Patent ID: 9373468
Filing Date: 2016-06-21
CPC Classification: H01H

Claim Text:
1. A contactor assembly adapted for switching power to a circuit having a power source, the contactor assembly comprising: a housing defining an interior compartment and including internal walls that laterally extend within the interior compartment to define a protection chamber, end walls of the protection chamber having an arcuate configuration; current carrying contacts disposed in the protection chamber of the housing, the current carrying contacts including conductive bodies that protrude from the housing and are configured to close the circuit; an actuator assembly having a coupling member which cooperates with the current carrying contacts to open and close the circuit; arc dissipation areas provided in the protection chamber of the interior compartment, the arc dissipation chambers located proximate to the current carrying contacts; arcuate magnets provided proximate the arcuate end walls of the dissipation areas and proximate the current carrying contacts, the arcuate magnets do not reduce the contact force applied between the coupling member and the contact carrying contacts when the circuit is closed; the arcuate magnets create magnetic flux or a magnetic field that extends across the current carrying contacts, the magnetic flux from the arcuate magnets directs electric arcs radiating from one or more of the current carrying contacts into the arc dissipation areas, thereby increasing the effective distance that the electric arcs travel wherein the electric arcs are dissipated in the dissipation areas.