Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6248965
-
Patent Number
6,248,965
-
Date Filed
Monday, August 16, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 19, 200122 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Horton, Esq.; Carl B.
- Wasserbauer, Esq.; Damian
- Armstrong Teasdale LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 200 16 A
- 200 275
- 200 281
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A bus bar assembly includes an elongate body including three unitary portions. A first portion and a third portion are substantially co-planar and a second portion is unitarily offset from the first and third portions. A contactor tip is mounted to a top surface of both the first portion and the third portion. During closure of the bus bar assembly, the offset second portion causes the contactor tips to roll which helps expel contaminants that may have accumulated on the contactor tips.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to bus bar assemblies and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for rolling contactor tips upon closure of a bus bar assembly.
Solid-state control systems typically use microprocessors to control the switching of directional contactors which include contactor tips. Accurately controlling the switching of the directional contactor tips with a microprocessor enhances the performance of the solid-state control systems. Microprocessors effectively switch the directional contactors such that even during opening or closing of the bus bar assembly, little or no current is broken or switched by the directional contactor tips. As a result, little or no arcing of the contactor tips occurs.
Typically, during normal workplace practices, contamination may accumulate on the contactor tips. Additionally, contactor tips are often constructed from metals which facilitate the formation of oxides or sulfides on external surfaces of the metals. Despite the negative effects of arcing, arcing burns away any contamination which may have accumulated on the contactor tips, and as such, improves the performance of the control system. Without arcing or some other cleaning action, the contamination, oxides, or sulfides can quickly accumulate and prevent current from passing into the contactor tips during closure. However, with arcing, the contactor tips can erode and lose effectiveness quickly.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary embodiment, a bus bar assembly includes an elongate body which includes three unitary portions. A first and third portion are substantially co-planar and a second portion is unitarily offset from the first and third portions. The first portion and the third portion each include a top surface and a bottom surface connected by a side wall. A contactor tip is mounted to the top surface of both the first portion and the third portion.
In operation, the bus bar assembly is frictionally slid within a relay directional contactor. As the bus bar is moved, the contactor tips are simultaneously moved and are contacted by a second set of contactor tips which extend from the relay directional contactor. Initially the second set of contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor contacts the contactor tips at an outer edge of each tip. Fully inserting the offset second portion of the bus bar assembly within the relay directional contactor causes the contactor tips to roll. The rolling movement causes the second set of contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor to traverse across the contactor tips and expel any contaminants that may have accumulated on the contactor tips. As a result, the bus bar assembly eliminates more costly and more time-consuming cleaning methods and provides an assembly that is cost-effective and reliable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is perspective view of a bus bar assembly; and
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of the bus bar assembly shown in FIG.
1
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a bus bar assembly
10
including an elongate body
14
which is substantially flat and unitarily constructed. Elongate body
14
includes a first portion
16
, a second portion
18
, and a third portion
20
which is substantially co-planar with first portion
16
. First portion
16
includes a contactor tip
24
, a top surface
26
, and a bottom surface
28
. Contactor tip
24
includes an outer edge
30
and extends from top surface
26
. A side wall
32
connects top surface
26
and bottom surface
28
. Top surface
26
and bottom surface
28
are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially flat. First portion
16
has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.
Third portion
20
includes a contactor tip
40
, a top surface
42
, and a bottom surface
44
. Contactor tip
40
includes an outer edge
46
and extends from top surface
42
. A side wall
48
connects top surface
42
and bottom surface
44
. Top surface
42
and bottom surface
44
are substantially flat and substantially parallel to each other. Third portion top surface
42
is substantially co-planar with first portion top surface
26
. Third portion bottom surface
44
is substantially co-planar with first portion bottom surface
28
. Third portion
20
has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.
Elongate body
14
includes an axis of symmetry
50
which extends from a first end
52
through first portion
16
and third portion
20
to a second end
54
. Contactor tip
24
and contactor tip
40
are positioned symmetrically with respect to axis of symmetry
50
. In one embodiment, contactor tips
24
and
40
are manufactured from a silver alloy material composed of approximately 90% silver and 10% cadmium by weight. In another embodiment, elongate body
14
is manufactured from copper.
Second portion
18
includes a top surface
60
and a bottom surface
62
. A first side wall
64
and a second side wall
66
connect top surface
60
to bottom surface
62
. First side wall
64
and second side wall
66
are substantially parallel to each other. Second side wall
66
is substantially the same thickness as first portion side wall
32
and third portion side wall
48
. Second portion
18
has a non-rectangular parallelogram shaped cross-sectional profile. Second portion top surface
60
slopes from first portion
16
top surface
26
and third portion
20
top surface
42
. Top surface
60
slopes from first side wall
64
to second side wall
66
. Second portion
18
bottom surface
62
slopes from first portion
16
bottom surface
28
and third portion
20
bottom surface
44
. Bottom surface
62
slopes from first wall
64
to second wall
66
. Second portion
18
also includes an aperture
70
that extends therethrough. Aperture
70
is positioned symmetrically with respect to axis of symmetry
50
. A first inward facing wall
68
extends from bottom surface
28
of first portion
16
to bottom surface
62
of second portion
18
. A second inward facing wall
72
extends from bottom surface
44
of third portion
20
to bottom surface
62
of second portion
18
. A first outward facing wall
74
extends from top surface
26
of first portion
16
to top surface
60
of second portion
18
. A second outward facing surface
76
extends from top surface
42
of third portion
20
to top surface
60
of second portion
18
.
