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US3632928A - Contact structures for vacuum-type circuit interrupters - Google Patents

Contact structures for vacuum-type circuit interrupters Download PDF

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Publication number
US3632928A
US3632928A US808871A US3632928DA US3632928A US 3632928 A US3632928 A US 3632928A US 808871 A US808871 A US 808871A US 3632928D A US3632928D A US 3632928DA US 3632928 A US3632928 A US 3632928A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
stationary
arc
separable
initiating
contacts
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
US808871A
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English (en)
Inventor
Werner Emmerich
Roy E Voshall
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.)
CBS Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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 Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Publication of US3632928A publication Critical patent/US3632928A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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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
    • 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

Definitions

  • a vacuum-type circuit interrupter having lightweight separable butt arc-initiating contacts, and a pair of stationary generally cylindrical elongated arcing electrodes disposed in spaced relationship, and extending longitudinally of the vacuum circuit interrupter.
  • the lightweight separable arc-initiating contacts are separated to establish arcing therebetween, and the are is moved, or transferred radially outwardly, to space the relal 3 l ⁇ X0 PATENTEDJAN M972 3,632,928
  • SHEET 3 [1F 3 1 1 l IOO/ 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 AIR PRESSURE(TORR) CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS tinent to the present invention.
  • the present invention is particularly concerned with vacuum-type circuit interrupters in which the arc, that initially burns between the stationary and the movable arc-initiating contacts, is transferred to another set of stationary electrodes.
  • FIG. I is a vertical longitudinal section taken through an improved vacuum-type circuit interrupter embodying the The movable arc-initiating contact can be quite light in weight, and the stationary electrodes, to which the arc is transferred, can be as massive as needed.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum-type circuit interrupter in which light weight abutting separable arc-initiating contacts are engaged and disengaged, and the arcing is transferred outwardly to a pair of spaced stationary generally cylindrical arcing electrodes, where are extinction occurs.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved high-speed high-capacity vacuum-type circuit interrupter in which novel means are provided for increasing the arcing area, and, additionally, where desired, improved venting means are provided to rapidly vent the arcing vaporized gases and to prevent a buildup of are back pressure.
  • a generally elongated type of vacuumtypecircuit interrupter in which a pair of separable arcing contacts are provided having disposed thereabout a pair of elongated concentrically arranged stationary spaced electrode cylinders.
  • the arcing electrodes may assume the shape of a star having elongated recesses provided therealong, or the outer electrode may have a tubular construction with venting slots, in certain instances assuming the form of helically arranged venting slots. In the latter case, an external shielding arrangement is provided to protect the inner walls of the outer ceramic envelope.
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view showing a modification of the movable contact structure of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a modified type of vacuum circuit interrupter illustrating a different separable contact arrangement than that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 4 illustrates another modification of the invention
  • FIG. 5 illustrates still another modification of the present invention using difierent configured spaced arcing electrodes with a shielding structure applied thereto;
  • FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the inner stationary arcing electrode structure of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through a modified type of vacuum circuit interrupter, illustrating an inner vented stationary arcing electrode structure
  • FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the inner vented stationary arcing electrode structure of FIG. 6; and, v
  • FIG. 7 is a graph of the driving velocity exerted on the are as a function of the air pressure in torrs.
  • reference numeral 1 generally designates a vacuum-type circuit interrupter.
  • the vacuum type circuit interrupter I generally comprises a generally cylindrical outerceramic or glass envelope 2, end plates 3 and 4 and a movable contact stem 6 operated by any suitable operating mechanism, and adaptable to cause abutting engagement between a movable contact 7 with a stationary contact 8.
  • the stationary contact 8 comprises a stationary contact stem 9 having a generally button-shaped inner stationary arc-initiating contact 8 secured thereto.
  • an axially extending stationary cylindrical inner arcing electrode tube designated by the reference numeral 11, and spaced radially inwardly from an outer stationary concentrically arranged arcing tube, or electrode 12, the latter being secured by a flange portion 12a to the right-hand end plate 4 of the device.
  • a flexible metallic bellows I4 has one end secured to the movable contact stem 6, and the other left-hand end of the metallic bellows 14 is stationarily secured to the opening 16 provided through the right-hand end plate 4 of the vacuum circuit interrupter 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows a general contact configuration arranged in such a way that the magnetic field produced by the current in' the contacts 7, 8, and other current-carrying parts of the vacuum switch 1 keeps the are moving until a "natural" current zero occurs, at which time the arc is extinguished. It has been shown that the velocity of an arc in a magnetic field depends upon the current, magnetic field intensity, and the ambient pressure. This investigation has been conducted by S. Yamamura in the Journal of Applied Physics, Volume 2], pages 193-196 (1950). FIG. 7 shows the results of his. investigation concerning the velocity of an arc versus pressure for two different arc currents and the same'magnetic field.
  • This arc-initiating contact 7 has a contacting surface on each side designated by the reference numerals 7a and 7b.
