Electrical switching apparatus and clinch joint assembly therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9805895-B2
Application number	US-201514943228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A movable contact assembly for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The movable contact assembly includes a number of shunts, and, a carriage assembly including two sidewalls and a contact arm assembly. The carriage assembly sidewalls are disposed in a spaced relation. The contact arm assembly includes a plurality of contact arms, a number of isolation members, a number of movable contacts, and an axle. Each contact arm defines an opening, One movable contact is disposed on each contact arm. Each contact arm is rotatably coupled to the axle with the axle extending through the contact arm opening. Each isolation member is disposed adjacent at least one contact arm. Each isolation member is coupled to, and in electrical communication with the adjacent contact arm. The shunts are coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the isolation members. In this configuration, no shunt operatively engages a contact arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A movable contact assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing assembly and a conductor assembly, said housing assembly defining an enclosed space, said conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space, said conductor assembly including a load conductor, said movable contact assembly comprising:
a carriage assembly including two sidewalls and a contact arm assembly;
said carriage assembly sidewalls disposed in a spaced relation;
said contact arm assembly including rotating elements, and an axle assembly;
said axle assembly including an axle;
said rotating elements rotatably disposed on said axle;
wherein said rotating elements are floatably coupled to said axle;
said rotating elements include a plurality of contact arms and a number of isolation members;
wherein each isolation member includes a body;
each isolation member body includes a contact arm tab;
each contact arm tab including two lateral surfaces;
each contact arm tab lateral surface has one of a reduced engagement area, a very reduced engagement area, or an extremely reduced engagement area
said plurality of contact arms includes at least three contact arms;
wherein said at least three contact arms are disposed on a single axle;
said axle assembly includes a spacer including two lateral surfaces and defining an opening;
said spacer lateral surfaces have one of a reduced engagement area, a very reduced engagement area, or an extremely reduced engagement area;
said plurality of contact arms includes a first contact arm, a second contact arm, a third contact arm, and a fourth contact arm;
said number of isolation members includes a first isolation member and a second isolation member;
said first isolation member and said second isolation member each including a contact arm tab;
each said isolation member contact arm tab defining an opening;
each said isolation member coupled to said axle with said axle extending through said isolation member contact arm tab opening;
said first isolation member contact arm tab disposed between, and in electrical communication with, said first contact arm and said second contact arm;
said second isolation member contact arm tab disposed between, and in electrical communication with, said third contact arm and said fourth contact arm;
said axle assembly spacer disposed between, and in electrical communication with, said second contact arm and said third contact arm.

2. The movable contact assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said axle assembly includes a first end, a second end, a number of belleville washers, a number of guide sleeves, and a number of nuts;
wherein said axle first end is threaded;
wherein said axle second end is threaded;
a number of belleville washers, a guide sleeve, and a nut disposed on said axle first end;
a number of belleville washers, a guide sleeve, and a nut disposed on said axle second end;
wherein said first contact arm, said first isolation member, said second contact arm, said axle assembly spacer, said third contact arm, said second isolation member, and said fourth contact arm fully float on said axle between said axle first end nut and said axle second end nut.

3. A movable contact assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing assembly and a conductor assembly, said housing assembly defining an enclosed space, said conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space, said conductor assembly including a load conductor, said movable contact assembly comprising:
a carriage assembly including two sidewalls and a contact arm assembly;
said carriage assembly sidewalls disposed in a spaced relation;
said contact arm assembly including rotating elements, and an axle assembly;
said axle assembly including an axle;
said rotating elements rotatably disposed on said axle;
wherein said rotating elements are floatably coupled to said axle; said rotating elements include a plurality of contact arms and a number of isolation members;
wherein each isolation member includes a body;
each isolation member body includes a contact arm tab;
each contact arm tab including two lateral surfaces;
each contact arm tab lateral surface has one of a reduced engagement area, a very reduced engagement area, or an extremely reduced engagement area
said plurality of contact arms includes at least three contact arms;
wherein said at least three contact arms are disposed on a single axle;
said plurality of contact arms includes a first contact arm, a second contact arm, a third contact arm, and a fourth contact arm;
said number of isolation members includes a first isolation member and a second isolation member;
said first isolation member and said second isolation member each including a contact arm tab;
each said isolation member contact arm tab defining an opening;
each said isolation member coupled to said axle with said axle extending through said isolation member contact arm tab opening;
said first isolation member contact arm tab disposed between, and in electrical communication with, said first contact arm and said second contact arm;
said second isolation member contact arm tab disposed between, and in electrical communication with, said third contact arm and said fourth contact arm;
said axle assembly includes a first end, a medial flange, a second end, a number of belleville washers, a number of guide sleeves, and a number of nuts;
wherein said axle first end is threaded;
wherein said axle second end is threaded;
a number of belleville washers, a guide sleeve, and a nut disposed on said axle first end;
a number of belleville washers, a guide sleeve, and a nut disposed on said axle second end;
said axle medial flange includes a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface;
said axle medial flange first lateral surface having a reduced engagement area;
said axle medial flange second lateral surface having a reduced engagement area;
wherein said first contact arm, said first isolation member, and said second contact arm are disposed between, and partially float between, said axle first end and said axle medial flange; and
wherein said third contact arm, said second isolation member, and said fourth contact arm are disposed between, and partially float between, said axle medial flange and said axle second end.

4. A movable contact assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing assembly and a conductor assembly, said housing assembly defining an enclosed space, said conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space, said conductor assembly including a load conductor, said movable contact assembly comprising:
a carriage assembly including two sidewalls and a contact arm assembly;
said carriage assembly sidewalls disposed in a spaced relation;
said contact arm assembly including rotating elements, and an axle assembly;
said axle assembly including an axle;
said rotating elements rotatably disposed on said axle;
wherein said rotating elements are floatably coupled to said axle; said rotating elements include a plurality of contact arms and a number of isolation members;
wherein each isolation member includes a body;
each isolation member body includes a contact arm tab;
each contact arm tab including two lateral surfaces;
each contact arm tab lateral surface has one of a reduced engagement area, a very reduced engagement area, or an extremely reduced engagement area
said plurality of contact arms includes at least three contact arms;
wherein said at least three contact arms are disposed on a single axle;
said carriage assembly sidewalls include a first sidewal

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Weister Nathan J
• Rakus Paul Richard
• Prince Edward A
• Pollitt William Charles

Classifications

• H01H1/226 Primary

  having a plurality of parallel contact bars · CPC title

• H01H71/128 Primary

  Manual release or trip mechanisms, e.g. for test purposes (two similar push buttons for closing or resetting and opening or tripping H01H71/58; test switches for earth fault circuit breakers H01H83/04) · CPC title

• H01H2205/002

  fixed to operating part · CPC title

• H01H1/5822

  Flexible connections between movable contact and terminal · CPC title