During closure, bus bar assembly
10
is electrically connected to a relay directional contactor (not shown) such that one or both of contactor tips
24
and
40
electrically engage a set of contactor tips (not shown) attached to the relay directional contactor. As bus bar assembly
10
is electrically connected to the relay directional contactor; contactor tips
24
and
40
are simultaneously electrically connected. As second portion
18
is forced into the relay directional contactor to complete the electrical connection, contactor tips
24
and
40
engage the contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor. Initially, contactor tip outer edges
30
and
46
are contacted by the contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor. Because second portion
18
top surface
60
is sloped with respect to first portion top surface
26
and third portion top surface
42
, and because second portion bottom surface
62
is sloped with respect to first portion bottom surface
28
and third portion bottom surface
44
, second portion
18
is offset from first portion
16
and third portion
20
. As such, contactor tips
24
and
40
are rolled as bus assembly
10
is fully inserted into the relay directional contactor during closure. Rolling causes the contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor and in contact with contactor tips
24
and
40
to traverse across contractor tips
24
and
40
and come to rest during closure. As such, the rolling movement causes the contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor to help eliminate any contamination that may have developed on contactor tips
24
or
40
. Contactor tips
24
and
40
are substantially flat.
FIG. 2
is a side elevational view of bus bar assembly
10
. Second portion
18
includes top surface
60
and bottom surface
62
. Third portion
20
includes top surface
42
, bottom surface
44
, and contactor tip
40
which is mounted to top surface
42
. Contactor tip
40
extends from top surface
42
. Second portion top surface
60
slopes from third portion top surface
42
at an angle
80
. In one embodiment, angle
80
is approximately 7 degrees. Second portion bottom surface
62
slopes inwardly from third portion bottom surface
44
at an angle
82
. In one embodiment, angle
82
is approximately 7 degrees.
The above described bus bar assembly is highly reliable and cost-effective. The assembly includes an elongate body which includes an offset second portion which forces the contactor tips to roll during closure of the bus bar assembly. The rolling movement expels any contaminants that may have accumulated on the contactor tips. Because no additional cleaning methods or arcing are necessary, a cost-effective and reliable bus bar assembly is provided.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Claims
- 1. A method for rolling contactor tips upon closure of a movable bus bar assembly including a bus bar and at least one contactor tip, the bus bar including an elongate body which includes a first portion having at least one contactor tip, a third portion having at least one contactor tip, and a second portion unitarily extending from the first portion and the third portion, the first portion including a first cross-sectional profile, the second portion including a second cross-sectional profile, the third portion including a third cross-sectional profile, said method comprising the step of:frictionally sliding the movable bus bar assembly to electrically contact a relay directional contactor such that at least one contactor tip electrically engages a second set of contactor tips extending from the relay directional contactor wherein the second cross-sectional profile is substantially a non-rectangular parallelogram.
- 2. A method of rolling contactor tips upon closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second portion includes a top surface, and a bottom surface said top surface connected to said bottom surface with a first side wall and a second side wall, the first portion first cross-sectional profile is rectangular in shape, and the third portion third cross-sectional profile is rectangular in shape, said method further comprising the step of:fully inserting the movable bus bar assembly within the relay directional contactor such that at least one contactor tip rolls to rest upon complete closure of the bus bar assembly.
- 3. A method of rolling contactor tips upon closure in accordance with claim 2 wherein the first portion includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall which connects the top surface to the bottom surface, the third portion includes a top surface which is substantially co-planar with the first portion top surface and a bottom surface which is substantially co-planar with the first portion bottom surface, and the second portion top surface slopes with respect to the first portion top surface and the third portion top surface.
- 4. A method of rolling contactor tips upon closure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second portion bottom surface slopes with respect to the first portion bottom surface and the third portion bottom surface.
- 5. A method of rolling contactor tips upon closure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the second portion top surface slopes about 7° with respect to the first portion top surface and the third portion top surface.
- 6. A method of rolling contactor tips upon closure in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second portion bottom surface slopes outward about 7° with respect to the first portion bottom surface and the third portion bottom surface.
- 7. A bus bar assembly comprising:an elongate body comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said second portion offset from said first portion and said third portion, said third portion co-planar with said first portion, said second portion comprising a substantially non-rectangular parallelogram cross-sectional profile.
- 8. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first portion comprises a first cross-sectional profile and said third portion comprises a third cross-sectional profile.
- 9. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a plurality of contactors mounted to said elongate body.
- 10. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first portion first cross-sectional profile and said third cross-sectional profiles are rectangles.
- 11. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 9 wherein said plurality of contactors comprises a first contactor and a second contactor, said first contactor mounted on said first portion, said second contactor mounted on said second portion.
- 12. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface connected to said bottom surface by a side wall, said third portion comprises a top surface substantially co-planar with said first portion top surface and a bottom surface substantially co-planar with said first portion bottom surface.
- 13. A bus bar assembly comprising:an elongate body comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, said second portion offset from said first portion and said third portion, said third portion co-planar with said first portion, said second portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first portion comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface connected to said bottom surface by a side wall, said third portion comprises a top surface substantially co-planar with said first portion top surface and a bottom surface substantially co-planar with said first portion bottom surface, said second portion top surface slopes from said second portion second side wall to said second portion first side wall relative to said first portion top surface and said third portion top surface.
- 14. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 13 wherein said second portion bottom surface slopes from said second portion second side wall to said second portion first side wall relative to said first portion bottom surface and said third portion bottom surface.
- 15. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim, wherein said second portion top surface has about a 7° slope with respect to said first portion top surface and said third portion top surface.
- 16. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein said second portion bottom surface has about a 7° slope with respect to said first portion bottom surface and said third portion bottom surface.
- 17. A bus bar assembly in accordance with claim 7 further comprising at least one aperture disposed within said second portion and extending from said second portion top surface to said second portion bottom surface.
US Referenced Citations (7)