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:
May. 03, 1977
Filed:
Jan. 20, 1975
Clive W Kimblin, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A vacuum current limiting circuit interrupter having rapidly separable contacts and magnetic field coils disposed to produce a magnetic field transverse to the arc formed during circuit interruption. The transverse magnetic field creates arc instability and causes rapid arc extinction. The relatively movable contacts are disposed in an evacuated insulating envelope and are movable between a closed position completing an electrical circuit through the vacuum interrupter and an open position wherein the contacts are spaced relatively far apart with respect to the necessary voltage withstand level of the circuit interrupter. Magnetic field coils are supported to produce a magnetic field transverse to the arc plasma when the contacts approach maximum separation creating arc instability. An alternate current limiting path is provided in parallel with the vacuum interrupter through which reduced current flows until complete circuit interruption.