Arc containing device
First Claim
1. A device for containing an electrical discharge arc, said device comprising two spaced apart conductor systems that are exposed to one another;
- means for connecting the respective conductor systems to electrically conductive connecting points in an electrical circuit at different voltage potentials whereby, in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems, current will flow through and between the conductor systems; and
a core composed of an insulating material extending between the conductor systems;
wherein at least one of the conductor systems comprises at least one conductor element which is in the form of an open loop which surrounds the core and which provides a predominantly unidirectional path for current flow whereby any arc which extends between the conductor systems will be caused to move substantially unidirectional around the loop repeatedly in the presence of a force which has a component extending along the loop and which exits as a consequence of interaction of the arc current with a magnetic field associated with current in the loop, the conductor element being arranged such that a portion of its loop overlaps a further portion of the conductor element to thereby shield the connecting means associated with the conductor system, of which the conductor element forms a part, from arcing that extends between the conductor systems.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for containing an electrical discharge arc and holding the arc substantially captive until it is extinguished. The device comprises two spaced apart conductor systems (13 and 14) that are connected to points (23 and 24) of different voltage potential in an electrical circuit, so that arc current will flow through and between the conductor systems (13 and 14) in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems. The conductor systems are arranged normally to locate about an insulated portion (22) of an electrical apparatus. Each conductor system comprises a conductor element (15 or 16) in the form of an open loop which provides a predominantly unidirectional current path through the associated conductor system (13 or 14), so that any arc which extends between the two conductor systems will be caused to move repeatedly and unidirectionally around the loop in the presence of a force which has a component extending in the direction of the loop and which exists as a consequence of interaction of the arc current with the magnetic field associated with current in the loop.
30 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device for containing an electrical discharge arc, said device comprising two spaced apart conductor systems that are exposed to one another;
- means for connecting the respective conductor systems to electrically conductive connecting points in an electrical circuit at different voltage potentials whereby, in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems, current will flow through and between the conductor systems; and
a core composed of an insulating material extending between the conductor systems;
wherein at least one of the conductor systems comprises at least one conductor element which is in the form of an open loop which surrounds the core and which provides a predominantly unidirectional path for current flow whereby any arc which extends between the conductor systems will be caused to move substantially unidirectional around the loop repeatedly in the presence of a force which has a component extending along the loop and which exits as a consequence of interaction of the arc current with a magnetic field associated with current in the loop, the conductor element being arranged such that a portion of its loop overlaps a further portion of the conductor element to thereby shield the connecting means associated with the conductor system, of which the conductor element forms a part, from arcing that extends between the conductor systems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- means for connecting the respective conductor systems to electrically conductive connecting points in an electrical circuit at different voltage potentials whereby, in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems, current will flow through and between the conductor systems; and
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17. A device for containing an electrical discharge arc, said device comprising two spaced apart conductor systems that are exposed to one another;
- means for connecting the respective conductor systems to electrically conductive connecting points in an electrical circuit at different voltage potentials whereby, in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems, current will flow through and between the conductor systems; and
a core composed of an insulating material extending between the conductor systems;
wherein at least one of the conductor systems comprises at least two open loop conductor elements which surround the core, wherein each conductor element has less than one convolution, wherein the conductor elements are arranged in overlapping relationship whereby they combine to create the effect of more than one convolution, and wherein the conductor elements provide a predominantly unidirectional path for current flow whereby any arc which extends between the conductor systems will be caused to move substantially unidirectional around the loop repeatedly in the presence of a force which has a component extending along the loop and which exists as a consequence of interaction of the arc current with a magnetic field associated with current in the loop, the conductor element being arranged such that a portion of its loop shields the connecting means associated with the conductor system, of which the conductor element forms a part, from arcing that extends between the conductor systems.
- means for connecting the respective conductor systems to electrically conductive connecting points in an electrical circuit at different voltage potentials whereby, in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems, current will flow through and between the conductor systems; and
Specification