US 12,040,145 B2
Contact levitation triggering mechanisms for use with switching devices incorporating pyrotechnic features
Bernard Bush, Santa Barbara, CA (US); Murray Stephan McTigue, Carpinteria, CA (US); Daniel Sullivan, Santa Barbara, CA (US); and David Hatch, Monson, MA (US)
Assigned to Gigavac, LLC, Carpinteria, CA (US)
Filed by Gigavac, LLC, Carpinteria, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/942,797.
Application 17/942,797 is a continuation of application No. 17/032,774, filed on Sep. 25, 2020, granted, now 11,443,910.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/907,453, filed on Sep. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0005685 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01H 39/00 (2006.01); F15B 15/19 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 39/006 (2013.01) [F15B 15/19 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical switching device, comprising:
a housing;
at least one fixed contact disposed in the housing, the at least one fixed contact comprising a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion; and
a movable contact disposed in the housing, the movable contact being movable to configure the electrical switching device in a first state that allows current flow through the electrical switching device and a second state that interrupts current flow through the electrical switching device, wherein, in the first state, the first portion of the at least one fixed contact contacts the movable contact and the second portion extends substantially parallel to the movable contact, at a distance spaced from the movable contact; and
a triggering device configured to transition the electrical switching device from the first state to the second state in response to levitation between the at least one fixed contact and the movable contact, the levitation occurring at an elevated current signal flowing through the electrical switching device.