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. 22, 1995
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1993
Michael B Schulman, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Paul G Slade, Wilkinsburg, PA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter that encourages formation of a diffuse arc includes a pair of disk-shaped, confronting electrical contacts that are relatively movable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position and that are enclosed by a vacuum envelope. Each contact has generally spiral-shaped arms defining slots therebetween. The slots gradually widen towards the periphery of the contacts. In addition, the contacts are rotated relative to each other such that the tip of each spiral arm of one contact faces a generally radially extending portion of a spiral arm of the other contact. A generally tubular metal vapor shield surrounds the contacts within the envelope and is electrically isolated from at least one of the contacts in the open circuit position. The design and orientation of the contacts increases the radial component of the self-induced magnetic fields generated by the current in the interrupter. The Lorentz force on a high-current columnar arc between the contacts motivates the arc to attach to the vapor shield and become diffuse.