IP Library › Granted Patent US 12700552
Granted Patent B2
US 12700552 · App. 18/511,222 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Electric switch

Inventors: Jarmo Lehtimäki (Vaasa, FI); Antti Kultalahti (Vaasa, FI)
Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
H01H9/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12700552
App. No.
18/511,222
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric switch including a frame, a first stationary contact stationarily fixed to the frame, a contact support element adapted to move relative to the frame between a first position and second position, a movable contact stationarily fixed relative to the contact support element and having a longitudinal direction, a first arc shutter, and an actuation system for moving and guiding the first arc shutter during an opening event. The actuation system includes a first actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the frame, and a second actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the first arc shutter. The first arc shutter is adapted to move in an outward direction during the opening event, wherein the outward direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact.

Claims (45)

1 . An electric switch comprising:

a frame;

a first stationary contact stationarily fixed to the frame;

a contact support element adapted to move relative to the frame between a first position and second position;

a movable contact stationarily fixed relative to the contact support element, having a longitudinal direction, and having a first contact portion such that in the first position of the contact support element the first contact portion is electrically conductively connected to the first stationary contact, and in the second position of the contact support element the movable contact is disconnected from the first stationary contact;

a first arc shutter adapted to enhance extinguishing of electric arcs between the first stationary contact and the first contact portion of the movable contact during an opening event between the first stationary contact and the first contact portion of the movable contact, wherein the first arc shutter is made of electrically insulating material, and movable relative to both the frame and the contact support element; and

an actuation system for moving and guiding the first arc shutter during the opening event, the actuation system including at least one first actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the frame, and at least one second actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the first arc shutter, wherein the at least one first actuator member and the at least one second actuator member are adapted to co-operate with each other during the opening event for guiding the first arc shutter,

wherein the first arc shutter is adapted to move in an outward direction during the opening event, wherein the outward direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact, and is directed towards a free end of the first contact portion,

wherein the first arc shutter surrounds a section of the first contact portion such that on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact, a projection of the first contact portion is inside a projection of the first arc shutter, and

wherein the at least one first actuator member includes a guide groove, and the at least one second actuator member includes a pin.

2 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein the first arc shutter is adapted to move rectilinearly relative to the contact support element during the opening event.

3 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein in order to move the first arc shutter in the outward direction during the opening event, the movable contact and/or the contact support element is adapted to co-operate with the first arc shutter.

4 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein a first end of the guide groove is adapted to operate as a limiter during the opening event such that the first end of the guide groove is adapted to stop movement of the first arc shutter at the end of the opening event.

5 . The electric switch according to claim 4 , wherein during the opening event, the first arc shutter is adapted to stop movement of the contact support element when the contact support element reaches the second position thereof.

6 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein a second end of the guide groove is adapted to operate as a limiter during a closing event between the first stationary contact and the first contact portion of the movable contact such that the second end of the guide groove is adapted to stop movement of the first arc shutter at the end of the closing event.

7 . The electric switch according to claim 6 , wherein during the closing event, the first arc shutter is adapted to stop movement of the contact support element when the contact support element reaches the first position thereof.

8 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein during the opening event, the first arc shutter is adapted to move in the outward direction to an outer position in which an outermost portion of the first arc shutter is located at least as far in the longitudinal direction as the free end of the first contact portion.

9 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein the contact support element comprises a roll element adapted to rotate relative to the frame around a rotation axis between the first position and second position.

10 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein the contact support element comprises a slide element adapted to move rectilinearly relative to the frame between the first position and second position.

11 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein a rated current of the electric switch is less than or equal to 50 A.

12 . The electric switch according to claim 1 , wherein the electric switch comprises:

a second stationary contact stationarily fixed to the frame; and

a second arc shutter,

wherein the movable contact includes a second contact portion such that in the first position of the contact support element the second contact portion is electrically conductively connected to the second stationary contact, and in the second position of the contact support element the movable contact is disconnected from the second stationary contact,

wherein the second arc shutter is adapted to enhance extinguishing of electric arcs between the second stationary contact and the second contact portion of the movable contact during an opening event between the second stationary contact and the second contact portion of the movable contact, wherein the second arc shutter is made of electrically insulating material, and movable relative to both the frame and the contact support element,

wherein the actuation system is adapted for moving and guiding the second arc shutter during the opening event, wherein the at least one first actuator member and the at least one second actuator member are adapted to co-operate with each other during the opening event for guiding the second arc shutter, and

wherein the second arc shutter is adapted to move in an outward direction during the opening event, wherein the outward direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact and is directed towards a free end of the second contact portion.

13 . An electric switch comprising:

a frame;

a first stationary contact stationarily fixed to the frame;

a contact support element adapted to move relative to the frame between a first position and second position;

a movable contact stationarily fixed relative to the contact support element, having a longitudinal direction, and having a first contact portion such that in the first position of the contact support element the first contact portion is electrically conductively connected to the first stationary contact, and in the second position of the contact support element the movable contact is disconnected from the first stationary contact;

a first arc shutter adapted to enhance extinguishing of electric arcs between the first stationary contact and the first contact portion of the movable contact during an opening event between the first stationary contact and the first contact portion of the movable contact, wherein the first arc shutter is made of electrically insulating material, and movable relative to both the frame and the contact support element; and

an actuation system for moving and guiding the first arc shutter during the opening event, the actuation system including at least one first actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the frame, and at least one second actuator member stationarily fixed relative to the first arc shutter, wherein the at least one first actuator member and the at least one second actuator member are adapted to co-operate with each other during the opening event for moving and guiding the first arc shutter,

wherein the first arc shutter is adapted to move in an outward direction during the opening event, wherein the outward direction is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact, and is directed towards a free end of the first contact portion, and

wherein the first arc shutter surrounds a section of the first contact portion such that on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the movable contact, a projection of the first contact portion is inside a projection of the first arc shutter,

wherein the at least one first actuator member includes a guide groove, and the at least one second actuator member includes a pin, and

wherein the guide groove and the pin are adapted to co-operate with each other during the opening event for moving and guiding the first arc shutter.

14 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein the first arc shutter is adapted to move rectilinearly relative to the contact support element during the opening event.

15 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein in order to move the first arc shutter in the outward direction during the opening event, the movable contact and/or the contact support element is adapted to co-operate with the first arc shutter.

16 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein a first end of the guide groove is adapted to operate as a limiter during the opening event such that the first end of the guide groove is adapted to stop movement of the first arc shutter at the end of the opening event.

17 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein during the opening event, the first arc shutter is adapted to move in the outward direction to an outer position in which an outermost portion of the first arc shutter is located at least as far in the longitudinal direction as the free end of the first contact portion.

18 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein the contact support element comprises a roll element adapted to rotate relative to the frame around a rotation axis between the first position and second position.

19 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein the contact support element comprises a slide element adapted to move rectilinearly relative to the frame between the first position and second position.

20 . The electric switch according to claim 13 , wherein a rated current of the electric switch is less than or equal to 50 A.