Circuit interrupter with improved contact structure and arc-runner

Claim 2

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, a resiliently movable conductor, and arcing contact supported on said resiliently movable conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said resiliently movable condUctor and during opening operations said charged resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arcrunner supported on said resiliently movable conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor, an elongated resiliently movable leafspring conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on the free end of said resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner comprising an elongated member supported at one end thereof on said resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said arcing contact with the main body portion and the other end of said arc-runner being spaced from said resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor.

Claim 3

A circuit breaker according to claim 1, said arc-extinguishing structure comprising a plurality of stacked slotted magnetic plates stacked with the slots thereof in alignment, said resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor and said arcing contact being positioned within the aligned slots of said magnetic plates with said free end of said arc-runner extending toward the bight portions of said plates.

Claim 4

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, a resiliently movable conductor, an arcing contact supported on said resiliently movable conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said resiliently movable conductor and during opening operations said charged resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said resiliently movable conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor, said resiliently movable conductor comprising and elongated resiliently movable conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on the free end of said resiliently movable conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner comprising a generally U-shaped member supported at one leg thereof on said resiliently movable conductor with the outer side of said one leg engaging said resiliently movable conductor and with the other leg thereof being spaced from said resiliently movable conductor, said generally U-shaped member being supported on said resiliently movable conductor with the bight portion thereof being in proximity to said arcing contact and with the legs thereof extending away from said arcing contact in the direction into said arc-extinguishing strUcture.

Claim 5

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, a resiliently movable conductor, an arcing contact supported on said resiliently movable conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said resiliently movable conductor and during opening operations said charged resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said resiliently movable conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor, said resiliently movable conductor comprising and elongated resiliently movable conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on the free end of said resiliently movable conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner comprising a generally U-shaped member supported at one leg thereof on said resiliently movable conductor with the outer side of said one leg engaging said resiliently movable conductor and with the other leg thereof being spaced from said resiliently movable conductor, said generally U-shaped member being supported on said resiliently movable conductor with the bight portion thereof being in proximity to said arcing contact and with the legs thereof extending away from said arcing contact in the direction into said arc-extinguishing strUcture.

Claim 6

A circuit breaker according to claim 3, said arc-extinguishing structure comprising a plurality of magnetic slotted plates supported in a stacked relationship with the slots thereof in alignment, said contact arm moving within said aligned slots, and said other leg of said arc-runner extending generally toward the bight portions of said stacked magnetic plates.

Claim 7

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, an elongated resiliently movable leaf spring conductor, and arcing contact supported on said leaf-spring conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said leaf-spring conductor and during opening operations said charged leaf-spring conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor, said leaf-spring conductor being fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor, at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said leaf-spring conductor in extending from the support thereof toward said fixed contact also extending from the support thereof frontward away from the front of said rigid conductor, and said arc-runner being an elongated generally straight arc-runner supported at one end thereof on the front of said leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said arcing contact and extending generally toward the supported end of said leaf-spring conductor with the other end of said arc-runner being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor.

Claim 8

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, an elongated resiliently movable leaf spring conductor, and arcing contact supported on said leaf-spring conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said leaf-spring conductor and during opening operations said charged leaf-spring conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor, said leaf-spring conductor being fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor, at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said leaf-spring conductor in extending from the support thereof toward said fixed contact also extending from the support thereof frontward away from the front of said rigid conductor, and said arc-runner being an elongated generally straight arc-runner supported at one end thereof on the front of said leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said arcing contact and extending generally toward the supported end of said leaf-spring conductor with the other end of said arc-runner being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor.

Claim 9

A circuit breaker according to claim 5, said arc-extinguishing structure comprising a plurality of slotted stacked magnetic plates stacked with the slots thereof in alignment, said elongated leaf-spring conductor being positioned with the supported end thereof in the slot-portion of said slotted stacked magnetic plates.

Claim 10

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, an elongated resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor, an arcing contact supported on said leaf-spring conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said leaf-spring conductor and during opening operations said charged leaf-spring conductor follows said movaBle contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor, said leaf-spring conductor being fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said arc-runner being a generally U-shaped member supported at one leg thereof on said leaf-spring conductor with the outer side of said one leg engaging said leaf-spring conductor and with the other leg thereof being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor with the bight portion thereof being in proximity to said arcing contact and with the legs thereof extending away from said arcing contact in the direction into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 11

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, an elongated resiliently movable leaf-spring conductor, an arcing contact supported on said leaf-spring conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said leaf-spring conductor and during opening operations said charged leaf-spring conductor follows said movaBle contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor, said leaf-spring conductor being fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor at the front of said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said arc-runner being a generally U-shaped member supported at one leg thereof on said leaf-spring conductor with the outer side of said one leg engaging said leaf-spring conductor and with the other leg thereof being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor, said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor with the bight portion thereof being in proximity to said arcing contact and with the legs thereof extending away from said arcing contact in the direction into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 12

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, a resiliently movable conductor, an arcing contact supported on said resiliently movable conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said resiliently movable conductor and during opening operations said charged resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said resiliently movable conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said movable contact structure comprising a movable contact support member movable to said closed and open positions, said movable contact structure comprising a movable contact arm and contact means on said movable contact arm, said movable contact arm being supported on said movable contact support member for movement with said movable contact support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said movable contact support member, said movable contact structure comprising spring means biasing said movable contact arm relative to said movable contact support member to provide contact pressure between said contact means and said fixed contact in the closed position of said contact structures, during closing operations as said movable contact support member moves to the closed position said contact means engages said arcing contact and charges said resiliently movable conductor and thereafter said contact means engages said fixed contact and thereafter said spring means is charged as said movable contact support member moves to the fully closed position relative to said movable contact arm while said contact means engages said fixed contact, during opening operations said movable contact suppOrt member moves away from said stationary contact structure while said contact means remains in engagement with said fixed contact and arcing contact under the bias of said spring means until said limited movement of said movable contact arm relative to said movable contact support member is taken up and thereafter said movable contact arm moves with said movable contact support member to the open position during which movement said contact means disengages from said fixed contact as said resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance and thereafter said contact means disengages from said arcing contact drawing an arc that moves on said arc-runner into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 13

A circuit breaker comprising an arc-extinguishing structure, contact means comprising a stationary contact structure supported in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a movable contact structure movable to a closed position in engagement with said stationary contact structure and to an open position disengaged from said stationary contact structure, said stationary contact structure comprising a fixed contact, a resiliently movable conductor, an arcing contact supported on said resiliently movable conductor, said contact means being constructed and arranged such that during closing operations said movable contact structure engages said arcing contact before engagement with said fixed contact to charge said resiliently movable conductor and during opening operations said charged resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance such that said movable contact structure disengages from said fixed contact before said movable contact structure disengages from said arcing contact, an arc-runner supported on said resiliently movable conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure, said movable contact structure comprising a movable contact support member movable to said closed and open positions, said movable contact structure comprising a movable contact arm and contact means on said movable contact arm, said movable contact arm being supported on said movable contact support member for movement with said movable contact support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said movable contact support member, said movable contact structure comprising spring means biasing said movable contact arm relative to said movable contact support member to provide contact pressure between said contact means and said fixed contact in the closed position of said contact structures, during closing operations as said movable contact support member moves to the closed position said contact means engages said arcing contact and charges said resiliently movable conductor and thereafter said contact means engages said fixed contact and thereafter said spring means is charged as said movable contact support member moves to the fully closed position relative to said movable contact arm while said contact means engages said fixed contact, during opening operations said movable contact suppOrt member moves away from said stationary contact structure while said contact means remains in engagement with said fixed contact and arcing contact under the bias of said spring means until said limited movement of said movable contact arm relative to said movable contact support member is taken up and thereafter said movable contact arm moves with said movable contact support member to the open position during which movement said contact means disengages from said fixed contact as said resiliently movable conductor follows said movable contact structure a limited distance and thereafter said contact means disengages from said arcing contact drawing an arc that moves on said arc-runner into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 14

A circuit breaker according to claim 8, a rigid conductor, said fixed contact being supported on said rigid conductor, said resiliently movable conductor comprising an elongated conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on said rigid conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said arcing contact being supported on the free end of said resiliently movable conductor, and said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side.

Claim 15

A circuit breaker according to claim 9, said resiliently movable conductor comprising an elongated leaf-spring conductor, said arc-runner comprising an elongated member supported at one end thereof on said leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said arcing contact with the main body portion and the other end of said arc-runner being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor.

Claim 16

A circuit breaker according to claim 9, said fixed contact being supported on the front of said rigid conductor, said resiliently movable conductor comprising an elongated leaf-spring conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on the front of said rigid conductor on said first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being spaced from said rigid conductor, said arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, and said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 17

A circuit breaker according to claim 11, said elongated leaf-spring conductor in extending from the support thereof toward said fixed contact also extending from the support thereof frontward away from the front of said rigid conductor, and said arc-runner being an elongated generally straight arc-runner supported at one end thereof on the front of said leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said arcing contact and extending generally toward the supported end of said leaf-spring conductor with the other end of said elongated generally straight arc-runner being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor.

Claim 18

A circuit breaker according to claim 12, said arc-extinguishing structure comprising a plurality of slotted stacked magnetic plates stacked with the slots thereof in alignment, said elongated leaf-spring conductor being positioned with the supported end thereof in the slot-portion of said slotted stacked magnetic plates.