  • surface 7a is in contact with stationary contact 8 so that current passes through these sections of the contacts.
  • contact 7 is moved away from contact 8 and the arc burns in the intercontact region 18.
  • the movable contact 7 is moved until its surface 7b comes into contact with the contact ring 20. Now a large current loop is formed and the magnetic fields produced by the current in the contacts interacts with the current in the arc.
  • the radial distance between the cylindrical electrodes 1 l and 12 must be less than the spacing between contacts 7 and 8 in order that the arc transfers from contacts 7 and 8 to arcing surfaces 11 and 12.
  • FIG. 2 shows a modification of the device in FIG. 1 except that the contact surfaces 7b and 20 are eliminated, and a current-carrying strap, or flexible connection 22 connects the movable contact stem 6 to the arcing electrode 12.
  • FIG. 3 is a generally similar configuration to that of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that the arcing contacts 7, 8' are at the opposite end of the switch.
  • This has the advantage that the bellows 14 is inside of the switch; but, it has the disadvantage that a longer contact stem 6 is needed to move the movable contact 7.
  • the idea of arc transfer is similar to that described for FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 4 is another modification of the present invention.
  • a pair of end plates 23 and 24 spaced by an external ceramic, or glass envelope 25.
  • Extending inwardly on a stationary contact stem 26 is a stationary contact 8" having a rearwardly extending stationary cylindrical arcing electrode surface 11
  • a movable contact 7" actuated by a movable contact stem 6 operated by any suitable external means, and secured to one end of a metallic bellows 14.
  • the metallic bellows 14 may, if desired, be protected by a generally cupshaped arcing shield 27.
  • the right-hand end of the metallic bellows 14 may, as before, be fixedly secured to the opening 16 provided in the right-hand end plate 24 of the device.
  • the contacts 7" and 8 may be, if desired, formed of a suitable nonwelding alloy, whereas the other contact surfaces 7"a and 8"a may be, if desired, formed of copper, or other suitably conductive metal.
  • the stationary arcing electrode cylinders 29,30 may be formed of copper or other highly conductive material.
  • FIG. shows an arrangement somewhat similar to that of FIG. 4, but the stationary arcing structures assume a different form.
  • the inner stationary arcing electrode structure 33 has a generally star shape with longitudinally extending recesses 33a and outer protruding portions 33b, or the stationary arcing electrodes are the slotted structure 34.
  • the arcing structure 34 has generally helically arranged slots 35 to provide a magnetic field for are movement between the stationary spaced arcing surfaces.
  • an auxiliary shield 17 may be provided, as shown in FIG. 6, to prevent metallic vapors from coating the inner walls of the ceramic envelope 36.
  • an improved high-capacity vacuum type circuit interrupter containing two sets of contacts, or electrodes, one of which is mainly for the purpose of making and breaking contact, and the other set is for arcing purposes only.
  • the movable contact of the contact set is light in weight and relatively small. Any arc, which fonns, is quickly transferred to the second set of contacts or electrodes, where it burns until a current zero. Both electrodes of the arcing set are stationary.
  • the vacuum circuit interrupter described is arranged in a generally elongated manner, so that the device is relatively small in diameter.
  • the vacuum device as particularly illustrated in FIG. 6, has slots or holes made in the shape of bars to allow venting of the arcing products.
  • the spacing of the arc-initiating contacts, when open, is larger than the spacing between the stationary electrodes so as to facilitate the transfer of the arc.
  • the magnetic fields are generated by the current to aid in the transfer of arcs from the moving set of contacts to the stationary set of arcing electrodes, and likewise in the axial direction along the stationary electrodes.
  • An alternating current electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type comprising, in combination:
  • one electrode telescopically surrounding the other stationary electrode with an annular space provided therebetween;
  • one of the separable arc-initiating contacts is stationary and projects within the evacuated envelope having the inner tubular electrode attached thereto and extending rearwardly longitudinally over the stem portion of the stationary contact.
  • venting slots are helically arranged slots, and shielding means is provided externally thereof to protect the inner surfaces of the envelope.
  • An alternating current electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type comprising, in combination:
  • one electrode partially surrounding the other stationary electrode with an annular space provided therebetween; e. means for transferring the are from the arc-initiating separable contacts to the annular gap provided between said pair of stationary conductive electrodes with the terminals of the arc positioned on said stationary electrodes; the stationary conductive electrodes being concentrically disposed stationary tubes having an annular gap therebetween of less spacing distance than the spacing gap distance between the separable arc-initiating contacts when in the open position;
  • one of the separable arc-initiating contacts being stationary and projecting within the evacuated envelope having the inner tubular electrode attached thereto and extending rearwardly longitudinally over the stem portion of the stationary contact;
  • the outer stationary tubular electrode having an inwardly 5 vacuum type comprising, in combination:
  • one electrode partially surrounding the other stationary electrode with an annular space provided therebetween; e. means for transferring the arc from the arc-initiating separable contacts to the annular gap provided between said pair of stationary conductive electrodes with the terminals of the are positioned onsaid stationary electrodes;
  • the stationary conductive electrodes being concentrically disposed stationary tubes having an annular gap therebetween of less spacing. distance than the spacing gap distance between the separable arc-initiating contacts when in the open position;
  • one of the separable arc-initiating contacts being stationary and projecting within the evacuated envelope having the inner tubular electrode attached thereto and extending rearwardly longitudinally over the stern portion of the stationary contact;
  • a conducting strap electrically interconnecting the movable stem portion of the movable arc-initiating contact to the outer stationary tubular electrode.

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US808871A 1969-03-20 1969-03-20 Contact structures for vacuum-type circuit interrupters Expired - Lifetime US3632928A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US80887169A 1969-03-20 1969-03-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3632928A true US3632928A (en) 1972-01-04

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Family Applications (1)

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US808871A Expired - Lifetime US3632928A (en) 1969-03-20 1969-03-20 Contact structures for vacuum-type circuit interrupters

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3632928A (uk)
JP (1) JPS507741B1 (uk)
AT (1) AT295639B (uk)
BE (1) BE747509A (uk)
CH (1) CH514926A (uk)
DE (1) DE2007655A1 (uk)
ES (1) ES376798A1 (uk)
FR (1) FR2039772A5 (uk)
GB (1) GB1304443A (uk)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3702911A (en) * 1970-07-16 1972-11-14 Siemens Ag Vacuum circuit breaker
US4475066A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-10-02 Information & Control Systems, Inc. High-coulomb transfer switch
WO2005062329A1 (de) * 2003-12-19 2005-07-07 Abb Technology Ag Mittel-/hochspannungsschalter
US8895883B2 (en) * 2011-06-29 2014-11-25 Abb Technology Ag Dual current path for high rated currents
US8915751B2 (en) * 2012-05-29 2014-12-23 Commscope, Inc. Of North Carolina Male coaxial connectors having ground plane extensions
US10614982B2 (en) * 2014-12-01 2020-04-07 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Circuit closer and circuit closing system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS50120249U (uk) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-01
JP4818530B2 (ja) † 2001-04-19 2011-11-16 三菱電機株式会社 真空バルブ

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2972032A (en) * 1959-01-02 1961-02-14 Gen Electric Vacuum interrupter
US3014108A (en) * 1959-01-02 1961-12-19 Gen Electric Vacuum switch
US3185799A (en) * 1962-12-17 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter in which a main arc is divided into series-related arcs
US3185798A (en) * 1962-10-08 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with series-related arcing gaps
US3328632A (en) * 1965-08-16 1967-06-27 English Electric Co Ltd Vacuum-protective spark gap with trigger electrode
US3366762A (en) * 1965-04-16 1968-01-30 Gen Electric Arc controlling electrodes for switches and gaps
US3372258A (en) * 1965-05-28 1968-03-05 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with arc-voltage control means for promoting arc transfer
US3509404A (en) * 1968-07-01 1970-04-28 Gen Electric Vacuum arc devices with doubly reentrant coaxial arc-electrode structure

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2972032A (en) * 1959-01-02 1961-02-14 Gen Electric Vacuum interrupter
US3014108A (en) * 1959-01-02 1961-12-19 Gen Electric Vacuum switch
US3185798A (en) * 1962-10-08 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with series-related arcing gaps
US3185799A (en) * 1962-12-17 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter in which a main arc is divided into series-related arcs
US3366762A (en) * 1965-04-16 1968-01-30 Gen Electric Arc controlling electrodes for switches and gaps
US3372258A (en) * 1965-05-28 1968-03-05 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with arc-voltage control means for promoting arc transfer
US3328632A (en) * 1965-08-16 1967-06-27 English Electric Co Ltd Vacuum-protective spark gap with trigger electrode
US3509404A (en) * 1968-07-01 1970-04-28 Gen Electric Vacuum arc devices with doubly reentrant coaxial arc-electrode structure

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3702911A (en) * 1970-07-16 1972-11-14 Siemens Ag Vacuum circuit breaker
US4475066A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-10-02 Information & Control Systems, Inc. High-coulomb transfer switch
WO2005062329A1 (de) * 2003-12-19 2005-07-07 Abb Technology Ag Mittel-/hochspannungsschalter
US8895883B2 (en) * 2011-06-29 2014-11-25 Abb Technology Ag Dual current path for high rated currents
US8915751B2 (en) * 2012-05-29 2014-12-23 Commscope, Inc. Of North Carolina Male coaxial connectors having ground plane extensions
US10614982B2 (en) * 2014-12-01 2020-04-07 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Circuit closer and circuit closing system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH514926A (de) 1971-10-31
BE747509A (fr) 1970-08-31
ES376798A1 (es) 1972-05-01
GB1304443A (uk) 1973-01-24
DE2007655A1 (de) 1970-10-01
AT295639B (de) 1972-01-10
JPS507741B1 (uk) 1975-03-28
FR2039772A5 (uk) 1971-01-15

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