Arc blowing chamber

Claim 2

An electric circuit breaker comprising: a fixed contact; a conductive contact carrier and a movable contact secured to said contact carrier, said contact carrier being movable along a predetermined direction contained in a predetermined plane, from a first position wherein the movable contact engages the fixed contact, to a second position wherein the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact; a breaking zone defined between the fixed contact and the second position of the movable contact; a plurality of arc plates arranged at right angles to the said plane and substantially directed towards the breaking zone, the said plurality comprising first and second outer arc plates and a plurality of inner arc plates located between the first and second outer arc plates, each of said outer and inner arc plates having a non forked part and a forked part which is nearest the breaking zone; a first elongated arc deflector having a first portion facing the first outer arc plate a second portion to which the said fixed contact is secured and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions; a second elongated arc deflector a first portion having an inner surface which faces the second outer arc plate, said first portion further having an outer surface a second portion located in the vicinity of the second position of the movable contact and electrically connected to the said contact carrier and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions of the second deflector, the said intermediate region of the second deflector having an inner surface portion opposite to the intermediate region of the first deflector and an outer surface, at least the intermediate regions of the said first and second deflectors both converging towards the breaking zone and respectively making first and second angles with respect to the said predetermined direction; a blowout loop which has at least one conductor part located in at least one further plane which is parallel to the said predetermined plane, and located externally of the arc plates, said conductor part having a second portion connected at the extremity of the second portion of the first deflector and being parallel to the breaking zone, a first portion, which is located in the vicinity of the said non forked parts of the arc plates, and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions, said intermediate portion being parallel to the intermediate and first portions of the second deflector and located opposite to the outer surfaces of the said intermediate and first portions of the second deflector.

Claim 3

An electric circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said second deflector has a first extension which is connected to the second portion of the said second deflector and a second extension parallel to the said contact carrier, said electric circuit breaker further comprising a conductor having a first end connected to the said contact carrier and a second end, the said second extension being connected to the first extension and to the second end of the said conductor and the first extension making, with the second portion of the second deflector, an angle higher than 90°.

Claim 4

An electric circuit double-breaker comprising: first and second separated fixed contacts; a conductive contact carrier having first and second opposite ends; first and second movable contacts respectively secured to the contact carrier at the first and second ends thereof, said contact carrier being movable along a predetermined direction contained in a predetermined plane, from a first position wherein the respective movable contacts engage the respective fixed contacts, to a second position wherein the movable contacts are separated from the fixed contact and first and second blowing means each including: a breaking zone located between the respective fixed contact and the second position of the respective movable contact; a plurality of arc plates arranged at right angles to the said predetermined plane and substantially directed towards the breaking zone, the said plurality including first and second outer arc plates and a plurality of inner arc plates located between the first and second outer arc plates, each of the said outer and inner arc plates having a non forked part and a forked part which is nearest the breaking zone; a first elongated arc deflector having a first portion facing the first outer arc plate, a second portion to which the respective fixed contact is secured and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions; a second elongated arc deflector comprising a first portion having an inner surface which faces the second outer arc plate, said first portion further having an outer surfaces a second portion located in the vicinity of the second position of the respective movable contact and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions of the second deflector, the said intermediate of the first and second deflectors having an inner surface portion opposite to the intermediate portion of the first deflector and an outer surface, the second portion of the second deflector of the first and second blowout means each having an extension, at least the intermediate portions of the first and second deflectors both converging towards the breaking zone and respectively making first and second angles with respect to the said predetermined direction; and a blowout loop which has at least one conductor part located in at least one further plane which is parallel to the said predetermined plane, and located externally of the arc plates, said conductor part having a second portion connected at the extremity of the second portion of the first deflector and being parallel to the breaking zone, a first portion, which is located in the vicinity of the said non forked parts of the arc plates, and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions, said intermediate portion being parallel to intermediate and first portions of the second deflector and located opposite to the outer surfaces of the said intermediate and first portions of the second deflector; and a cross member electrically connecting together the said extensions of the second deflectors of the first and second blowout means.

Claim 5

An electric circuit double-breaker comprising: first and second separated fixed contacts; a conductive contact carrier having first and second opposite ends; first and second movable contacts respectively secured to the contact carrier at the first and second ends thereof, said contact carrier being movable along a predetermined direction contained in a predetermined plane, from a first position wherein the respective movable contacts engage the respective fixed contacts, to a second position wherein the movable contacts are separated from the fixed contact and first and second blowing means each including: a breaking zone located between the respective fixed contact and the second position of the respective movable contact; a plurality of arc plates arranged at right angles to the said predetermined plane and substantially directed towards the breaking zone, the said plurality including first and second outer arc plates and a plurality of inner arc plates located between the first and second outer arc plates, each of the said outer and inner arc plates having a non forked part and a forked part which is nearest the breaking zone; a first elongated arc deflector having a first portion facing the first outer arc plate, a second portion to which the respective fixed contact is secured and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions; a second elongated arc deflector comprising a first portion having an inner surface which faces the second outer arc plate, said first portion further having an outer surfaces a second portion located in the vicinity of the second position of the respective movable contact and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions of the second deflector, the said intermediate of the first and second deflectors having an inner surface portion opposite to the intermediate portion of the first deflector and an outer surface, the second portion of the second deflector of the first and second blowout means each having an extension, at least the intermediate portions of the first and second deflectors both converging towards the breaking zone and respectively making first and second angles with respect to the said predetermined direction; and a blowout loop which has at least one conductor part located in at least one further plane which is parallel to the said predetermined plane, and located externally of the arc plates, said conductor part having a second portion connected at the extremity of the second portion of the first deflector and being parallel to the breaking zone, a first portion, which is located in the vicinity of the said non forked parts of the arc plates, and an intermediate portion connecting the said first and second portions, said intermediate portion being parallel to intermediate and first portions of the second deflector and located opposite to the outer surfaces of the said intermediate and first portions of the second deflector; and a cross member electrically connecting together the said extensions of the second deflectors of the first and second blowout means.

Claim 6

An electric circuit breaker as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the forked parts of each of the said arc plates have a base portion, the first portions of the first and second deflectors, and the said outer and inner arc plates are parallel, the first portion and the intermediate portion of the first and second deflectors are coupled together through first and second respective arcuate portions and the said first and second arcuate portions and the said base portion of the fork parts are substantially aligned together.

Claim 7

An electric circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first portion and the intermediate portion of the first and second deflectors and the outer and inner arc plates are radially directed towards the breaking zone.

Claim 8

An electric circuit breaker as claimed in claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the forked part of each of the said arc plates has a base portion, the first and intermediate portions of the first and second deflectors are coupled together through first and second respective arcuate portions and the said base portions of the arc plates are substantially aligned with the said arcuate portions.

Claim 9

An electric circuit breaker as claimed in claims 2 or 3, wherein the said contact carrier has an arcing horn at one end thereof located in the vicinity of the movable contact; the said first extension makes a predetermined angle with the first portion of the second deflector and has an opening which is arranged in such a manner that the said arcing horn penetrates into the said opening when the said contact carrier is in the second position.