Eaton Corporation

Cutler-hammer, Inc.

Albert C Snowdon

Peter J Theisen

David G Porter

Kenneth A Forsell

William G Dennison

John A Rauenbuehler

Robert O Graham

Emil W Zarling

A plurality of coil springs (6) are secured to the flat inner surfaces (4a) of a jaw type connector (12) to receive a flat conductor (20, 24) such as a bus bar between the opposed springs, the individual coils of each spring (6) engaging the surfaces of the connector (4) and bus bar (20, 24) to provide a compliant, multiple path electrical connection between the connector and bus bar. The springs are plated with a material having a low interface resistance (Rp) with respect to the resistance of the spring wire (Rw) to minimize the net change in resistance of any individual current path in the event of contact interface breakdown between a spring coil and bus bar or connector, thereby reducing or eliminating harmful damage to the spring.

Compliant electrical connector for flat conductors

An electric power switch or contactor of the 3-pole AC type or the like is provided with means making it capable of withstanding higher fault currents such as short circuit currents. This is done by providing the insulating contact carrier with integrally molded stops that will allow the spring-biased bridging contacts to be blown slightly open by the high electro-dynamic forces occurring during high fault currents but will limit such opening of the contacts to gaps small enough to inhibit the arc from moving from between the contacts. Instead of attempting to keep the contacts closed under such conditions which would require a large magnetic force, allowing the contacts to open this small amount eliminates the need for a larger magnet, reduces the blow-open force and, more importantly, the small gaps will retain the arcs between the contacts and will inhibit them from flashing out to other parts of the contactor with consequent burning and destructive effect. As a result, the device will remain reusable with replacement of the contacts and possibly only minor repair.

Contactor having higher fault current withstandability

An electrical terminal having a looped configuration for properly orienting a segment of the terminal to which a contact may be mounted to thereby properly direct a magnetic blow-out force induced by current flow through said segment. The terminal is formed by two longitudinal, parallel 90.degree. bends rather than two lateral, parallel 90.degree. bends, and comprises a flat rectangular member having a U-shaped aperture formed longitudinally therein defining a tongue segment (to which a contact may be mounted) spaced between a pair of longitudinal side segments joined at their ends by a pair of lateral segments bent 90.degree. from the plane of said tongue segment about longitudinal axes co-linear with the legs of the U-shaped aperture.

Electrical terminal

Growing community of inventors

Shorewood, WI, United States of America

Albert C Snowdon