US3184573A - Laminated electrical contact assembly - Google Patents
Laminated electrical contact assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3184573A US3184573A US143861A US14386161A US3184573A US 3184573 A US3184573 A US 3184573A US 143861 A US143861 A US 143861A US 14386161 A US14386161 A US 14386161A US 3184573 A US3184573 A US 3184573A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- contact elements
- movable
- contacts
- jaws
- 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
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Classifications
-
- 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
- H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
- H01H1/42—Knife-and-clip contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/50—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
- H01H1/54—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position by magnetic force
Definitions
- FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a side elevation and a plan view of a contact assembly of the known type.
- FIG. 2 illustrates in side elevation an assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 5 shows, in side elevation and in plan, a fourth embodiment according to the invention.
- the fixed contact 11 carries a plurality of parallel generally elongated contacts or jaws 12 in tiered or superimposed arrangement, each contact or pair of jaws comprising a pair of separable sides into and between which the blade contact 13 engages.
- the arrows 14 represent diagrammatically the current paths and it is seen that the points of change of direction 15 of the arrows are located in the immediate neighborhood of the contact zones so that the electrodynamic repulsive forces which are exerted between the current paths in the blade contact, on the one hand, and those in the jaws, on the other hand, are very great by reason of the small distance a which separates them.
- FIG. 2 shows a blade contact which is slitted by means of a plurality of saw-cuts 16 which extend parallel to the jaws 12.
- the improvement of the invention can be obtained by means of a contact member 17 set into the edge of the movable blade facing the contact jaws and which alone engages into the jaws.
- a contact member 17 set into the edge of the movable blade facing the contact jaws and which alone engages into the jaws.
- FIG. 5 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
- the blade member is composed of two blades 18 and 19 between which is riveted or bolted the contact member 20 whose rear edge 21 is thicker. Insulating spacers 24 are provided between the blades 18 and 19. As the contact member 20 is in electrical contact with blades 18 and i9 only along the surfaces 22 and 23, the points of change or direction of the current paths are displaced towards the rear edge of the blade member.
- the interrupting device comprises main contacts and sparking contacts.
- the main contacts which, in principle, should open without sparking may be considered to some extent as the contacts of a disconnecting switch.
- the main movable contact is usually carried or formed by a disconnecting blade member.
- An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact
- said contact elements consisting each of two elongated resilient jaws
- said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to pro vide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
- An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact, a
- said contact elements consisting each of two elongated aws
- said movable contact consisting of a movable blade disposed for engagement between said two elongated jaws of each of said contact elements in the closed position of the contacts,
- said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to provide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
- An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact
- said contact elements consisting each of two elongated jaws being prestressed toward each other,
- said movable contact consisting of a movable blade disposed for engagement between said two elongated jaws of each of said contact elements in the closed position of the contacts,
- said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to provide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
- said slits have the form of saw-cuts of graduated and a movable contact
- said fixed contact including a plurality of spring contact elements defining parallel paths for the current in the closed position of the contacts
- each spring contact element comprising a pair of resiliently separable jaws
Landscapes
- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
- Tumbler Switches (AREA)
- Contacts (AREA)
Description
A. LATOUR LAMINATED I ELECTRICAL CONTACT ASSEMBLY May 18, 1965 Filed Oct. 9, 1961 United States Patent 3,184,573 LAMINATED ELECTRICAL CGNTACT ASSEMBLY Andr Latour, Grenoble, France, assignor to Etablissements Merlin & Ger-in, Grenoble, France Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,861 Claims priority, application France, Oct. 13, 1969, 4,293, Patent 1,276,844 6 Claims. (Cl. wit-166) This invention relates generally to electrical contact assemblies and more specially to sliding contact assemblies for disconnecting switches of high current carrying capacities and for main contacts of circuit-breakers.
In apparatus comprising a blade member which on closing engages into a plurality of jaws, it is necessary to provide very powerful means of moving the blade member. These means must be capable of surmounting the antago nistic electrodynamic eitect caused by the current-loop formed at the instant when the blade member enters into contact with the jaws. As a result the control devices are bulky and increase greatly the cost price of the switches.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the conditions under which the disconnecting switches of the type mentioned are closed.
It is another object of the invention to decrease the weight and the dimensions of the control mechanism and, consequently, of the whole apparatus.
