GB834018A - An electric circuit breaker with a metal quenching chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

834,018. Arc-rupturing in switches. CKD MODRANY, NARODNI PODNIK, NOVOTNY, B., and RYBAR, V. July 10, 1956, No. 21333/56. Class 38 (5). A circuit-breaker has a metal arc-quenching chamber with at least one end bent inwardly parallel with the contacts so as to maintain the position of the arc by an electrodynamic loop. In Fig. 1, the breaker contacts 3, 4 are shown in the open position and the contact separation distance is equal to the radial clearance between the contacts 3, 4 and the end 2 of the metal chamber 1 which is connected to contact 3. When the breaker is opened, the arc between contacts 3, 4 passes from position 5 to position 6 and then one end passes to chamber 2 forming a current loop 7 which holds the arc in the area of the contact edges until current zero. In Fig. 2 both contacts are movable and both ends 2, 2<SP>1</SP> are bent inwardly so that two current loops 7, 7<SP>1</SP> are formed. A coil can be placed around the fixed contact (Fig. 3, not shown) or the contacts can be hollow and contain magnets 11 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, not shown), Fig. 7, to make the arc rotate around the contacts. The contact faces can be recessed at 12 (Fig. 7) to form a narrow wall 14 at the outer edges and narrow the current loop.