Spacer for an insulator assembly

• US 6,538,206 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Gerald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, JINHEE J
• Application Number:
  US09/961,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20030056973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 174/138.G, 174/138.R, 174/148, 174/138.F, 174/154, 174/158.R, 174/168, 174/169, 174/176, 248/49, 248/58, 200/48.R, 200/48.KB, 200/48
• US Class Current: 174/138.00G
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 31/023 Base and stationary contacts mounted thereon

Abstract

An insulator assembly has a spacer for conducting electrical current from the terminal pad of a bypass switch assembly to the contact of a switch assembly. The insulator assembly has a base. A first switch assembly is connected to the base and has a first switch blade movable between open and closed positions. A second switch assembly is connected to the base and has a second switch blade movable between open and closed positions. A bypass switch assembly is connected to the base and has a bypass switch blade movable between open and closed positions. The bypass switch assembly has a first conductor electrically connected to the bypass switch blade when the bypass switch blade is in the closed position. A support member is connected to the first conductor and has an opening. A second conductor is electrically connected to the first switch blade when the first switch blade is in the closed position. A spacer is disposed in the support member opening to transfer electrical current from the first conductor to the second conductor. The spacer has a first surface in electrical contact with the first conductor and has a second surface in electrical contact with the second conductor.

Claims

1. An insulator assembly, comprising:

a base;

a first switch assembly connected to said base and having a first switch blade movable between open and closed positions;

a second switch assembly connected to said base and having a second switch blade movable between open and closed positions;

a bypass switch assembly connected to said base and having a bypass switch blade movable between open and closed positions, said bypass switch assembly being electrically parallel to a series connection of said first and second switch assemblies and including

a first conductor electrically connected to said bypass switch blade when said bypass switch blade is in the closed position,

a support member connected to said first conductor and having an opening, and

a second conductor electrically connected to said first switch blade when said first switch blade is in the closed position; and

a spacer disposed in said support member opening to transfer electric current from said first conductor to said second conductor, said spacer having a first surface in electrical contact with said first conductor and having a second surface in electrical contact with said second conductor.

2. An insulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said spacer is thicker than said support member.

3. An insulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said spacer is copper.

4. An insulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said first conductor is copper.

5. An insulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said second conductor is copper.

6. An insulator assembly according to claim 1, wherein

said support member is steel.

7. An insulator assembly for a switch assembly, comprising:

a base;

a first switch assembly connected to said base and having a first switch blade movable between open and closed positions;

a second switch assembly connected to said base and having a second switch blade movable between open and closed positions;

a bypass switch assembly connected to said base and having a bypass switch blade movable between open and closed positions, said bypass switch assembly being electrically parallel to a series connection of said first and second switch assemblies and including

a first conductor electrically connected to said bypass switch blade when said bypass switch blade is in the closed position,

a support member connected to said first conductor and having an opening, and

a second conductor electrically connected to said first switch blade when said first switch blade is in the closed position; and

a spacer disposed in said support member opening to transfer electric current from said first conductor to said second conductor, said spacer being thicker than said support member, said spacer having a first surface in electrical contact with said first conductor and having a second surface in electrical contact with said second conductor.

8. An insulator assembly according to claim 7, wherein

said spacer is copper.

9. An insulator assembly according to claim 7, wherein

said first conductor is copper.

10. An insulator assembly according to claim 7, wherein

said second conductor is copper.

11. An insulator assembly according to claim 7, wherein

said support member is steel.