Gas discharge filter for electrical switching apparatus
First Claim
1. A gas discharge filter for use with an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a line side with line terminal means, a load side with load terminal means, separable contacts electrically connected in series between said line terminal means and said load terminal means, a housing, an arc chamber within said housing and structured to extinguish an arc between said separable contacts when opened, said housing having at least one exhaust vent opening for discharging through an exhaust path ionized gases which are developed from said arc, said ionized gases having a temperature, said gas discharge filter comprising:
- a single conductive insert member for each of said at least one exhaust vent opening, each said since conductive insert member structured to reduce the temperature of said discharged ionized gases; and
a supporting member for securing said conductive insert member outside said housing and proximate one of said at least one exhaust vent opening in the exhaust path for said discharged ionized gases.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gas discharge filter is for cooling ionized gases discharged from a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes separable contacts electrically connected in series between line and load terminals, a housing, an arc chamber within the housing structured to extinguish an arc between the separable contacts when opened, and an exhaust vent in the housing for discharging ionized gases developed from the arc. The gas discharge filter includes a heat exchanger for reducing the temperature of the discharged ionized gases, and a supporting member to secure the heat exchanger outside the housing and proximate the exhaust vent opening in the exhaust path for the discharged ionized gases. The discharge filter cools the discharged ionized gases as they pass through and around the heat exchanger thus reducing the likelihood of electrical faults associated therewith.
53 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A gas discharge filter for use with an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a line side with line terminal means, a load side with load terminal means, separable contacts electrically connected in series between said line terminal means and said load terminal means, a housing, an arc chamber within said housing and structured to extinguish an arc between said separable contacts when opened, said housing having at least one exhaust vent opening for discharging through an exhaust path ionized gases which are developed from said arc, said ionized gases having a temperature, said gas discharge filter comprising:
-
a single conductive insert member for each of said at least one exhaust vent opening, each said since conductive insert member structured to reduce the temperature of said discharged ionized gases; and
a supporting member for securing said conductive insert member outside said housing and proximate one of said at least one exhaust vent opening in the exhaust path for said discharged ionized gases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 25)
-
-
8. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
-
at least one line terminal;
at least one load terminal;
at least one pair of separable contacts electrically connected in series between said at least one line terminal and said at least one load terminal;
a housing;
at least one arc chamber within said housing and structured to extinguish an arc between said separable contacts when opened;
said housing having at least one exhaust vent opening for discharging through at least one exhaust path ionized gases which are developed from said arc, said discharged ionized gases having a temperature; and
a gas discharge filter comprising;
beat reduction means a single conductive insert member fora single conductive insert member structured to reduce the temperature of said discharged ionized gases; and
a supporting member for securing each said single conductive insert member outside said housing and proximate said at least one exhaust vent opening, in the at least one exhaust path for said discharged ionized gases. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A power distribution system comprising:
-
a switchgear cabinet;
an electrical switching apparatus coupled to said switchgear cabinet, said electrical switching apparatus including at least one line terminal, at least one load terminal, at least one pair of separable contacts electrically connected in series between said at least one line terminal and said at least one load terminal, a housing, at least one arc chamber within said housing and structured to extinguish an arc between said separable contacts when opened, said housing having at least one exhaust vent opening for discharging through at least one exhaust path ionized gases which are developed from said arc, said discharged ionized gases having a temperature; and
a gas discharge filter comprising;
a single conductive insert member for each of said at least one exhaust vent opening, each said single conductive insert member structured to reduce the temperature of said discharged ionized gases; and
a supporting member for securing each said single conductive insert member outside said housing and proximate one of said at least one exhaust vent opening, in the exhaust path for said discharged ionized gases. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification