The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1976
Filed:
Feb. 11, 1975
Paul G Slade, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An improved low-voltage circuit-breaker, adaptable for both alternating-current and direct-current is provided having small contact separation, when opened, and a pair of adjoining arcing-rails arranged in generally-parallel relationship, and having only a small gap therebetween of the order of 1/4 inch or less. Preferably, at the ends of the parallel-arranged arcing-rails are a pair of diverging arc-horns, constituting integral extensions of the parallel-arranged arcing-rails, and resulting in considerable elongation of the established arc upon its movement onto the diverging portions of the arcing-rails. Preferably, although not necessary, a suitable spaced-plate arc-extinguishing structure is arranged in the vicinity of the diverging portions of the arcing-rails to further facilitate arc extinction, by either elongating the arc around the splitter portions of the insulating plates, if the latter are of insulating material, or causing the formation of a plurality of serially-related arc-portions between spaced conducting metallic plates, if the arc extinguisher is of the spaced-metallic-plate variety.