US3564176A - Magnetic electric arcing extinction device - Google Patents

Magnetic electric arcing extinction device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3564176A
US3564176A US754818A US3564176DA US3564176A US 3564176 A US3564176 A US 3564176A US 754818 A US754818 A US 754818A US 3564176D A US3564176D A US 3564176DA US 3564176 A US3564176 A US 3564176A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
extinction device
arc
arc extinction
moving contact
limb
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US754818A
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English (en)
Inventor
Louis J M Fechant
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Telemecanique SA
Original Assignee
La Telemecanique Electrique SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by La Telemecanique Electrique SA filed Critical La Telemecanique Electrique SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3564176A publication Critical patent/US3564176A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • H01H9/446—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet using magnetisable elements associated with the contacts

Definitions

  • This plate channels the magnetic induction generated by the current, i.e'., partly by the arc itself except between the legs of theU,ort the side opposite the bottom of the U, and the magnetic field present between the legs pushes the arc towards the bottom of the U-shaped plate. This may be sufficient to extinguis'h the are, simply by elongation orby breaking it up in a suitable device.
  • the present invention has for its object an improved are extinction device which, in order to ensurethe shifting of the arc, comprises a substantially U-shaped element of ferromagnetic material, without the above-mentioned disadvantages.
  • an arc extinction'device which comprises a fixed and a moving contact member; a substantially U-shaped member of fiat-section ferromagnetic material arranged withits width parallel to the direction of movement of the moving contact, the member having a base portion and a pair of limbs each formed to define'a corresponding first limb portion, which first limb portions together with the base portion surround the moving contact throughout its range of movement, and second limb portion each of which is coplanar with its associated first limb portion and extends from the free end of the latter towards the base portion, which second limb portions are arranged at the level of the fixed contact; a'horn on the fixed contact extend-- ing towards the base portion of the U-shaped member, and at least one extinction element located between the moving contact and the base of the U-shaped member, parallelv to the latter.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, partly diagrammatic sectional view of an arc extinction device according to the invention, the section corresponding to the line I-Iof FIG. 2;-
  • FIG. 2 in sectional view of this device along the line Il-Il of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the extinction of an arc appearing symmetrically between the contact elements
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the current path when the arc shifts laterally on the contact elements and is broken up into two portions;
  • FIG. 5a is a front view of the fixed contact and the portion of the magnetic element surrounding this contact;
  • FIG. 5b is a similar view of a modified embodiment.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view (reversed in comparison with the two preceding views) of the moving contact and the portion of the magnetic element surrounding it.
  • FIGS. The last three FIGS. are intended to show the path taken by the arc when the latter is produced to one side of the central plane of symmetry.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 The deviceshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a bridge-type circuit breaker of which only one half and the central portion are illustrated in detail by FIG. 1.
  • This device is contained in an insulating chamber 1 comprising a guide 2 for the sliding support 3 of the contact bridge.
  • Each contact bridge consists of a lightV-shaped conductor 4 bearing at each end a rare-metal contact element 5. At each end the edge of the conductor 4 is reinforced by a clamp 22 of refractory metal, for example stainless steel.
  • the conductor 4 rests in the V-shaped slot 3a of the support 3 and is stressed at its ends by a likewise V- shaped spring 6 the central portion of which applies itself to a wedge pushed by the spring 8 which latter, at its other end, bears on the support 3.
  • the fixed contacts cooperating with this bridge are two 0 shaped conductive elements 9 (only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1.), these elements being fixed to the base 10 of the box l by means of the screw 11.
  • the screw 12, accessible through the hole 13 of the element 9, ensures connection with the conductive lead 14.
  • the C-shaped element 9 comprises the rare-metal fixed contact 15 and a thickened horn portion 16, the surface of which, facing the moving contact 5, is in the same plane as the contact element 15.
  • Both the fixed and the moving contact are surrounded by a plate 17 of ferromagnetic material of U-shape comprising a bottom portion 17a extending in a direction perpendicular on the longitudinal direction of the contact elements, and two cheeks each of which is divided by a slot 18 extending from the bottom portion towards the free end of the said cheeks.