These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, of some embodiments of the invention given merely for the purpose of illustration.
In the drawing:
FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a side elevation and a plan view of a contact assembly of the known type.
FIG. 2 illustrates in side elevation an assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation according to a second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 shows, in side elevation and in plan, a fourth embodiment according to the invention.
In FIG. 1, the fixed contact 11 carries a plurality of parallel generally elongated contacts or jaws 12 in tiered or superimposed arrangement, each contact or pair of jaws comprising a pair of separable sides into and between which the blade contact 13 engages. The arrows 14 represent diagrammatically the current paths and it is seen that the points of change of direction 15 of the arrows are located in the immediate neighborhood of the contact zones so that the electrodynamic repulsive forces which are exerted between the current paths in the blade contact, on the one hand, and those in the jaws, on the other hand, are very great by reason of the small distance a which separates them.
FIG. 2 shows a blade contact which is slitted by means of a plurality of saw-cuts 16 which extend parallel to the jaws 12. As a result, the points of change of direction of the current paths are moved towards the rear edge of the blade 13. Thus the current paths which penetrate the blade contact 13 retain over a certain length their initial direction, so that the distance b between the current paths along the rear edge of the blade and those of the jaws is considerably increased and the electrodynamic repulsion greatly reduced.
For very high currents, it will be advantageous to have saw-cuts of graduated length, as shown in FIG. 3. This arrangement avoids a concentration of the current towards the rear of the blade, a concentration which could result in an inadmissible heating of this part of the blade.
If, for special reasons for example to provide greater mechanical strength, it is desired to avoid saw-cuts in the 3,l84,573 Patented May 18, 1%65 blade member, the improvement of the invention can be obtained by means of a contact member 17 set into the edge of the movable blade facing the contact jaws and which alone engages into the jaws. As shown in FIG. 4-, here again the current paths conserve in the movable member their initial direction over a certain length so that the points of change of direction are removed from the contact zone, so that the electrodynamic repulsion is reduced.
FIG. 5 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 4. The blade member is composed of two blades 18 and 19 between which is riveted or bolted the contact member 20 whose rear edge 21 is thicker. Insulating spacers 24 are provided between the blades 18 and 19. As the contact member 20 is in electrical contact with blades 18 and i9 only along the surfaces 22 and 23, the points of change or direction of the current paths are displaced towards the rear edge of the blade member.
It is known that in power circuit-breakers, the interrupting device comprises main contacts and sparking contacts. The main contacts which, in principle, should open without sparking may be considered to some extent as the contacts of a disconnecting switch. Thus the main movable contact is usually carried or formed by a disconnecting blade member.
In practice, it is seen that in spite of the presence of sparking contacts, the main contacts interrupt a current which, sometimes, leaves traces on the contact. In providing saw-cuts on the blade member, these burning traces on the main contacts are considerably reduced so that not only the conditions of closing but also those of opening can be considerably improved.
What is claimed is:
1. An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact,
a plurality of separate contact elements mounted in spaced substantially parallel relation on said fixed contact and constituting parallel paths for the electrical current in the closed position of the contacts,
said contact elements consisting each of two elongated resilient jaws,
said movable contact consists of a movable blade disposed for engagement between said two elongated jaws of each of said contact elements in the closed position of the contacts,
said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to pro vide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
2. An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact, a
a plurality of separate contact elements mounted in spaced substantially parallel relation on said fixed contact and constituting parallel paths for the electrical current in the closed position of the contacts,
said contact elements consisting each of two elongated aws,
means for pressing said jaws toward each other,
said movable contact consisting of a movable blade disposed for engagement between said two elongated jaws of each of said contact elements in the closed position of the contacts,
said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to provide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
3. An electrical contact assembly comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact,
a plurality of separate contact elements mounted in spaced substantially parallel relation on said fixed contact and constituting parallel paths for the electrical ctu'rent in the closed position of the contacts,
said contact elements consisting each of two elongated jaws being prestressed toward each other,
said movable contact consisting of a movable blade disposed for engagement between said two elongated jaws of each of said contact elements in the closed position of the contacts,
said movable blade having a plurality of parallel spaced slits disposed relative to said contact elements to provide at least one slit extending in parallel relationship between two successive contact elements.
