High current switch and method of operation
First Claim
1. An electrical switch comprising:
- an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein, said housing including a conically tapered first end, a cylindrical mid-section, a conically tapered bushing formed in said mid-section perpendicular to said axial bore and a boss portion formed in said mid-section perpendicular to said axial bore between said tapered first end and said tapered bushing;
a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore;
a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and
a viewing port disposed in said boss portion of said insulative housing wall adjacent said first electrical contact to permit viewing of said first electrical contact within said housing bore.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical switch which includes an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein, a first electrical contact disposed in the housing bore and a second electrical contact movably disposed in the housing bore between an open position and a closed position. When the contacts are in their open position, the second electrical contact is spaced apart from the first electrical contact and when the contacts are in their closed position, the second electrical contact is in electrical contact with the first electrical contact. The switch includes features to enhance safety and operation by reducing the possibility of arcing or flashover before and during the switching operation and to provide of visual indication of the state of the switch.
42 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein, said housing including a conically tapered first end, a cylindrical mid-section, a conically tapered bushing formed in said mid-section perpendicular to said axial bore and a boss portion formed in said mid-section perpendicular to said axial bore between said tapered first end and said tapered bushing; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and a viewing port disposed in said boss portion of said insulative housing wall adjacent said first electrical contact to permit viewing of said first electrical contact within said housing bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; a viewing port disposed in said insulative housing wall adjacent said first electrical contact to permit viewing of said first electrical contact within said housing bore; and a frangible insulative plate disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plate being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position, wherein said frangible insulative plate is made from a high dielectric strength glass material. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; two spaced apart frangible insulative plates disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plates being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position; and a viewing port disposed in said insulative housing wall between said two frangible insulative plates to permit viewing of said first electrical contact within said housing bore.
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12. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and at least one frangible insulative plate disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plate being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position, wherein the at least one frangible insulative plate comprises glass.
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13. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and at least one frangible insulative plate disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plate being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position, wherein two, spaced apart frangible insulative plates are disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts.
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14. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and at least one frangible insulative plate disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plate being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position, wherein the electrical switch is a high current switch and said at least one frangible insulative plate reduces the occurrence of flashover when said contacts are in said open position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electrical switch comprising:
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an insulative housing having a wall defining an axial bore therein; a first electrical contact disposed in said housing bore; a second electrical contact movably disposed in said housing bore between an open position, wherein said second electrical contact is spaced apart from said first electrical contact, and a closed position, wherein said second electrical contact is in electrical contact with said first electrical contact; and at least one frangible insulative plate disposed in said housing bore between said first and second electrical contacts when said second electrical contact is in said open position, said frangible insulative plate being adapted to be broken by said second electrical contact as said second electrical contact is moved to said closed position, wherein said first electrical contact comprises a female socket including an inner roughened surface to engage the second electrical contact, said roughened surface providing a scraping action on the second electrical contact during engagement therewith to prevent broken shards of said insulative plate from interfering with electrical connection between the first and second electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification