EP0232473A2 - Ausschalter - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0232473A2
EP0232473A2 EP86115277A EP86115277A EP0232473A2 EP 0232473 A2 EP0232473 A2 EP 0232473A2 EP 86115277 A EP86115277 A EP 86115277A EP 86115277 A EP86115277 A EP 86115277A EP 0232473 A2 EP0232473 A2 EP 0232473A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arc
conductor
contacts
circuit breaker
contactor
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP86115277A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0232473A3 (en
EP0232473B1 (de
Inventor
Shinji Yamagata
Fumiyuki Hisatsune
Junichi Terachi
Hajimu 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.)
OFFERTA DI LICENZA AL PUBBLICO
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
Priority claimed from JP3555781U external-priority patent/JPS57147553U/ja
Priority claimed from JP3555681U external-priority patent/JPS57147552U/ja
Priority claimed from JP3555281U external-priority patent/JPS57147548U/ja
Priority claimed from JP1981035554U external-priority patent/JPH0218516Y2/ja
Priority claimed from JP3555581U external-priority patent/JPS57147551U/ja
Priority to EP86115277A priority Critical patent/EP0232473B1/de
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Publication of EP0232473A2 publication Critical patent/EP0232473A2/de
Publication of EP0232473A3 publication Critical patent/EP0232473A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0232473B1 publication Critical patent/EP0232473B1/de
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
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/02—Details
    • H01H73/04—Contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
    • H01H73/02—Details
    • H01H73/18—Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening
    • H01H77/102—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening characterised by special mounting of contact arm, allowing blow-off movement
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H2077/025—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with pneumatic means, e.g. by arc pressure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an improved circuit breaker, more particularly to a circuit breaker which is so constructed as to increase the separating speed of its contacts and to effectively increase the arc voltage of an electric arc struck across the contacts to thus attain an enhanced current-limiting performance.
  • the invention as claimed is intended to provide a circuit breaker wherein a pair of rigid conductors which are disposed therein and at least one of which has a movable portion that separates a pair of contacts under the action of the electromagnetic force of an excess current flowing through the contacts adapted to come into and out of contact with and from each other, are provided with arc shields of a high restistivity material in a manner to surround the contacts.
  • the feet of an electric arc are prevented from spreading to the parts of the rigid conductors near the contacts, thereby to effectively inject the metal particles of,the contacts into the arc and to raise the arc voltage of the electric arc, and the pressure of the arc space of the electric arc is increased, thereby to raise the separating speed of the contacts.
  • Figures 1(a) and 1(b) illustrate a conventional circuit breaker.
  • Figures 1(a) and 1(b) assuming now that a movable contact 302 of a movable contactor 3 and a stationary contact 202 of a stationary contactor 2 are closed, current flows along the path from a stationary rigid conductor 201 to the stationary contact 202, to the movable contact 302 and to a movable rigid conductor 301.
  • an operating mechanism 4 works to separate the movable contact 302 from the stationary contact 202.
  • an electric arc A appears across the stationary contact 202 and the movable contact 302, and an arc voltage develops thereacross.
  • the arc voltage rises as the distance of separation of the movable contact 302 from the stationary contact 202 increases.
  • the arc.A is drawn toward arc extinguishing plates 5 by a magnetic force and is stretched, so that the arc voltage rises still further. In this manner, the arc current reaches the current zero point to extinguish the arc A, so that the interruption is completed.
  • the circuit breaker and its internal constituent parts perform the operations as described above. Now, the operation of the stationary contact 202 and the movable contact 302 will be especially explained.
  • the arc resistance R is given by the following expression:
  • the arc space is occupied by the metal particles of rigid conductors with arc feet (bases) existing on their surfaces.
  • the emission of the metal particles occurs orthogonally to the conductor surfaces.
  • the emitted metal particles have a temperature close to the boiling point of the metal of the rigid conductors.
  • the arc resistivity p and the arc sectional area S in the arc space are determined by the quantity of the metal particles produced and the direction of emission thereof. Accordingly, the arc voltage is determined by the behaviour of such metal particles.
  • the behaviour of such metal particles will be described with reference to Figure 2. Even when surfaces X are constructed of contact members, the behaviour of metal particles to be described below holds quite similarly.
  • a pair of rigid conductors 201 and 301 are ordinary conductors in the form of metallic cylinders confronting each other.
  • the rigid conductor 201 is an anode
  • the rigid conductor 301 is a cathode.
  • the surfaces X of the respective conductors 201 and 301 are opposing surfaces which serve as contacting surfaces when the conductors 201 and 301 come into contact
  • the surfaces Y of the respective conductors 201 and 301 are conductor surfaces which are electrically contacting surfaces other than the opposing surfaces X.
