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:
Nov. 09, 1993
Filed:
Mar. 23, 1992
Garrett S Yarbrough, Manilus, NY (US);
Paul J Bartlett, Camillus, NY (US);
Cooper Industries, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
An electrical switch and switch contact are disclosed, both of which are advantageous for use in an environment containing explosive gases or vapors. The switch housing is designed so that the two joints where explosive gases or vapors can enter or exit into the switch interior can cool any hot gases escaping from the switch interior. Therefore, if any explosive gases or vapors are ignited by an arc in the switch interior, they are cooled during their exit from the switch, so that they cannot ignite the explosive environment outside the switch. This is done using a labyrinthine path between the two switch housing members, and a lengthy metal-to-metal, metal-to-ceramic, or ceramic-to-ceramic path between the switch actuator and the switch housing. The contact is designed such that it has a greater flexural length, without requiring a substantial increase in the housing body volume. This allows a smaller amount of hazardous gas or vapor to come into contact with a potential arc. The contact design allows a good degree of overtravel and a contact cleaning action, both of which contribute to the reliability of the electrical connection made by the switch.