EP0059475B1 - Strombegrenzer - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0059475B1
EP0059475B1 EP19820101606 EP82101606A EP0059475B1 EP 0059475 B1 EP0059475 B1 EP 0059475B1 EP 19820101606 EP19820101606 EP 19820101606 EP 82101606 A EP82101606 A EP 82101606A EP 0059475 B1 EP0059475 B1 EP 0059475B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contactor
contacts
arc
current limiter
contactors
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
Application number
EP19820101606
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0059475A2 (de
EP0059475A3 (en
Inventor
Shinji C/O Fukuyama Works Of Yamagata
Fumiyuki C/O Fukuyama Works Of Hisatsune
Junichi C/O Fukuyama Works Of Terachi
Hajimu Central Research Laboratory Of Yoshiyasu
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.)
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi 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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26368319&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0059475(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from JP3005581U external-priority patent/JPS57143547U/ja
Priority claimed from JP3005781U external-priority patent/JPS57143549U/ja
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Publication of EP0059475A2 publication Critical patent/EP0059475A2/de
Publication of EP0059475A3 publication Critical patent/EP0059475A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0059475B1 publication Critical patent/EP0059475B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • H01H1/2041—Rotating bridge
    • H01H1/2058—Rotating bridge being assembled in a cassette, which can be placed as a complete unit into a circuit breaker

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a current limiter for protecting electric circuits. More particularly, the invention as claimed is intended to provide a novel current limiter in which make-and-break contacts are surrounded with arc shields so as to rapidly and greatly raise the arc voltage of an electric arc struck across the contacts, thereby to attain an effective current-limiting function.
  • the present invention consists in a current limiter in which a pair of contactors having respective contacts fastened thereto are arranged being mutually opposing and in parallel to each other and being disposed so that when an overload current exceeding a determined threshold flows through them said contactors are separated by electrodynamic repulsive forces whereby the contacts are provided with arc shields surrounding them.
  • the arc shields are formed of a highly resistive material having a resistivity higher than that of the contactors and which effectively injects the metal particles of the contacts into an electric arc struck across these contacts, thereby to rapidly and greatly raise the arc voltage of the electric arc so as to enhance the current-limiting performance of the current limiter.
  • numeral 1 designates a casing which is molded of an electrically insulating material.
  • a rotary contactor 2 is disposed inside the casing 1 in a manner to be turnable about a pivot pin 4 which is inserted in an elliptical hole 3 penetrating through the rotary contactor in the position of the center of gravity thereof.
  • Movable contacts 5a and 5b are disposed at both the ends of the rotary contactor 2 in the diametrical direction thereof.
  • stationary contactors 6a and 6b which pass through the walls of the casing.
  • the stationary contactors 6a and 6b are respectively provided at their ends with stationary contacts 7a and 7b which fall within the loci of rotation of the movable contacts 5a and 5b of the rotary contactor 2.
  • the movable contacts 5a and 5b are respectively held against the stationary contacts 7a and 7b under a required pressure by means of springs 8a and 8b.
  • Parallel current paths close to each other are formed by the mutually opposing longitudinal parts of the two stationary contactors 6a and 6b and the rotary contactor 2, that is, parts 6a1 and 2a and parts 6b1 and 2b.
  • the rotary contactor 2 has its longitudinal parts 2a and 2b located in opposition to the longitudinal parts 6a1 and 6b1 of the stationary contactors 6a and 6b, respectively, as shown in Figure 1a. Accordingly, it forms the two sets of parallel current paths in which the senses (polarities) of currents flowing through the opposed longitudinal parts are opposite to each other. Therefore, when a current in excess of a predetermined value flows through this current limiter, the rotary contactor 2 receives counterclockwise turning forces based on electromagnetic repulsive forces induced between it and the two parallel stationary contactors 6a and 6b, and the turning forces separate the two sets of contacts 5a and 7a and 5b and 7b against the respective springs 8a and 8b.
  • the electric arcs are struck across the contacts.
  • the arcs are cooled and split and then extinguished by arc extinguishing plates which are disposed in the arc extinguishing chambers 9a and 9b.
  • the current limiter shown in Figures 1a and 1b has the feature that the operation of the separating the contacts can be promptly effected because the two repulsive forces in the same directions act on the rotary contactor 2 at the same time.
  • the arc voltage of the electric arc across each set of contacts is structurally limited to a certain value, and the current limiting effect is not fully satisfactory.
  • the circumstances of the operation of both contacts will be described.
  • the arc resistance has the following relationship:
  • the contact particles p 1 , P2 and p 3 thus emitted have their temperature raised from the boiling point of the metal of the contacts, i.e., approximately 3,000°C, to a temperature at which the particles bear an electric conductivity, i.e., at least 8,000°C, or to a still higher temperature of approximately 20,000°C. Therefore, the particles take energy out of the arc space and lower the temperature of the arc space, with the result that an arc resistance is generated.
  • the quantity of energy which the contact particles take out (absorb) of the arc space is greatly affected by the extent of the temperature rise of the particles. In turn, the extent of the temperature rise is determined by the positions and emission paths in the arc space, of the electrode particles emitted from the contacts.
  • the contact particles p, emitted from near the centers of the opposing surfaces X take large quantities of energy out of the arc space, but the contact particles P2 emitted from the surfaces Y including the aforementioned contact surfaces and the parts of the conductor surfaces deprive the arc space of smaller quantities of energy than those of the contact particles p i .
  • the contact particles p 3 emitted from the peripheral parts of the opposing surfaces X can take out only intermediate quantities of energy between the quantities of energy which the contact particles p 1 , and P2 absorb.
  • Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a current limiter according to the present invention.
  • the contacts 5a and 5b of the rotary contactor 2 are respectively surrounded with arc shields 10 and 10b, while the contacts 7a and 7b of the stationary contactors 6a and 6b are respectively surrounded with arc shields 11 a and 11b.
  • Symbols 12a and 12b indicate pieces of an insulating material which cover the conductor surfaces or bare charging parts of the rotary contactor 2 opposing to the stationary contactors 6a and 6b, respectively, while symbols 13a and 13b indicate pieces of the insulating material which similarly cover the bare charging parts of the stationary contactors 6a and 6b, respectively.
  • the other parts are the same as in the prior construction shown in Figures 1a and 1b.
  • All the arc shields 10a, 10b, 11 a and 11b are formed of a highly resistive material which has a resistivity higher than that of the base conductor, for example, an organic or inorganic insulator, or a highly resistive metallic material such as nickel, iron, copper-nickel, copper-manganese, manganin, iron-carbon, iron-nickel, and iron- chromium.
  • the arc shields As methods for forming the arc shields, there are a method in which a plate- shaped member fabricated of the highly resistive material is snugly fitted and fixed to the contact part as typically illustrated by the mounting state of the arc shield 11a on the contact 7a of the stationary contactor 6a in Figure 4, and a method in which the conductor surface is coated with a highly resistive material such as ceramic by, for example, the plasma jet spraying. According to the latter method based on the coating, the arc shields can be formed inexpensively and simply. Especially, the weight of the arc shields on the rotary contactor side becomes light. This brings forth the advantage that the moment of inertia becomes small to increase the contact separating speed and to raise the arc voltage.
  • the arc shield is formed with a plate shape. This is because it is effective to confine the arc, as will be described later.
  • Figure 5 shows a diagram of electrical connection wherein a resistor 15 is disposed in parallel with an electric circuit for which the current limiter 14 shown in Figure 3 is used.
  • the resistor 15 is shortcircuited during the engagement of the contacts of the current limiter, whereas it is inserted in the electric circuit during the separation of the contacts.
  • the resistor 15 is effective to extinguish the arc.
  • FIG. 7 shows such current limiter to which the present invention is applicable.
  • numeral 21 designates a casing which is molded of an electrically insulating material.
  • a movable contactor 22 is disposed inside the casing 21 in a manner to be turnable about a pivot pin 24 which is inserted through a hole 23.
  • One end of the movable contactor 22 is provided with a contact 25, while the other end thereof is connected to an external conductor 31 through a flexible copper-stranded wire 30.
  • a stationary contactor 26 is provided at its end with a contact 27 which falls within the locus of rotation of the contact 25 of the movable contactor 22.
  • the contact 25 is held in touch with the contact 27 under a required pressure by means of a spring 28.
  • Parallel current paths close to each other are formed by the mutually opposing longitudinal parts of the stationary contactor 26 and the rotary contactor 22.
  • An electric arc which is struck across the contacts 25 and 27 when they are separated from each other is stretched and cooled and then extinguished by arc extinguishing plates 32 is an arc extinguishing chamber 29 defined in the casing 21.
  • the movable contactor 22 has its longitudinal part located in opposition to the longitudinal part of the stationary contactor 26, so that the senses or polarities of currents flowing through the longitudinal parts of both the contactors are opposite to each other. Accordingly, when a current in excess of a predetermined value flows through this current limiter, the movable contactor 22 receives a counterclockwise turning force based on an electromagnetic repulsive force induced between it and the parallel stationary contactor 26, and the contacts 25 and 27 begin to separate against the spring 28, so that an electric arc is struck across the contacts. The arc is cooled and split and then extinguished by the arc extinghishing plates 32 disposed in the arc extinguishing chamber 29. With the above-stated current limiter of Figure 7, however, the arc voltage across the contacts is limited to a certain value as described with reference to Figure 2, and the current limiting effect is not fully satisfactory.
  • FIG. 8 shows a current limiter body 33 in another embodiment of the current limiter according to the present invention.
  • arc shields 34a and 34b are disposed in a manner to respectively and individually surround the contact 25 of the movable contactor 22 and the contact 27 of the stationary contactor 26.
  • a piece of an insulating material 35a is disposed on the conductor surface or bare charging part of the movable contactor 22 opposing to the stationary contactor 26, while a piece of the insulating material 35b is similarly disposed on the bare charging part of the stationary contactor 26.
  • the method of forming the arc shields 34a and 34b is the same as stated in the embodiment of Figure 3.
  • the arc voltage can be rapidly raised by the arc shields 34a and 34b so as to achieve an effective current-limiting function.
  • Figure 9 shows still another embodiment of the current limiter according to the present invention.
  • this embodiment includes a pair of movable contactors 22a and 22b which are made of a conductor and which form parallel current paths. Both these contactors have contacts 25a and 25b on one end thereof, and have flexible copper-stranded wires 30a and 30b connected to the other ends thereof. These contactors are rotatable about pivot pins 24a and 24b, respectively.
  • Symbols 34c and 34d indicate arc shields surrounding the respective contacts 25a and 25b, while symbols 35c and 35d indicate pieces of an insulating material covering the bare charging parts of the respective movable contactors 22a and 22b.
  • the method of forming the arc shields 34c and 34d is the same as stated in conjunction with the embodiment of Figure 3.
  • the arc voltage can be rapidly raised by the arc shields 34c and 34d so as to achieve an effective current-limiting function.
  • the resistor may be connected in parallel as illustrated in Figure 5, whereby the arc voltage can be promptly turned over to the resistor after the occurrence of the arc across the contacts, and wear of the contacts can be prevented.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)

