WO1994011894A1

WO1994011894A1 - An improved arc extinguishing device and method of assembling same

Info

Publication number: WO1994011894A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/010967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas A. Edds; Willard J. Rezac
Original assignee: Square D Company
Priority date: 1992-11-13
Filing date: 1993-11-12
Publication date: 1994-05-26
Also published as: DE69312270D1; DE69312270T2; JPH07503099A; CA2127786A1; EP0626096A1; EP0626096A4; EP0626096B1

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided an arc extinguishing device (50) for disposition along a pre-determined path of movement between two electrical contacts (16, 18) in an electrical distribution device. The device (50) includes a generally U-shaped cradle member (54) made of a thermoplastic composition with at least one triad of slots (72, 74, 76). A U-shaped plate (78) is included for each triad of slots (72, 74, 76). Each plate (78) is retained in connection with the cradle member (54). The retaining means (92) is integrally formed with the cradle member (54). Suitable materials for the plate (78) include a magnetic metal and a conductive thermoplastic composition.

Description

AN IMPROVED ARC EXTINGUISHING DEVICE

AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME

Related Application

Related co-pending U. S. Application Serial No.

07/976,077 filed on even date herewith and identified by Assignee's Docket No. CRC-1 discloses one class of material compositions which is suitable for use in the present application. The entire teaching and disclosure of that co-pending application is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to circuit breakers, circuit interrupters, electrical distribution devices and the like, and more particularly, to an arc extinguishing device having an improved design for use therein.

Background of the Invention

Circuit breakers are commonly used to protect branch circuits in residential and commercial buildings against overload and fault conditions. Basically, a circuit breaker includes a separable pair of electrical contacts, a spring-operated mechanism for effecting separation of the contacts, and a tripping mechanism upon the occurrence of the overload or fault condition. A representative circuit breaker is fully set forth in U.S. Patent No. 2,889,428, issued to Kingdon et al. and U.S. Serial No. 722,050, issued October 26, 1992, to Cook et al., both commonly assigned to the assignee herein and incorporated herein by reference.

An electric arc is produced each time the circuit breaker contacts are opened or closed. The detrimental effects from the arc on other internal components is most severe during interruption of the electrical contacts. An arc extinguishing mechanism is used to control and

extinguish the arc and protect the other components of the circuit breaker.

For example, a common type of arc shield, which is placed in a recess or arc chamber of a circuit breaker is a series of spaced magnetic plates as illustrated in U.S.

Patent No. 2,811,607 issued to Dorfman et al. Another type of arc extinguishing mechanism is set forth in U.S. Patent No. 2,898,427 issued to Nadeau, which discloses a one-piece u-shaped magnetic metallic member having a plurality of parallel slots with an arc runner portion to lead the arc to a venting passage. U.S. Patent No. 2,429,722 to Jennings discloses an arc extinguisher rising insulating side members mounted between the legs of u-shaped magnetic members and the side walls of the breaker casing. Another example is U.S. Patent No. 4,616,200 issued to Fixemer et al. which discloses a molded arc barrier projecting into the arc chamber to shield the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker.

The need arises to distribute more power through enclosures which are the same size or smaller. This

requires increasing the electrical rating of the circuit breaker to carry same voltage and current density while decreasing the size of the enclosure and the components therein like the arc extinguishing means. The design of the arc device must be smaller, yet able to extinguish the electric arc created by a higher current.

Among the problems caused by increasing the electrical rating of a circuit breaker is the heat emitted by the arc created when interrupting the electrical

contacts. Without dissipation of the arc and the heat build-up the other components of the circuit breaker will be damaged. Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an arc extinguishing device for disposition along a pre-determined path of movement between two electrical contacts in an electrical distribution device. The device includes a generally u-shaped cradle member having a bight portion defined by a bottom wall with two upstanding side walls. The bight portion has sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls. The cradle member is made of a thermoplastic resin. The cradle member includes at least one triad of slots. One of the slots is formed in each side wall extending from the top edge of the side wall .substantially downward towards the bottom wall. The third slot is formed in the bottom wall of the cradle member. The triad of slots is positioned in the same plane extending perpendicular through the cradle member.

