Patent ID: 7674996
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A gassing insulator for an arc chute assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing and separable contacts enclosed by said housing, said arc chute assembly including first and second opposing sidewalls and a plurality of arc plates, said arc plates having a plurality of first legs coupled to one of said first and second opposing sidewalls of said arc chute assembly, a plurality of second legs coupled to the other of said first and second opposing sidewalls of said arc chute assembly, first ends disposed proximate said separable contacts of said electrical switching apparatus in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts being opened, and second ends disposed distal from the first ends, said gassing insulator comprising: a number of insulating members, each insulating member of said number of insulating members comprising: wherein said second side of said each insulating member is structured to overlay at least one of said first and second legs of said arc plates of said arc chute assembly, in order that said at least one of said first and second legs is disposed behind said second side, between said second side and said one of said first and second opposing sidewalls of said arc chute assembly, to electrically insulate said at least one of said first and second legs.