US2897322A - Electrical switching apparatus - Google Patents

Electrical switching apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US2897322A
US2897322A US653090A US65309057A US2897322A US 2897322 A US2897322 A US 2897322A US 653090 A US653090 A US 653090A US 65309057 A US65309057 A US 65309057A US 2897322 A US2897322 A US 2897322A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
auxiliary
main
pairs
current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US653090A
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English (en)
Inventor
Reece Michael Peter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ERA Patents Ltd
Original Assignee
ERA Patents Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ERA Patents Ltd filed Critical ERA Patents Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2897322A publication Critical patent/US2897322A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches
    • H01H33/664—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings
    • H01H33/6646—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings having non flat disc-like contact surface
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches

Definitions

  • three or more pairs of cooperating electrodes including a main pair and two or more auxiliary pairs which are of lower arcing voltage than the main pair and which are each connected electrically in parallel with the main pair, and the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker is designed so that during the breaking operation it first separates only the cooperating electrodes of the auxiliary pairs, so that in operation to interrupt a current, bridges of electrode metal first form and then explode between cooperating electrodes, and then the mechanism separates the electrodes of the main pair, the arrangement of the electrodes ice being such that an are at the main pair or an arc at any one of the auxiliary pairs can cause the formation of arcs at all the auxiliary pairs.
  • the pair of electrodes of higher arcing voltage are referred to as the main pair merely for convenience rather than to indicate their size or conductive capacity relative to the auxiliary pairs.
  • the electrodes of the main pair their contact surfaces and any are formed between them are referred to as main electrodes, main contact surfaces and a main are respectively, whilst the word auxiliary is employed for corresponding terms referring to the auxiliary pairs.
  • the bridges formed between cooperating auxiliary contact surfaces are smaller than corresponding bridges found in known circuit breakers which have but one pair of electrodes, and the auxiliary arcs have a smaller current than corresponding arcs found in such circuit breakers.
  • the main electrodes which are of course still in contact. It will be realized that an immediate and complete diversion is not possible owing to the finite inductance of the auxiliary pairs. The second reason is that the current which is not diverted divides between the different auxiliary pairs.
  • the bridges are smaller than in known breakers having one pair of electrodes and dealing with the same current, and the damage to the contact surfaces is correspondingly smaller.
  • the currents which can be handled without concentration of arcs and consequent overheating taking place is larger.
  • shiel'ds -whi ch remain relatively cool during current interrupting oper- -,.ations of the breakerarc arr n ed and: shaped so .as to intercept and adsorb a major proportion, of v all arcinitiating energy emitted-onarcing, which, isnot travelling ztowards a contact surface of any .aux iliary electrode.
  • Thisadsorption greduces the amount of-ener-gy travelling :intoregions of the envelopepther thanthosein the neighbourhoodpof the contact, surfaces, and thus-reducw the .-;risk of re-ignition after a current zero over- ,long paths in the first-mentioned regions.
  • Figure 1 is an elevation, partly insection, of the-,cirgcuit breaker
  • Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line I I, H of Figure 1;
  • v Figure 3 is an;elevation similartoEigure l butshowing'the modifiedflformof construction.
  • Figure 4 is a cro,ss section similar to Figure 2 but taken along thegline IV.IV of Figure 3.
  • the circuit :breaker includes two main, vertically disposed cooperrating electrodes laand 1b, made oftungsten and of; one .inch diameter, and fourteen auxiliary, vertically-disposed copperelectrodes of half inch diameter and withhemi- .spherical ends, the eight upper, ones being; indicated at 2a and the six lower "ones at,2b.
  • the main electrode 1' is mounted on acoppenstem :3 to which one of the conductors :for;alternati g;current, ,indicated at 4, is securedflby nuts-:5.
  • the electrodes 2b are mounted, .beingsecured in position -bynuts9.
  • the upper auxiliarye'lectrodesla are-ia'll screwed into a fixed conductingihanger so that these electrodes 2a are immovable.
  • the upper mainelectrode'la is, ,on the other hand, secured to a' copper .stenrlfi which ,is ver- :,.tically movable.
  • This stem 16 passes upwards through an opening in the hanger 1'5 and .an opening in a iconducting disc .17 secured tozthe :hangerlil'i andatjts top end the stem 16 carries nuts 18 holdingin position the ,other conductor for alternatingcurrentindicated at 19.
  • auxiliary contacts 2b remain fixed with main contact-lb ata1l times and the upper ends of the auxiliary contacts 2b interseotth'e-common plane of the contacting faces of the main contacts 1a and 1b, so that when-the main contacts open, arcfmrtlatrng energy travels' outwardly in common plane and strikes the contact surfaces of auxiliarylcontacts 2b.
  • the lower endsof the upper'aux'iliarycontacts 2b mayl-alsointersect I the common surface-contacting plane of thejm'ain 'elo trodes at the time of opening ofthe main electrodes.
  • This arrangementofthe contact surfaces also ensuresthat o -energy from an are at anyauxiliary pairisable' to reach 5 start arcs there, if these-do not already exist.
  • coaxial cylinders 35 and 36 are arranged so' thatthe-inner'cyllllldfil 35 surroundsonly the pair Ia and l bf whilst theouter cylinder 36 surroinids all thepairs.
  • the outer cylinder 36 surroinids all thepairs.
  • th e inne r cylinderi' is formed with a large-number of openings :38;
  • the inner sleeve 35 is held in position within the outer sleeve 36 by metal spacing bars 40, while the outer cylinder 36 is held in position in the envelope of the circuit breaker by further metal bars 41.
  • the envelope itself consists of a metal cylinder 42, to which the bars 41 are brazed, a glass cylinder 43 secured to the upper end of the cylinder 42, a metal end fitting 44 secured to the cylinder 43 and brazed onto the hanger 15, a further glass cylinder 45 secured to the lower end of the cylinder 42, a further metal cylinder 46 secured to the cylinder 45, an end fitting 48 and a box-like structure 49 similar to the hanger 15 and annulus 17.
  • Metal bellows 50 and 51 are provided within the hanger 15 and the structure 49 respectively to complete the envelope, and to allow the movements of the various electrodes to take place.
  • a tube 52 is provided in the structure 49 to enable the envelope to be exhausted, this tube 52 being sealed ofl: after rigorous de-gassing of the envelope and its contents, and when the pressure is of the order of to 10* mm. of mercury.
  • auxiliary electrodes In the form of construction shown in Figures 3 and 4, only ten auxiliary electrodes are provided and these are arranged, in completely separate pairs, in a ring around the main electrodes. Each of these pairs of auxiliary electrodes is surrounded by separate cylinders 55 which are held in position by metal bars 56 secured to the metal cylinder 42. These cylinders 55 perform the same functions as the cylinders 35 and 36 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in order to permit the passage of energy to all the auxiliary pairs, these cylinders are formed with openings indicated at 57.
  • each auxiliary electrode engages its two nearest neighbours after a making operation.
  • a circuit breaker for alternating current comprising a highly evacuated envelope, a main pair of cooperating metallic electrodes mounted in said envelope, at least two auxiliary pairs of cooperating metallic electrodes mounted in said envelope in laterally spaced relation with respect to each other and with respect to said main electrodes, said auxiliary electrodes being formed of a metal of lower arcing voltage than said main electrodes and each of said auxiliary pairs being connected electrically in parallel with said main pair, and means for operating said breaker, said means acting during the breaking operation first to separate only the cooperating electrodes of the said auxiliary pairs, whereby in operation to interrupt a current, bridges of electrode metal form and then explode between said cooperating electrodes of said auxiliary pairs, and said means then acting to separate the electrodes of said main pair, the electrodes of the said main and said auxiliary pairs being such that an are at the said main pair causes the formation of arcs at all the auxiliary pairs and such that an are at any one of the auxiliary pairs causes the formation of arcs at all the auxiliary pairs the engaging surfaces of the main electrodes
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 2 said shielding means comprising two substantially coaxial cylinders, said main pair being arranged within the inner cylinder, and the said auxiliary pairs being arranged between the said cylinders.
  • said auxiliary pairs comprising at least six electrodes, of which the electrodes connected electrically to one electrode of said main pair are fixed in position in said envelope and are arranged symmetrically around the said one electrode to constitute a first ring of electrodes whilst the electrodes connected electrically to the other electrode of said main pair are secured together and movable as a unit in said envelope, and are arranged symmetrically around the said other electrode to constitute a second ring of electrodes.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 4 said rings of electrodes being arranged to interfit with one another when brought together, whereby electrodes of the said auxiliary pairs then engage their two nearest neighbours.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 1 in which said main electrodes are formed of tungsten and said auxiliary electrodes are formed of copper.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein more than two pairs of auxiliary electrodes are mounted within said envelope and are arranged in a circular array about the common axis of said main electrodes.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
US653090A 1956-04-24 1957-04-16 Electrical switching apparatus Expired - Lifetime US2897322A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB341874X 1956-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2897322A true US2897322A (en) 1959-07-28

