CLIAMS:1. An electrical device comprising:
a molded housing having a fixed conductor;
a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor;
an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plates;
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes:
an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor; wherein
said arc commute electrode runner is configured so as to provide magnetic forces and resistance on arc produced inside said electrical device during an arc quenching.

2. An electrical device comprising:
a molded housing having a fixed conductor;
a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor;
an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plates;
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT it includes:
an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor;
wherein said arc commute electrode comprises a slot, rectangular cut, a sloped bend and a stepped bend.

3. The electrical device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slot is preferably a “U” shaped slot.

4. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said arc commute electrode runner is present at a rear end of a moving conductor assembly such that it acts as an electrical conductor having said sloped bend facing said moving conductor.

5. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said arc commute electrode runner uses magnetic force from flow of electricity to force said arc from said moving conductor and reduces an arc bulging around the moving conductor.

6. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein, when an electric current is flowing through said arc commute electrode runner, it generates a magnetic force on said arc and pushes said arc towards said deionizing arc splitter plates for splitting.

7. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said arc commute electrode runner is manufactured preferably from steel material having a magnetic property, which is configured to be mounted directly to said arc extinguishing chamber.

8. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said arc commute electrode runner comprises said rectangular cut in a middle portion after said sloped bend.

9. The electrical device as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein said moving conductor is configured to move in between arc commute electrode runner without touching.

10. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said stepped bend is provided at both side of said moving conductor to provide a force on said moving conductor during a fault, so as to open and hold said moving conductor in open condition.

11. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein when said arcs are formed, a current flowing through said moving conductor reduces and the current is commuted to said arc commute electrode runner.

12. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein,
during a current commutation from said moving conductor to said arc commute electrode runner, the force for opening the moving contact reduces and makes said moving conductor to reclose, wherein
said stepped bend placed on both sides of the moving conductor is configured to hold the moving contact in its open position by force.

13. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said moving conductor moves in between said arc commute electrode runner to create an additional electric and magnetic field around said moving conductor, whereby said magnetic field, causes a current flowing through said moving conductor to be pushed or pulled by the magnetic force.

14. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said stepped bend placed on both sides of the moving conductor so as to move said moving conductor exactly in between said stepped bend.

15. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said arc commute electrode runner is a strap with a cut in middle after a slopped bend and said moving conductor moves exactly in between said cut.

16. The electrical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein, during arcing said current will divide in said strap and creates a balanced field across said moving conductor.

17. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said deionizing plates are rectangular in shape with a U-slot in the middle.

18. The electrical device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, said arc commute electrode runner is a bimetal strip:
which is normal operation is present in a current circuit, serves for thermal tripping and is preferably of equal impedance to an additional blow-out loop; and
switched out of said current circuit on jumping of the arc over from said movable conductor to said arc commute electrode runner.

19. The electrical device as claimed in claim 18, wherein, said additional blow-out loop is formed in rectangular shape by angled portions of a rearward prolongation of said arc commute electrode runner, wherein a hypotenuse forms a side parallel to said arc commute electrode runner, while both the component are arranged in the edge region of a free space behind said arc commute electrode runner. ,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to an electrical switches and/or switchboards and more particularly to arc quenching system for protection of the electrical device the enclosure and components therein from arc blast damage with a strong, fast arc blast vent.

BACKGROUND

[002] Circuit Breaker is an electro-mechanical switching device capable of making, carrying and breaking currents. Under normal circuit conditions it will make the circuit closed, carry current for a specified time and breaks the circuit under specified abnormal circuit conditions.

[003] Circuit Breaker is employed for current interruption. More particularly MCCBs are utilized to protect instruments from damage during adverse conditions prevailing during the operation of the circuit in which molded case circuit breaker is employed. During adverse conditions like short circuit, the current rises to an alarmingly high level. This high current may cause damage to the parts in the electrical system. Hence during these conditions the circuit has to be opened to protect the parts after the breaker.