The arc device includes at least one u-shaped plate having a bight portion defined by a bottom bar with two upstanding side prongs. The plate bight portion has sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls. The thickness and width of the plate is pre-determined to fit the side prongs within the side wall slots and the bottom edge within the bottom wall slot. Each plate is retained in connection with the cradle member. The retaining means is integrally formed with the cradle member. In the preferred embodiments, the plate is made of a magnetic metal or a conductive plastic composition.

The present invention also includes an electrical distribution device which includes a housing and a pair of electrical contacts positioned within the housing. At least one contact is movable in and out of engagement with the other along a pre-determined path. The electrical distribution device further includes an arc extinguishing device disposed along the pre-determined path of movement.

The arc device is of the same description discussed above.

A method of assembling an arc extinguishing device for disposition along a pre-determined path of movement between two electrical contacts in an electrical

distribution device is included in the present invention.

The method includes molding an arc extinguishing device having a cradle member of the above description from a thermoplastic resin. The method further includes the step of providing a u-shaped plate of the above description and nesting the plate in the triad of slots of the cradle member.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an arc extinguishing device which overcomes the aforementioned problems affecting interruption of circuit breakers in small enclosures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arc extinguishing device made of two or more compositions creating an anode-cathode fall therebetween in order to extinguish electric arcs of greater current in smaller spaces than the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arc extinguishing device which protects the other components of a circuit breaker from exposure to an electric arc at high fault levels.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an arc extinguishing device which allows flexibilit of design with ease of assembly and economical manufacture.

Other and further advantages, embodiments, variations and the like will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present specification taken with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which comprise a portion of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a circuit breaker

according to the present invention wherein the side cover is removed showing the position of an embodiment of the

inventive arc extinguishing device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, isolated perspective view of the embodiment of the arc extinguishing device

illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the u-shaped cradle member disassembled from the remainder of the arc

extinguishing device embodiment illustrated in Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a front plan view of the u-shaped plate disassembled from the remainder of the arc extinguishing device embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the arc extinguishing device embodiment along lines 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Turning now to the drawings and referring specifically to Fig. 1, an example of an embodiment of the present embodiment is illustrated in the form of a remotely controlled circuit arrangement. The arrangement includes an insulating body or housing 10 open at one face with a detachable cover (not shown). A line terminal 12 and a load terminal 14 completes the circuit between a source and a load (not shown).

The circuit path beginning at the line terminal 12 carries current through stationary and movable contacts 16 and 18. The circuit continues through a flexible copper conductor 20 which is connected between a carrier 22 and a bimetal member 24. The movable contact 18 may be formed as part of the carrier 22. A rigid conductive plate 26 is welded to the bimetal member 24 to carry current from the bimetal member 24 to the load terminal 14.

The above-described current path is controlled remotely and locally by a number of different components. Some of the components are similar in structure and

operation to the corresponding components in Square D

Company Model Nos. QO-PL and QOE, and in U. S. Patent No. 4,623,859 and U.S. Serial No. 722,050 issued October 26, 1992, both entitled "Remote Control Circuit Breaker," assigned to the instant assignee and incorporated herein by reference.

Local control of the circuit breaker arrangement is provided using the external operating handle 28 pivotally mounted about an axis 30 in the housing 10 to control the contact carrier 22. In response to the movement of the handle 28 to the right or left, the carrier 22 is moved counterclockwise or clockwise, respectively, by the action a biasing spring 32. The handle 28 moves the top of the carrier 22 to either side of the equilibrium position, so that the bottom of the carrier 22 biases the movable contact 18 to either the open or closed position.

