Electric contactor housing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical contactor, the contactor comprising:
- an electromagnetic operator;
a polyphase contact portion including parallel phase sections, each phase section having a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact element displaceable and maintained in a displaced position with respect to the stationary contacts under the influence of the electromagnetic operator to complete and interrupt a current carrying path through the respective phase section;
a one-piece housing body defining a base cavity for receiving the electromagnetic operator and a plurality of contact cavities for receiving respective phase sections, the one-piece housing body including an integral cavity partition to separate the base cavity from the contact cavities and at least one integral phase partition to separate the contact cavities from one another, the one-piece body being made of a moldable thermoplastic material; and
a cap configured to be secured to the body and to fit over the contact cavities.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary housing structure is provided for an electrical switching device such as a three-phase contactor. The housing includes internal partitions for separating an operator section from contact sections, and for isolating phase sections from one another. The partitions are contiguous with one another and with side walls of the housing, inhibiting plasma flow within the housing cavities. The housing is made of a thermoplastic material which is molded as a single piece. The thermoplastic may be partially protected from plasma and arcs by shields within the phase sections, such as splitter plate supports.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An electrical contactor, the contactor comprising:
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an electromagnetic operator;
a polyphase contact portion including parallel phase sections, each phase section having a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact element displaceable and maintained in a displaced position with respect to the stationary contacts under the influence of the electromagnetic operator to complete and interrupt a current carrying path through the respective phase section;
a one-piece housing body defining a base cavity for receiving the electromagnetic operator and a plurality of contact cavities for receiving respective phase sections, the one-piece housing body including an integral cavity partition to separate the base cavity from the contact cavities and at least one integral phase partition to separate the contact cavities from one another, the one-piece body being made of a moldable thermoplastic material; and
a cap configured to be secured to the body and to fit over the contact cavities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrical contactor, the contactor comprising:
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an electromagnetic operator;
a polyphase contact portion including parallel phase sections, each phase section includes a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact element displaceable and maintained in a displaced position with respect to the stationary contacts under the influence of the electromagnetic operator to complete and interrupt a current carrying path through the respective phase section;
a central housing made of a moldable thermoplastic material, the housing defining a base cavity for receiving the electromagnetic operator and a plurality of contact cavities for receiving respective phase sections, the base cavity being separated from the contact cavities by a transverse partition, and the contact cavities being separated from one another by phase partitions; and
a cap configured to be secured to the body and to fit over the contact cavities. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for isolating operative components of an electrical contactor including an electromagnetic operator and a contact assembly having movable contacts selectively displaceable with respect to stationary contacts to complete current carrying paths through the contactor, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a one-piece housing body including a peripheral sidewall defining an interior cavity and a cavity partition integral with the peripheral sidewall and extending transversely from the peripheral sidewall to separate the interior cavity into a base cavity and a contact cavity, the one-piece housing body being molded from a thernmoplastic material;
positioning the electromagnetic operator in the base cavity;
positioning the contact assembly in the contact cavity, the transverse partition isolating the operator from the contact assembly, the operator being configured to be energized for displacing and maintaining the movable contacts with respect to the stationary contacts; and
securing covers to the base and contact cavities. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification