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US3441698A - Vacuum-type circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Vacuum-type circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3441698A
US3441698A US583893A US3441698DA US3441698A US 3441698 A US3441698 A US 3441698A US 583893 A US583893 A US 583893A US 3441698D A US3441698D A US 3441698DA US 3441698 A US3441698 A US 3441698A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
shield
shields
main shield
electrodes
auxiliary
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
US583893A
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English (en)
Inventor
Joseph C Sofianek
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.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
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 General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3441698A publication Critical patent/US3441698A/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
    • H01H33/662—Housings or protective screens
    • H01H33/66261—Specific screen details, e.g. mounting, materials, multiple screens or specific electrical field considerations
    • 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
    • H01H33/662—Housings or protective screens
    • H01H33/66261—Specific screen details, e.g. mounting, materials, multiple screens or specific electrical field considerations
    • H01H2033/66292—Details relating to the use of multiple screens in vacuum switches

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a vacuum-type circuit interrupter and, more particularly, relates to improved shielding structure for protecting the insulation of such an interrupter from being impaired by the condensation thereon of arc-generated metallic vapors.
  • This shielding comprises (l) a main shield of tubular form surrounding the arcing gap and maintained at a potential intermediate that of the electrodes of the intermpter and (2) a pair of auxiliary shields of tubular form respectively surrounding the opposite ends of the main shield and electrically connected to the electrodes.
  • the auxiliary shields act to intercept metal vapors that might otherwise bypass the main shield and also provide a desired distribution of the electric field at the ends of the interrupter.
  • An object of the present invention is to improve the ability of the shielding to condense metal vapors that tend to bypass the main shield.
  • Another object is to force any sparkover between the main shield and adjacent structure to occur in a location where there is a reduced chance for coating the insulating envelope with metal particles generated by the spark.
  • Another object is to condense -a large portion of the arc-generated vapors projected toward the ends of the main shield in a region that is essentially free of electrical stress.
  • I provide a main vapor-condensing metal shield of tubular form surrounding the usual arcing gap of the interrupter.
  • This main shield extends longitudinally of the tubular insulating casing of the interrupter for substantial distances on opposite sides of the arcing gap and is maintained at a potential intermediate that of the interrupters electrodes following interruption.
  • a first pair of auxiliary metal shields of generally tubular form respectively surround the ends of the main shield and are spaced radially outward therefrom. These auxiliary shields are respectively connected to the electrodes of the interrupter.
  • I provide additional auxiliary metal shields of generally tubular form that are respectively surrounded by said main shield at its opposite ends. These additional auxiliary shields are spaced radially inwardly from said main shield and are electrically connected to said electrodes.
  • the additional shields are so shaped that higher electrical stresses are present in the regions between these additional auxiliary shields and the main shield than are present between said first auxiliary shields and the main shield.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of a vacuumtype interrupter embodying one form of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • a vacuumty-pe circuit interrupter comprising an envelope 10 evacuated to a pressure of 10-4 mm. of mercury or lower.
  • the envelope comprises a tubular casing 11 of insulating material and metal end caps 12 and 13 joined to the tubular casing 11 at its opposite ends by suitable vacuumtight seals 14.
  • the upper contact 17 is a stationary contact suitably attached to a conductive rod 17a, which at its upper end is united to the upper end cap 12.
  • the lower contact 18 is a movable contact attached to a conductive operating rod 18a, which is suitably mounted for vertical movement. Upward movement of the contact 18 from its solid line position to its dotted line position engages the contacts and thus closes the interrupter, whereas return movement in a downward direction separates the contacts and opens the interrupter.
  • the operating rod 18a projects freely through an opening in the lower end cap 13, and a flexible metallic bellows 20 provides a seal about rod 18a to allow for vertical movement of the rod without impairing the vacuum inside envelope 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the bellows is secured in sealed relationship at its respective opposite ends to the operating rod 18a and the lower end cap 13.
  • each of the illustrated contacts 17 and 18 is of a disc-shape and has one major surface facing the other contact.
  • Each contact comprises a centrally located contact-making button 25 suitably brazed to the remainder of the contact.
  • Each of these contact-making buttons is provided with a centrally located recess 27 so that contact between the buttons occurs -on an annular contact-making area 30 when then contacts are in their dotted-line engaged position of FIG. l.
  • annular contact-making regions 30 are of such a diameter that current owing through the closed contacts follows a radially outwardly bowing loop-shaped path L, as is indicated by the dot-dash line of FIG. 1.
  • the magnetic effect of current flowing through this loopshaped path L tends in a well-known manner to lengthen the loop.
  • the contacts are separated to form an arc between the areas 30, the magnetic effect of the current through the loop will impel the arc radially outward.
  • This circumferentially acting magnetic force is produced by a plurality of slots 32 provided in each of the discs and dividing the discs into a plurality of fingers 33 bounded by adjacent pairs of slots.
  • the slots extend from the outer periphery I of the discs radially inward by paths that extend both circumferentially and radially of the discs, as is shown in FIG. 2.
  • These slots 32 correspond to similarly designated slots in the U.S.
  • Patent 2,949,520 Schneider and, thus, force the current iiowing to or from an arc terminal on the slotted portion of the contact to follow a path that has a component extending circumferentially of the disc in the 'vicinity of the arc.
  • This circumferential component of the current path causes current owing through the loop L to develop a net circumferentially acting force component which tends to rotate the arc about the central axis of the disc.
  • This circumferentially acting force lcomponent is high enough to drive each terminal of the arc across slots 32, thus producing a continuous rotational movement of the arc on the contact surface.
  • This continuous rotational movement of the arc enables higher currents to be interrupted, apparently because it reduces contact-erosion by the arc, thus reducing the quantity of metal vapors generated and thereby permitting more complete condensation of the metal vapors at current zero.
  • vapor-condensing metal shielding 50, 54, 56 and 58 For condensing the metal vapors that are generated by the arc, I provide vapor-condensing metal shielding 50, 54, 56 and 58.
  • This shielding comprises a tubular main shield 50 surrounding the arcing gap 52 and located between the insulating casing 11 and the arcing gap.
  • This main shield 50 extends longitudinally of casing 11 for substantial distances on opposite sides of the arcing gap 52.
  • the tubular main shield 50 has an enlarged diameter in the region around the contacts 17 and 18, as compared to its diameter near its ends, so as to give added clearance between the shield and the contacts 17, 18.
  • the main shield 50 is suitably supported on the insulating casing 12 and is maintained at a voltage approximately midway that of the contact 17 and 18 when the interrupter is opened. In the illustrated form of the invention, this midpotential relationship is provided by relying upon the substantially equal capacitances present between the shield and opposite ends of the interrupter.
  • auxiliary shields 54 Surrounding the main shield 50 at its respective opposite ends are auxiliary shields 54 of the general type shown in the aforesaid Greenwood et al. patent. These auxiliary shields 54 are electrically connected to the end caps 12 and 13, respectively, and therefore are at the same potential as the contacts I17 and 18, respectively. Each of these auxiliary shields 54 is of a generally tubular form and surrounds the end of the
  • auxiliary shields 56 Located radially inwardly of the main shield 50 at its opposite ends are additional auxiliary shields 56. These additional shields 56 ane also of a generally tubular form and are electrically connected to end caps 12 and 13, respectively. Thus, the upper auxiliary shield 56 is at the same potential as upper contact 17, and the lower shield at the same potential as lower contact 18.
  • Each of the auxiliary shields 56 surrounds a space 60 that has one end open, i.e., the end facing the contacts, and its other end closed oi by an end wall of the interrupter. ⁇ At each end of the interrupter, the auxiliary shields 54 and 56 are both spaced from the main shield.
  • An additional shield 58 of cup-shaped form is provided about the bellows 20 to protect the bellows from the arc-generated products.
  • each of the spaces 60 is a region of very low, virtually zero, electric stress since it is bounded on substantially all sides, except the open side facing the contacts, by metal parts at the same potential. Even on the open side of space 60, the rcontact thereadjacent is at the same potential as the auxiliary shield 56, thereby precluding the entry into space -60 of a significant electric field.
  • This very low electric stress greatly reduces the tendency for a sparkover to develop between the surface of the metal condensate on the walls of space k60 and an ⁇ adjacent part ⁇ such as main shield 50.
  • Such sparkovers even ⁇ though they are usually self-extinguishing, seem to detra-ct from the interrupting ability of the interrupter. Without the auxiliary shields 56, there is a significant chance for such a sparkover since the condensate has a rather rough surface that is conducive to lthe initiation of sparkover.
  • each of the inner auxiliary ,shields 56 shape each of the inner auxiliary ,shields 56 so that the maximum electric stress between the main shield 50 and inner auxiliary shields 56 is greater than that between main shield 50 and the outer auxiliary shields 54.
  • each auxiliary shield 56 with a ared portion 56a at its free end that forms a region thereadjacent where the electrical stress is higher than in any region located between .shields 50 and 54.
  • the relatively small diameter of the auxiliary shield 56 compared to that of auxiliary shield 54 also contributes to the higher stress adjacent portion 56a Of the inner shield 54.
  • a vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprising:
  • said additional auxiliary shields beinglspaced radially inward from .said main shield andbein'g yelectrically connected to said electrodes.
  • each of said electrodes has openings therein through which metallicvapors are expelled from said arcing gap longitudinally vof said tubular casing during an interrupting operation.

