Patent ID: 6140894
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An electrical circuit breaker including a moveable contact piece, a second contact piece and a linear actuating device, said moveable contact piece being connected to be moved by said actuating device and provided with a contact face arranged to make contact with a contact face of the second contact piece by movement of the moveable contact piece in a first direction, the circuit breaker further including an electrical connector for conveying current to the moveable contact piece, said electrical connector including at least two adjacent limbs adapted to convey said current in opposing directions so that current conducted in said adjacent limbs generates an electromagnetic force repelling said adjacent limbs from one another which force is used to assist in maintaining the contact faces in abutment, wherein:(a) the outermost of said at least two adjacent limbs bear, respectively, upon a reaction end face of the actuating device and the moveable contact piece;(b) the device includes a connecting rod connected to said moveable contact piece and carrying a pair of spaced stops located to be moved by said actuating device, said stops being spaced relative to said actuating device such that said actuating device is displaceable for a distance in a second direction relative to the connecting rod and biased in the first direction so as to form a snatch gap between the actuating device and one of the stops of the connecting rod when the first and second contact pieces are closed; and(c) the electromagnetic force repelling said outermost limbs operating to assist separation forces when said actuating device is moved in said second direction causing the actuating device to accelerate toward said one of said stops to assist in closure of the snatch gap during a contact opening operation by said actuating device.