Title (en)

Electrical contact assembly

Title (de)

Elektrische Kontaktanordnung

Title (fr)

Assemblage de contacts électriques

Publication

EP 0736887 A3 19980422 (DE)

Application

EP 96104820 A 19960326

Priority

US 41329595 A 19950330

Abstract (en)

[origin: US5686712A] An electrical contact assembly including a pair of first contact arms, each having a terminal end portion, a tip end portion and first contacts fixed to said tip end portions, and a second contact arm arranged opposite the first contact arms and having a tip end portion provided with a lengthened bridge contact. Either the pair of first contact arms or the second contact arm is moveable and the other one is stationary, respectively. Upon actuation of the moveable contact arm or arms, a current path is closed between the first contact arms via said bridge contact. Further, a pair of arc runner strips is provided at opposed lateral edges of either the pair of first contact arms or of the second contact arm. Each of the arc runner strips has a free end projecting toward a facing area of the second contact arm or the first contact arm, respectively. In operation, a pair of opposing magnetic fields is generated between the pair of first contact arms and also, upon contact breaking, between the occurring arcs, causing a repulsive force which moves the arcs towards the arc runner strips so that the arcs can then be extinguished.

IPC 1-7

H01H 9/46

IPC 8 full level

H01H 9/44 (2006.01); H01H 9/46 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

H01H 9/44 (2013.01 - EP US); H01H 9/46 (2013.01 - EP US)

Citation (search report)

• [XY] EP 0079977 A1 19830601 - SPRECHER & SCHUH AG [CH]
• [XY] EP 0079978 A1 19830601 - SPRECHER & SCHUH AG [CH]
• [XAY] EP 0124620 A1 19841114 - MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP [JP]
• [AD] EP 0341690 A2 19891115 - OMRON TATEISI ELECTRONICS CO [JP]

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT CH DE FR GB IT LI

DOCDB simple family (publication)

US 5686712 A 19971111; AT E218244 T1 20020615; DE 59609248 D1 20020704; EP 0736887 A2 19961009; EP 0736887 A3 19980422; EP 0736887 B1 20020529

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 73948996 A 19961028; AT 96104820 T 19960326; DE 59609248 T 19960326; EP 96104820 A 19960326