The trip mechanism assembly includes an armature 34, the bimetal member 24 and a yoke 36. Upon occurrence of a moderately sustained overload, from the contact-closed position the bimetal member 24 heats up and flexes to the right, causing the armature 34 and the yoke 36 to swing counterclockwise releasing the stand-off pressure of the end of the trip lever 38. The trip lever 38 swings clockwise about pin 40 and pulls the carrier 22 away from the

stationary contact 16 to interrupt the current path.

Similarly, upon occurrence of an extensive current overload, the yoke 36 manifests a magnetic force that attracts and swings the armature 34 counterclockwise. The trip lever 38 then swings clockwise and the spring 32 pulls the carrier 22 interrupting the current path.

Remote control of the circuit breaker arrangement is provided using a motor 42 having a shaft 44 which rotates in one direction to pull the carrier 22 and interrupt the current path. Rotation of the shaft 44 in the opposite direction allows the carrier to be pulled by spring 32 to re-establish the current path.

During a short-circuit condition or interruption of the current path, energy is shunted around the bimetal member 24. A shunt terminal 46 extends from the load terminal 16 to an arc extinguishing device 50 to dissipate the arcing current. An arc yoke 52 attracts the arc and shunts the current around the bimetal member 24. The arc yoke 52 providing a grounding means for draining the

electric potential generated by an interruption of the contacts 16, 18 from the arc device 50. Other types of electrical connections for grounding the arc device 50 are suitable for use with the present invention.

The arc extinguishing device 50 is illustrated in isolation in Figs. 2 through 5. The arc device 50 includes a generally u-shaped cradle member 54 having a bight portion 56 defined by bottom wall 58 with two upstanding side walls 60 and 62. The side walls 60 and 62 have an inside face 64 and an outside face 66 which terminate at the top edges 68 and 70, respectively. The width of the bight portion 56 is sufficient to allow movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls 60, 62.

The cradle member 54 is formed with at least one triad of slots 72, 74, and 76. Slots 72 and 76 are formed in the side walls 60 and 62, respectively, extending from the top edges 68, 70 of the side wall substantially downward towards the bottom wall 58. The third slot 74 is formed in the bottom wall 58 of the cradle member. The triad of slots 72, 74, and 76 are positioned in the same plane extending perpendicular through the cradle member 54.

The arc device 50 includes at least one u-shaped plate like 72 having a bight portion 80 defined by a bottom bar 82 with upstanding side prongs 84 and 86. The bottom bar 82 has a bottom edge 88 and a top edge 90. The width of the plate bight portion 80 is sufficient to allow movement of the electrical contacts between the two side prongs 84, 86. The thickness and width of the plate 72 is predetermined to fit the side prongs 84, 86 within the side wall slots 72, 76 and the bottom edge 88 within the bottom wall slot 74.

The plate 78 is retained in connection with the cradle member 54 by a retaining wall 92 integrally formed with the cradle member 54. The retaining wall 92 upstands from the bottom wall 58 and extends between the two side walls 60, 62 of the cradle member. The retaining wall 92 abuts a face 94 of the plate. Formed with the retaining wall 92 is a flange 96 which extends perpendicularly towards the abutting face 94 of the plate. The flange 96 is

positioned at a pre-determined height on the retaining wall 92 to abut the top edge.90 of the bottom bar of the plate and retain the plate 78 in position. Preferably, the flange 96 is made of a resilient material which allows the flange 96 to be bent in and out of position and reversibly engage the top edge 90.

Other means for retaining the plate 78 in connection with the cradle member 54 are contemplated by the present invention. For example, the thickness of the plate 78 can be formed slightly greater than the size of the side wall slots 72, 76 to provide an interference fit

therebetween. The gases that are created during the interruption of the electrical contacts 16, 18 are vented through the bottom wall 58 of the cradle member. Preferably, the bottom wall slot 74 is made larger than needed to accommodate the bottom edge 88 of the plate. This positions a hole adjacent to the bottom edge 88 of the plate. It is suitable to form separate holes in the bottom wall 58 near the bottom edge 88 of the plate.

