Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Electric switch details – Contact
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-06-19
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Electric switch details
Contact
C200S241000, C200S243000, C200S275000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06248965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to bus bar assemblies and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for rolling contactor tips upon closure of a bus bar assembly.
Solid-state control systems typically use microprocessors to control the switching of directional contactors which include contactor tips. Accurately controlling the switching of the directional contactor tips with a microprocessor enhances the performance of the solid-state control systems. Microprocessors effectively switch the directional contactors such that even during opening or closing of the bus bar assembly, little or no current is broken or switched by the directional contactor tips. As a result, little or no arcing of the contactor tips occurs.
Typically, during normal workplace practices, contamination may accumulate on the contactor tips. Additionally, contactor tips are often constructed from metals which facilitate the formation of oxides or sulfides on external surfaces of the metals. Despite the negative effects of arcing, arcing burns away any contamination which may have accumulated on the contactor tips, and as such, improves the performance of the control system. Without arcing or some other cleaning action, the contamination, oxides, or sulfides can quickly accumulate and prevent current from passing into the contactor tips during closure. However, with arcing, the contactor tips can erode and lose effectiveness quickly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment, a bus bar assembly includes an elongate body which includes three unitary portions. A first and third portion are substantially co-planar and a second portion is unitarily offset from the first and third portions. The first portion and the third portion each include a top surface and a bottom surface connected by a side wall. A contactor tip is mounted to the top surface of both the first portion and the third portion.
In operation, the bus bar assembly is frictionally slid within a relay directional contactor. As the bus bar is moved, the contactor tips are simultaneously moved and are contacted by a second set of contactor tips which extend from the relay directional contactor. Initially the second set of contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor contacts the contactor tips at an outer edge of each tip. Fully inserting the offset second portion of the bus bar assembly within the relay directional contactor causes the contactor tips to roll. The rolling movement causes the second set of contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor to traverse across the contactor tips and expel any contaminants that may have accumulated on the contactor tips. As a result, the bus bar assembly eliminates more costly and more time-consuming cleaning methods and provides an assembly that is cost-effective and reliable.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 33457 (1990-11-01), Ootsuka et al.
patent: 2532305 (1950-12-01), Heller
patent: 3676628 (1972-07-01), Kane
patent: 3914564 (1975-10-01), Reed et al.
patent: 4195212 (1980-03-01), Graham et al.
patent: 4277662 (1981-07-01), Lewandowski
patent: 5283406 (1994-02-01), Olsen
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
General Electric Company
Horton Esq. Carl B.
Scott J. R.
Wasserbauer Esq. Damian
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