[004] A standard circuit breaker has a line and a load. Generally, the line is the incoming electricity, most often from a power distributor company. This can sometimes be referred to as the input into the circuit breaker. The load, sometimes referred to as the output, feeds out of the circuit breaker and connects to the electrical components being fed from the circuit breaker. There may be an individual component connected directly to a circuit breaker, for example only an air conditioner, or a circuit breaker may be connected to multiple components through a power wire which terminates at electrical outlets.

[005] A circuit breaker can be used as a replacement for a fuse. Unlike fuses, which operates once and then has to be replaced, a circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation. Fuses performs the same duty as circuit breakers, however, CBs are safer to use than fuses and easier to fix. When the power to an area shuts down, the operator can look in the electrical panel and see which breaker has tripped to the “off” position. The breaker can then be made to “on” position and power will resume again.

[006] In general, a Circuit Breaker has two electrical conductors located inside a molded case housing. The first electrical conductor is stationary, and may be connected to either the line or the load. The second electrical conductor is movable with respect to the first electrical conductor, such that when the circuit breaker is in the “OFF”, or Tripped position, a gap exists between the first and second electrical conductor, but the most dangerous thing happens during circuit interruption is ‘arc’ which can damage the breaker and contact system.

[007] There have been many devices which can quench an arc. For example a device with a sealed arc chamber. Inside of the sealed arc chamber is a gas designed to quench the arc that is formed when the circuit breaker trips. Another example is arc chute which consists of stack of deionizing plates made up of magnetic material to attract, split-up and cool the arcs. The deionizing splitter plates are stacked in between two electrically insulating material plates known as lining or stacked inside a chamber. The function of deionizing plates is to split the arc in several series arcs of approximately equal length which will result in higher arc voltage and distinctly greater dielectric strength after current zero.

[008] The prior-art document EP 0009156 B1, discloses an arc guide rail with a looped structure inside the arc chamber of a circuit breaker enhances the magnetic field and an additional conducting resistance, also provides an additional blow out force on arc during short circuit condition. But this will happen only when arc jumps from moving contact to the arc guide rail.
[009] The prior-art document US 20120261382 A1 discloses an arc runner which has an arc strap shaped as a rectangular spiral, perpendicularly extending from the arc strap on both sides. This will generate a magnetic force on the arc which in turn forces the arc toward the arc splitter.

[0010] Apart from what is mentioned above, the existing techniques of arc quenching and the prior-art documents have at least one of the below mentioned drawbacks:
· Low electrical life after lower order short circuit
· High erosion level of contact button and conductor
· High let through energy during arcing which may damage the other system equipments
· More material required for arc quenching
· Low short circuit breaking capacity

[0011] In view of the at least one reason/drawback stated above, there is need to provide an efficient and economical solution to provide a way to quench the arc inside the arc chamber and reduces the arc concentration around the current carrying conductors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that provides a way to quench the arc inside the arc chamber and reduces the arc concentration around the current carrying conductors.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to increase circuit breaker electrical life even after short circuit.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to increase circuit breaker electrical life even after short circuit.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to low let through energy hence lower erosion of contact buttons and conductor.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a high breaking capacity.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to reduce a material usage due to less contact erosion.

[0019] Yet another object of the present invention to provide to increase a blow out force on the arc, a rectangular cut and a sloped bend is provided in the arc runner instead of looped structure. The moving conductor moves in between the rectangular cut of the runner. During arcing, when moving contact crosses the slopped bend inside the rectangular slot, the arc column gets split by the runner and then arc roots are formed on both side runner surfaces. Further moving conductor arc extinguishes and arc attaches runs only in the Commutation runner.

[0020] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide less arc concentration, increased upward forces on moving electrical conductor as well as magnetic blow forces on the arc to drive it in to the arc chute.

[0021] Still another object of the present invention is provides an improvement in existing arch quenching systems, which is primarily delivered by the use of sloped bend, U-slot, square cut and stepped arm bend in the commutated arc electrode runner.

[0022] Accordingly, in one implementation, an electrical device comprising a molded housing having a fixed conductor; a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor; an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plate is disclosed. The electrical device includes an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor, wherein said arc commute electrode runner is configured so as to provide magnetic forces and resistance on arc produced inside said electrical device during an arc quenching.

[0023] In one implementation, an electrical device comprising a molded housing having a fixed conductor; a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor; an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plates is disclosed. The device includes an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor, wherein said arc commute electrode comprises a slot, rectangular cut, a sloped bend and a stepped bend.

[0024] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates an open view of a full circuit breaker assembly with arc commutation runner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0026] Figure 2 (a) illustrates a side view of an arc chamber, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0027] Figure 2 (b) illustrates an arc commutation runner, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0028] Figure 3 (a) illustrates a side view of the circuit breaker in initial arcing condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0029] Figure 3 (b) illustrates a side view of the circuit breaker in next arcing condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0030] Figure 3 (c) illustrates a side view of the circuit breaker in arc splitting condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0031] Figure 4 illustrates a top down side view of arc runner and moving conductor inside the breaker from FIG. 3 (b), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0032] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0033] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

[0034] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0035] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0036] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0037] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0038] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

[0039] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0040] The various components present invention which will be used through the specification are as given below:
1. A - Housing
2. B - Breaker assembly
B1 - Fixed conductor
B2 - Moving conductor
B3 - Conducting braid
B4 - Outgoing Conductor
3. C - Arc commutation runner
C1 - U-slot
C2 - Rectangular cut
C3 - sloped bend
C4 - stepped bend
4. D - Arc chute assembly
D1 - Arc chamber
D2 - Deionizing splitter plate
5. E - Electric arc
E1 - Initial Arc
E2 - moving conductor Arc
E3 - runner arc

[0041] In one implementation, the present invention is addressed to a circuit breaker for rapidly cooling and extinguishing an arc. The circuit breaker with an arc runner flanked to the rear end of moving conductor assembly such that it acts as an electrical conductor having a sloped bend facing the moving conductor. During arcing as the conductor opens the arc quickly jumps onto the arc runner leaving the electrical moving conductor. Then the runner smoothly commutes the arc into the deionizing splitter plate using the magnetic force from flow of electricity. Moving conductor moves radially in between the arc runner which has a stepped bend at both sides. This special arrangement will reduces the arc concentration around the moving conductor, also reduces upward forces on the acting on the conductor during arcing which makes it open faster and thus helps in faster quenching.

[0042] In one implementation, the present invention provides a way to quench the arc inside the arc chamber and reduces the arc concentration around the current carrying conductors.

[0043] In one implementation, the improvement is primarily delivered by the use of sloped bend, U-slot, square cut and stepped arm bend in the commutated arc electrode runner.

[0044] In one implementation, the present invention is addressed to a circuit breaker for rapidly cooling and extinguishing an arc. The circuit breaker smoothly guides the arc through specially designed arc commutation runner that uses the magnetic force from flow of electricity to quickly force the arc from the moving electrical conductor to the arc splitter and also reduces the arc bulging around the moving conductor. The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the related affixed drawings, wherein like elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0045] The embodiments are described with reference to a circuit breaker, but the present invention may be implemented on any electrical device that has electrical contact system that can be opened and closed.

[0046] An uncontrolled electrical arc can reduce the lifespan of the electrical conductors, which in turn shorten the lifespan of circuit breaker. This would cause frequent replacement of circuit breaker, which can be both costly and difficult depending on the location of the circuit breaker.