In the preferred embodiment of the inventive arc device 50, there are two triads of slots like 72, 74, and 76 formed in the u-shaped cradle member 54. Corresponding to the two triads are two u-shaped plates like 78.

Both side walls 60 and 62 have a thickness T and a length L as shown in Fig. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the thickness T of each side wall 60, 62 and substantially the entire arc device 50 is in the range of about 0.06 to 0.1 inches and preferably measuring about 0.0625 inches. The length L of the arc device 50 as measured along the top edges 68 and 70 is in the range of about 0.5 to 1 inches and preferably measuring about 0.75 inches. The length L is sufficiently long to encompass a substantial portion of the path of movement of the contact 18. The width of the bight 56 or the distance between the side walls 60 and 62 is sufficient to allow the contacts to pass between them.

The thickness of the plate 78 is about 0.094 inches. The distance between the top edge 90 and the bottom edge 88 of the bottom bar is about 0.25 inches. The width of the plate 78 is preferably greater than the width of the cradle member 54 so that the edges of the plate protrude beyond the outside face 66.

Preferably, the bight portion 80 of the plate is substantially smaller than the bight portion 56 of the cradle member. Then the bight portion 80 of the plate is closer to the movement path of the electrical contacts 16, 18 than the bight portion 56 of the cradle member. Thus, the plate 78 is more quickly exposed to the electric arc because of its closer spacial position.

The dimensional measurements of the arc device 50 are adjusted to accommodate the capacity of the circuit breaker. For the measurements discussed above, the capacit of the circuit breaker ranges from about 15 to 30 amps.

Although a circuit breaker is illustrated, the present invention is suitable for protecting all types of electrical distribution devices such as circuit interrupter and the like. In practical applications, it is still desirable to have all electrostatic sensitive components insulated from direct contact with any part of the arc device 50.

The cradle member 54 of the arc device 50 is made of a thermoplastic resin. The preferred thermoplastic resins include nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, an high-impact nylon. The most preferred thermoplastic base resin is a mineral-filled nylon having the trade name Minio available from DuPont Company, as catalog number 10B40.

The plate 78 of the arc device 50 is made of a material which is more conductive than the cradle member 54 material to establish an anode-cathode fall therebetween. One class of conductive materials for the plate 78 are magnetic metals. Preferably, the magnetic metal used is nickel-coated steel.

Another class of conductive materials for making the plate 78 include conductive composites formed from adding a conductive modifier to a thermoplastic resin. The conductive plastic composites preferably have certain electrical properties. The US Department of Defense

Handbook 263 describes three categories of plastic

composites for use in electrostatic discharge protection. They are anti-static, static dissipative, and conductive. Although the resistivity characteristics of these three categories is not entirely settled, static dissipative cσmposites are usually defined to have surface resistivities of greater than 10⁵ and less than 10⁹ ohms per square.

Since static dissipative composites are more conductive then anti-static composites, they dissipate electric potential more quickly. Also, because of their make-up, they more readily conduct the potential throughout the volume of the part. Thus, static dissipative composites allow more rapid bleed-off of electric potential. The ASTM Standard D-257 provides uniform procedures for determining the resistance of a material. These methods are used to determine both surface and volume resistivities of the composite.

The conductive composites do not change their static dissipative electrical resistivity properties over time because they are formed by compounding or mechanically blending a solid conductive modifier with a thermoplastic base resin. The homogeneity and level of dispersion of one or more conductive modifiers within the thermoplastic base resin are the important criteria affecting the performance of the composites. The resulting composites are permanent in their static dissipative properties with a surface resistivity less than 10 ohms per square and a volume resistivity preferably less than 10 ohms per centimeter.

