US 12,288,655 B2
Arc chute energy bypass in circuit breakers
James G. Maloney, Industry, PA (US); Rachel A. Dunn, Canonsburg, PA (US); and Mike Cantor, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed by EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/062,634.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/294,116, filed on Dec. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0207239 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 33/14 (2006.01); H01H 33/20 (2006.01); H01H 37/52 (2006.01); H01H 89/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/14 (2013.01) [H01H 33/20 (2013.01); H01H 37/52 (2013.01); H01H 89/04 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An arc bypass assembly for use in a circuit breaker connected to a power source via a line-in conductor and a load via a load conductor, comprising:
an arc chute including a base, two arc sides extending from the base, and a plurality of arc plates arranged within the two arc sides, the arc chute structured to dissipate an arc upon opening of primary contacts of the circuit breaker during a high current event;
an arc horn extending outwardly from a first edge of the base of the arc chute toward a primary stationary contact coupled to the line-in conductor, the arc horn structured to attract the arc into the arc bypass assembly; and
an arc bypass wire coupled to the base of the arc chute at one end and to a secondary stationary arm of the circuit breaker at the other end, the secondary stationary arm structured to be coupled to the load conductor,
wherein the arc bypass assembly is structured to redirect a portion of current generated during the high current event to the load.