Current limited electrical devices, electrical device contact assemblies, and operational methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016012990-A1
Application number	US-201414326773-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Electrical device contact assemblies with separable electrical contacts exhibiting enhanced arcing constriction are disclosed. Electrical device contact assembly includes first and second electrical contacts separable along a separation path, and a magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor that is operable to produce a magnetic field that acts on the separation path during a short circuit event. Electrical devices including the electrical device contact assembly and methods of operating the electrical device contact assembly are provided, as are other aspects.

First claim

1 . An electrical device contact assembly, comprising:
a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact separable from the first electrical contact along a separation path; and a magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor and oriented and operable to produce a magnetic field including magnetic field lines acting on the separation path wherein the magnetic field lines acting on the separation path are substantially parallel to the separation path during a short circuit event.

2 . (canceled)

3 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact is a stationary electrical contact and the second electrical contact is a moveable electrical contact.

4 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are included in a housing including walls forming an arc chamber.

5 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a core and a coil of wire of a line conductor wound about the core.

6 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coil of wire is electrically connected to the first electrical contact.

7 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coil of wire is electrically connected to a line connector.

8 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coil of wire is electrically connected between a line connector and the first electrical contact.

9 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is formed by winding a portion of the line conductor about a core.

10 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned to a side of an arc chamber of an electrical device.

11 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned below an arc chamber of an electrical device.

12 . The electrical device contact assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured and operational to provide a magnetic field strength in a core of the magnetic field generator of greater than 1 Tesla during a short circuit event.

13 . An electrical device, comprising:
a housing including walls forming an arc chamber; a first electrical contact within the arc chamber; a second electrical contact within the arc chamber and separable from the first electrical contact along a separation path; and a magnetic field generator positioned adjacent to the arc chamber, the magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor and operational to produce a magnetic field including magnetic field lines acting on the separation path wherein the magnetic field lines acting on the separation path are substantially parallel to the separation path during a short circuit event.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of operating an electrical device contact assembly, comprising:
providing a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact separable from the first electrical contact along a separation path; providing a magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor; and generating with the magnetic field generator a magnetic field including magnetic field lines acting on the separation path wherein the magnetic field lines acting on the separation path are substantially parallel to the separation path during a short circuit event.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic field constricts an arc during the short circuit event.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic field generator is included in a first part of the housing and the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are included in an arc chamber formed in a second part of the housing.

18 . (canceled)

19 . A method of operating an electrical device contact assembly, comprising:
providing a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact separable from the first electrical contact along a separation path; providing a magnetic field generator configured as part of a line conductor; generating with the magnetic field generator a magnetic field acting on the separation path during a short circuit event wherein the magnetic field generator is oriented to produce magnetic field lines that are substantially parallel to the separation path; and positioning the magnetic field generator in one side of a housing of an electrical device, and producing the magnetic field lines in another side of the housing.

20 . The method of claim 15 , positioning the magnetic field generator in a side chamber formed in a first part of a housing, and positioning the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact in an arc chamber also formed in the first part of the housing.

Assignees

• Siemens Industry Inc

Inventors

• Yang Guang

Classifications

• H01H33/18 Primary

  using blow-out magnet {(for vacuum switches H01H33/664)} · CPC title

• H01H33/08

  Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate · CPC title

• H01H9/44 Primary

  using blow-out magnet · CPC title

• H01H71/0228

  having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts · CPC title