Arc extinguishing assembly

摘要

An arc suppressing assembly for use in a circuit breaker having at least one pair of separable contacts which includes an arc stack assembly in back-to-back relationship with a baffle assembly with the arc stack assembly in between the baffle assembly and the separablecontacts. The arc stack assembly includes a pair of insulating support legs having a plurality of parallel slots which receive tabs of respective and generally rectangular-shaped arc plates with a recessed front portion of each arc plate facing toward the contacts. The uppermost arc plate is provided with an extending runner portion which attracts an arc formed upon the opening of the contacts under certain current conditions. The baffle assembly similarly includes a pair of insulating side supports with a plurality of parallel slots provided therein to receive tab portions provided on the sides of generally rectangular insulating baffles. The association of the insulating baffles with the metallic arc plates imparts a generally wave-like motion to the venting gases. Each of the plates are at an angle of substantially 22 DEG to the horizontal with the gases first being directed upward by the arc plates and then downward by the baffles. A second set of baffles is provided behind a first column of baffles which are positioned in generally parallel relationship with the arc plates and further assist in the extinguishing and venting of the gases as they are blown away from the contacts.