounted on a first end of the conductor, and a second moving contact mounted on a second end of the conductor, the moving contact assembly being movable between a first position wherein the first and second moving contacts are in electrical contact with the respective first and second stationary contacts, and a second position wherein the first and second moving contacts are electrically isolated from the respective first and second stationary contacts; and
a body having a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein, wherein the recesses formed in the first half face corresponding ones of the recesses formed in the second half to form chambers for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated, the first and second halves each comprise a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs has a recess formed therein for receiving a corresponding one of the first and second moving contacts, each of the ribs of the first half faces a corresponding one of the ribs of the second half when the first and second halves are mated so that ribs encircle the first and second moving contacts and substantially isolate adjacent ones of the chambers, and the body receives the moving contact assembly so that the first and the second moving contacts are drawn through respective ones of the chambers and the ribs as the moving contact assembly moves from the first to the second position.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A preferred embodiment of an interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker includes a first contact, a conductor, and a second contact mounted on the conductor. The second contact and the conductor are movable in relation to the first contact between a first position wherein the first and the second contacts are in electrical contact, and a second position. The interrupter assembly also includes a body having a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein. The recesses form chambers within the body for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated. The body receives the second contact and the conductor so that the conductor and the second contact are drawn through the chambers as the second contact moves from the first to the second position.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising:
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a first and a second stationary contact;
a moving contact assembly comprising a substantially U-shaped conductor, a first moving contact mounted on a first end of the conductor, and a second moving contact mounted on a second end of the conductor, the moving contact assembly being movable between a first position wherein the first and second moving contacts are in electrical contact with the respective first and second stationary contacts, and a second position wherein the first and second moving contacts are electrically isolated from the respective first and second stationary contacts; and
a body having a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein, wherein the recesses formed in the first half face corresponding ones of the recesses formed in the second half to form chambers for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated, the first and second halves each comprise a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs has a recess formed therein for receiving a corresponding one of the first and second moving contacts, each of the ribs of the first half faces a corresponding one of the ribs of the second half when the first and second halves are mated so that ribs encircle the first and second moving contacts and substantially isolate adjacent ones of the chambers, and the body receives the moving contact assembly so that the first and the second moving contacts are drawn through respective ones of the chambers and the ribs as the moving contact assembly moves from the first to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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9-11. -11. (canceled)
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12. An interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising a first and a second stationary contact, and a moving contact assembly comprising:
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a conductor having a first leg, a second leg adjoining the first leg, and a third leg adjoining the second leg, the first and third legs being substantially perpendicular to the second leg and having substantially the same length so that the conductor is substantially U-shaped;
a first moving contact mounted on the first leg;
a second moving contact mounted on the second leg, the moving contact assembly being movable between a first position wherein the first and the second moving contacts electrically and mechanically contact the respective first and second stationary contacts, and a second position wherein the first and second moving contacts are electrically isolated from the respective first and second stationary contacts; and
a body for housing the moving contact assembly and the stationary contacts, wherein the body has a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein, the recesses formed in the first half face corresponding ones of the recesses formed in the second half to form chambers for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated, the first and the second halves each have a plurality of semi-circular ribs formed therein, the ribs of the first half each face a corresponding one of the ribs of the second half when the first and second halves are mated so that the corresponding ribs of the first and second halves define upper and lower boundaries of the chambers and encircle the first and the second moving contacts whereby the ribs substantially isolate adjacent ones of the chambers. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. An interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising:
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a first contact;
a conductor;
a second contact mounted on the conductor, the second contact and the conductor being movable in relation to the first contact between a first position wherein the first and the second contacts are in electrical contact, and a second position; and
a body having a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein, the recesses forming chambers within the body for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated, the first and second halves of the body each comprising a plurality of ribs each having a substantially planar first surface that partially defines one of the chambers, and a substantially planar second surface that partially defines an adjacent one of the chambers, the body receiving the second contact and the conductor so that the conductor and the second contact are drawn through the chambers as the second contact moves from the first to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26)
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22-24. -24. (canceled)
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28. An interrupter assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising:
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a first contact;
a conductor;
a second contact mounted on the conductor, the second contact and the conductor being movable in relation to the first contact between a first position wherein the first and the second contacts are in electrical contact, and a second position wherein the second contact is electrically isolated from the first contact; and
a body for receiving the first and the second contacts and the conductor, wherein the body comprises a first and a second half, the body has a plurality of chambers formed therein for holding insulating fluid;
each chamber is defined by a recess formed in the first half, and a corresponding recess formed in the second half that adjoins the recess formed in the first half when the first and second halves are mated;
the chambers are further defined by ribs formed in the first and second halves, each of the ribs of the first half faces a corresponding rib formed in the second half when the first and second halves are mated so that the corresponding ribs of the first and second halves are symmetrically disposed around the moving contact; and
the second contact is drawn through the chambers when the second contact moves from the first to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. (canceled)
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31. A circuit breaker, comprising:
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an interrupter assembly comprising;
a first and a second stationary contact;
a moving contact assembly comprising a substantially U-shaped conductor, a first moving contact mounted on a first end of the conductor, and a second moving contact mounted on a second end of the conductor, the moving contact assembly being movable between a first position herein the first and second moving contacts are in electrical contact with the respective first and second stationary contacts, and a second position wherein the first and second moving contacts are electrically isolated from the respective first and second stationary contacts; and
a body having a first and a second half each having a plurality of recesses formed therein, wherein the recesses formed in the first half face corresponding ones of the recesses formed in the second half to form chambers for holding insulating fluid when the first and the second halves are mated, the first and second halves each comprise a plurality of ribs, each of the ribs has a recess formed therein for receiving a corresponding one of the first and second moving contacts, each of the ribs of the first half faces a corresponding one of the ribs of the second half when the first and second halves are mated so that ribs encircle the first and second moving contacts and substantially isolate adjacent ones of the chambers, and the body receives the moving contact assembly so that the first and the second moving contacts are drawn through respective ones of the chambers and the ribs as the moving contact assembly moves from the first to the second position;
an actuator assembly for moving the moving contact assembly from the first to the second position, comprising a contact arm mechanically coupled to the conductor, and a spring for biasing the contact arm; and
a current sensor assembly for activating the actuator mechanism in response to over-temperature and over-current conditions.
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Specification