4. An electrical contact assembly according to claim 1,
wherein said slits have the form of saw-cuts of graduated and a movable contact,
said fixed contact including a plurality of spring contact elements defining parallel paths for the current in the closed position of the contacts,
each spring contact element comprising a pair of resiliently separable jaws,
a pair of parallel, elongated switch blades mounted on said movable contact and forming a unitary structure movable relative to said spring contact elements,
said switch blades extending perpendicularly to said parallel paths in the closed position of said contacts,
blades and a contact zone with said spring contact elements, j said two contact zones being spaced relatively far apart. 6. An electrical contact assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said contact elements define a contact zone on said blade contact in the closed position, said slits extending beyond said contact zone.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,546,272 7/25 Wede'man 200-166 1,769,279 7/30 True 200-166 2,120,396 6/38 Domaleski 200-166 2,765,380 10/56 Graybill 200-170 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.
ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Examiner.
Claims (1)
1. AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A MOVABLE CONTACT AND A FIXED CONTACT, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE CONTACT ELEMENTS MOUNTED IN SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATION ON SAID FIXED CONTACT AND CONSTITUTING PARALLEL PATHS FOR THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE CONTACTS, SAID CONTACT ELEMENTS CONSISTING EACH OF TWO ELONGATED RESILIENT JAWS, SAID MOVABLE CONTACT CONSISTS OF A MOVABLE BLADE DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID TWO ELONGATED JAWS OF EACH OF SAID CONTACT ELEMENTS IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF THE CONTACTS, SAID MOVABLE BLADE HAVING A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPACED SLITS DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID CONTACT ELEMENTS TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE SLIT EXTENDING IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO SUCCESSIVE CONTACT ELEMENTS.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR4293A FR1276844A (en) | 1960-10-13 | 1960-10-13 | Improvements to disconnectors for high currents |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3184573A true US3184573A (en) | 1965-05-18 |
Family
ID=9696429
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US143861A Expired - Lifetime US3184573A (en) | 1960-10-13 | 1961-10-09 | Laminated electrical contact assembly |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3184573A (en) |
BE (1) | BE608957A (en) |
CH (1) | CH373799A (en) |
DE (1) | DE1143900B (en) |
FR (1) | FR1276844A (en) |
GB (1) | GB965782A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110083618A1 (en) * | 2004-02-05 | 2011-04-14 | O'donnell Michael J | Burner |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1546272A (en) * | 1921-08-29 | 1925-07-14 | Gen Electric | Electric switch |
US1769279A (en) * | 1927-08-05 | 1930-07-01 | Edwin S True | Electrical contacting device |
US2120396A (en) * | 1936-06-04 | 1938-06-14 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Electrical contact member |
US2765380A (en) * | 1952-11-04 | 1956-10-02 | Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd | High current disconnecting switch |
-
1960
- 1960-10-13 FR FR4293A patent/FR1276844A/en not_active Expired
-
1961
- 1961-10-09 US US143861A patent/US3184573A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1961-10-09 BE BE608957A patent/BE608957A/en unknown
- 1961-10-10 GB GB36300/61A patent/GB965782A/en not_active Expired
- 1961-10-11 CH CH1180561A patent/CH373799A/en unknown
- 1961-10-12 DE DEM50559A patent/DE1143900B/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1546272A (en) * | 1921-08-29 | 1925-07-14 | Gen Electric | Electric switch |
US1769279A (en) * | 1927-08-05 | 1930-07-01 | Edwin S True | Electrical contacting device |
US2120396A (en) * | 1936-06-04 | 1938-06-14 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Electrical contact member |
US2765380A (en) * | 1952-11-04 | 1956-10-02 | Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd | High current disconnecting switch |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110083618A1 (en) * | 2004-02-05 | 2011-04-14 | O'donnell Michael J | Burner |
US8292616B2 (en) | 2004-02-05 | 2012-10-23 | Beckett Gas, Inc. | Burner |
US9068761B2 (en) | 2004-02-05 | 2015-06-30 | Beckett Gas, Inc. | Burner |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
FR1276844A (en) | 1961-11-24 |
CH373799A (en) | 1963-12-15 |
BE608957A (en) | 1962-02-01 |
GB965782A (en) | 1964-08-06 |
DE1143900B (en) | 1963-02-21 |
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