Family

ID=10362461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US653090A Expired - Lifetime US2897322A (en) 1956-04-24 1957-04-16 Electrical switching apparatus

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US2897322A (de)
BE (1) BE556896A (de)
CH (1) CH341874A (de)
DE (1) DE1074119B (de)
FR (1) FR1173618A (de)
GB (1) GB839252A (de)
NL (1) NL216587A (de)

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2979588A (en) * 1958-12-09 1961-04-11 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch
US2980782A (en) * 1959-03-26 1961-04-18 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter
US2981813A (en) * 1958-07-21 1961-04-25 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch
US3129308A (en) * 1961-04-22 1964-04-14 Nippon Electric Co Vacuum circuit breaker having buffering means in relatively stationary electrode structure
US3163734A (en) * 1962-01-26 1964-12-29 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US3178542A (en) * 1962-03-26 1965-04-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch and internal shielding therefor
US3305657A (en) * 1963-04-01 1967-02-21 Ass Elect Ind Circuit breaker for high power, high voltage networks
US3321598A (en) * 1964-11-16 1967-05-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with arc-voltage limiting means
US3469048A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-09-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit breaker having parallel triggered-type circuit interrupters
US3778573A (en) * 1972-06-23 1973-12-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum circuit interrupter having improved contact structure
US3786214A (en) * 1973-01-19 1974-01-15 Gen Electric Interleaving-rod type vacuum interrupter having two breaks in series between each pair of rods
US3814880A (en) * 1972-06-20 1974-06-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum interrupter contacts having energy dissipation surfaces
US3969598A (en) * 1975-02-03 1976-07-13 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with a plurality of sets of contacts in parallel
US3970809A (en) * 1975-02-10 1976-07-20 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker comprising parallel-connected vacuum interrupters
US3970810A (en) * 1975-03-06 1976-07-20 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker comprising parallel-connected vacuum interrupters
US4061894A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-12-06 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved protection for bellows
US4128748A (en) * 1976-07-21 1978-12-05 General Electric Company High-current vacuum switch with reduced contact erosion
US4306129A (en) * 1979-08-09 1981-12-15 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Low voltage contactor switch with three-phase contact bank
US4538039A (en) * 1982-04-19 1985-08-27 Hitachi, Ltd. Composite circuit breaker
US20140175058A1 (en) * 2012-12-20 2014-06-26 Abb Technology Ag Circuit-breaker pole part with a flexible conductor for connecting a movable electrical contact
CN112103127A (zh) * 2020-08-11 2020-12-18 平高集团有限公司 一种真空灭弧室

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123698A (en) * 1961-02-10 1964-03-03 Circuit breakers having interrupting contacts
DE1211306B (de) * 1963-05-15 1966-02-24 Ass Elect Ind Vakuumschalter
DE1228697B (de) * 1964-07-13 1966-11-17 English Electric Co Ltd Druckgasschalter
DE2618040A1 (de) * 1975-05-19 1976-12-02 Gen Electric Lastschalter des vakuumtyps mit zwei elektrisch parallel geschalteten kontaktsaetzen
US3997748A (en) * 1975-06-23 1976-12-14 General Electric Company Vacuum interrupter with primary electrode surrounded by high dielectric strength shield

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1821414A (en) * 1929-03-26 1931-09-01 Reyrolle A & Co Ltd Electric circuit-breaker
US1875765A (en) * 1927-07-01 1932-09-06 Scherbius Arthur Vacuum switch
GB400716A (en) * 1932-06-17 1933-11-02 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to withdrawable electric switchgear
US1996304A (en) * 1926-11-15 1935-04-02 California Inst Electric switch
US2180661A (en) * 1938-05-11 1939-11-21 Nortron Patents Corp Vacuum switch
US2794885A (en) * 1954-12-13 1957-06-04 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE532771C (de) * 1927-07-01 1931-09-02 Birka Regulator G M B H Schalter mit Stiftkontakten, die in einem evakuierten oder mit indifferenten Gasen gefuellten, vakuumdicht abgeschmolzenen Gefaess arbeiten
US1784303A (en) * 1928-09-05 1930-12-09 California Inst Of Techn Alternating-power-current interrupter
DE561915C (de) * 1928-12-20 1932-10-20 Aeg Vakuumschalter
DE607651C (de) * 1928-12-20 1935-01-04 Aeg Vakuumschalter fuer Wechselstrom mit Unterbrechung des Stromes moeglichst bei seinemStromdurchgang durch Null
DE596966C (de) * 1930-05-28 1934-05-14 Aeg Vorrichtung fuer Vakuumschalter zum Entgasen der Kontakte

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1996304A (en) * 1926-11-15 1935-04-02 California Inst Electric switch
US1875765A (en) * 1927-07-01 1932-09-06 Scherbius Arthur Vacuum switch
US1821414A (en) * 1929-03-26 1931-09-01 Reyrolle A & Co Ltd Electric circuit-breaker
GB400716A (en) * 1932-06-17 1933-11-02 Gen Electric Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to withdrawable electric switchgear
US2180661A (en) * 1938-05-11 1939-11-21 Nortron Patents Corp Vacuum switch
US2794885A (en) * 1954-12-13 1957-06-04 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2981813A (en) * 1958-07-21 1961-04-25 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch
US2979588A (en) * 1958-12-09 1961-04-11 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch
US2980782A (en) * 1959-03-26 1961-04-18 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter
US3129308A (en) * 1961-04-22 1964-04-14 Nippon Electric Co Vacuum circuit breaker having buffering means in relatively stationary electrode structure
US3163734A (en) * 1962-01-26 1964-12-29 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US3178542A (en) * 1962-03-26 1965-04-13 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Vacuum switch and internal shielding therefor
US3305657A (en) * 1963-04-01 1967-02-21 Ass Elect Ind Circuit breaker for high power, high voltage networks
US3321598A (en) * 1964-11-16 1967-05-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with arc-voltage limiting means
US3469048A (en) * 1966-07-01 1969-09-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit breaker having parallel triggered-type circuit interrupters
US3814880A (en) * 1972-06-20 1974-06-04 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum interrupter contacts having energy dissipation surfaces
US3778573A (en) * 1972-06-23 1973-12-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum circuit interrupter having improved contact structure
US3786214A (en) * 1973-01-19 1974-01-15 Gen Electric Interleaving-rod type vacuum interrupter having two breaks in series between each pair of rods
US3969598A (en) * 1975-02-03 1976-07-13 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with a plurality of sets of contacts in parallel
US3970809A (en) * 1975-02-10 1976-07-20 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker comprising parallel-connected vacuum interrupters
US3970810A (en) * 1975-03-06 1976-07-20 General Electric Company Electric circuit breaker comprising parallel-connected vacuum interrupters
US4061894A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-12-06 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved protection for bellows
US4128748A (en) * 1976-07-21 1978-12-05 General Electric Company High-current vacuum switch with reduced contact erosion
US4306129A (en) * 1979-08-09 1981-12-15 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Low voltage contactor switch with three-phase contact bank
US4538039A (en) * 1982-04-19 1985-08-27 Hitachi, Ltd. Composite circuit breaker
US20140175058A1 (en) * 2012-12-20 2014-06-26 Abb Technology Ag Circuit-breaker pole part with a flexible conductor for connecting a movable electrical contact
US9620316B2 (en) * 2012-12-20 2017-04-11 Abb Schweiz Ag Circuit-breaker pole part with a flexible conductor for connecting a movable electrical contact
CN112103127A (zh) * 2020-08-11 2020-12-18 平高集团有限公司 一种真空灭弧室

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB839252A (en) 1960-06-29
NL216587A (de)
BE556896A (de)
CH341874A (fr) 1959-10-31
FR1173618A (fr) 1959-02-27
DE1074119B (de) 1960-01-28

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