Patent US3676622A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3676622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-sparking electrical switch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-28
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1991-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch having contacts which make and break is provided with an inhibitor which inhibits sparking between the contacts. The switch has a movable contactor whose arms carry protruding contacts disposed to be brought against the fixed contacts of the switch. The inhibitor is mounted to move with the contactor and has resilient arms which diverge from the contactor arms when the switch is open. The inhibitor arms have apertures for receiving the protruding contacts of the contactor. The inhibitor''s resistance is large relative to the resistance of the contactor. Closure of the switch causes the inhibitor arms to be first brought against the fixed contacts and then causes the divergence of the arms to decrease until the protruding contacts extend into the apertures and close upon the fixed contacts.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph S Brumbelow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:05
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/30; H01H9/42; H01H35/00; H01H35/24; H01H35/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
In a switch of the type having a housing, electrical contacts fixed in position in the housing, means external to the housing providing electrical connections to the fixed contacts, a movable contactor in the housing, the contactor having arms provided with protruding contacts, and switch closure means for moving the contactor toward the fixed contacts in the housing to cause the protruding contacts to close upon the fixed contacts, the improvement for reducing arcing between the movable protruding contacts and the fixed contacts, the improvement residing in an inhibitor having a higher resistance than the contactor, the inhibitor being mounted in the housing to move with the contactor, the inhibitor having arms in register with the arms of the contactor, the inhibitor arms diverging from the contactor arms when the switch is open, each inhibitor arm having an aperture into which the movable contact of the adjacent divergent arm can extend, and closure of the switch causing the inhibitor arms to be first brought against the fixed contacts and then causing the divergence of the arms to decrease until the movable contacts extend into the apertures and close upon the fixed contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
In a switch of the type having a housing, electrical contacts fixed in position in the housing, means external to the housing providing electrical connections to the fixed contacts, a movable contactor in the housing, the contactor having arms provided with protruding contacts, and switch closure means for moving the contactor toward the fixed contacts in the housing to cause the protruding contacts to close upon the fixed contacts, the improvement for reducing arcing between the movable protruding contacts and the fixed contacts, the improvement residing in an inhibitor having a higher resistance than the contactor, the inhibitor being mounted in the housing to move with the contactor, the inhibitor having arms in register with the arms of the contactor, the inhibitor arms diverging from the contactor arms when the switch is open, each inhibitor arm having an aperture into which the movable contact of the adjacent divergent arm can extend, and closure of the switch causing the inhibitor arms to be first brought against the fixed contacts and then causing the divergence of the arms to decrease until the movable contacts extend into the apertures and close upon the fixed contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improved switch according to claim 1, further comprising a movable dielectric member, the inhibitor and contactor having central abutting portions mounted to move with the dielectric member, resilient means arranged to oppose movement of the dielectric member toward the fixed contacts, and the switch closure means being arranged to move the dielectric member against the opposition of the resilient means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |