US1550165A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 18, 1925.

J. D. HILLIARD ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Aug. 10, 1921 Inventor: John D; Hilliard.

Patented Aug. 18, 1925. V

UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HILLIARD, (3F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC CO'MPANY, A CORPORATIQN 6.1 NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SITCH.

Application filed August 10, 1921.

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to those in which the con tacts are separable in an insulating fluid. In switches of this type heretofore cin-- ployed, use has been ma e of means whereby the pressure created by the are at the opening of the switch is utilized to create a blast of oil which is directed into the path of the arc and serves to extinguish the same.

According to my present invention which is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 443,440, filed February 8, 1921, I seek to improve the c1rcu1tinterrupting capacity .of switches of this character by causing portions of the arc to be formed in two separate chambers which communicate with one another by passages other than that through which the arc stream passes. These passages are so arranged that insulating fluid under pressure created by the portion of the arc in one chamber is forced as a cool blast unmixed with are gases into the arc stream in the other chamber.

In the form here illustrated, I have shown my invention as applied to a switch for opening high power circuits wherein means is provided to prevent ejection of oil from the switch vessel and whereby the gases resultin from the dissociation and vaporization oil may be cooled to a point at which they may be safely expelled from the apparatus.

Other advantages and objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ing, Which represents in section a switch embodying my invention and in which indicates a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid to the level indicated, and which is constructed to withstand high internal pressure. This vessel is provided with a cover 11 through which passes an outlet tube 12 designed to conduct away the gases formed by the arc. A lower stationary electrode 9 located within a recess 13 Serial in. 491,128.

formed in the bottom of the vessel 10 is adapted to cooperate with a movable electrode 14 which passes upwardly through the top of the vessel and in the position shown extends throu h a funnel-shaped opening or passage 15 Eormed in an insulating partition 16. This partition divides the vessel into a lower and upper chamber which I will tespectively term a compression chamber and discharge chamber. Surrounding the electrode and depending from the partition 16 is a cylindrical shield 17 of insulating material and connecting the space outside of the shield with the funnel-shaped opening are passages or outlets 18 and 19, Passages 18 are merely openings formed in the partition ,16, while passages 19 are formed not only by openings but have tubular extensions 20 therethrough which are designed to project into the body of oil surrounding the shield 17. It is tobe noted that passages 18 and 19 are arranged about and inclined to the axis of passage 15. Either passages 1801' passages 19 may be omitted if desired. Above the partition 16 and surrounding the movable electrode are battles 22 and 23 which are supported upon insulating rods 24 and are so arranged as to impede the upward movement of the material ejected from the vicinity of the are at the opening of the switch. As a means for further impedin the movement of the material and for coo ing the same, in order that the va rs may be condensed and the gases cooled tb a temperature at which they may safely be expelled from the apparatus, 1 fill the upper portion of the vessel 10 with gravel 25. This is preferably composed of quartz pebbles having a dlameter of from to 4 inch. As a means for supporting the gravel, I provide a perforated plate 26, which rests upon therods 24 and may be secured if desired to the walls of the vessel 10. I may rovide the vessel with an inner lining o insulating material to prevent arcing to the metallic walls of the vessel, in which case the plate 26 would be partially supported on the top of the lining. The gravel 25, as shown, extends upwardly into the tube, although if desired it may terminate at the top of the vessel 10.

In order to prevent gas in the vessel from escaping around theelectrode 14, there 15 through insulators 31 and 32, and through which the electrode 14 passes, a stufling box 33. This preferably comprises a leather disk 37 which surrounds the electrode 14 and a metal cap 35 against which the disk is adapted to be forced by pressure of the gas within the vessel 10. A shield 36 separates the stuffing box 33 from the gravel 25,

In operation the electrode 14 being normally in contact with the electrode 9, the switch is opened by raising the former by any suitable mechanism, not shown. An arc is at first formed between the electrodes beneath the partition 16 and as the electrode 14 continues to rise is drawn up into the funnelshaped opening 15. The pressure created by the are or that portion of the arc beneath the partition 16 acts throughout the body of oil in the pressure chamber with the result that oil is violently forced through the passages 18 and 19 into the arc stream within and above the funnel-shaped opening 15, and serves quickly to extinguish the arc. The material forced upwardly bythe arc passes around the baffles 22 and 23 and through the gravel 35 which function in the manner heretofore described. 4

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a switch, a vessel ada ted to contain an insulating fluid and provi ed with a partition forming two chambers and having a restricted opening therein, electrodes separable within said fluid to form an are which extends into each of said chambers, and means whereby the pressure caused by the portion of the arc in one chamber forces insulating fluid around said opening into the arc stream in the other of said chainbers.

2. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid and provided with a partition forming an upper and lower chamber and having a restricted opening therein, electrodes separable within said fluid to'form an are which extends into each of said chambers and through said restricted opening and means whereby the pressure caused by the portion of the arc in the lower chamber forces insulating fluid from said lower chamber around said opening into the arc stream in the upper chamber.

3. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid and formed with a compression chamber and a discharge chamber, electrodes separable within said insulating fluid to form an are which extends from a point within said compression chamber through a restricted passage and into said discharge chamber, means whereby the pressure created by the portion of the are within the compression chamber forces a blast of insulating fluid from a point within said compression chamber into the arc stream in said discharge chamber, and a shield between said passage and the point within said compression chamber from which said insulating fluid is forced.

4. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, a partition therein forming upper and lower chambers and having a restricted opening therein, and relatively movable electrodes in said lower chamber, one of said electrodes being movable through said restricted opening to draw an are extending in each of said chambers, said partition having openings displaced from said restricted opening through which the pressure created by the portion of the arc in said lower chamber may force a blast of oil into that part of the arc in said upper chamber.

5. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid and provided with a compression chamber and a discharge chamber, electrodes adapted to'form an are within each of said chambers, said compression chamber being provided with an outlet communicating with said discharge chamber whereby upon the formation of the are an insulating fluid will be projected from the pressure chamber into the path of the arc in said discharge chamber, and a shield located within said pressure chamber so as to prevent gases formed by the are within said pressure chamber from entering said outlet.

6. In a switch of the fluid break ty e, a chamber adapted to contain insulating uid, stationary and movable contact members separable to form an arc in said chamber, 3

the upper wall of said chamber having an opening therein for said movable contact member, said Wall having a plurality of inclined passages therein for conveying fluid from said chamber into said opening and 1 means forming a gas collecting space around said movable contact member for preventing the gas liberated by said are from reaching said passages.

7. In a switch of the fluid break vessel adapted to contain insulating partition extending across said vessel forming a plurality of chambers and having an opening therein, a stationary contact member t al as; a

carried at one end of said vessel, a movable I contact member adapted to extend through the opening in said partition and to engage said stationary contact and a shield extend ing from said partition into the chamber adjacent said stationary contact, said shield surrounding but spaced from said movable contact member and said partition having inclined openings connecting the said opening therein with said chamber at points without said shield.

8. In a switch, a vessel adapted to contain an insulating fluid, a partition dividing said vessel into lower and upper chambers and formed with a funnel-shaped passage therethrough, a stationary electrode within said vessel adapted to contain insulating fluid, a

transverse partition therein forming upper and lower chambers, and having a central opening therein, a movable contact rod extending through said opening, a stationary contact at the bottom of said lower chamber, an annular shield depending from said partition and surrounding said contact rod, said shield being spaced from said rod and adapted to form a gas collecting space, said partition having passages formed therein to con vey fluid from without said shield to said central opening.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of August, 1921.

JOHN D. HILLIARD.

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