Circuit breaker, arcing chamber housing for a circuit breaker and housing module for an arcing chamber housing

• US 6,087,609 A
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
• Original Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
• Inventors: Erven, Wolfgang, Jung, Klaus, Thilker, Lutz
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US09/230,577
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 200/243, 200/244, 200/303, 218/22, 218/23, 218/24, 218/25, 218/26, 218/27, 218/28, 218/29, 218/30, 218/31, 218/32, 218/33, 218/34-39, 218/117, 218/146, 218/147, 218/149-151, 218/154, 218/155, 218/156, 335/16, 335/147, 335/195, 335/201, 335/202
• US Class Current: 218/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/2041 Rotating bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/345 Mounting of arc chutes

Abstract

A arcing chamber housing is disclosed for a circuit breaker with a double turning contact breaker. The arcing chamber housing (1) is composed of two housing modules (2, 3) and an extinguishing chamber (19) is arranged in the area of the fixed contact pieces (6, 7) to extinguish the arcs which are formed between the contact pieces of the double turning contact breaker. In order to obtain a arcing chamber housing (1) which is easy and economical to produce, with extinguishing chambers (19) which have a reproducible extinguishing behavior once the arcing chamber is assembled, the two housing modules (2, 3) are substantially L-shaped parts whose inner marginal surfaces (4, 5) face each other. The first parts (17, 18) of the housing, which correspond to the first branches of the L-shaped housing modules (2,3), are designed as extinguishing chambers (19). Also disclosed are the housing modules (2, 3) used to produce such a arcing chamber housing.

Claims

1. An arcing chamber housing for a circuit breaker comprising:

a first housing module, the first housing module being essentially L-shaped and having a first housing limb; and

a second housing module, the second housing module being essentially L-shaped and having a second housing limb and an inner edge surface, the inner edge surface facing the first housing module, the first and second housing modules for housing a rotary double-break interrupter of the circuit breaker, the rotary double-break interrupter including a first and a second stationary contact member connected via rail-shaped conductors to respective first and second connecting terminals, the rotary double-break interrupter including a two-arm rotatable contact member rotatable about a shaft for connecting in a closed position the first and second stationary contact members, the first and second stationary contact members in response to an overload situation for swivelling the rotatable contact member into an open position;

the first and second housing limbs each forming an arc extinction chamber for the rotary double-break interrupter in an area of the first and second stationary contact members.

2. The arcing chamber housing as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second housing modules are identical.

3. An L-shaped housing module for an arcing chamber housing comprising:

a first housing part forming a first limb, the first limb including an arc extinction chamber for a rotary double-break interrupter, the first limb for housing a stationary contact member and an arm of a rotatable contact member of the rotary double-break interrupter; and

a second housing part forming a second limb, the second limb including a bearing block for a shaft for actuating the rotatable contact member.

4. The housing module as recited in claim 3 wherein the second housing part has side walls having semicircular openings.

5. The housing module as recited in claim 3 wherein the first housing part has at least one outer side having an edge-side depression for supporting a rail-shaped conductor having a loop form between the stationary contact member and a corresponding connecting terminal.

6. The housing module as recited in claim 5 wherein the outer side is capable of supporting a second rail-shaped conductor having a loop form, the second rail-shaped conductor for interconnection via a connecting crosspiece to the rail-shaped conductor.

7. The housing module as recited in claim 5 wherein the second housing part has at least one second outer side with a second edge-side area facing away from the first housing part and having a second depression for at least one partial section of the rail-shaped conductor.

8. The housing module as recited in claim 5 wherein the housing module is made of a molded plastic.

9. A circuit breaker comprising:

a rotary double-break interrupter including a first and a second stationary contact member and a two-arm rotatable contact member rotatable about a shaft for connecting in a closed position the first and second stationary contact members, the first and second stationary contact members in response to an overload situation for swivelling the rotatable contact member into an open position;

a first housing module, the first housing module being essentially L-shaped and having a first housing limb; and

a second housing module, the second housing module being essentially L-shaped and having a second housing limb and an inner edge surface, the inner edge surface facing the first housing module, the first and second housing modules for housing the rotary double-break interrupter, the first and second housing limbs each forming an arc extinction chamber in an area of the first and second stationary contact members.