US1901609A - Arc interrupter - Google Patents

Description

Patented 14, 1933 PATENT,4 OFFICEv RALPH 2R.. PITTMAN, PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS ARC INTEBBUPTER Application led September 12, y1930. Serial No. 481,437.

This invention relates to means for protectingelectrical power and transmission lines and /or apparatus connected thereto by draining lfrom the line and/or apparatus high 5 superimposed voltages andtheir attendant currents, such as may be caused by lightning y,

i '.g Another object is-the provision of a novel lconstruction of an arc interrupter for use in connection with electrical transmission lines and/or` apparatus connected thereto, and a further object is the provision'of means for .l indicating after each operation the condition of the arcing n .In-the drawing y Figure 1 is an elevation of a transmission line supporting tower with the arc interrupter arrangement; mounted thereon inservice vposition. l i

Figure 2 is an elevationyof'an arc interrupter as constructed in accordance with the invention. f .v

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the interrupter. .f i

The present construction possesses certain lgeneral features in common Vwith'those de scribed. in the applications abovementioned,

and includes a fibrous insulating tube 18Y grounded at 16 from fa lower electrode 22. -A top electrode 21 is supported'in place by a metal connecting plug 24 which entirely closes the openinof the tube, and is secured rigidly in place y a metal band 25. VThe f 'metal band 25 entirely encircles the insulating tube 18 and is tightly clamped thereon, thus holding the plug 24 and electrode 21 rigidly in place.`v A weather-proof metal cap 19vis electrically connected by a fusible element 23 to the metal conducting plug 24. The fusible 5o element 23 is attached by any suitable means,

chamber of the arc interrupter.

not shown, to the metal cap 19 and metal plug 24. Soldering vhas been found a suitable means in case copper wire is used as the fusible element.

In the drawing, Figurel illustrates a tower carrying three transmission line conductors 10 such as may be used in a three-phase transmission line.

In accordance with the usual practice, these conductors are suspended from suspension 00 insulators 11 depending from a wooden crossy arm 12, which connects the tops of the tower poles 13, which poles are suitably anchored in the ground at their bases 14' andare provided throughout their-entire lengths with ground .65 wires 15 which rare well grounded as indicated at the points 16. l In vertically lspaced relation below! the transmission line conductors 10, lthe oles 13 are provided with a metal cross arm 1 which 70 is of metal construction throughout and which is secured to the poles in positive electrical contactv with the ground wires 15.

On the metal cross arm 17 are detachably )mounted at spaced intervals vertically below the respective transmission `line conductors, a series of arc interrupters 18', Vone of whichl is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3, all of the interrupters being identical in construction.

In operation, any extraneous voltage S-uperimposed on a conductor 1Q, which is of sufficient value will cause a current to flow from this conductorlO to the weather-proof capv19 through the fusible element 23-'to the.,85 conducting plug 24; from the conducting plu v 24 to the electrode 21 and thence to groun 16, through the fibrous insulating tube 18, the vlower electrode 22 and theV ound wire 15. In this manner, an arc is estalrished from the conductorlO to theweather-proof cap 19 and within the arc interrupter` f -rdm the electrode v 21 to the electrodev22. The distance within y the fibrous insulating tube from the top electrode 21 to the lower electrode 22 is purposely 95 made less than is the distance from the weather-proof cap 19 to the lower electrode 22, and thus the discharge naturally follows the path inside the tube. Q A

Immediately following the drainage of the 10 extraneous current caused by the superimosed voltage, dynamic arcs are established between the conductor 10 and/ or its supporting clamp and weather-proof cap 19 and also between the top electrode 21 andthe lower electrode 22 withinthe fibrous insulating tube vextinguishing the resulting arc so that there will be no interruption to service-over the transmission lines.

Inasmuch as the extinguishment of the arc is caused by the action of the arc on the material forming the inside walls of the arcing chamber through the generation of gas, it will be apparent that after successive operations the inner walls of the fibrous insulating tube formin the arcing chamber will be eventually so a ected by the high temperature of successive arcsas to cause a reduction in the quantity ofV gasy generated and hence in the velocity of its expulsion from the arcing chamber. When such a condition obtains, the dynamic'current flow willcontinue for a sufficient length of time to destroy the fusible element. 23, thus inserting inthe circuit to ground an additional length of fibrous tube and extinguishing the arc by this means.

Since the metal conductin plug 24 is rigidly secured in place in the tu e, the gas formed upon the fusing ofthe element 23 is of sufficient pressure to remove the weather-proof cap 19, thus venting the gases formed in the upper portion ofthe arc interrupter and at the same .time giving positive visual indicap tion that the arc interrupter has been rendered unfit for further service as such.

I nasmuch as the temperature` to which the fuslble element 23 is subjected is a function of also of the length of time the said current flows through the fusible element, it will be seen that the fusible element 23 will not be destroyed until the inside wall of the fibrous msulating tube 18 is so affected that the not only the magnitude of the current, buttube, a removable metal ca kmerece .n 1. In an arc interrupter, the combination of a hollow tube of insulating material, a metal cap disposed over one end of said tube and forming an electrode, a metal plug rigidly secured to the tube at a considerable distance the therein and entirely closing the opening of i the tube, a fusible element connecting said cap with said plug, and a metal tube forming a third electrode in spaced relation to said plug within the tube.

2. In an l.arc interrupter, the combination of a hollow tube of fibrous insulating material, a metal cap disposed over one end of said tube and forming an electrode, a metal plug rigidly secured to the tube at a considerable distance therein and entirely closing the opening of the tube,'a fusible element connecting said cap with said plug, and a third metal electrode in spaced relation to said plug within the tube.

3. In an arc interrupter, the combination of a hollow tube of4 insulating material, a removable metal cap disposed over one end of said tube and forming an electrode, a metal plug'rigidly secured .to the tube at-a considerable distance therein and entirely closing the opening of the tube, a fusible element connecting said removable cap with said plug, and a metal tube forming a't'hird electrode in spaced'relation to said plug within the tube.

of an insulating tube o material adapted for volatilizing on the occurrence of p an arc whereby to extinguish the arc` and expel gases from the open end of the tube, a metal cap disposed over one end of said tube and forming an electrode, a metal plug rigidly secured to the tubeat a considerable distance therein and entirely closing the opening of the, tube, a fusible element connecting saidecap with said plug, and a metal tube forming a third electrode in spaced relation to said plug within the tube.

5. In an arc interrupter, the combination of a hollow tube of fibrous insulating material, said'material being adapted foi volatilizing on the occurrence of an arc whereby'to extinguish the arc and expel gases from the disposed over 4. In an arc interrupter, the combination one end of said tube and forming an electrode,

a metal plug rigidly secured a considerable necting said removable cap with said plug, and a, grounded metal tube forming a third electrode in spaced relation to said plug within the tube.

6. In anv arc interrupter, the combination of a ,hollow tube of insulating material, a metal electrode closing one endof the tube, a metal plug rigidly secured to the tube at a considerable distance therein and entirely closing the opening of the tube, a fusible element connecting said electrode with said plug, and another electrode in spaced relation to said plug within the tube, there being material between said plug and the latter electrode adapted for volatilizing upon exposure to an arc to extinguish the are and expel gases rom the open end of the tube.

In testimony whereof I af'x my signature.

RALPH R. PITTMAN.

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