Other components to the conductive composites are limited to those conventional additives like inhibitors, etc., needed for the composites to exhibit the requisite manufacturing or mechanical properties discussed below.

These additives are present in small amounts relative to the thermoplastic base resin and the conductive modifier.

The conductive modifiers include electrically conductive powders and fibers. Preferred modifiers include carbon black powder, carbon graphite fiber, stainless steel fiber and powder, and nickel coated graphite fiber. Other types of metallic coatings are suitable for use on graphite fibers. The concentration of the conductive modifier is effective to have the composite exhibit static dissipative electrical resistivity properties and remove electric potential therefrom. A suitable weight percent

concentration of the conductive modifier in the

thermoplastic base resin is in the range of about 4 to about 20 percent. A more preferred range is about 5 to about 15 percent by weight. The metallic containing conductive modifiers like stainless steel and nickel coated graphite have concentrations in the lower area of this range, for example, about 5 to about 10 percent by weight. Since amorphous carbon black has a lower aspect ratio than

graphite carbon, it needs concentrations in the higher end of the range to impart the desired electrical properties, like about 15 to about 20 percent by weight. The graphite fiber is preferred in the middle of the range, for example, about 10 to about 15 percent by weight. Preferably, the weight concentration of stainless steel fiber in nylon 6 is about 10 percent.

Composites containing carbon black powder as the conductive modifier are presently the most cost effective. However, a high percent loading is required and this can result in a composite w.ith lessened mechanical properties in comparison to the unmodified base resin. If higher

properties are needed, such as impact strength or stiffness, then another conductive modifier such as carbon fiber, is used to gain optimal properties.

The present invention also provides for using a magnetic material as the conductive modifier in a

concentration effective to have the composite exhibit magnetic properties which increase the mobility and further dissipate the arc current. A preferred magnetic material as the conductive additive is stainless steel or nickel-coated steel. A suitable weight percent concentration of the conductive modifier in the thermoplastic resin is in the range of about 60 to about 80 percent. Depending on the magnetic material selected as the conductive modifier, a weight percent less than this range improves the performance of the arc device because the composite is conductive.

However, the composite does not exhibit significant magnetic properties and the associated advantages.

The following thermoplastic base resins are suitable for use with the present invention in compounding composites with most types of conductive modifiers:

polypropylene, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, high-impact nylon, polycarbonate, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, pσlysulfone, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyester thermoplastic elastomer, polyetherimide, styrenic

thermoplastic elastomer, and olefinic thermoplastic

elastomer.

The following base resins are more compatible for compounding with carbon fiber, nickel coated graphite fiber and stainless steel as the conductive modifier: acetal, polyurethane thermoplastic, polyphenylene oxide,

polyetheretherketone, phenylene ether co-polymer,

polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyarylether ketone, polyetherketoneetherketoneketone, polyphthalamide, and polyetherketoneketone. Other suitable base resins include perfluoroalkoxy, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, and polyvinylidene fluoride.

The composites suitable for use by the present invention exhibit certain mechanical properties for

constructing an arc device capable of being mounted within and withstanding the environment of an electrical

distribution device like a circuit breaker. The composites exhibit structural integrity, good impact resistance and dimensional stability. Furthermore, the composites exhibit a sufficient heat distortion temperature and achieve a UL temperature index of 100 C. degrees or greater, as measured by UL Subject 756B. Preferably, the composite is flame retardant.

The following examples are set forth for the purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limiting. EXAMPLES

Three sample type EH circuit breakers manufacture by the Square D Company were utilized wherein all the components were standardized but for the exceptions noted herein. The circuit breakers were single pole construction with a 30 amp, 277 volt rating. One type EH breaker was used as a control. The other two circuit breakers were modified by removing the tripping mechanism and replacing it with a smaller type QO tripping mechanism having a lower power rating than the type EH breaker.

