Patent US3654590A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3654590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical contact devices for high voltage electrical systems
Assignee: AMERACA ESNA CORP
•
Filing: 1969-12-30
•
Granted: 1972-04-04
•
Expires: 1989-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An electrical device in the form of an electrical connector for making a connection between complementary electrical contacts, shown in the form of a pin and a socket, under high voltage fault conditions, the device including a sleeve of arc-quenching material for guiding the pin into contact with the socket, the sleeve being axially spaced from the socket to provide a gap between the sleeve and the socket, and a metallic tubular member surrounding the gap and contacting the socket, the wall of the tubular member being radially spaced from the pin such that the gap has a longitudinal length no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between the pin and socket at which an arc will be struck between the pin and the socket as the pin approaches the socket under high voltage fault conditions and a lateral width no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the same arc-strike distance.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/70; H01H33/76; H01H33/77
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
In an electrical device, such as an electrical connector element, in which electrical contact is to be made between at least a first contact and a complementary second contact under high voltage fault conditions by movement of the first contact into engagement with the second contact: means for guiding the first contact for movement along a path of travel leading to the second contact and providing a guide of arc-quenching material for receiving the first contact prior to engagement of the first contact with the second contact, said guide being spaced longitudinally from the second contact in the direction of said movement; and means for surrounding the space between the guide and the second contact and providing a wall of electrically conductive material juxtaposed with the guide and the second contact and spaced laterally from said path of travel, said wall being electrically connected to the second contact; the longitudinal spacing between the guide and the second contact and the lateral spacing between the wall and the path of travel providing a gap having a longitudinal length no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between the first and second contacts at which an arc will be struck between the contacts as the first contact approaches the second contact under said high voltage fault conditions and a lateral width no less than the order of magnitude of one-half said arcstrike distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
In an electrical device, such as an electrical connector element, in which electrical contact is to be made between at least a first contact and a complementary second contact under high voltage fault conditions by movement of the first contact into engagement with the second contact: means for guiding the first contact for movement along a path of travel leading to the second contact and providing a guide of arc-quenching material for receiving the first contact prior to engagement of the first contact with the second contact, said guide being spaced longitudinally from the second contact in the direction of said movement; and means for surrounding the space between the guide and the second contact and providing a wall of electrically conductive material juxtaposed with the guide and the second contact and spaced laterally from said path of travel, said wall being electrically connected to the second contact; the longitudinal spacing between the guide and the second contact and the lateral spacing between the wall and the path of travel providing a gap having a longitudinal length no less than the order of magnitude of one-half the distance between the first and second contacts at which an arc will be struck between the contacts as the first contact approaches the second contact under said high voltage fault conditions and a lateral width no less than the order of magnitude of one-half said arcstrike distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the lateral width of the gap is at least as great as the longitudinal length thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first contact includes a metallic pin and the second contact includes a metal socket for receiving the pin: said guide includes a sleeve of arc-quenching material for receiving the pin, the sleeve being longitudinally spaced from the socket; and said surrounding means includes a metallic tubular member overlapping the sleeve and the socket and spaced laterally from the path of travel of the pin to surround the longitudinal spacing between the sleeve and the socket with said wall; the longitudinal spacing between the sleeve and the socket and the lateral spacing between the tubular member and the path of travel providing said gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the guidiNg means include a tip of arc-extinguishing material carried by the pin and receivable within the sleeve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the lateral width of the gap is at least as great as the longitudinal length thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the sleeve includes an end face confronting the socket and spaced longitudinally from the socket, said end face having at least a portion adjacent the tubular member spaced longitudinally further from the socket than the portion of the end face which is contiguous with the path of travel of the pin such that a path along the end face between the pin and the tubular member will have a greater length than the lateral distance between the pin and the tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
176 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the pin is cylindrical and has a prescribed diameter and the socket is cylindrical and has an internal bore of a diameter complementary to the diameter of the pin, and an outside diameter; the sleeve is cylindrical and has an inside diameter complementary to the diameter of the pin and a prescribed outside diameter, said sleeve being spaced axially from the socket; and the tubular member is cylindrical and includes first portions having an inside diameter complementary to and overlapping with the outside diameter of the sleeve and the outside diameter of the socket, and a second portion surrounding the axial spacing between the sleeve and the socket and having an inside diameter greater than the diameter of the pin such that the second portion is spaced radially from the outside diameter of the pin when the pin is engaged in the socket; said axial spacing and said radial spacing providing the gap with an annular configuration such that said longitudinal length is axial and said lateral width is radial.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the guiding means include a tip of arc-quenching material carried by the pin and receivable within the sleeve.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the radial width of the gap is at least as great as the axial length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the sleeve includes an end having an end face confronting the socket and spaced axially from the socket, and the outside diameter of the sleeve is reduced adjacent said end such that a portion of the end face adjacent the tubular member is spaced axially further from the socket than the portion of the end face contiguous with the pin when the pin is engaged in the socket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein the longitudinal length of the gap and the lateral width thereof are each approximately one-half said arc-strike distance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the width of the gap is approximately the same as the length thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3323097A
Cited
US3513437A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |