Patent US4302482A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4700030A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4700030A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switch device having an insulating screen inserted between the contacts during breaking
Assignee: Telemecanique SA
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Filing: 1985-11-25
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Granted: 1987-10-13
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Expires: 2005-11-25
Abstract
Abstract An electric switch in which a screen is inserted very quickly between two contacts at the moment when they part. The energy of the arc generated between the contacts inside a volume surrounded by an insulating mobile sheath is used to heat gases released, and the resulting gas pressure displaces the sheath quickly, so that the arc passing through an opening in the sheath is sheared between the sheath and the housing. This type of switch is used to advantage in protection apparatus designed to respond to an abnormal increase of the current flowing in a circuit in which they are series mounted, and in switches where rated current is high.
Inventors
- 👤 Elie Belbel
- 👤 Christian Blanchard
- 👤 Andre Haury
- 👤 Michel Lauraire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/30; H01H9/32; H01H77/00; H01H77/02; H01H2077/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
An electric switch comprising: a casing provided with an insulating partition which delimits inside said casing first and second arc chambers and which comprises an aperture; first and second contacts respectively housed in said arc chambers, said contacts being mobile with respect to each other between a closed position and an open position, said second contact passing through said aperture in said closed position, and a thin mobile insulating screen mobile in a determined direction and adapted to be inserted rapidly between the contacts when said contacts are passing from said closed position to said open position so as to cause the arc arising between said contacts to be sheared between said insulating partition and said screen and the two arc chambers to be insulated from each other. wherein said mobile screen is mechanically coupled to an insulating piece which encloses, together with the casing, a variable volume such that the gas pressure raised by the arc energy when the contacts are passing from said closed position to said open position, exerts a force on the insulating piece that moves the screen in front of the aperture, causing the arc to be sheared.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
An electric switch comprising: a casing provided with an insulating partition which delimits inside said casing first and second arc chambers and which comprises an aperture; first and second contacts respectively housed in said arc chambers, said contacts being mobile with respect to each other between a closed position and an open position, said second contact passing through said aperture in said closed position, and a thin mobile insulating screen mobile in a determined direction and adapted to be inserted rapidly between the contacts when said contacts are passing from said closed position to said open position so as to cause the arc arising between said contacts to be sheared between said insulating partition and said screen and the two arc chambers to be insulated from each other. wherein said mobile screen is mechanically coupled to an insulating piece which encloses, together with the casing, a variable volume such that the gas pressure raised by the arc energy when the contacts are passing from said closed position to said open position, exerts a force on the insulating piece that moves the screen in front of the aperture, causing the arc to be sheared.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
An electric switch according to claim 1, wherein the mobile screen is bonded to said insulating piece and comprises a side provided with a first opening through which the mobile contact passes in the closed position, said mobile screen enclosing, with sides of the casing, a variable volume in which the first contact is housed, so that the pressure of the gases heated by the arc at the moment when the contacts pass from said closed position to said open position and exerts a force on the screen that causes it to move in front of the aperture and therefor said arc to be sheared.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electric switch according to claim 2, wherein said screen and said insulating piece form a sheath which contains said variable volume, said sheath having a bottom which is prolonged by a continuous skirt which is parallel to said determined direction and which slides on guiding surfaces which are part of the casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An electric switch according to claim 3, wherein the guiding surfaces which are part of the casing are placed on an insulating portion that protrudes inside the sheath and at one and carries the first contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electric switch according to claim 3, wherein the guiding surfaces which are part of the casing are placed in a seating in which the sheath slides, whilst the first contact is fastened to one end of an insulating portion of the casing that protrudes inside the sheath.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electric switch according to claim 2, wherein the variable volume is contained inside a sheath the bottom of which is prolonged by a discontinuous skirt which is parallel to said determined direction and which slides on the surfaces of a seating which is part of the casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electric switch according to claim 6, wherein the first contact is fastened to one end of an insulating portion which is part of the casing and which protrudes inside the sheath.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electric switch according to claim 3, wherein the continuous skirt features a second opening that comes in front of a vent provided in the casing so that the gases contained within the volume can be exhausted to the atmosphere in a particular position of the sheath.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electric switch according to claim 6, wherein the discontinuous skirt features a longitudinal indentation that comes in front of a vent provided in the casing in a particular position of the sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electric switch according to claim 5, wherein a conductor connected to the first contact runs parallel to said determined direction inside the insulating portion, whereas the second contact is carried by a support which forms a current loop with this conductor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electric switch according to claim 10, wherein pressure limiting devices are positioned on the sheath and on the casing respectively in such a way that the pressure in the variable volume and in the seating respectively does not exceed a present value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electric switch according to claim 11, wherein the second contact is assembled on a pivoting lever which is restrained in the closing position by a return spring and upon which antagonistic forces developed by an overcurrent-sensing device are brought to bear if an overload appears in its circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electric switch according to claim 12, wherein said sensing device includes a coil in which the switch current flows, and a magnetic core or frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electric switch according to claim 12, wherein the said sensing device includes a U-shaped magnetizable part, the arms of which surround the contact lever.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electric switch according to claim 13, wherein a mechanical energy accumulation device is released by a coil and core sensitive device and applies forces on the lever which are antogonistic to those developed by a contact pressure spring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electric switch according to claim 13, wherein the sensing device includes a coil and a magnetic core which is coupled to the sheath in order to drive the latter through a first part of its stroke during which the second contact is separated from the first contact by a sheath surface, while the sheath continues its stroke without being coupled to the magnetic core.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electric switch according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic core of the coil is coupled to a fixed contact which can withdraw parallel to the determined direction, so as to interrupt the contact with the second contact, the latter being subjected to the action of a U-shaped magnetic structure that surrounds its support.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Switching device, wherein two switches according to claim 2 are series-mounted in the same circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
Switching device according to claim 18, wherein both switches have one same fixed contact located in the same sheath and two distinct mobile contacts.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
Switching device according to claim 18, wherein both switches are laid out in parallel and have two mobile contacts that are electrically and mechanically coupled by a contact bridge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
Switching device according to claim 20, wherein these two switches are placed coaxially so that both sheaths move in opposite directions when opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electric switch according to claim 1, wherein said first contact is a fixed contact and said second contact is a mobile contact.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electric switch according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic core of the coil is coupled to a fixed contact which can withdraw parallel to the determined direction, so as to interrupt the contact with the second contact, the latter being subjected to the action of an energy accumulation device which is released by the movement of said core.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4562323A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-12 | 1991-04-13 | 1991-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-12 | 1995-04-13 | 1995-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-12 | 1999-04-13 | 1999-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |