US3823290A - Electrical switchgear - Google Patents

Electrical switchgear Download PDF

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Publication number
US3823290A
US3823290A US00340304A US34030473A US3823290A US 3823290 A US3823290 A US 3823290A US 00340304 A US00340304 A US 00340304A US 34030473 A US34030473 A US 34030473A US 3823290 A US3823290 A US 3823290A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
restraining
restraining means
lever
contacts
spring
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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
US00340304A
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English (en)
Inventor
G Caton
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.)
Yorkshire Switchgear and Engineering Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Yorkshire Switchgear and Engineering Co 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 Yorkshire Switchgear and Engineering Co Ltd filed Critical Yorkshire Switchgear and Engineering Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3823290A publication Critical patent/US3823290A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/22—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism
    • H01H3/30—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism using spring motor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/22—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism
    • H01H3/30—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism using spring motor
    • H01H3/3031—Means for locking the spring in a charged state

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT Electrical switchgear comprising a set of fixed [11] 3,823,290 July 9, 1974 contacts, a set of movable contacts mounted to close into engagement with the fixed contacts and to open out of engagement with the fixed contacts, a closing spring system having one or more springs, first movable restraining means restraining first ends of said springs, second movable restraining means restraining second ends of said springs, means connecting said second restraining means to move with the movable contacts; an opening spring system having one or more springs, third restraining means restraining first ends of said opening springs, and fourth restraining means restraining second ends of said opening springs; means connecting said third restraining means to said movable contacts; a first lever system for charging said closing spring system by moving said first restraining means independently of said movable contacts; a second lever system for charging said opening spring system bytnoving at least
  • SHEET 5 BF 5 ELECTRICAL SWITCHGEAR This invention relates to switchgear for controlling high voltage electrical supplies.
  • the movable contacts of heavy duty switchgear are nowadays rarely closed or opened by manual operation alone.
  • manual operation of a handle is effective to charge two spring systems, an opening system for moving the movable contacts out of engagement with the fixed contacts, and a closing system for moving the movable contacts into engagement with the fixed contacts against the throw of forces created when closing against a short circuit current.
  • the closing spring system works in opposition to the closing spring system, and the force charged in the closing system must be sufficient to charge the opening spring system and also to provide the force necessary to effect closing of the movable contact against the said forces.
  • electrical switchgear comprises a set of fixed contacts, a set of movable contacts mounted to close into engagement with the fixed contacts and to open out of engagement with the fixed contacts, a closing spring system having one or more springs restrained at'each end by first and second independently movable restraining means, the second of said means being connected to move with the movable contacts; an opening spring system having one or more springs restrained at each end by third and fourth restrianing means; a lever system for charging the closing spring system by moving the first restraining means independently of the movable contacts; a lever system for charging the opening spring system by moving at least one of the third and fourth restraining means, such movementnot being transmitted through the closing spring system; first and second latches for releasably latching the closing and opening spring systems in their charged conditions; the first latch being operable when released to release the second restraining means and so allow the movable contacts to move the closed position under the force in the charged closing spring system; and the second latch being operable when
  • This arrangement enables charging of the opening springsystem to be effected without the need to place an equal charge in the closing spring system, which thus.
  • the spring systems each comprise a number of parallel compression springs held between the respective restraining means, each spring having a rod running through its center, each rod being secured to one of the restrainingmeans and being movable relative to the other restraining means.
  • the fourth restraining means is fixed, and the opening spring system is charged by moving the third restraining means towards the fourth restraining means.
  • both third and fourth restraining means may be movable, charging being effected by relative movement of the restraining means towards each other. and particularly by moving the fourth restrainingmeans toward the third restraining means, which is held stationary.
  • a common lever system is provided for charging the two spring systems in order that charging may be effected by a single manual or powder driven operation.
  • separate lever systems for the two spring systems could be used.
  • Charging of the spring systems can be effected in any order, but it is preferred that the opening spring system be charged no later than the closing spring system.
  • the two spring systems are charged simulta neously by movement of the first and third restraining means by a common lever system.
  • the movable contacts are pivotally movable about a pivot axis remote from the spring systems, although the invention may also be used in connection with linearly movable contacts.
  • the first latch is conveniently a toggle arrangement which is moved over center to release the movable contacts for movement to the closed position. On full opening of .the contacts the toggle moves back over center to hold the contacts in the open position and prevent them from bouncing back towards the fixed contacts.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the switchgear with the spring systems charged and the contacts open;
  • FIG. 2 shows the switchgear of FIG. 1 with the contacts closed after release of the closing springs
  • FIG. 3 shows the switchgear of FIG. 1 with the contacts opened after release of the opening springs
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the switchgear
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the part of the switchgear removed from the housing.
  • the switchgear is contained in a housing 1 having a removable lid 2 secured by bolts such as 3 to the housing. Secured within the housing is an upper set of three horizontally aligned fixed contacts such as 4 and a lower set of three horizontally aligned fixed contacts such as 5. In the base of .the housing 1 there are provided a number of spaced support sockets 6.
  • a shock absorber 7 comprising a closed cell expanded foam rubber or plastics material can also be lo: cated in the base of the housing.
  • a rmeovable framework 8 having side members 8a and a transverse mem- I ber 8b fits within the housing 1 and is located at the bottom of the housing by means of a shaft 9 engaging.
  • the removable framework carries the movable contacts together with the control system for these, as will be described shortly. By mounting this mechanism on a removable framework, the whole of the mechanism can readily be lifted out of the housing 1 for maintenance or replacement purposes.
  • the shaft 9 is capable of pivoting on the sockets 6 and in the lower ends of side members 80, and secured to the shaft by plates 9a are a number of pairs of insulating arms 13 carrying movable contact assemblies 14 for engaging the fixed contacts 4 and 5.
  • Each movable contact assembly 14 preferably comprises main contacts and auxiliary arcing contacts of known construction.
  • the arms 13 canpivot withthe shaft 9 to move the movable contacts between the open position shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the movable contacts engage the fixed contacts.
  • the arms 13 are connected at their upper ends by a cross member 15 to which are pivotally connected about an axis 16 two parallel arms '17.
  • the arms 17 are each pivotally connected about an axis 18 to one end of lever amrs 19 which are secured to sleeves 20 journalled for rotation about a shaft 21 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the framework '8.
  • the other ends of lever 19 are pivotally connected about an axis 22 to a bar 23 carrying a number of spaced restraining blocks 24, the bar 23 also being connected to the sleeve 20 by a further arm 24a.
  • Each of the restraining blocks 24 has a rod 25 projecting therefron, the rods being slidably movable through holes in a restraining bar 26.
  • Each of the rods 25 passes through the center of a compression spring 27.
  • the compression springs 27 together form a closing spring system, the springs being restrained at one end by a first restraining means in the form of the restraining bar 26 and at the other end by second restraining means in the form of the restraining blocks 24.
  • the restraining bar 26 is pivotally secured about an axis 28 to two parallel arms 29 pivoted about axis 30 to carriers 31 secured to the framework 8. Also pivoted to the restraining bar 26 about axis 28 are two parallel arms 32 pivoted at their other ends about axis 33 to one arm of respective bell crank levers 34.
  • the two bell crank levers 34 are each secured to sleeves 35 surrounding shaft 21 and secured to rotate therewith.
  • the other arms of bell crank levers 34 have restraining blocks 36 pivoted thereto about an axis 37.
  • Each restraining block 36 has a rod 38 secured thereto and projecting therefrom and the rods 38 are slidable through holes in a restraining bracket 38a secured to the framework 8.
  • each rod 38 Surrounding each rod 38 is a compression spring 39 and the two springs 39 form an opening spring system restrained at one end by third restraining means comprising the restraining blocks 36 and at the other end by fourth restraining means comprising the restraining bracket 38a.
  • the mechanism is shown in FIG. 1 with both spring systems in their charged conditions and first and second latch arrangements are provided for holding these systems in this condition.
  • the first latch arrangement is effective to hold the restraining blocks 24 in the position shown in FIG. 1.
  • This latch system comprises-two identical toggle arrangements each comprising an arm 40 pivoted about axis 41 to lever 19 and an arm 42 pivoted at one end about axis 43 to arm 40 and its other end secured to a shaft 44 which is rotatably mounted on the framework 8. In the latched position shown the pivotal axes 41 and 43 and the axis of the shaft 44 are in an over center condition which prevents lever 19 from rotating about the axis of shaft 21. These toggle systems thus hold restraining blocks 24 in the position shown.
  • the other latch system is effective to hold the bell crank levers 34 in the position shown in FIG. 1 and thus to hold the restraining bar 26 and restraining blocks 36 for the closing and opening spring systems respectively in the positions shown.
  • This latch arrangement comprises a nose 45 projecting from one of the bell crank levers 34 and having a surface 46 engageable with a roller 47 rotatably mounted on a further bell crank lever 48 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 49 on the framework 8.
  • the other arm of the lever has a striking pad 50 lying below a trip member 51 projecting upwardly through lid 2.
  • the movable contacts are now in their open positions and both spring systems are discharged.
  • the spring systems In order to close the contacts again the spring systems must be recharged and this is effected by anti-clockwise rotation of shaft 21.
  • This anti-clockwise rotation can be carried out electrically by a motor, solenoid or other power means, or by a manually operated lever system (not shown) outside the housing 1 driving a shaft 53 which moves a projection 54 engaging a lever 55 on the end of shaft 21 to drive the shaft 21 anti-clockwise.
  • This movement pivots bell crank levers 34 anti-clockwise so pushing the restraining blocks 36 towards the restraining bracket 38a and compressing the opening spring system.
  • the contacts of certain types of high voltage switchgear are immersed in oil and in the present arrangement the housing 1 is filled with oil to the level 56.
  • This oil is effective in suppressing arcing between the movable and fixed contacts and during such arcing gas is generated around the are which gas must be released from the housing 1.
  • a passage 57 leads through the lid into an expansion chamber 58 fixed to the lid and the expansion chamber leads into a vent 59 to atmosphere.
  • the switchgear described has no secondary electrical equipment included therein and this makes it eminently suitable for use in the switchgear arrangement described in our co-pending application Ser. No. 340,263 filed Mar. 12, 1973.
  • this indication is given by mean of two tappets 60 and 61 sliding in holes through the lid 2 and driving a rocker arm62 pivoted to a projection 63 from the lid.
  • the lower ends of the two tappets engage an arm 64 pivoted on the shaft 12 and driven by lever 19.
  • the position of rocker arm 62 is an indication of the movable contact position, and may be used to drive a'visual indicator and also to control the operation of auxiliary switches mounted externally of the housing.
  • Electrical switchgear comprising a set of fixed contacts; a set of movable contacts; means mounting said movable contacts for movement into a closed position in engagement with said fixed contacts and to an open position out of engagement with said fixed contacts; a closing spring system comprising at least one closing spring, first restraining means restraining said closing spring at a first end, and second restraining means restraining said spring at a second end, said first and second restraining means being independently movable; connecting means connecting said second restraining means to move with said movable contacts; an opening spring system comprising at least one opening spring, third restraining means restraining said opening spring at a first end, and .fourth restraining means restraining said opening spring at a second end; a lever system for charging said spring systems, said lever system including a bell crank lever having first and second arms, said first restraining means being pivotally con-.
  • first and second latches for releasably latching said closing and opening spring systems in their charged conditions, said first latch being operable when released to release said second restraining means and allow said movable contacts to move to the closed position under the force in the charged closing spring system, and said second latch being operable when released to release said third restraining means which is connected to the movable contacts to move them to the opened position under the forcein the charged opening spring system.
  • each said spring system comprises a number of parallel compression springs held between the respective ones of said restraining means, each spring having a rod running through its center, each said rod being secured to one of said respective restraining means and being movable relative to the other of said respective restraining means.
  • said first latch comprises a toggle lever system movable over center between a locking position and a release position.
  • said toggle lever system comprises'a first toggle lever having first and second ends, a second toggle lever having first and second ends, means pivoting said first ends of said toggle levers together, meanspivoting said second end of said first toggle lever at a fixed location, and means pivoting said second end of said second toggle lever to a lever forming part of said connecting means between said second restraining means and said movable contacts.
  • Electrical switchgear according to claim 6 and including a further bell crank lever having first and second arms, said roller being mounted on said first arm of said further bell crank lever; a striking pad formed on said second arm of said further bell crank lever, and a trip member engageable with said striking pad to move said roller and release said second latch.
  • said means mounting said movable contacts are pivot a second shaft rotatably supported on and projecting to the outside of said housing, and freely engaging elements on said first and second shafts, whereby said first shaft may be pivotally moved by appropriate pivotal movement of said second shaft.

