Low voltage contact group

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025266215-A1
Application number	US-202519045901-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2025
Priority date	Feb 20, 2024
Publication date	Aug 21, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A low-voltage contacts group for a low-voltage circuit breaker is disclosed. The low-voltage contacts group comprises: a fixed contact adapted to be electrically connected to an electrical terminal of said circuit breaker; and a movable contact assembly. The movable contact assembly comprises a rotating supporting shaft adapted to be operatively connected to an actuation mechanism of said circuit breaker and which has a body provided with a first seat; and a rotating moving contact sub-assembly. The rotating moving contact sub-assembly comprises a supporting structure, a rotating moving contact connected to the supporting structure, an elastic element for ensuring adequate contact pressure when an active surface of the moving contact is coupled to the fixed contact, and a mechanical link between the elastic element and supporting structure.

First claim

1 . A low-voltage contacts group for a low-voltage circuit breaker comprising:
a fixed contact configured to be electrically connected to an electrical terminal of the circuit breaker; and a movable contact assembly comprising: a rotating supporting shaft configured to be operatively connected to an actuation mechanism of the circuit breaker and which has a body provided with a first seat; and a rotating moving contact sub-assembly comprising: a supporting structure positioned in the first seat and rigidly fixed to the rotating supporting shaft; a rotating moving contact which is connected to the supporting structure by a first pivot and which is free to rotate with respect to the supporting structure in a rotation plane substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotating supporting shaft; wherein the rotating moving contact comprises an elongated body provided with an active surface that can be coupled to/uncoupled from the fixed contact by rotation of the moving contact in the rotation plane; wherein the active surface is positioned at a first operative end of the elongated body and at least partially protrudes from the supporting structure and from the first seat; wherein the elongated body is connected to the first pivot at an intermediate point between the first operative end and a second operative end of the elongated body; an elastic element suitable to ensure an adequate contact pressure when the active surface of the moving contact is coupled to the fixed contact, the elastic element having a first operative end connected to the supporting structure by a second pivot, and a second operative end; and a mechanical link comprising a first lever and a second lever, wherein the first lever has a first operative end connected to the supporting structure by a third pivot and a second operative end; wherein the second lever has a first operative end connected to the second operative end of the elongated body by a fourth pivot, and a second operative end; wherein the second operative ends of the first and second levers are connected each other by a fifth pivot; and wherein the second operative end of the elastic element is also connected to the fifth pivot.

2 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure comprises a first and a second lateral walls substantially parallel to each other and to the rotation plane of the rotating moving contact.

3 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 2 , wherein the elongated body of the rotating moving contact and the elastic element are at least partially housed in an internal volume defined by the first and second lateral walls.

4 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 2 , wherein the first operative end of the first lever is connected to the first lateral surface by the third pivot; and wherein the mechanical link comprises a third lever and a fourth lever; wherein the third lever has a first operative end connected to the second lateral surface by the third pivot, and a second operative end; wherein the fourth lever has a first operative end connected to the second operative end of the elongated body by the fourth pivot, and a second operative end; wherein the second operative ends; of the third and fourth levers are connected each other and with the second operative ends of the first and second levers by the fifth pivot; and wherein the second and fourth levers are connected to the second operative end of the elongated body on opposite sides of the elongated body.

5 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth pivots are substantially perpendicular to the rotation plane of the rotating moving contact.

6 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second levers have a curved profile.

7 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second levers have a concavity directed toward the first operative end of the elastic element.

8 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic element comprises a spring.

9 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is movable with respect to the supporting structure between a contact position and a repulsion position.

10 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 9 , wherein the torque generated by the elastic element opposes the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position at least during an initial phase of the rotation.

11 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 9 , wherein the torque generated by the elastic element decreases during the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position.

12 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 9 , wherein the torque generated by the elastic element opposes the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position at least during an initial phase of the rotation, and assists the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position during a final phase of the rotation.

13 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 9 , wherein during the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position, the fourth pivot does not cross the axis between the first and fifth pivot.

14 . The low voltage contacts group, according to claim 12 , wherein during the rotation of the elongated body from the contact position to the repulsion position, the fourth pivot crosses the axis between the first and fifth pivot.

15 . A low voltage circuit breaker, comprising a low voltage contacts group, the low voltage contacts group comprising:
a fixed contact configured to be electrically connected to an electrical terminal of the circuit breaker; and a movable contact assembly comprising: a rotating supporting shaft configured to be operatively connected to an actuation mechanism of the circuit breaker and which has a body provided with a first seat; and a rotating moving contact sub-assembly comprising: a supporting structure positioned in the first seat and rigidly fixed to the rotating supporting shaft; a rotating moving contact which is connected to the supporting structure by a first pivot and which is free to rotate with respect to the supporting structure in a rotation plane substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the rotating supporting shaft; wherein the rotating moving contact comprises an elongated body provided with an active surface that can be coupled to/uncoupled from the fixed contact by rotation of the moving contact in the rotation plane; wherein the active surface is positioned at a first operative end of the elongated body and at least partially protrudes from the supporting structure and from the first seat; wherein the elongated body is connected to the first pivot at an intermediate point between the first operative end and a second operative end of the elongated body; an elastic element suitable to ensure an adequate contact pressure when the active surface of the moving contact is coupled to the fixed contact, the elastic element having a first operative end connected to the supporting structure by a second pivot, and a second operative end; and a mechanical link comprising a first lever and a second lever, wherein the first lever has a first operative end connected to the supporting structure by a third pivot and a second operative end; wherein the second lever has a first operative end connected to the second oper

Assignees

• Abb Spa

Inventors

• Rota Martir Roberto
• Bresciani Nicola

Classifications

• H01H1/50

  Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position · CPC title

• H01H71/10

  Operating or release mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H73/04 Primary

  Contacts · CPC title

• H01H1/221 Primary

  and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member · CPC title

• H01H3/3042

  using a torsion spring · CPC title