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:
Mar. 03, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 31, 2006
James Francis Domo, Chagrin Falls, OH (US);
Lance Patrick Sabados, Olmstead Township, OH (US);
Steven Jay Randazzo, San Jose, CA (US);
Roderick C. Mosely, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Joseph Emil Oeschger, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Mary Grace Bello Montesclaros, San Jose, CA (US);
James Francis Domo, Chagrin Falls, OH (US);
Lance Patrick Sabados, Olmstead Township, OH (US);
Steven Jay Randazzo, San Jose, CA (US);
Roderick C. Mosely, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Joseph Emil Oeschger, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Mary Grace Bello Montesclaros, San Jose, CA (US);
Thomas & Betts International, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus () for high voltage electrical power. A vacuum pressure condition in a vacuum pressure space () surrounding electrical contact points () is monitored and movement of the contact points between open and closed positions is automatically prevented when the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold in order to avoid destructive arcing between the points. A sensor () provides a vacuum signal () responsive to the vacuum pressure condition. A controller () automatically inhibits movements of the contact points when the vacuum signal indicates that the vacuum has degraded. A contactor () may be placed in series with power supply () and a solenoid () used to move the contact points, with the contactor being automatically opened by the controller in response to the degraded vacuum condition. An electromechanical opening inhibitor () may be energized by the controller to mechanically prevent the contact points from being moved in response to the degraded vacuum condition.