Circuit breaker contact arm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9583295-B2
Application number	US-201514615930-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2015
Priority date	Feb 6, 2015
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A contact arm for a circuit breaker includes a body extending along a body axis between a first end and a second end. The body includes an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a fin extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface. The body defines a fin opening adjacent the fin. The fin opening extends between the interior surface and the exterior surface. The interior surface defines a substantially hollow interior. A body opening is located at the first end in fluid communication with the interior. Air flows through the body opening, into the interior, and from the interior out through the fin opening to reduce a temperature of the contact arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A contact arm for a circuit breaker, the contact arm comprising:
a body extending along a body axis between a first end and a second end, the body comprising:
an interior surface;
an exterior surface; and
a fin extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, where the body defines a fin opening adjacent the fin, the fin opening extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface,

wherein the fin is comprised as a plurality of fins extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, the plurality of fins extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the body axis, and
wherein the plurality of fins extend along fin axes between the interior surface and the exterior surface, the fin axes substantially parallel to each other.

2. The contact arm of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fins comprise a second fin extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to the body axis.

3. A contact arm for a circuit breaker, the contact arm comprising:
a body extending along a body axis between a first end and a second end, the body comprising:
an interior surface defining:
a substantially hollow interior, wherein a distance between the body axis and the interior surface is substantially constant about a circumference of the interior surface;
a body opening at the first end in fluid communication with the interior, where air flows through the body opening and into the interior; and
a fastener opening at the second end, the body configured to receive a fastener through the fastener opening to attach the contact arm to a terminal.

4. The contact arm of claim 3 , wherein the body opening has a body opening size that is larger than a fastener opening size of the fastener opening.

5. The contact arm of claim 3 , wherein the body comprises a body length between the first end and the second end, the body length between 100 millimeters to 150 millimeters.

6. The contact arm of claim 3 , wherein the body comprises a cross-sectional size that is between 80 millimeters to 100 millimeters.

7. The contact arm of claim 3 , wherein the body comprises an electrically conductive material such that electrical current flows through the contact arm.

8. A contact arm for a circuit breaker, the contact arm comprising:
a body extending along a body axis between a first end and a second end, the body comprising:
an interior surface;
an exterior surface;
a fin extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, where the body defines a fin opening adjacent the fin, the fin opening extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, wherein the fin extends along a fin axis between the interior surface and the exterior surface, and
a second fin extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, where the body defines a second fin opening adjacent the second fin, the second fin opening extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface, wherein the second fin extends along a second fin axis between the interior surface and the exterior surface, the fin axis and the second fin axis substantially parallel to each other;
the interior surface defining:
a substantially hollow interior; and
a body opening at the first end in fluid communication with the interior, where air flows through the body opening, into the interior, and from the interior out through the fin opening and the second fin opening to reduce a temperature of the contact arm.

9. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the fin and the second fin extend in a direction that is substantially parallel to the body axis.

10. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the fin and the second fin are comprised as a plurality of fins extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface.

11. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the fin axis does not intersect with the body axis.

12. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the interior surface defines a fastener opening at the second end, the body configured to receive a fastener through the fastener opening to attach the contact arm to a terminal.

13. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a body length between the first end and the second end, the body length between 100 millimeters to 150 millimeters.

14. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a cross-sectional size that is between 80 millimeters to 100 millimeters.

15. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises an electrically conductive material such that electrical current flows through the contact arm.

16. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein a distance between the body axis and the interior surface is substantially constant about a circumference of the interior surface.

17. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein a radial distance between the interior surface and the exterior surface along a radial axis that intersects with the body axis is substantially constant about a circumference of the body.

18. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the second fin axis intersects with the body axis.

19. The contact arm of claim 8 , wherein the second fin is spaced a distance apart from the fin to define the fin opening between the fin and the second fin.

20. The contact arm of claim 19 , wherein the distance between the second fin and the fin is greater than a thickness of the second fin.

Assignees

• Abb Technology Ag
• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Retzlaff Scott G

Classifications

• H01H1/62 Primary

  Heating or cooling of contacts · CPC title

• H02B11/04

  Isolating-contacts, e.g. mountings or shieldings · CPC title

• H01H9/52

  Cooling of switch parts (cooling of contacts H01H1/62) · CPC title

• H01H71/08 Primary

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title

• H01H71/10

  Operating or release mechanisms · CPC title