  • a plate 17 of ferromagnetic material of U-shape comprising a bottom portion 17a extending in a direction perpendicular on the longitudinal direction of the contact elements, and two cheeks each of which is divided by a slot 18 extending from the bottom portion towards the free end of the said cheeks.
  • the legs 17c are situated substantially at the same level as the fixed contact element and the horn 16, whereas the legs 17b and the bottom portion l7a su rround the space within which the moving contact travels.
  • the slot 18' preferably ascends towards the bottom portion 17a, see FIG. 1.
  • the space comprised between the end of the movingcontact and the bottom portion 17a is subdivided by fins 20 which extend parallel with each other and with the bottom portion 17a.
  • These fins advantageously'consist of ferromagnetic conductive material and are notched at their edges in a manner known per se, see 20a in FIG. 2.
  • the fins could be replaced by likewise known bucket-shaped members.
  • each fin 20 is allocated a vent 21 in the box.
  • These fins are fitted and held in position by means of screws 25 provided in the'box 1 (see FIG. 2) or by any other method known from arc chamber technology.
  • the U-shaped formation of the ferromagnetic element 17 enhances this tendency.
  • the magnetic field produced around the arc by the current (and by the arc itself) is channeled on three sides by the ferromagnetic element 17; it therefore acts upon the arc only on the side opposite the bottom portion 17a and pushes it in thedirection towards this bottom portion whatever the direction ofthe'current. 1 i
  • FIG. 3 What happens in this case is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the are which has originated in 26a betweenythe contact elements 5 and 15. first shifts on the contact elements themselves (position 26b) and then, while clinging to the clamp 22 on one side, also Each time it approaches a ferromagnetic fin 20 it is attracted by thelatter (by the "mirror effect," i.e., as a result of. f the channeling of the magnetic field by the fin which only allows the field opposite it to remain operative).
  • the original arc 26a may also start to one side of the median plane. In that case it will be attracted not only towards the bottom portion 17a but, with rising speed, by the nearest cheek.
  • FIG. 5b shows that the ends of the branches 17c, instead of being parallel, may also be turned towards each other, as indicated by the numeral 30; in other words, the cutting of the plate forming the element 17 neednot eliminate the bottom portion between the branches 17c entirely, provided that this bottom portion is effectively interrupted in this location. Such interruption, if sufficient to break the electrical continuity,
  • the bottom portion 17a of this U-shaped element could likewise be provided with a narrow interruption, without impairing operations.
  • the l U- shaped element would then be constituted by two juxtaposed In the case of FIG. 5b, the arc 26A moves between thepo'sitions 26A and 26 as shown in FIG. 5b.
  • the clamp 22 is of metal more highly resistant to heat than cuprous metals and is arranged so as to border the edge of the moving contact. It therefore avoids deterioration as a result of the passage of the arc. Moreover, its receding portion 22a'protects the brazed joint connecting the rare-metal element 5 to the conductor 4,
  • the mass of the fixed contact enables it to resist arc burns much better than the moving contact.
  • the fact that the element 15 is embedded in the surface of the fixed contact avoidsobstruction of the passage of the arc from the contact element to the horn which would result in a slowing down of the arc movement and also make thermal dissipation more difshifting of the arc and cause local heating which would accentuate this effect.
  • boxes 1 may comprise 'a wall 32, as shown, which protects the contact springs 8 from overheating and fromlmetal splashes produced by the arc.
  • An arc extinction device which comprises a fixed and a moving contact member; a substantially U-shaped member of flat-section ferromagnetic material arranged with its width parallel to the direction of movement of the moving contact, the member having a base portion and a pair of limbs each formed to define a corresponding first limb portion, which first limb portions together with the base portion surround the moving contact throughout.
  • second limb portion each of which is coplanar with its associated first limb portion and extends'from the free'end of the latter towards the base portion, which second limb portions are arranged at the level of the fixed contact; a horn on the fixed contact extending towards the base portion of the U- shaped member, and at least one extinction element located between the moving contact and the base of the U-shaped member, parallel to the latter.
  • U-shaped member comprises a cut and bent sheet-metal element in which each limb is of generally U-shaped configuration, said configuration being achieved by the provision of a common surface constituted by said fixed contact member and said horn is continuous.
  • An arc extinction device as claimed in claim 7 in which said moving contact member is a bridge contact biased by a leaf spring and said clamp includes an edge portion raised above the level of a corresponding end of said leaf spring.