Claims (7)

1. Strombegrenzungsvorrichtung mit einem Paar von Kontaktarmen (2, 6a, 6b; 22, 26; 22a, 22b) mit jeweils an deren Enden befestigten Kontaktstücken (5a, 5b, 7a, 7b; 25, 27; 25a, 25b), wobei diese Kontaktarme sich wechselseitig gegenüberstehen und parallel zueinander liegen, und derart angeordnet sind, daß, wenn ein über einen bestimmten Schwellenwert ansteigender Überlastungsstrom durch diese fließt, die Kontaktstücke durch die durch den Überlastungsstrom gebildete elektrodynamische Abstoßungskraft getrennt werden, mit weiterhin mindestens einer Kontaktfeder (8a, 8b; 28, 28b), die einen bewegbaren Kontaktarm (2, 22; 22a, 22b) zwingt, die Kontaktstücke zu kontaktieren, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Lichtbogenschilde (10a, 10b, 11a, 11b) vorgesehen sind, welche aus einem Material mit hohem Widerstand, welcher höher ist als der der Kontaktarme (2, 6a, 6b; 22, 26; 22a, 22b), hergestellt sind und derart auf den Kontaktarmen angeordnet sind, daß sie die Kontaktstücke (5a, 5b, 7a, 7b; 25, 27; 25a, 25b) umgeben.
2. Strombegrenzungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, worin ein Kontaktarm (2) des Kontaktarmpaars Kontaktstücke an seinen beiden Enden besitzt, und in seinem mittleren Bereich einen Drehkontaktarm (2) bildend drehbar gelagert ist, der andere Kontaktarm (6a oder 6b) daran befestigte Kontaktstücke (7a, 7b) besitzt, welche den Kontaktstücken (5a, 5b), die mit dem Drehkontaktarm (2) eine Drehbewegung durchführen, gegenüberliegen, und einen feststehenden Kontaktarm (6a oder 6b) bildet, und worin Isolationsmaterial (12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) mindestens an einem der sich gegenüberliegenden Kontaktarmoberflächen des Drehkontaktarms (2) und des feststehenden Kontaktarms (6a oder 6b) vorgesehen sind.
3. Strombegrenzungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 2, worin dieses Kontaktarmpaar (2, 6a, 6b) über einen externen Widerstand (15) untereinander verbunden ist.
4. Strombegrenzungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, worin das Paar der Kontaktarm (22, 26) an deren einem Ende Kontaktstücke (25, 27) besitzt, einer dieser Kontaktarm (22) einen beweglichen Kontaktarm (22) bildend an seinem anderen Ende drehbar befestigt ist, der andere Kontaktarm (26) einen feststehenden Kontaktarm (26) bilden und Isolationsmaterial (35a, 35b) an mindestens einer der sich gegenüberstehenden Kontaktarmoberflächen des beweglichen Kontaktarms (22) und des feststehenden Kontaktarms (26) angeordnet ist.
5. Stromunterbrechungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 4, worin diese beiden Kontaktarm (22, 26) über einen externen Widerstand untereinander verbunden sind.
6. Strombegrenzungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, worin jeder der beiden Kontaktarm (22a, 22b) ein Kontaktstück (25a, 25b) an einem Ende besitzt und am anderen Ende drehbar befestigt ist, und Isolationsmaterial (35c, 35d) an mindestens einer der sich gegenüberleigenden Kontaktarmoberflächen der beiden Kontaktarme (22a, 22b) vorgesehen ist.
7. Stromunterbrechungsvorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 6, worin diese beiden Kontaktarme (22a, 22b) über einen externen Widerstand miteinander verbunden sind.
EP19820101606 1981-03-02 1982-03-02 Strombegrenzer Expired EP0059475B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP30057/81U 1981-03-02
JP3005581U JPS57143547U (de) 1981-03-02 1981-03-02
JP30055/81U 1981-03-02
JP3005781U JPS57143549U (de) 1981-03-02 1981-03-02

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0059475A2 EP0059475A2 (de) 1982-09-08
EP0059475A3 EP0059475A3 (en) 1983-06-29
EP0059475B1 true EP0059475B1 (de) 1986-06-25

Family

ID=26368319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19820101606 Expired EP0059475B1 (de) 1981-03-02 1982-03-02 Strombegrenzer

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EP (1) EP0059475B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3271813D1 (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3852455T2 (de) * 1987-10-01 1996-04-18 Cge-Compagnia Generale Elettromeccanica S.P.A., Mailand/Milano Hand- und elektromagnetisch betätigbare Kontaktanordnung für strombegrenzende Schalter.
SE461557B (sv) * 1989-04-28 1990-02-26 Asea Brown Boveri Kontaktanordning foer elkkopplare
JP2709251B2 (ja) * 1992-02-27 1998-02-04 寺崎電気産業株式会社 引出形回路遮断器
DE10222668A1 (de) * 2001-05-28 2002-12-05 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Schaltgerät
DE102008037967A1 (de) * 2008-08-13 2010-02-18 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Drehkontaktsystem mit Toleranzausgleich für ein Schaltgerät sowie Schaltgeräte mit einem derartigen Drehkontaktsystem
CA2909306C (en) * 2013-04-15 2019-06-11 Abb Oy Electric switch assembly

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1198899B (de) * 1963-01-30 1965-08-19 Siemens Ag Schaltungsanordnung zur Funkenloeschung an mechanischen Kontakten
US3317866A (en) * 1963-02-07 1967-05-02 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kk Automatic circuit interrupter having magnetic blowoff means
US3464038A (en) * 1967-02-16 1969-08-26 Terasaki Denki Sangyo Kk Circuit interrupter
DE1765050B2 (de) * 1968-03-26 1976-08-05 Deutsche Gold- Und Silber-Scheideanstalt Vormals Roessler, 6000 Frankfurt Elektrische kontakt- oder elektrodenanordnung zur ortsfesten stabilisierung der lichtbogenfusspunkte und zur verringerung der abbrandverluste
US3997746A (en) * 1974-04-23 1976-12-14 Airpax Electronics, Incorporated Circuit breaker with arc chamber screen
JPS5475055A (en) * 1977-11-28 1979-06-15 Hitachi Ltd Current limiting breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0059475A2 (de) 1982-09-08
EP0059475A3 (en) 1983-06-29
DE3271813D1 (en) 1986-07-31

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