Medium voltage breaker conductor with an electrically efficient contour

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9767978-B1
Application number	US-201615156409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a conductive member for a circuit breaker high voltage portion conductor assembly, the conductive member including a body with a transfer portion and a coupling portion. The body transfer portion has an electro-thermally efficient contour. That is, the body transfer portion has an electrically efficient contour and a thermally efficient contour. The body transfer portion includes a number of slots defining fins. In this configuration, the body transfer portion distributes current generally evenly across a cross-sectional area of the conductive member body. Further, the fins provide heat dissipation via convection.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conductive member for a circuit breaker high voltage portion conductor assembly, said conductive member comprising:
a body;
said body includes a transfer portion and a coupling portion;
wherein said body transfer portion has an electrically efficient contour;
said body transfer portion is substantially cylindrical;
said body coupling portion includes a number of generally planar members defining an enclosed space; and
said body coupling portion planar members including rounded edges.

2. The conductive member of claim 1 wherein:
said body coupling portion includes a number of fins; and
said body coupling portion fins disposed in said body coupling portion enclosed space.

3. The conductive member of claim 2 wherein said body coupling portion fins are disposed in a generally radial pattern.

4. The conductive member of claim 1 wherein said body is an aluminum body.

5. A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:
a low voltage portion, and high voltage portion;
said low voltage portion including an operating mechanism;
said low voltage portion operatively coupled to said high voltage portion;
said high voltage portion including a conductor assembly and a vacuum interrupter assembly;
said conductor assembly including a first terminal, a primary first conductor, a primary second conductor, and a second terminal;
said vacuum interrupter assembly including a first stem assembly, a first contact, a second contact, a second stem assembly, and a vacuum housing;
said first contact coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first stem assembly;
said first stem assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first conductor;
said second contact coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said second stem assembly;
said second stem assembly coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said second conductor;
said first contact disposed in said vacuum housing;
said second contact movably disposed in said vacuum housing;
said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said second contact, wherein said second contact is structured to move between a first position, wherein said second contact assembly contact member is not directly coupled to said first contact assembly contact member, and a second position, wherein said second contact assembly contact member is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first contact assembly contact member;
wherein one of said primary first conductor or said primary second conductor includes a body;
said body includes a transfer portion and a coupling portion;
wherein said body transfer portion has an electrically efficient contour;
said body transfer portion is substantially cylindrical;
said body coupling portion includes a number of generally planar members defining an enclosed space; and
said body coupling portion planar members including rounded edges.

6. The vacuum circuit breaker of claim 5 wherein:
said body coupling portion includes a number of fins; and
said body coupling portion fins disposed in said body coupling portion enclosed space.

7. The vacuum circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein said body coupling portion fins are disposed in a generally radial pattern.

8. The vacuum circuit breaker of claim 5 wherein said body is an aluminum body.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Brandt Douglas Michael
• Leccia Brad Robert
• Frye Iv Richard Blaine
• Jenkins Zachary Ryan

Classifications

• H01H33/6606 Primary

  Terminal arrangements · CPC title

• H01H2205/002

  fixed to operating part · CPC title

• H01H2239/044

  High voltage application · CPC title

• H01H2071/086

  Low power connections for auxiliary switches, e.g. shunt trip · CPC title

• H01H71/0235 Primary

  Contacts and the arc extinguishing space inside individual separate cases, which are positioned inside the housing of the circuit breaker (casettes for rotating bridges see H01H1/2058) · CPC title