Circuit breaker assembly with interposed wedge non-conductor and complementary housing arc-prevention structure

Claim 1

A compact non-arcing switch comprising: a housing which is constructed of dielectric material; a pair of electrical contacts mounted within the housing wherein at least one of the contacts is mounted for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the other contact; means for biasing at least one of the contacts to the closed position; an elongated wedge which is constructed of dielectric material; means slidably mounting the longitudinal edges of the wedge to the side walls of the housing for moving the wedge forward between the contacts to open the contacts and retracing the wedge rearwardly to allow the contacts to close; the slidable mounting means also making electrical closure along the paths of slidable engagement with the edges of the wedge so that arcing between the contActs is cut off when the wedge opens the contacts; means for receiving the forward end of the wedge and making an electrical closure path which joins said paths of slidable engagement of the slidable mounting means with the sides of the wedge so that forward movement of the wedge will open the contacts and insulate the contacts from electrical arcing along three closure paths therebetween; and said wedge having an abutment which makes slidable continuous engagement with the side and bottom walls of the housing so as to provide a fourth electrical closure path which joins the other three closure paths to completely isolate the contacts from one another when they are opened.