Claim 19

A circuit breaker comprising a circuit-breaker structure, said circuit-breaker structure comprising a first stationary conductor, a second stationary conductor spaced from said first stationary conductor, an arc-extinguishing structure, a first and arcing stationary contact means on said first stationary conductor in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a second stationary contact means on said first stationary conductor, a third stationary contact means on said second stationary conductor, a movable contact device, said movable contact device comprising a movable support member, an arcing-contact support arm connected to said support member for movemEnt with said support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said support member, a first and arcing movable contact on said arcing-contact support arm, contact-pressure spring means biasing said arcing-contact support arm relative to said support member toward said first and arcing stationary contact means, a pair of bridging contact support arms supported on said support member on opposite sides of said arcing-contact support arm for movement with said support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said support member, a separate second movable contact and a separate third movable contact supported on each of said bridging contact support arms, said contact-pressure spring means biasing said bridging contact support arms relative to said support member toward said second and third stationary contact means, said movable contact device being movable between closed and open positions to close and open an electric circuit, in the closed position of said contacts said first and arcing movable contact engaging said first and arcing stationary contact means, said second movable contacts engaging said second stationary contact means and said third movable contacts engaging said third stationary contact means, during each opening operation of said movable contact device said second movable contacts disengaging from said second stationary contact means to transfer current to said arcing-contact support arm and thereafter said arcing movable contact moving away from said first and arcing stationary contact means, said first and arcing stationary contact means comprising a fixed contact on said first stationary conductor and a resiliently movable conductor on said first stationary conductor and a stationary arcing contact on said resiliently movable conductor and an arc-runner on said resiliently movable conductor, and during opening operations said second movable contacts disengaging from said second stationary contact means to transfer current to said arcing-contact support arm and thereafter said first and arcing contact moving away from said fixed contact as said stationary contact on said resiliently movable conductor follows said first and arcing contact a limited distance and thereafter said first and arcing contact disengaging from said stationary arcing contact drawing an arc that moves on said arc-runner into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 20

A circuit breaker comprising a circuit-breaker structure, said circuit-breaker structure comprising a first stationary conductor, a second stationary conductor spaced from said first stationary conductor, an arc-extinguishing structure, a first and arcing stationary contact means on said first stationary conductor in proximity to said arc-extinguishing structure, a second stationary contact means on said first stationary conductor, a third stationary contact means on said second stationary conductor, a movable contact device, said movable contact device comprising a movable support member, an arcing-contact support arm connected to said support member for movemEnt with said support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said support member, a first and arcing movable contact on said arcing-contact support arm, contact-pressure spring means biasing said arcing-contact support arm relative to said support member toward said first and arcing stationary contact means, a pair of bridging contact support arms supported on said support member on opposite sides of said arcing-contact support arm for movement with said support member between open and closed positions and for limited movement relative to said support member, a separate second movable contact and a separate third movable contact supported on each of said bridging contact support arms, said contact-pressure spring means biasing said bridging contact support arms relative to said support member toward said second and third stationary contact means, said movable contact device being movable between closed and open positions to close and open an electric circuit, in the closed position of said contacts said first and arcing movable contact engaging said first and arcing stationary contact means, said second movable contacts engaging said second stationary contact means and said third movable contacts engaging said third stationary contact means, during each opening operation of said movable contact device said second movable contacts disengaging from said second stationary contact means to transfer current to said arcing-contact support arm and thereafter said arcing movable contact moving away from said first and arcing stationary contact means, said first and arcing stationary contact means comprising a fixed contact on said first stationary conductor and a resiliently movable conductor on said first stationary conductor and a stationary arcing contact on said resiliently movable conductor and an arc-runner on said resiliently movable conductor, and during opening operations said second movable contacts disengaging from said second stationary contact means to transfer current to said arcing-contact support arm and thereafter said first and arcing contact moving away from said fixed contact as said stationary contact on said resiliently movable conductor follows said first and arcing contact a limited distance and thereafter said first and arcing contact disengaging from said stationary arcing contact drawing an arc that moves on said arc-runner into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 21

A circuit breaker according to claim 14, said resiliently movable conductor comprising an elongated conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on said fist stationary conductor on a first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being positioned in proximity to said fixed contact, said stationary contact being carried on the free end of said resiliently movable conductor, and said movable contact structure being movably supported on the side of said fixed contact opposite said first side.

Claim 22

A circuit breaker according to claim 15, said fixed contact being supported on the front of said first stationary conductor, said resiliently movable conductor comprising an elongated leaf-spring conductor fixedly supported at one end thereof on the front of said first stationary conductor on said first side of said fixed contact and extending toward said fixed contact with the free end thereof being spaced from said first stationary conductor, said stationary arcing contact being supported on said leaf-spring conductor at the free end of said leaf-spring conductor, and said arc-runner being supported on said leaf-spring conductor to carry arcs away from said stationary arcing contact into said arc-extinguishing structure.

Claim 23

A circuit breaker according to claim 16, said elongated leaf-spring conductor in extending from the support thereof toward said fixed contact also extending from the support thereof frontward away from the front of said first stationary conductor, and said arc-runner bEing an elongated generally straight arc-runner supported at one end thereof on the front of said leaf-spring conductor in proximity to said stationary arcing contact and extending generally toward the supported end of said leaf-spring conductor with the other end of said elongated generally straight arc-runner being spaced from said leaf-spring conductor.