Component for electric power system, and contact assembly and open air arcing elimination method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9679724-B2
Application number	US-201514797540-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 13, 2015
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A contact assembly for an electrical component includes: a bus member; and a switching assembly structured to move between first and second positions. The switching assembly includes: a stationary contact extending from the bus member, a movable contact engaging the stationary contact when the switching assembly is in the first position and disengaging the stationary contact when the switching assembly moves toward the second position, and a switching device coupled to the bus member. When the switching assembly is in the first position, the switching device and the stationary contact are electrically connected in parallel with the bus member and the movable contact. When the switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, the switching device disconnects power after the movable contact disengages the stationary contact in order that electrical disconnection between the bus member and the movable contact occurs within the switching device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A contact assembly for a component of an electric power system, said component comprising a mounting assembly including a mounting member, said contact assembly comprising:
a bus member structured to be coupled to said mounting member; and
a switching assembly structured to move between a first position corresponding to power being connected and a second position corresponding to power being disconnected, said switching assembly comprising:
a stationary contact extending from said bus member,
a movable contact structured to engage said stationary contact when said switching assembly is in the first position and disengage said stationary contact when said switching assembly moves toward the second position, and
a switching device coupled to said bus member;

wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said switching device and said stationary contact are electrically connected in parallel with said bus member and said movable contact;
wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said switching device disconnects power after said movable contact disengages said stationary contact in order that electrical disconnection occurs within said switching device;
wherein said switching assembly further comprises a retention member structured to be coupled to said mounting member; wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said retention member engages said switching device and said movable contact in order to maintain said switching device in the first position;
wherein said retention member is structured to be pivotably coupled to said mounting member; wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said retention member rotates in a first direction; wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said movable contact rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction: wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said retention member moves away from engagement with said switching device in order to allow said switching device to disconnect power; wherein said retention member comprises a body and a number of biasing elements coupled thereto; wherein said number of biasing elements bias said retention member away from engagement with said switching device; and wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said movable contact forces said retention member into engagement with said switching device.

2. The contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said number of biasing elements is a torsion spring.

3. A contact assembly for a component of an electric power system, said component comprising a mounting assembly including a mounting member, said contact assembly comprising:
a bus member structured to be coupled to said mounting member; and
a switching assembly structured to move between a first position corresponding to power being connected and a second position corresponding to power being disconnected, said switching assembly comprising:
a stationary contact extending from said bus member,
a movable contact structured to engage said stationary contact when said switching assembly is in the first position and disengage said stationary contact when said switching assembly moves toward the second position, and
a switching device coupled to said bus member;

wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said switching device and said stationary contact are electrically connected in parallel with said bus member and said movable contact;
wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said switching device disconnects power after said movable contact disengages said stationary contact in order that electrical disconnection occurs within said switching device;
wherein said switching assembly further comprises a retention member structured to be coupled to said mounting member; wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said retention member engages said switching device and said movable contact in order to maintain said switching device in the first position;
wherein said retention member is structured to be pivotably coupled to said mounting member; wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said retention member rotates in a first direction, wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said movable contact rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said retention member moves away from engagement with said switching device in order to allow said switching device to disconnect power; wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said retention member provides an electrical pathway between said switching device and said movable contact; and wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the first position toward the second position, said retention member disengages said movable contact after said switching device disconnects power in order that electrical disconnection occurs within said switching device.

4. The contact assembly of claim 3 wherein said switching device comprises a body, a pair of separable contacts disposed internal the body, and a number of biasing elements coupled to the body; wherein the pair of separable contacts of said switching device are closed when said switching assembly is in the first position and open when said switching assembly is in the second position; wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said number of biasing elements bias the pair of separable contacts of said switching device toward being open; and wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, said retention member forces the pair of separable contacts of said switching device to be closed.

5. The contact assembly of claim 4 wherein, when said switching assembly moves from the second position toward the first position, said movable contact drives said retention member into said switching device in order to close the pair of separable contacts of said switching device.

6. The contact assembly of claim 3 wherein said retention member comprises a body having a base portion and an elongated portion extending away from the base portion; wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, the elongated portion engages said movable contact and is disposed generally perpendicular with respect thereto; and wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, the base portion engages said switching device.

7. The contact assembly of claim 3 wherein said switching device is a vacuum interrupter.

8. A component for an electric power system, said component comprising:
a mounting assembly including at least one mounting member; and
at least one contact assembly comprising:
a bus member coupled to said at least one mounting member, and
a switching assembly structured to move between a first position corresponding to power being connected and a second position corresponding to power being disconnected, said switching assembly comprising:
a stationary contact extending from said bus member,
a movable contact structured to engage said stationary contact when said switching assembly is in the first position and disengage said stationary contact when said switching assembly moves toward the second position, and
a switching device coupled to said bus member;

wherein, when said switching assembly is in the first position, sai

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Abrahamsen Michael Howard
• Sims Daniel Garett
• Weidemeier Matthew Stephen
• Smith Robert Kirkland
• Wang Hongbin

Classifications

• H01H33/128 Primary

  being operated by a separate mechanism interlocked with the sectionalising mechanism · CPC title

• H02B13/0354

  comprising a vacuum switch (H02B13/0352 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H33/6661

  Combination with other type of switch, e.g. for load break switches (H01H33/143, H01H33/6662 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01H33/666 Primary

  Operating arrangements · CPC title