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:
Jan. 02, 1990
Filed:
Aug. 01, 1988
Charles R Paton, New Brighton, PA (US);
Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
A laminated contact assembly is formed from a number of individual contact assemblies. Each individual contact assembly includes a contact arm portion, which carries a movable main or arcing contact and a stationary conductor portion. A flexible shunt is used to connect the contact arm portion to the stationary conductor portion. Intermediate individual contact assemblies are provided with T-shaped slots for receiving square-headed fasteners. These square-headed fasteners are captured by adjacent assemblies once the laminated contact assembly is complete. By providing such an arrangement, the need to drill and tap holes in the base of the laminated contact arm assembly is obviated. Since all of the individual contact arm assemblies are fastened together, the possibility of the square-headed fasteners disposed in T-shaped slots in intermediate individual contact arm assemblies is greatly reduced. The flexible shunt is wound from a continuous strip of an electrical conductor and formed into a V-shaped member having extending leg portions which generate magnetic repulsion forces during overcurrent conditions. By utilizing a form wound shunt the cost of the contact arm assembly can be greatly reduced.