Connection clip to a busbar for a draw-in multipole circuit breaker or system

• US 5,853,305 A
• Filed: 05/30/1997
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bedrossian, Antoine, Langlois, Philippe, Lepretre, Pascal, Velletaz, Gilbert, Rodriguez, Pascale, Morel, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/849,188
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 439/787, 439/931, 439/178, 439/936
• US Class Current: 439/787
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/027 containing carbon particles or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/42 Knife-and-clip contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 11/04 Isolating-contacts, e.g. mountings or shieldings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/936 Potting material or coating, e.g. grease, insulative coating, sealant or, adhesive

Abstract

A connection clip electrically connects one of the contact terminal strips of a circuit breaker to a terminal strip for connection to a busbar. At least one opposed pair of independent contact fingers in the form of a bridge is made of conducting material and each opposed pair of contact fingers has two end contacts. The two independent contact fingers press via their end contacts respectively on the two opposite faces of either a terminal strip or busbar, and are urged elastically towards one another by the action of springs compression fitted between a connection frame and a bearing surface of the independent pairs of contact fingers. The independent pairs of contact fingers are covered by a coating containing carbon which provides lubrication to facilitate draw-in of the clip, while reducing the risks of welding at the level of the contact points.

Claims

1. A connection clip for electrical connection between a contact terminal strip of a circuit breaker and a busbar, the connection clip comprising:

a plurality of opposed pairs of independent contact fingers forming a bridge;

each opposed pair of contact fringes having contact ends made of a conductive material and having a space therebetween; and

means for elastically urging the opposed pairs of independent contact fingers toward each other so that the contact ends of each opposed pair of independent contact fingers electrically connects to one of said terminal strip and a busbar that is drawn into the space between an opposed pair of the independent contact fingers;

wherein

a friction-reducing coating containing graphite is disposed on the contact ends to facilitate draw-in of one of said terminal strip and busbar; and

a plurality of sides of the independent contact fingers are graphite-coated to reduce friction between lateral surfaces of the independent contact fingers.

2. The connection clip according to claim 1 wherein the friction-reducing coating is disposed on all of the pairs of independent contact fingers.

3. The connection clip according to claim 1 wherein the friction-reducing coating comprises a silver and graphite alloy.

4. The connection clip according to claim 1 wherein the friction-reducing coating is comprised of 2% carbon.

5. The connection clip according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the coating is about 5 μ

m.

6. The connection clip according to claim 1 wherein the independent contact fingers are made of copper.

7. The connection clip according to claim 1, wherein each pair of opposed pairs of independent contact fingers comprises complementary internal center faces extending over the length of the connection clip separating the terminal strip and busbar.