Electrical switching apparatus, and arc chamber assembly and associated circuit protection method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9673004-B1
Application number	US-201615080637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

An arc chamber assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a stationary contact and a movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with the stationary contact in order to close and open the electrical switching apparatus, respectively. The arc chamber assembly comprises a plurality of splitter plates; a current loop member coupled to the plurality of splitter plates and being structured to extend from the stationary contact; an element coupled to the current loop member; and a number of permanent magnets each coupled to the element. The current loop member and the number of permanent magnets are structured to draw an electrical arc into the plurality of splitter plates.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arc chamber assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with said stationary contact in order to close and open said electrical switching apparatus, respectively, said arc chamber assembly comprising:
a plurality of splitter plates;
a current loop member disposed adjacent said plurality of splitter plates and being structured to extend from said stationary contact;
an element coupled to said current loop member; and
a number of permanent magnets each coupled to said element,
wherein said current loop member and said number of permanent magnets are structured to draw an electrical arc into said plurality of splitter plates; wherein said number of permanent magnets comprises a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet; wherein said element comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg; wherein said first permanent magnet is coupled to said first leg; and wherein said second permanent magnet is coupled to said second leg.

2. The arc chamber assembly of claim 1 wherein said element is a U-shaped insulative member.

3. The arc chamber assembly of claim 1 being devoid of U -shaped laminations.

4. An arc chamber assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with said stationary contact in order to close and open said electrical switching apparatus, respectively, said arc chamber assembly comprising:
a plurality of splitter plates;
a current loop member disposed adjacent said plurality of splitter plates and being structured to extend from stationary contact;
an element coupled to said current loop member; and
a number of permanent magnets each coupled to said element,
wherein said current loop member and said number of permanent magnets are structured to draw an electrical arc into said plurality of splitter plates; wherein said current loop member comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a first loop portion, and a second loop portion; wherein the first loop portion and the second loop portion each extend from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion; and wherein said plurality of splitter plates, said element, and said number of permanent magnets are disposed between said first loop portion and said second loop portion.

5. The arc chamber assembly of claim 4 wherein said element comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg; wherein the first loop portion comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting the first leg of the first loop portion to the second leg of the first loop portion; wherein the second loop portion comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting the first leg of the second loop portion to the second leg of the second loop portion; and wherein the middle portion of said element is disposed opposite and distal the middle portion of the first loop portion and the middle portion of the second loop portion.

6. The arc chamber assembly of claim 5 wherein the first leg and the second leg of the first loop portion, and the first leg and the second leg of the second loop portion are disposed parallel to the first leg and the second leg of said element.

7. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
at least one stationary contact;
at least one movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with said at least one stationary contact in order to close and open said electrical switching apparatus, respectively; and
at least one arc chamber assembly comprising:
a plurality of splitter plates,
a current loop member disposed adjacent said plurality of splitter plates and extending from said stationary contact,
an element coupled to said current loop member, and
a number of permanent magnets each coupled to said element,

wherein said current loop member and said number of permanent magnets are structures to draw an electrical arc into said plurality of splitter plates; wherein said current loop member comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, a first loop portion, and a second loop portion; wherein the first loop portion and the second loop portion each extend from proximate the first end portion to proximate the second end portion; and wherein said plurality of splitter plates, said element, and said number of permanent magnets are disposed between said first loop portion and said second loop portion.

8. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 7 wherein said number of permanent magnets comprises a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet; wherein said element comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg; wherein said first permanent magnet is coupled to said first leg; and wherein said second permanent magnet is coupled to said second leg.

9. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 8 wherein said element is a U-shaped insulative member.

10. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 7 wherein said at least one arc chamber assembly is devoid of U-shaped laminations.

11. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 7 wherein said at least one stationary contact is a plurality of stationary contacts; wherein said at least one movable contact is a plurality of movable contacts; wherein said at least one arc chamber assembly is a plurality of arc chamber assemblies; and wherein said electrical switching apparatus is a circuit breaker.

12. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 7 wherein said element comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting said first leg and said second leg; wherein the first loop portion comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting the first leg of the first loop portion to the second leg of the first loop portion; wherein the second loop portion comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a middle portion connecting the first leg of the second loop portion to the second leg of the second loop portion; and wherein the middle portion of said element is disposed opposite and distal the middle portion of the first loop portion and the middle portion of the second loop portion.

13. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first leg and the second leg of the first loop portion, and the first leg and the second leg of the second loop portion are disposed parallel to the first leg and the second leg of said element.

14. A method of protecting a circuit with an electrical switching apparatus comprising at least one stationary contact; at least one movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with said at least one stationary contact in order to close and open said electrical switching apparatus, respectively; and at least one arc chamber assembly comprising a plurality of splitter plates, a current loop member disposed adjacent said plurality of splitter plates and extending from said stationary contact, an element coupled to said current loop member, and a number of permanent magnets each coupled to said element, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging said at least one movable contact with said at least one stationary contact;
causing an electrical current to flow between said at least one movable contact and said at least one stationary contact;
moving said at least one movable contact out of engagement with sai

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Ruempler Christian
• Rollmann Paul Jason
• Zhou Xin

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

• H01H9/443 Primary

  using permanent magnets · CPC title

• H01H9/44

  using blow-out magnet · CPC title

• H01H9/36

  Metal parts · CPC title