[0047] The electric arc E must be quenched as quickly as possible to protect the conducting path and the circuit breaker. This is done by speeding up the process of electric arc E entering into the deionizing splitter plates D2. Arc Chute D may be a stack of spaced apart deionizing plates which cools and quenches the arc. Quicker cooling and quenching of arc, mainly depends upon the total magnetic forces acting on the arc in forward direction and number of deionizing plates used which will lengthen the arc and increase the arc resistance. So it is beneficial to provide additional magnetic forces for pushing or pulling arc into arc Chute D. Here in this case to provide additional magnetic forces, an arc commutation runner C is used which commutes the electric arc E into arc splitter plates D2 and increases the arc length helps in quick arc quenching. Arc Commutation runner C may be electrically connected to conducting braid B3 making a parallel path to the moving conductor.

[0048] Figure 1 shows the side view of a circuit breaker assembly B, in an opened condition. Circuit breaker is designed to quickly cool and quench an arc. Circuit breaker, having a fixed conductor B1 which can be mounted directly to a housing A or may be mounted inside the housing, generally connected to the line, or the incoming supply, however, this electrical conductor can also be connected to the load. Circuit breaker has a moving conductor B2 movable with respect to the fixed conductor B1 generally is connected to the load, or the equipment drawing power, however, this electrical conductor may be connected to the line or the load. Circuit breaker have an arc chamber D1 with a stack of deionizing splitter plates D2 each having a U-shaped cut at center and an arc commutation runner C flanked to the rear end of moving conductor assembly such that it acts as a electrical conductor having a sloped bend C3 facing the moving conductor B2. During arcing, the arc commutation runner C which is inside the arc chamber D1 acts as a conducting deionizing splitter plate. When the arc current flowing through the arc commutation runner C, it generates a magnetic force on the arc E and pushes the arc quickly towards the deionizing arc splitter plates D2 for splitting.

[0049] As seen in figure 2(a) side view of arc chamber D1 comprising of a stack of deionizing splitter plates D2 and an arc commutation runner C (figure 2(b)) made of steel material with a good magnetic property, which can be directly mounted to the arc chamber D1 .The arc commutation runner C has a rectangular cut C2 in the middle after sloped bend C3. The moving conductor B2 moves in between the arc commutation runner C without touching it. This special arrangement will assist the moving contact opening, apply magnetic force on the arc, and pushes the arc into the deionizing splitter plate D1. The arc runner has a stepped bend at both side of the moving conductor. This bend helps in giving an additional pull force on the moving conductor during high short circuit current. This opens and holds the moving conductor in open condition.

[0050] Figure. 3 (a) and (b) and (c) shows side view of the partial circuit breaker in short circuited condition at different positions of the arc. Fig 3(a) shows the direction of flow of current during 1st phase of arcing which is between the moving conductor and fixed conductor. Here moving conductor B2 has separated from fixed conductor B1, but electricity still remains connected in the form of an arc E and the high current still flow from fixed conductor B1 to moving conductor B2. Fig 3(b) and 3(c) shows next phases of arc movement in which the arc column E is split in to two arcs namely moving conductor arc E2 and runner arc E3 by the arc runner U-Slot profile C1. At once the arcs are formed, the current flowing through the moving conductor reduces and the current commutates to the electrode runner. After all the current is commutated to the arc electrode runner, no current will flowing through the moving conductor and hence the moving conductor arc E2 extinguishes. Thus the moving conductor is free from the arc erosion and hence the life of the circuit breaker improves. As shown in figure 3(C), the Runner arc E3 continues to move towards the arc chute, gets split and extinguishes.

[0051] It is possible during the current commutation from moving conductor to the electrode runner, the force for opening the moving contact may reduce and makes the moving conductor to reclose. This reclose may result in sustained arc and damage or reduce the life span of the breaker. Hence it is required to hold the moving contact in its open position by force. This is done by providing a stepped bend C4 in the electrode runner placed both sides of the moving conductor. Figure 4 shows how the moving conductor B2 moves in between the arc commutation runner C which creates an additional electric and magnetic field around the moving conductor. This is referred to as the slot effect, whereby a magnetic field, either pushing or pulling, causes the current flowing through the conductor to be pushed or pulled by the magnetic force.

