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:
Jun. 05, 1984
Filed:
May. 25, 1982
Shinji Yamagata, Fukuyama, JP;
Fumiyuki Hisatsune, Fukuyama, JP;
Junichi Terachi, Fukuyama, JP;
Hajimu Yoshiyasu, Itami, JP;
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a circuit breaker comprising a pair of contactors each comprising a rigid conductor with a contact secured thereon, wherein at least one of the contactors is also provided with an electrically conductive projection secured on the rigid conductor in proximity to the contact, the contact and the projection having their peripheries surrounded by a high resistivity arc shield of a resistivity higher than the rigid conductors. An arc extinguishing plate assembly is also provided to cool and extinguish an arc drawn across the gap between the contacts. With this arrangement, the arc is confined and has its voltage raised by the effects of the arc shield, and the size of the foot of the arc is limited such that it does not spread to the surface of the conductor in the vicinity of the contact. Further, the foot of the arc is caused to shift from the contact to the projection, substantially preventing wear of the contact and further extending the length of the arc to more effectively cool and extinguish the arc.