US4247745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum-type contactor assembly
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1978-09-13
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Granted: 1981-01-27
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Expires: 1998-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum-type contactor assembly is provided having an operating linkage such that a fault, or heavy overload currents, will cause a maintenance of the contact-closed position, and a pair of springs are provided in the operating linkage, one of which is purely an atmospheric pressure compensating, or "kickoff", spring, whereas the other is a heavy contact pressure spring compressed following contact closure, and serving to provide both a hammer action at contact separation to break any welds occurring at the contact structure, and an accelerating force during contact opening. Preferably, an electromagnetic actuating mechanism is utilized to effect the short travel and high contact forces typically required by vacuum-type switches.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/666; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A contactor assembly comprising, in combination: switch means including a pair of separable contacts at least one of which is movable; power means for actuating the movable contact between open and closed positions; mechanical linkage means between the power means and the movable contact and comprising a motion-transfer link; the motion transfer link having a lost-motion coupling including a pair of members movable longitudinally in the direction of motion of the motion-transfer link and with respect to each other between extended and unextended positions; one of the pair of members being connected at one end to the power means and the other of the members being connected at one end to the motion-transfer link; each member having a protrusion extending in the path of travel of each other; guide-support means for said link; first biasing means between the guide-support means and said link for initiating opening of the contacts when the power means moves to a contact-open position; second biasing means on the lost-motion coupling for retaining the coupling in the extended position to effect closing of the contacts; the second biasing means being less resilient than the first biasing means and being operative to actuate the motion-transfer link to the extended position when the power means moves to a contact-open position, and the second biasing means being operable when the power means moves to the contact-open position to drive said members to their extended position to cause one protrusion to impart a hammer blow to the other protrusion to thereby break any welding between the contacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A contactor assembly comprising, in combination: switch means including a pair of separable contacts at least one of which is movable; power means for actuating the movable contact between open and closed positions; mechanical linkage means between the power means and the movable contact and comprising a motion-transfer link; the motion transfer link having a lost-motion coupling including a pair of members movable longitudinally in the direction of motion of the motion-transfer link and with respect to each other between extended and unextended positions; one of the pair of members being connected at one end to the power means and the other of the members being connected at one end to the motion-transfer link; each member having a protrusion extending in the path of travel of each other; guide-support means for said link; first biasing means between the guide-support means and said link for initiating opening of the contacts when the power means moves to a contact-open position; second biasing means on the lost-motion coupling for retaining the coupling in the extended position to effect closing of the contacts; the second biasing means being less resilient than the first biasing means and being operative to actuate the motion-transfer link to the extended position when the power means moves to a contact-open position, and the second biasing means being operable when the power means moves to the contact-open position to drive said members to their extended position to cause one protrusion to impart a hammer blow to the other protrusion to thereby break any welding between the contacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The contactor assembly of claim 1 in which the pair of movable members are telescopically disposed with the second biasing means being a coil spring around the assembly of the members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-27 | 1984-07-28 | 1985-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-27 | 1988-07-28 | 1989-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-27 | 1992-07-28 | 1993-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |