Electrical load-break apparatus

Claim 2

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising longitudinal probe means having first and second ends, probe receiver means which is engagable with said longitudinal probe means, an arc-quenching sleeve having an opening therein through which said probe means extends, resilient means which moves said arc-quenching sleeve along said probe means when said probe means and said probe receiver means are being disengaged, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arcquenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the resilient means in the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve, and limit means which limits the distance said arc-quenching sleeve moves along said probe means when said probe means and said probe receiver means are being disengaged.

Claim 3

The electrical load-break apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal probe means comprises first and second portions, said first portion being constructed of an electrically conducting material and forming the first end of the probe means, said second portion being constructed of an electrically insulating material and forming the second end of the probe means.

Claim 4

The electrical load-break apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first and second porTions of the longitudinal probe means are attached to each other with the second portion of the probe means positioned to penetrate the probe receiver means before the first portion of the probe means when the probe means snd the probe receiver means are being engaged.

Claim 5

The electrical load-break apparatus of claim 2 wherein the arc-quenching sleeve is positioned, when the probe means and the probe receiver means are disengaged, at a location which is substantially between the first portion of the probe means and the probe receiver means.

Claim 6

The electrical load-break apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the longitudinal probe means contains bypass means which allows gases formed during arcing to flow through the opening in the arc-quenching sleeve and into the region occupied by the resilient means.

Claim 7

The electrical load-break aparatus of claim 1 wherein the resilient means provides a force acting on the arc-quenching sleeve, said force acting in a direction which is oriented toward the second end of the probe means.

Claim 8

The electrical load-break apparatus of claim 1 including guide means which guides the arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 9

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a tubular casing having first and second ends, said first casing end having terminal means thereon, said second casing end having an opening thereat, a removable fuse assembly insertable through the opening at said second casing end, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to the first casing end, said fuse assembly comprising a shaft member, a fuse member having first and second ends, said first fuse end being attached to said shaft member and to contact means, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, the second end of said conducting member being connected to the second end of said fuse member, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver, an arc-quenching sleeve having a base portion with an opening therein and side portions extending therefrom, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a force on the base portion of said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from the second fuse end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which stops the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 10

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a tubular casing having first and second ends, said first casing end having terminal means thereon, said second casing end having an opening thereat, a removable fuse assembly insertable through the opening at said second casing end, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to the first casing end, said fuse assembly comprising a shaft member, a fuse member having first and second ends, said first fuse end being attached to said shaft member and to contact means, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, the second end of said conducting member being connected to the second end of said fuse member, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver, an arc-quenching sleeve having a base portion with an opening therein and side portions extending therefrom, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a force on the base portion of said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from the second fuse end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which stops the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 11

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a tubular casing having first and second ends, said first casing end having terminal means thereon, said second casing end having an opening thereat, a removable fuse assembly insertable through the opening at said second casing end, said fuse assembly comprising a shaft member, a fuse member having first and second ends, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to the second end of said fuse member, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, said second end of said conducting member being connected to said terminal means at the first casing end, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver, an arc-quenching sleeve having a base portion with an opening therein and a tubular side portion extending axially from said base portion, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a Force on the base portion of said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from said terminal means at the first casing end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which limits the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 12

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a tubular casing having first and second ends, said first casing end having terminal means thereon, said second casing end having an opening thereat, a removable fuse assembly insertable through the opening at said second casing end, said fuse assembly comprising a shaft member, a fuse member having first and second ends, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to the second end of said fuse member, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, said second end of said conducting member being connected to said terminal means at the first casing end, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver, an arc-quenching sleeve having a base portion with an opening therein and a tubular side portion extending axially from said base portion, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a Force on the base portion of said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from said terminal means at the first casing end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which limits the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 13

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a body member having first and second ends and mounting means thereon, said first body member end having terminal means thereat, said second body member end having an opening thereat, a removable connector assembly comprising cable connector means, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to said cable connector means, said probe receiver means being insertable through the opening at said second body member end, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, the second end of said conducting member being connected to said terminal means at the first body member end, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver means, a tubular arc-quenching sleeve having an opening therein, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a force on said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from said terminal means at the first body member end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which limits the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.

Claim 14

Electrical load-break apparatus comprising a body member having first and second ends and mounting means thereon, said first body member end having terminal means thereat, said second body member end having an opening thereat, a removable connector assembly comprising cable connector means, probe receiver means including contact means electrically connected to said cable connector means, said probe receiver means being insertable through the opening at said second body member end, probe means comprising a longitudinal electrically conducting member having first and second ends, a longitudinal electrically insulating member having first and second ends, the first ends of said conducting and insulating members being attached to each other, the second end of said conducting member being connected to said terminal means at the first body member end, said conducting and insulating members being dimensioned to permit penetration into the contact means of said probe receiver means, a tubular arc-quenching sleeve having an opening therein, said probe means extending through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, resilient means providing a force on said arc-quenching sleeve which acts in a direction away from said terminal means at the first body member end, means for confining any arc generated gases which travel through the opening in said arc-quenching sleeve, said confinement of gases aiding the force provided by said resilient means, and limit means which limits the movement of said arc-quenching sleeve along the probe means.