Claims:We Claim:

1. A conductor (180) of a circuit breaker (200), the circuit breaker (200) being a draw-out type air circuit breaker, the circuit breaker (200) having a moving switching module (190), a cradle compartment including conducting jaws positioned therein, the conductor (180) comprises of a horizontal portion (170) fixed in the moving switching module (190) and a vertical portion (160), the vertical portion (160) being formed by twisting the horizontal portion (170) to achieve conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in the circuit breaker (200) for connecting to the conducting jaws.

2. The conductor (180) of the circuit breaker (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor (180) is twisted along an axis of width

3. The conductor (180) of the circuit breaker (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conductor (180) is only single component providing joint free changeover from the horizontal to the vertical orientation.

, Description:Field of the invention:

The invention relates generally, but not limited to circuit breakers, and more particularly, to a conductor of a circuit breaker.

Background of the invention:

Circuit breakers are used in electrical transmission and distribution to carry, make and break current in low-voltage applications. Among various types of the circuit breakers, air circuit breakers are customarily used in low voltage power distribution systems. Air circuit breakers are broadly categorized into two categories namely, fixed type and withdrawable or draw-out type. The draw-out type air circuit breaker usually employs a fixed compartment or a cradle compartment through which supply is fed. A moving switching module, often referred to as breaker, is a separable component and needs to be inserted into the cradle compartment during normal operating conditions in order to complete the electrical path; and also it may be removed from the cradle compartment during maintenance or as and when the need arises.

Draw-out or withdrawable type air circuit breakers comprise of a housing-mounted fixed conductor, a moving conductor assembly that is a part of the moving switching module and the cradle compartment containing conducting jaws and an intermediate connecting adaptor. The intermediate connecting adaptor connects the housing-mounted conductor with the conducting jaws. The housing-mounted fixed conductor is usually a horizontally mounted conductor inside the housing that ensures adequate contact area between the moving conductor assembly and the fixed conductor. This horizontal arrangement is converted to vertical arrangement outside the housing by means of the intermediate vertical connecting adaptor.
In conventional arrangement, the horizontal conductor and the vertical adaptor are connected by means of a bolted joint involving multiple high-tensile bolts and washers. These high-tensile bolts go through holes provided in the vertical adaptor and the fixed conductor to nut plate to get locked therein due to thread engagement. Additional components like nut plate, bolt and washers are used for fixing, that incur additional cost to the product. Also, the additional components are usually made up of magnetic material. Hence, current flowing in nearby current path induces eddy currents in the additional components. The induced current contributes to an additional heating that in turn increases an overall temperature rise of the product. Hence, performance of the product deteriorates.

In prior art draw-out type air circuit breaker, two separate components, namely the fixed conductor and the intermediate connecting adaptor are used for changeover from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. The two separate components form two joints per pole, one each for incoming and outgoing. Presence of two joints per pole increases joint resistance and thereby leads to higher millivolt drop of the joint. The higher millivolt drop deteriorates thermal performance of the product. Power loss of the product is in direct proportion to the millivolt drop; hence the higher millivolt drop increases the power loss of the product which is undesirable.

Since, the two separate components are bolted together for changeover from horizontal to vertical orientation; unnecessary extra material equivalent to thickness of mating parts is utilized for creating the joint. The unnecessary extra material leads to unnecessary addition to cost of the material. Also, presence of the extra material leads to unnecessary extra weight of the conductor and thereby making the entire product bulky.

In conventional circuit breakers, the horizontal fixed conductor and the vertical connecting adaptor are manufactured generally through extrusion process. The extrusion process is highly expensive process involving specialized tools. Also, the extrusion process calls for outsourcing since manufacturing through the extrusion process locally becomes difficult as well as expensive.

Accordingly, there is need to provide an improved conductor of a circuit breaker that overcomes above mentioned drawbacks in the prior art.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to provide a single component for conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in a circuit breaker.

Another object of the present invention is to eliminate use of specialized fixing components like nut plate, high-tensile bolts and washers and extra unnecessary material.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a joint-free current path having its associated advantages as explained earlier in the article.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention provides a conductor of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker is a draw-out type air circuit breaker. The circuit breaker comprises of a moving switching module and a cradle compartment. The cradle compartment includes conducting jaws positioned therein. The conductor is comprises of a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion is fixed in the housing. The vertical portion is formed by twisting the horizontal portion to achieve conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in the circuit breaker for connecting to the conducting jaws. The conductor is twisted by along the axis of width. The conductor is single component used for conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in the circuit breaker. The present invention eliminates use of specialized fixing components like nut plate, high-tensile bolts and washers and extra unnecessary material, through a joint-free design.