Within each of the type QO tripping mechanisms wa substituted an inventive arc device having a construction a illustrated in Fig. 2 herein. The cradle member for both inventive arc devices was made of mineral filled nylon supplied by the DuPont Company as Minion 10B40. The cradle member was about 0.75 inches long and 0.0625 inches thick.

Each inventive arc device used two plates positioned in the slots formed in each cradle member. In the first inventive arc device, the plates were made of nickel-plated, cold rolled steel. In the second inventive arc device, the plates were made of a nylon 6 thermoplastic having a conductive modifier of stainless steel added thereto in the amount of about 10 percent by weight. This material was supplied by the RTP Company of Winona, MN as catalogue number RTP 0288-A-X-58759 Natural. Each set of plates measured about 0.0938 inches thick. The distance between the top edge and bottom edge of the bottom bar was about 0.25 inches. The inventive arc devices had a smaller width, length and shape than the standard arc device used in the EH circuit breaker. The size of the arc device used in the type EH tripping

mechanism prevented it from being positioned in the type QO tripping mechanism.

Each circuit breaker was subjected to a testing regime wherein the circuit breaker electrical contacts were closed on a high fault level measuring 240 vac, 14 ka, 1.5 ms. after voltage zero. The testing regime demonstrated that the performance of the inventive arc devices with the steel and conductive plastic plates was comparable.

Furthermore, both inventive arc devices were able to

extinguish significantly higher arc currents than the standard arc device used in the tripping mechanism of the type QO circuit breaker. The surface area of the cradle member 54 made of the thermoplastic resin appears to melt when attacked by th arc created by the interruption of the electrical contacts 16, 18. The surface area of the cradle member 54

substantially encloses the minute ablative particles which are disintegrated from the contacts. The liquefying of the thermoplastic surface appears to envelope the ablative particles, cool them, and then the surface of the

thermoplastic material rehardens. Accordingly, the ablative particles are actually absorbed by the cradle member 54 surface.

The thermoplastic resin and other suitable

composites also preferably emit hydrogen gas upon attack by an electric arc. The hydrogen gas emission further cools and extinguished the arc by a process known as outgassing. In the preferred embodiments, the present

invention provides an anode-cathode fall between the cradle member 54 and the plates 78. The effect created improves the ability of the arc device to extinguish arcs of higher energy than devices of the prior art.

Preferably, the cradle member 54 is molded by conventional techniques such as injection molding. It is desirable for the thermoplastic resin or other suitable composites to exhibit high flow properties for molding thin walls of the cradle member 54.

The plate 78 made of the magnetic metal is

preferably formed by stamping or otherwise cutting the individual pieces from a sheet of material. The plate 78 is assembled to the cradle member 54 by manually inserting the side prongs 84, 86 into the slots 72, 76 and snapping the flange 96 into engagement with the top edge 90 of the plate.

The plate 78 made of a conductive composite is preferably molded by conventional techniques such as

injection molding. The plate 78 is then nested in the cradle member 54 in a similar fashion as the plate made of magnetic metal.

Another method of making the arc device having a plate made of a conductive composite is with a two-part mold. One part of the mold forms the cradle member with a first thermoplastic composition. The second part of the mold forms the plate in the appropriate position with a second thermoplastic composition. The two part mold

simultaneously nests the two parts, cradle member and plate, together during the molding of the two thermoplastic

compositions. Although the cost of manufacturing an item with a two part mold is usually more expensive than the other methods described herein, this technique allows greater flexibility in design than can be inexpensively achieved with metal-forming techniques. While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of

construction of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An arc extinguishing device for disposition along a pre-determined path of movement between two

electrical contacts in an electrical distribution device, the device comprising:

a generally u-shaped cradle member having a bight portion defined by a bottom wall with two upstanding side walls, the bight portion having sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls, the cradle member made of a thermoplastic resin;

