Arc splitter plate

• Main Authors: Rahul Sonar, Ramesh S, Balazs Novak
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.09.2018
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; RELAYS; SELECTORS

An arc splitter plate 1 for a switch having a fixed contact 2 and dual moving contacts 3 comprises a body 4 having a length being a distance between a first set of two parallel planes defined at respective proximal and distal ends with respect to the movable contacts, and a width being a distance between a second set of two parallel planes defined at the sides of the body. The first and second sets of planes are perpendicular to each other. The body defines a U-shaped recess 5 in the end proximal to the moving contacts, the recess having side walls 6, a projection 7 at the vertex of and extending into the recess, and a notch 8 either side of the projection. Each notch may be defined by a smoothly curved surface. The movable contacts of the switch may be displaceable through the U-shaped recess without contacting the side walls. An arc chute 100 may comprise an assembly of at least one stack of the arc splitter plate. The shape of the arc splitter plate helps to increase the pull force on an arc and steer the arc towards the centre of the plate to extinguish it effectively.