Landscapes

  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Mechanisms For Operating Contacts (AREA)
  • Relay Circuits (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Keying Circuit Devices (AREA)
US00340304A 1972-03-16 1973-03-12 Electrical switchgear Expired - Lifetime US3823290A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1248472A GB1418640A (en) 1972-03-16 1972-03-16 Electrical switchgear

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3823290A true US3823290A (en) 1974-07-09

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ID=10005461

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00340304A Expired - Lifetime US3823290A (en) 1972-03-16 1973-03-12 Electrical switchgear

Country Status (16)

Country Link
US (1) US3823290A (ja)
JP (1) JPS48102263A (ja)
AU (1) AU470682B2 (ja)
BE (1) BE796881A (ja)
CA (1) CA978249A (ja)
CH (1) CH579315A5 (ja)
DE (1) DE2312758C3 (ja)
DK (1) DK144958C (ja)
FR (1) FR2176084B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1418640A (ja)
IT (1) IT984419B (ja)
MY (1) MY7700274A (ja)
NL (1) NL165876C (ja)
NO (1) NO137066C (ja)
SE (1) SE377220B (ja)
ZA (1) ZA731486B (ja)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4204103A (en) * 1977-09-20 1980-05-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Driving apparatus for electric power circuit breakers
US4946394A (en) * 1986-09-12 1990-08-07 Cooper Power Systems, Inc. Connection mechanism for connecting a cable connector to a bushing
CN105304420A (zh) * 2015-11-17 2016-02-03 江苏省如高高压电器有限公司 一种断路器用弹簧操动机构

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4110043A1 (de) * 1991-03-27 1992-10-01 Kloeckner Moeller Gmbh Motorantrieb fuer elektrische schaltgeraete, insbesondere leistungsschalter

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4204103A (en) * 1977-09-20 1980-05-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Driving apparatus for electric power circuit breakers
US4946394A (en) * 1986-09-12 1990-08-07 Cooper Power Systems, Inc. Connection mechanism for connecting a cable connector to a bushing
CN105304420A (zh) * 2015-11-17 2016-02-03 江苏省如高高压电器有限公司 一种断路器用弹簧操动机构

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2312758C3 (de) 1979-03-08
DK144958C (da) 1982-11-29
DK144958B (da) 1982-07-12
GB1418640A (en) 1975-12-24
NO137066B (no) 1977-09-12
FR2176084A1 (ja) 1973-10-26
DE2312758B2 (de) 1978-07-13
DE2312758A1 (de) 1973-09-20
AU470682B2 (en) 1976-03-25
CH579315A5 (ja) 1976-08-31
NL7303621A (ja) 1973-09-18
ZA731486B (en) 1973-11-28
NO137066C (no) 1977-12-21
CA978249A (en) 1975-11-18
AU5340873A (en) 1974-09-19
FR2176084B1 (ja) 1977-04-29
JPS48102263A (ja) 1973-12-22
MY7700274A (en) 1977-12-31
NL165876C (nl) 1981-05-15
NL165876B (nl) 1980-12-15
IT984419B (it) 1974-11-20
SE377220B (ja) 1975-06-23
BE796881A (fr) 1973-07-16

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