Arc-Suppressing Apparatus for Circuit Breaker

1. Field of the Invention

The present device relates to an arc-suppressing apparatus for a circuit breaker operating for a comparatively large current, low-voltage air circuit breaker.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional type of arc-suppressing apparatus for a circuit breaker is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Namely, reference numerals 1A, 1B denote a pair of side plates 1A, 1B formed from an insulating material, each having a plurality of grooves 2. Grids 4 fit into and are held by the grooves 2. A through-hole 3 is formed in each of the side plates 1A, 1B, and a bolt 5 extends through the through-hole 3 for clamping the side plates together. The grids 4, called de-ionizing grids, are formed with a magnetic material. After the grids 4 are fitted into the grooves 2, the bolt 5 is inserted in the through-hole 3 to clamp the side plates 1A, 1B with the aid of a nut (not illustrated). To assemble the conventional arc-suppressing apparatus, a plurality of grids 4 are arranged at predetermined positions, and the side plates 1A, 1B are fitted thereto. However, the arrangement of the grids 4 at the predetermined positions involves a special tool and considerable trouble.

Particularly, there are many kinds of circuit breakers and arc-suppressing apparatuses which vary in shape and size. Therefore, the above assembling problem has been a serious drawback during production.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an arc-suppressing apparatus into which grids can be incorporated without requiring the use of any special tool.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a conventional arc-suppressing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5(a) is a side view of a side plate shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 5(b) is a front view of the side plate shown in FIG. 5(a);

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are further side views of the apparatus of the present invention.

In FIGS. 3 to 8, a pair of side plates 1A, 1B, made from a phenolic resin material, have a plurality of first grooves 2 for accommodating and supporting a plurality of de-ionizing grids 4 at predetermined positions. Additional grooves 6, 7 are formed in the side plates 1A, 1B for supporting an insulating barrier 9. Each of the side plates 1A, 1B have a through-hole 3 therein for accommodating a bolt 5A and a nut 5B, which secure the side plates together. Each of the first grooves 2 has a second groove 22 at an end thereof which is shallower than the first groove. Each of the second grooves 22 extends linearly from each of the first grooves 2 to an edge of the side plate 1A or 1B. A spacing strut 10 extends between the side plates 1A, 1B and fits into holes 8 in the side plates 1A, 1B.

To assemble the above-described arc-suppressing apparatus, the spacing strut 10 and the insulating barrier 9 are first fitted into the side plates 1A, 1B. In this state, the spacing strut 10 and the insulating barrier 9 are fitted into an intermediate depth of the holes 8 and the grooves 6, 7, respectively, so that a space B exists between the side plates 1A, 1B, as shown in FIG. 6. The space B is slightly larger than a width A of the grids. At this time, the bolt 5A and the nut 5B can be inserted temporarily. By leaving a space B between the side plates 1A, 1B, the grids 4 can be fitted in the first grooves 2 by sliding the grids through the second groove 22, as shown in FIG. 7. Upon fitting all the grids 4 in the first grooves 2, the bolt 5A and the nut 5B can be tightened, as illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, thereby firmly fitting the grids 4 correctly in the first grooves 2. In this state, the strut 10 and the insulating barrier 9 are fitted into the maximum depth of the holes 8 and the grooves 6, 7, respectively.

The above description refers to the case where the insulating barrier 9 is first fitted together with the spacing strut 10. However, the insulating barrier can be fitted in a manner similar to that used in fitting the grids 4 by providing a shallow fourth groove like the second groove 22 on one end of the third grooves 6, 7, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Since the grids 4 can be fitted one-by-one during production, as described, the arc-suppressing apparatus according to the present invention is ready for easy assembling without using a special tool therefor. The apparatus is, therefore, suitable for production, and the grid can be inserted or removed easily after delivery to customers.