[0052] Accordingly, in one implementation, an electrical device comprising a molded housing having a fixed conductor; a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor; an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plate is disclosed. The electrical device includes an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor, wherein said arc commute electrode runner is configured so as to provide magnetic forces and resistance on arc produced inside said electrical device during an arc quenching.

[0053] In one implementation, an electrical device comprising a molded housing having a fixed conductor; a moving conductor movable with respect to said fixed conductor; an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing splitter plates is disclosed. The device includes an arc commute electrode runner inside said arc extinguishing chamber configured to act as top most deionizing plate and electrically connected to said moving conductor, wherein said arc commute electrode comprises a slot, rectangular cut, a sloped bend and a stepped bend.

[0054] In one implementation, said slot is preferably a “U” shaped slot.

[0055] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner is present at a rear end of a moving conductor assembly such that it acts as an electrical conductor having said sloped bend facing said moving conductor.

[0056] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner uses magnetic force from flow of electricity to force said arc from said moving conductor and reduces an arc bulging around the moving conductor.

[0057] In one implementation, when an electric current is flowing through said arc commute electrode runner, it generates a magnetic force on said arc and pushes said arc towards said deionizing arc splitter plates for splitting.

[0058] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner is manufactured preferably from steel material having a magnetic property, which is configured to be mounted directly to arc extinguishing chamber.

[0059] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner comprises said rectangular cut in a middle portion after said sloped bend.

[0060] In one implementation, said moving conductor is configured to move in between arc commute electrode runner without touching.

[0061] In one implementation, said stepped bend is provided at both side of said moving conductor to provide a force on said moving conductor during a fault, so as to open and hold said moving conductor in open condition.

[0062] In one implementation, when said arcs are formed, a current flowing through said moving conductor reduces and the current is commuted to said arc commute electrode runner.

[0063] In one implementation, during a current commutation from said moving conductor to said arc commute electrode runner, the force for opening the moving contact reduces and makes said moving conductor to reclose, wherein said stepped bend placed on both sides of the moving conductor is configured to hold the moving contact in its open position by force.

[0064] In one implementation, said moving conductor moves in between said arc commute electrode runner to create an additional electric and magnetic field around said moving conductor, whereby said magnetic field, causes a current flowing through said moving conductor to be pushed or pulled by the magnetic force.

[0065] In one implementation, said stepped bend placed on both sides of the moving conductor so as to move said moving conductor exactly in between said stepped bend.

[0066] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner is a strap with a cut in middle after a slopped bend and said moving conductor moves exactly in between said cut.

[0067] In one implementation, during arcing said current will divide in said strap and creates a balanced field across said moving conductor.

[0068] In one implementation, said deionizing plates are rectangular in shape with a U-slot in the middle.

[0069] In one implementation, said arc commute electrode runner is a bimetal strip: which is normal operation is present in a current circuit, serves for thermal tripping and is preferably of equal impedance to an additional blow-out loop; and switched out of said current circuit on jumping of the arc over from said movable conductor to said arc commute electrode runner.

[0070] In one implementation, said additional blow-out loop is formed in rectangular shape by angled portions of a rearward prolongation of said arc commute electrode runner, wherein a hypotenuse forms a side parallel to said arc commute electrode runner, while both the component are arranged in the edge region of a free space behind said arc commute electrode runner.

[0071] Apart from the above mentioned, few other features and benefits of the present invention are as provided below:
· The features of the invention are rapidly cooling and quenching of arc.
· It rapidly moves the arc roots from moving conductor
· It guides the arc and restricts arc root formation near the electrical conductor
· It helps in boosting the arc voltage during arcing

[0072] It may be understood by the person skilled in that art that, the coupling, joining, fitting of the two components mentioned the present invention may be achieved by any of the existing coupling techniques that may include but not limited to nut and bolt arrangement, gluing, pasting, welding, and the like.

[0073] Although an improved arc quenching in electrical device have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the improved arc quenching in electrical device.