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
US754818A 1967-09-01 1968-08-23 Magnetic electric arcing extinction device Expired - Lifetime US3564176A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR119683A FR1543338A (fr) 1967-09-01 1967-09-01 Dispositif d'extinction d'arc

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3564176A true US3564176A (en) 1971-02-16

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ID=8637641

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US754818A Expired - Lifetime US3564176A (en) 1967-09-01 1968-08-23 Magnetic electric arcing extinction device

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US (1) US3564176A (enrdf_load_html_response)
AT (1) AT278956B (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE720186A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BR (1) BR6801707D0 (enrdf_load_html_response)
CH (1) CH489884A (enrdf_load_html_response)
DE (1) DE1765946B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
DK (1) DK121964B (enrdf_load_html_response)
ES (1) ES357575A1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
FR (1) FR1543338A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB1221573A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NL (1) NL6812269A (enrdf_load_html_response)
NO (1) NO127132B (enrdf_load_html_response)
PL (1) PL80761B1 (enrdf_load_html_response)
SE (1) SE348314B (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3707612A (en) * 1970-02-16 1972-12-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter with improved molded insulating housing formed with vent passage means
US4011420A (en) * 1975-01-22 1977-03-08 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker with improved interrupting capacity
US4171474A (en) * 1977-05-27 1979-10-16 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. Current interrupter electrode configuration
US4237355A (en) * 1977-01-25 1980-12-02 La Telemecanique Electrique Blowing element
US4388506A (en) * 1979-02-07 1983-06-14 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Circuit interrupter
US4393287A (en) * 1979-09-14 1983-07-12 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Arc suppressing means for current limiting circuit breakers
DE3303648A1 (de) * 1982-02-03 1983-08-11 Mitsubishi Denki K.K., Tokyo Elektrischer leistungsschalter mit geschlitzter kommutierungsendplatte
US4484045A (en) * 1982-08-16 1984-11-20 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker having improved arc resistant properties
US4529853A (en) * 1980-11-17 1985-07-16 Merlin Gerin Electric circuit breaker with self blow-out by rotation of the arc
US4539451A (en) * 1982-11-10 1985-09-03 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
US5097104A (en) * 1989-10-04 1992-03-17 Sprecher & Schuh Ag Contact arrangement for an electrical switching device especially for a contactor
US5146055A (en) * 1989-09-20 1992-09-08 Telemecanique Current limiting switch device
US5495083A (en) * 1993-12-24 1996-02-27 Schneider Electric Sa Electric switch device with separable contacts including fixed contact mounted current limiter and shunt conductor
US5753877A (en) * 1996-02-20 1998-05-19 Eaton Corporation Circuit breaker terminal tubulator protection assembly for diverting discharged ionized gasses
US6265685B1 (en) * 1998-12-30 2001-07-24 Schneider Electric Industries Sa Switchgear apparatus contact assembly including slot and ferromagnetic insert for enhancing arc extinguishing characteristics
FR2811471A1 (fr) * 2000-07-07 2002-01-11 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Coupe-circuit
EP2960917A1 (de) * 2014-06-25 2015-12-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Lichtbogenlöschkammer für ein elektromagnetisches Schaltgerät
US11145472B2 (en) * 2017-06-01 2021-10-12 Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd Electrical contact system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4642429A (en) * 1982-11-10 1987-02-10 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
DE3446765A1 (de) * 1984-12-21 1986-07-10 Schupa Elektro GmbH + Co KG, 5885 Schalksmühle Kontaktsystem zur begrenzung der lichtbogenlaenge in einem fehlerstromschutzschalter

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2428254A (en) * 1944-03-21 1947-09-30 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2898427A (en) * 1957-10-10 1959-08-04 Gen Electric Arc extinguishing means

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA432276A (en) * 1942-07-31 1946-01-01 Canadian Westinghouse Company Arc limiting device
US2460118A (en) * 1945-07-21 1949-01-25 Gen Electric Circuit interrupter
US2534069A (en) * 1947-04-09 1950-12-12 Arrow Hart & Hegeman Electric Arc extinguishing means for alternating current electric switches

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2428254A (en) * 1944-03-21 1947-09-30 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2898427A (en) * 1957-10-10 1959-08-04 Gen Electric Arc extinguishing means

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3707612A (en) * 1970-02-16 1972-12-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter with improved molded insulating housing formed with vent passage means
US4011420A (en) * 1975-01-22 1977-03-08 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker with improved interrupting capacity
US4237355A (en) * 1977-01-25 1980-12-02 La Telemecanique Electrique Blowing element
US4171474A (en) * 1977-05-27 1979-10-16 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. Current interrupter electrode configuration
US4388506A (en) * 1979-02-07 1983-06-14 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha Circuit interrupter
US4393287A (en) * 1979-09-14 1983-07-12 Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd. Arc suppressing means for current limiting circuit breakers
US4529853A (en) * 1980-11-17 1985-07-16 Merlin Gerin Electric circuit breaker with self blow-out by rotation of the arc
US4521655A (en) * 1982-02-03 1985-06-04 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Electric power switch with slotted commutation end plate
DE3303648A1 (de) * 1982-02-03 1983-08-11 Mitsubishi Denki K.K., Tokyo Elektrischer leistungsschalter mit geschlitzter kommutierungsendplatte
US4484045A (en) * 1982-08-16 1984-11-20 General Electric Company Molded case circuit breaker having improved arc resistant properties
US4539451A (en) * 1982-11-10 1985-09-03 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Switch
US5146055A (en) * 1989-09-20 1992-09-08 Telemecanique Current limiting switch device
US5097104A (en) * 1989-10-04 1992-03-17 Sprecher & Schuh Ag Contact arrangement for an electrical switching device especially for a contactor
US5495083A (en) * 1993-12-24 1996-02-27 Schneider Electric Sa Electric switch device with separable contacts including fixed contact mounted current limiter and shunt conductor
US5753877A (en) * 1996-02-20 1998-05-19 Eaton Corporation Circuit breaker terminal tubulator protection assembly for diverting discharged ionized gasses
US6265685B1 (en) * 1998-12-30 2001-07-24 Schneider Electric Industries Sa Switchgear apparatus contact assembly including slot and ferromagnetic insert for enhancing arc extinguishing characteristics
FR2811471A1 (fr) * 2000-07-07 2002-01-11 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Coupe-circuit
EP2960917A1 (de) * 2014-06-25 2015-12-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Lichtbogenlöschkammer für ein elektromagnetisches Schaltgerät
US11145472B2 (en) * 2017-06-01 2021-10-12 Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd Electrical contact system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE348314B (enrdf_load_html_response) 1972-08-28
CH489884A (fr) 1970-04-30
ES357575A1 (es) 1970-03-16
NO127132B (enrdf_load_html_response) 1973-05-07
GB1221573A (en) 1971-02-03
PL80761B1 (enrdf_load_html_response) 1975-08-30
DK121964B (da) 1971-12-27
DE1765946B1 (de) 1971-09-09
FR1543338A (fr) 1968-10-25
AT278956B (de) 1970-02-25
BR6801707D0 (pt) 1973-04-26
NL6812269A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1969-03-04
BE720186A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1969-02-03

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