摘要 |
<p>A device for containing an electrical discharge arc and holding the arc substantially captive until it is extinguished. The device comprises two spaced apart conductor systems (13 and 14) that are connected to points (23 and 24) of different voltage potential in an electrical circuit, so that arc current will flow through and between the conductor systems (13 and 14) in the event of an arc discharge between the conductor systems. The conductor systems are arranged normally to locate about an insulated portion (22) of an electrical apparatus. Each conductor system comprises a conductor element (15 or 16) in the form of an open loop which provides a predominantly unidirectional current path through the associated conductor system (13 or 14) so that any arc which extends between the two conductor systems will be caused to move repeatedly and unidirectionally around the loop in the presence of a force which has a component extending in the direction of the loop and which exists as a consequence of interaction of the arc current with the magnetic field associated with current in the loop.</p> |