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
US583893A 1966-10-03 1966-10-03 Vacuum-type circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US3441698A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US58389366A 1966-10-03 1966-10-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3441698A true US3441698A (en) 1969-04-29

Family

ID=24335035

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US583893A Expired - Lifetime US3441698A (en) 1966-10-03 1966-10-03 Vacuum-type circuit interrupter

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3441698A (de)
JP (1) JPS4529934B1 (de)
CH (1) CH465694A (de)
DE (1) DE1640257B2 (de)
FR (1) FR1552927A (de)
GB (1) GB1161443A (de)
SE (1) SE329203B (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3522399A (en) * 1968-03-08 1970-07-28 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots
US4061894A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-12-06 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved protection for bellows
US4135071A (en) * 1976-03-17 1979-01-16 General Electric Company Vacuum circuit interrupter with disc-shaped beryllium contacts
CN103518247A (zh) * 2011-05-30 2014-01-15 三菱电机株式会社 真空阀

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3075831B1 (fr) 2017-12-22 2020-11-13 Univ Grenoble Alpes Dispositif implantable de production d'hydrogene

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2892912A (en) * 1956-12-24 1959-06-30 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter
US3185800A (en) * 1963-02-18 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US3189715A (en) * 1962-05-21 1965-06-15 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Internal shield and seal structure for vacuum sealed switch envelope
US3283100A (en) * 1964-11-16 1966-11-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum circuit interrupter with condensing shield serving as one of the main contacts
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

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2892912A (en) * 1956-12-24 1959-06-30 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter
US3189715A (en) * 1962-05-21 1965-06-15 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Internal shield and seal structure for vacuum sealed switch envelope
US3185800A (en) * 1963-02-18 1965-05-25 Gen Electric Vacuum type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US3283100A (en) * 1964-11-16 1966-11-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vacuum circuit interrupter with condensing shield serving as one of the main contacts
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

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3522399A (en) * 1968-03-08 1970-07-28 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots
US4135071A (en) * 1976-03-17 1979-01-16 General Electric Company Vacuum circuit interrupter with disc-shaped beryllium contacts
US4061894A (en) * 1976-04-28 1977-12-06 General Electric Company Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved protection for bellows
CN103518247A (zh) * 2011-05-30 2014-01-15 三菱电机株式会社 真空阀
CN103518247B (zh) * 2011-05-30 2016-05-25 三菱电机株式会社 真空阀

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4529934B1 (de) 1970-09-29
FR1552927A (de) 1969-01-10
CH465694A (de) 1968-11-30
SE329203B (de) 1970-10-05
DE1640257B2 (de) 1976-10-28
GB1161443A (en) 1969-08-13
DE1640257A1 (de) 1970-12-03

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