Brief description of the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a conductor of a circuit breaker, in accordance with a prior art;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the conductor of the figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a conductor of a circuit breaker, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the conductor of the figure 3.

Detailed description of the embodiments:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a conductor of a circuit breaker. The conductor is single component used for conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in the circuit breaker. The present invention eliminates use of specialized fixing components like nut plate, high-tensile bolts and washers and extra unnecessary material.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, a conductor (80) of a circuit breaker (100), in accordance with a prior art is shown.

The conductor (80) is fixed horizontally inside housing (90) of the circuit breaker (100). The circuit breaker (100) comprises an intermediate connecting adaptor (70). The intermediate connecting adaptor (70) is used as an additional component to changeover an orientation of the circuit breaker (100) from horizontal to vertical. The intermediate connecting adaptor (70) is connected with the fixed conductor (80) by means of high tensile bolts (50) and washers (60). Also, a nut plate (40) is used as a specialized component to fix the intermediate connecting adaptor (70) with the conductor (80). Use of the high tensile bolts (50), the washers (60) and the nut plate (40) incurs an additional cost to a whole product.

A joint (30) is created at a junction of the conductor (80) and the intermediate connecting adaptor (70). The joint (30) leads to increase in joint resistance and thereby leads to higher millivolt drop of the joint (30). The higher millivolt drop deteriorates electrical and thermal performance of the product. The conductor (80) and the intermediate connecting adaptor (70) are two separate components used for horizontal to vertical transition. Use of the two separate components requires an extra unnecessary material (20) at the joint (30). The extra unnecessary material (20) leads to unnecessary cost of the material.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, a conductor (180) of a circuit breaker (200), in accordance with the present invention is shown. In an embodiment, the circuit breaker (200) is a draw-out type air circuit breaker. The circuit breaker (200) includes a moving switching module (190) and a cradle compartment (not shown). The cradle compartment includes conducting jaws (not shown) positioned therein.

The conductor (180) comprises of a horizontal portion (170) and a vertical portion (160). The horizontal portion (170) is fixed in the moving switching module (190). The vertical portion (160) is formed by twisting the horizontal portion (170) to achieve conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation in the circuit breaker (200) for connecting to the conducting jaws.

In an embodiment, the horizontal portion (170) is twisted along an axis of width to form the vertical portion (160). Hence, the conductor (180) does not create any joint. Also, additional fixing components including high tensile bolts, washers and nut plate are not required. Elimination of the additional fixing components leads to lesser cost of the product and lesser inventory to be maintained. Moreover, no additional heating and temperature rise of the product is witnessed due to absence of induced eddy currents, thereby improving the overall performance of the product.

The conductor (180) is only a single component used for horizontal to vertical transition hence no extra material is utilized. Hence, use of the single component leads to elimination of two joints per pole, thereby no additional millivolt drop and no additional power loss due to joint-free design. Also, use of the single component eliminates extra unnecessary material and reduces product cost considerably. Also, the elimination of extra unnecessary material reduces weight of the conductor (180) and therefore the overall weight of the product reduces significantly.

In an embodiment, the twisting process does not require complex tools and can be achieved with a simplified arrangement. The twisting process is much simpler and less expensive that means more cost efficient as compared to conventional extrusion process. Moreover, manufacturing through the twisting process can be developed locally very easily as compared to the extrusion process.

Advantages of the invention:
1. The conductor (180) is single, joint-free component used for conversion from horizontal to vertical orientation.
2. The conductor (180) is manufactured by twisting process that is easy, localized, simplified and cost-effective process as compared to conventional and expensive extrusion process.
3. The use of the conductor (180) removes joints that leads to no additional millivolt drop and hence no power loss.
4. The conductor (180) eliminates eddy currents and excess temperature rise because of absence of hardware (magnetic material).
5. Reduction in weight of the product is feasible due to elimination of extra components and extra mass at joint.
6. Reduces supply chain and associated advantages due to reduction in components.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.