CIRCUIT BREAKER ASSEMBLY WITH INTERPOSED WEDGE NON-CONDUCTOR AND COMPLEMENTARY HOUSING ARC-PREVENTION STRUCTURE

• US 3,842,228 A
• Filed: 08/27/1973
• Issued: 10/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James H. Green
• Original Assignee: James H. Green
• Inventors: Green, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/391,923
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 200/61.19,149R-149B,15R,151 317/11 335/14,187,201 307/136
• US Class Current: 218/117
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/32 Insulating body insertable between contacts

Abstract

A compact non-arcing switch which includes a housing which is constructed of dielectric material. A pair of electrical contacts are mounted within the housing for movement between open and closed positions with a means for biasing the contacts to the closed position. An elongated dielectric wedge is slidably mounted within the housing for opening and closing the contacts. The mounting of the wedge within the housing provides electrical closure paths which prevent arcing between the contacts when they are opened.

Claims

1. A compact non-arcing switch comprising:

a housing which is constructed of dielectric material;

a pair of electrical contacts mounted within the housing wherein at least one of the contacts is mounted for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the other contact;

means for biasing at least one of the contacts to the closed position;

an elongated wedge which is constructed of dielectric material;

means slidably mounting the longitudinal edges of the wedge to the side walls of the housing for moving the wedge forward between the contacts to open the contacts and retracing the wedge rearwardly to allow the contacts to close;

the slidable mounting means also making electrical closure along the paths of slidable engagement with the edges of the wedge so that arcing between the contActs is cut off when the wedge opens the contacts;

means for receiving the forward end of the wedge and making an electrical closure path which joins said paths of slidable engagement of the slidable mounting means with the sides of the wedge so that forward movement of the wedge will open the contacts and insulate the contacts from electrical arcing along three closure paths therebetween; and

said wedge having an abutment which makes slidable continuous engagement with the side and bottom walls of the housing so as to provide a fourth electrical closure path which joins the other three closure paths to completely isolate the contacts from one another when they are opened.

2. A compact non-arcing switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said housing is a rectangular box with fore and aft, side, and top and bottom walls; and

the slidable mounting means includes;

the side walls of the box having fore and aft grooves which snugly receive the edges of the wedge;

the forward wall of the box having a lateral groove which snugly receives the forward edge of the wedge; and

all of said grooves being continuous.

3. A compact non-arcing switch as claimed in claim 2 including:

the bottom contact being fixed within the bottom of the box;

the top contact having a shaft which slides within the hollow cylinder; and

a helical compression spring disposed about the shaft and the hollow cylinder and bearing against the top of the top contact and the top wall.

4. A compact non-arcing switch as claimed in claim 3 including:

a longitudinal solenoid mounted in a rear portion of the box for moving the wedge forward and rearward.

5. A compact non-arcing switch as claimed in claim 4 including:

the rear portion of the top contact being chamfered; and

the fore portion of the wedge being a blade.