US3829647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat conducting fins for bus bars and other electrical conductors
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-09-29
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of heat conducting fins disposed on various types of electrical conductors both insulated and uninsulated, and for both high and low voltage applications such as in bus bars, disconnect and knife switches, and circuit breakers. Each of said fins includes a central opening which is slightly smaller in one dimension than the conductor on which the fins are assembled and therefore must be distorted somewhat during assembly on the conductor. The distortion in each fin develops a torsional stress in the fin which causes it to tightly grasp the conductor. In certain high voltage applications, the fin may be insulated or bent over to reduce the effective radial size of the fins in the overall conductor assembly without reducing its surface area and ability to convect heat.
Inventors
- 👤 C Cleaveland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:11
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G5/00; H02G5/10; H01; H01B; H01B7/00; H01B7/42; H01B7/421; H01B7/426; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/6606; H01H2033/6613
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An electrical switch structure comprising a support member, a stationary contact means, and a movable electrically conducting blade supported at one end thereof on said support member and adapted to engage said stationary contact means at the other end thereof, said blade comprising a main body intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of metallic fins spaced along the length of said main body and supported thereby, each said fin being flexible and having an inner periphery forming a central opening spaced from the outer perimeter of each said fin, said main body extending through said central openIng, said inner periphery being fingerless, said central opening being generally the same shape as said main body on which said fin is disposed but being slightly smaller in at least one dimension than the corresponding dimension of said main body causing each said fin to necessarily distort in shape when disposed upon said main body to produce holding torsion by each said fin against said main body, said torsion in each of said fins resulting from such distorsion of said fin charging each said fin and maintaining holding pressure against said main body, each said charge being unrelaxed except to the extent it is relaxed to provide said holding pressure, said fin interacting with said main body and the surrounding environment to increase the capability of transferring heat from said main body to said surrounding environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An electrical switch structure comprising a support member, a stationary contact means, and a movable electrically conducting blade supported at one end thereof on said support member and adapted to engage said stationary contact means at the other end thereof, said blade comprising a main body intermediate the ends thereof, a plurality of metallic fins spaced along the length of said main body and supported thereby, each said fin being flexible and having an inner periphery forming a central opening spaced from the outer perimeter of each said fin, said main body extending through said central openIng, said inner periphery being fingerless, said central opening being generally the same shape as said main body on which said fin is disposed but being slightly smaller in at least one dimension than the corresponding dimension of said main body causing each said fin to necessarily distort in shape when disposed upon said main body to produce holding torsion by each said fin against said main body, said torsion in each of said fins resulting from such distorsion of said fin charging each said fin and maintaining holding pressure against said main body, each said charge being unrelaxed except to the extent it is relaxed to provide said holding pressure, said fin interacting with said main body and the surrounding environment to increase the capability of transferring heat from said main body to said surrounding environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electrical switch structure according to claim 1 wherein said main body has a generally rectangularly shaped cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electrical switch structure according to claim 2 wherein said blade is pivotally supported on said support member and pivotally movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electrical switch structure according to claim 1, wherein each said fin comprises primarily aluminum material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A circuit interrupter comprising an elongated conductor section, separable main contacts mounted electrically in series with said conductor section, said conductor section including thereon a plurality of spaced flexible metal fins, each fin having an inner periphery forming a central opening, said inner periphery being fingerless, said central opening being spaced from the outer perimeter of said fin and having at least one dimension relatively smaller than the corresponding dimension of said conductor section, said conductor section extending through said central opening, each said fin being under stress while on said conductor thereby providing a spring charge thereagainst to retain each fin thereon, said spring charge being unrelaxed to the extent it is relaxed to retain said fin against said conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A circuit interrupter comprising an elongated conductor section, separable main contacts mounted electrically in series with said conductor section, said conductor section including thereon a plurality of spaced flexible metal fins, each fin having an inner periphery forming a central opening, said inner periphery being fingerless, said central opening being spaced from the outer perimeter of said fin and having at least one dimension relatively smaller than the corresponding dimension of said conductor section, said conductor section extending through said central opening, each said fin being under stress while on said conductor thereby providing a spring charge thereagainst to retain each fin thereon, said spring charge being unrelaxed to the extent it is relaxed to retain said fin against said conductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said metal fins are formed primarily from aluminum sheet material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said conductor section is generally circular in shape and each fin generally rectangular on the outer perimeter thereof and oval on the inner perimeter around said central opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |