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:
Dec. 08, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 01, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
David Arnold, Chester, CT (US);
Randall L Greenberg, Granby, CT (US);
Assignee:
General Electric Company, Plainville, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
335 35 ; 335201 ; 218-1 ; 218158 ;
Abstract
A compact current limiting circuit breaker utilizes a polymer current limiter, an arc rail and an arc gap for effective overcurrent protection. Upon the occurrence of contact separation an arc is drawn between the circuit breaker contacts and driven toward an arc rail. Commutation of the arc from the stationary contact to the arc rail effectively changes the current path to incorporate the polymer current limiter which rapidly suppresses the overcurrent. Circuit isolation is achieved by extinction of the arc within the arc gap between the movable contact and the arc rail.