Electrical system, and circuit protection module and electrical switching apparatus therefor

• US 8,445,800 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Labinal (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Mills, Patrick Wellington, McCormick, James Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/971,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20120152706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 200/304, 200/296, 200/293, 200/294, 200/295, 200/297
• US Class Current: 200/304
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/025 Constructional details of housings or casings not concerning the mounting or assembly of the different internal parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 73/30 reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/52 Cooling of switch parts cooling of contacts H01H1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/044 Mounting through openings

Abstract

An electrical switching apparatus such as, for example, a subminiature or aircraft circuit breaker, is provided for a circuit protection module of an electrical system, such as an aerospace power distribution unit. The circuit protection module includes a panel member. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a mounting element for attaching the housing to the panel member. The housing is a thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer. The panel member and mounting element are thermally conductive. Heat generated by the separable contacts is transferred away from the separable contacts, through the housing and the thermally conductive mounting element, and into the thermally conductive panel member. A circuit protection module and an electrical system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrical switching apparatus for a circuit protection module of an electrical system, said circuit protection module including a panel member, said electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a housing;

separable contacts enclosed by the housing;

an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts; and

a mounting element structured to attach the housing to said panel member, wherein the housing is a thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer, and

wherein said panel member and said mounting element are thermally conductive;

wherein the housing is structured to transfer heat generated by said separable contacts away from said separable contacts, through the housing and said thermally conductive mounting element, and into said thermally conductive panel member.

2. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer has a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/mK to about 20 W/mK;

and wherein the housing is structured to provide heat transfer and dielectric insulation.

3. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 1 wherein said thermally conductive panel member is an aluminum aircraft structure;

and wherein said thermally conductive mounting element is an aluminum mounting bracket.

4. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side, and a second side disposed opposite the first side;

and wherein said mounting element is structured to attach the first end of the housing to said panel member.

5. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 4 wherein said panel member includes an interior side and an exterior side disposed opposite the interior side;

wherein said operating mechanism includes an actuator extending outwardly from the first end of the housing;

wherein said actuator is movable between a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being open, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed;

wherein the housing is structured to be attached to the interior side of said panel member; and

wherein at least a portion of said actuator is structured to extend through said panel member in order to be accessible on the exterior side of said panel member.

6. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mounting element is a thermally conductive mounting bracket;

wherein said thermally conductive mounting bracket comprises an attachment portion and a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from said attachment portion;

wherein said attachment portion is structured to be attached to said panel member; and

wherein each of said protrusions is attached to the housing at or about a corresponding one of the first and second sides.

7. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 6 wherein said protrusions are a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and a fourth protrusion;

wherein the housing further comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;

wherein said first protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said first edge;

wherein said second protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said second edge;

wherein said third protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said third edge; and

wherein said fourth protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said fourth edge.

8. A circuit protection module for an electrical system, said circuit protection module comprising:

a panel member; and

at least one electrical switching apparatus comprising;

a housing,

separable contacts enclosed by the housing,

an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and

a mounting element attaching the housing to said panel member,

wherein the housing is a thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer, and

wherein said panel member and said mounting element are thermally conductive;

wherein the housing of said at least one electrical switching apparatus transfers heat generated by said separable contacts away from said separable contacts, through the housing and said thermally conductive mounting element, and into said thermally conductive panel member.

9. The circuit protection module of claim 8 wherein said thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer has a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/mK to about 20 W/mK;

and wherein the housing is structured to provide heat transfer and dielectric insulation.

10. The circuit protection module of claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side, and a second side disposed opposite the first side;

wherein said mounting element is a thermally conductive mounting bracket;

wherein said thermally conductive mounting bracket comprises an attachment portion and a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from said attachment portion;

wherein said attachment portion is attached to said panel member; and

wherein each of said protrusions is attached to the housing at or about a corresponding one of the first and second sides.

11. The circuit protection module of claim 10 wherein said protrusions are a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and a fourth protrusion;

wherein the housing further comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;

wherein said first protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said first edge;

wherein said second protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said second edge;

wherein said third protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said third edge; and

wherein said fourth protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said fourth edge.

12. The circuit protection module of claim 10 wherein said panel member includes an interior side and an exterior side disposed opposite the interior side;

wherein said operating mechanism of said at least one electrical switching apparatus includes an actuator extending outwardly from the first end of the housing;

wherein said actuator is movable between a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being open, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed;

wherein the housing of each of said at least one electrical switching apparatus is attached to the interior side of said panel member; and

wherein at least a portion of said actuator extends through said panel member in order to be accessible on the exterior side of said panel member.

13. A electrical system comprising:

a plurality of electrical circuits; and

a circuit protection module comprising;

a panel member, and

a plurality of electrical switching apparatus, each of said electrical switching apparatus comprising

a housing,

separable contacts enclosed by the housing,

an operating mechanism for opening and closing said

separable contacts, and

a mounting element attaching the housing to said panel member,

wherein the housing is a thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer, and

wherein said panel member and said mounting element are thermally conductive;

wherein the housing transfers heat generated by said separable contacts away from said separable contacts, through the housing and said thermally conductive mounting element, and into said thermally conductive panel member.

14. The electrical system of claim 13 wherein said thermally conductive liquid crystalline polymer has a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/mK to about 20 W/mK;

and wherein the housing provides heat transfer and dielectric insulation.

15. The electrical system of claim 13 wherein the housing comprises a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side, and a second side disposed opposite the first side;

wherein said mounting element is a thermally conductive mounting bracket;

wherein said thermally conductive mounting bracket comprises an attachment portion and a plurality of protrusions extending outwardly from said attachment portion;

wherein said attachment portion is attached to said panel member; and

wherein each of said protrusions is attached to the housing at or about a corresponding one of the first and second sides.

16. The electrical system of claim 15 wherein said protrusions are a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and a fourth protrusion;

wherein the housing further comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;

wherein said first protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said first edge;

wherein said second protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said second edge;

wherein said third protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said third edge; and

wherein said fourth protrusion is attached to the first end of the housing at or about said fourth edge.

17. The electrical system of claim 15 wherein said panel member includes an interior side and an exterior side disposed opposite the interior side;

wherein said operating mechanism includes an actuator extending outwardly from the first end of the housing;

wherein said actuator is movable between a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being open, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed;

wherein the housing is attached to the interior side of said panel member; and

wherein at least a portion of said actuator extends through said panel member in order to be accessible on the exterior side of said panel member.