at least one triad of slots, one of the slots being formed in each side wall extending from the top edge of the side wall substantially downward towards the bottom wall, the third slot being formed in the bottom wall of the cradle member, the triad of slots being positioned in the same plane extending perpendicular through the cradle member;

at least one u-shaped plate having a bight portion defined by a bottom bar with two upstanding side prongs, the plate bight portion having sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls, the thickness and width of the plate being predetermined to fit the side prongs within the side wall slots and the bottom edge within the bottom wall slot; and

means for retaining the plate in connection with the cradle member, the retaining means integrally formed with the cradle member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the retaining means includes the thickness of the plate being slightly greater than the size of the side wall slots to provide an interference fit therebetween.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the retaining means includes at least one retaining wall for each plate integrally formed with the cradle member, each retaining wall upstanding from the bottom wall and extending between the two side walls of the cradle member, each retaining wall abutting a face of the plate, each retaining wall having a flange extending perpendicularly towards the abutting plate, the flange positioned at a pre-determined height on the retaining wall to disengagedly abut the top edge of the bottom bar of the plate and retain the plate in position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the cradle member further includes at least one hole therethrough for venting gases, the hole being positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of at least one plate.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the bight portion of the plate is substantially smaller than the bight portion of the cradle member so that the bight portion of the plate is closer to the movement path of the electrical contacts than the bight portion of the cradle member.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the device further includes two triads of slots formed in the u-shaped cradle member corresponding to two u-shaped plates.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the width of the plate is greater than the width of the cradle member so that the side edges of the plate extend beyond the outside face of the cradle member.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the cradle member thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of mineral-filled nylon, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, and high-impact nylon.

9. An electrical distribution device comprising: a housing;

a pair of electrical contacts positioned within the housing, at least one contact being movable in and out of engagement with the other along a pre-determined path;

an arc extinguishing device disposed along the generally u-shaped cradle having a bight portion defined by a bottom wall with two upstanding side walls, the bight portion having sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls, the cradle member made of a thermoplastic material;

at least one triad of slots, one of the slots being formed in each side wall extending from the top edge of the side wall substantially downward towards the bottom wall, the third slot being formed in the bottom wall of the cradle, the triad of slots being positioned in the same plane extending perpendicular through the cradle;

at least one u-shaped plate having a bight portion defined by a bottom edge with two upstanding side prongs the bight portion having sufficient width to allow the movement of the electrical contacts between the two side walls, the thickness and width of the plate being pre-determined to fit the side prongs within the side wall slots and the bottom edge within the bottom wall slot; and means for retaining the plate in connection with the cradle, the retaining means integrally formed with the cradle.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the retaining means includes the thickness of the plate being slightly greater than the size of the side wall slots to provide an interference fit therebetween.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the retaining means includes at least one retaining wall for each plate integrally formed with the cradle member, each retaining wall upstanding from the bottom wall and extending between the two side walls of the cradle, each retaining wall abutting a face of the plate, each retaining wall having a flange extending perpendicularly towards the abutting plate, the flange positioned at a pre-determined height on the retaining wall to disengagedly abut the top edge of the bottom bar of the plate and retain the plate in position.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the bottom wall of the cradle further includes at least one hole therethrough for venting gases, the hole being positioned adjacent to the bottom edge of at least one plate.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein the bight portion of the plate is substantially smaller than the bight portion of the cradle member so that the bight portion of the plate is closer to the movement path of the electrical contacts than the bight portion of the cradle member.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein the device further includes two triads of slots formed in the u-shaped cradle member corresponding to two u-shaped plates.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein the width of the plate is greater than the width of the cradle member so that the side edges of the plate extend beyond the side face of the cradle member.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein the housing further includes means for grounding the arc extinguishing device.

17. The device of claim 9 wherein the grounding means further includes an arc yoke mounted to the arc extinguishing device.

18. The device of claim 9 wherein the cradle member thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of mineral-filled nylon, nylon 6/6, nylon 6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, and high-impact nylon.