Patent ID: 7812276
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. An arc member for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within said housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said separable contacts including a stationary contact and a movable contact being movable into and out of electrical contact with said stationary contact, said stationary contact having an edge, said edge being disposed in a plane, said arc member comprising: an arc element structured to be disposed between said stationary contact and said arc chute, said arc element including a first portion and a second portion extending outwardly from said first portion; a first arc attractor disposed on said first portion of said arc element, said first arc attractor being structured to extend outwardly from said first portion of said arc element toward the plane of said edge of said stationary contact, in order to draw said arc from said separable contacts to said arc element; and a number of second arc attractors disposed on said second portion of said arc element, said number of second arc attractors being structured to direct said arc into said arc chute, wherein said first arc attractor is a projection projecting outwardly from said first portion of said arc element; wherein said projection includes a face disposed distal from said first portion of said arc element; wherein said face is disposed in a plane; and wherein the plane of said face of said projection is structured to be parallel with respect to the plane of said edge of said stationary contact, and wherein said second portion of said arc element comprises a first side member and a second side member; and wherein said first side member is disposed opposite and spaced apart from said second side member, in order that said arc element is generally U-shaped, and wherein each of said first side member and said second side member has a first end and a second end; and wherein said number of second arc attractors comprises a number of first slots in said first side member between the first end of said first side member and the second end of said first side member, and a number of second slots in said second side member between the first end of said second side member and the second end of said second side member, and wherein said number of first slots is a first plurality of parallel slots; wherein said first plurality of parallel slots extends from the first end of said first side member toward the second end of said first side member; wherein said number of second slots is a second plurality of parallel slots; and wherein said second plurality of parallel slots extends from the first end of said second side member toward the second end of said second side member.