  • a contour 2 indicated by a dot-and-dash line in the Figure 2 is the envelope of the arc A struck across the rigid conductors 201 and 301.
  • metal particles a and.metal particles b are typically representative of the metal particles which are respectively emitted from the surfaces'X and Y of the conductors 201 and 301 by vaporization, etc.
  • the directions of emission of the metal particles a and b are the directions of flow lines indicated by arrows m and n, respectively.
  • Such metal particles a and b emitted from the conductors 201 and 301 have theirtemperature raised by the energy of the arc space from approximately 3,000°C, being the boiling point of the metal of the conductors, to a temperature at which the metal particles bear a conductivity, i.e., at least 8,000°C, or to a still higher temperature of approximately 20,000°C.
  • the metal particles take energy out of the arc space and thus lower the temperature of the arc space, resulting in an increased arc resistance R.
  • the quantity of energy which the metal particles a and b take from the arc space increases with the extent of the temperature rise of the metal particles.
  • the extent of the temperature rise is determined by the positions and emission paths in the arc space, of the metal particles a and b emitted from the conductors 201 and 301. Further, the paths of the metal particles a and b emitted from the conductors 201 and 301 are determined depending upon the pressure distribution of the arc space.
  • the pressure of the arc space is determined by the mutual relationship between the pinch force of the current itself and the thermal expansion of the metal particles a and b.
  • the pinch force is a quantity which is substantially determined by the density of the current. In other words, it is determined by the size of the foot of the arc A on the conductors 201 and 301.
  • the metal particles a and b may be considered to fly in the space determined by the pinch force while thermally expanding.
  • the movement of the metal particle a emitted from the conductor 201 and that of the metal particle a emitted from the conductor 301 are different as indicated by the flow lines of the arrows m and m' in Figure 2. As stated before, this is based on the difference between the pressures caused by the pinch forces on the conductor surfaces.
  • the unidirectional blow from the conductor 301 heats the conductor 201 on the blown side and expands the foot (anode spot or cathode spot) of the arc on the surface of the conductor 201 from the front surface X thereof to the other surface thereof.
  • the metal particles b emitted from the surfaces Y of the respective conductors 201 and 301 do not deprive the arc A of sufficient heat, as indicated by arrows n in Figure 2. Moreover, they increase the arc sectional area S, resulting in a lowered resistance R of the arc A.
  • the efficiency of the cooling of the positive column by the metal particles a is impaired.
  • the metal particles b emitted from the non-opposing surfaces Y of both conductors 201 and 301 do not contribute to the cooling of the positive column at all, and they even lower the arc resistance R by increasing the arc sectional area S.
  • the stationary rigid contactor and the movable rigid contactor used in the conventional circuit breaker are large in the surface area of the opposing surfaces, similarly to the rigid conductors of the model of Figure 2, so that they cannot limit the size of the foot of the struck arc, disadvantageously.
  • the contactors have the exposed surfaces such as side surfaces besides the opposing surfaces, so that as explained with reference to Figure 2, the position and size of the feet (anode spot and cathode spot) of the arc appearing on the surfaces of both conductors cannot be limited.
  • the metal particles having appeared in the feet of the arc need to be effectively injected into the positive column from both electrodes.
  • the force which injects the metal particles into the positive column is the pressure based on the pinch force arising in the foot of the arc. Since the pinch force changes greatly depending upon the size of the foot of the arc on the contactor or upon the current density, it can be controlled. For example, in the conventional contactors, the area of the surface X of at least one contactor is large, and it does not limit the size of the foot of the arc to an effective degree.
  • the serious disadvantage of the conventional contactors is that, on account of the spread of the foot of the arc to the surface Y, the foot of the arc is liable tospread directly to the joint part between the contact and the conductor as is usually set on the surface Y, so the joint member of low fusing point is melted by the heat of the arc, the contact being prone to fall off.
  • the invention provides a circuit breaker which has a high arc voltage and exhibits a good current-limiting performance at the tripping thereof and which is free from the risk of the falling-off of contacts.
  • the circuit breaker of this invention is characterized in that, except for a part of the electrically contacting surface of either contact of the circuit - breaker, the part of a rigid conductor adjacent to the contact as projects to the surrounding space is concealed behind an arc shield (a plate-shaped pressure reflector or a covering such as taping and coating) which is made of a substance of a highly resistive material (called the "high resistivity material” hereinbelow) having a resistivity higher than that of a material forming the rigid conductor,-thereby to forcibly inject metal particles into an arc space, and that the electrodes are separated at high speed by a high pressure established owing to the provision of the arc shield.
  • an arc shield a plate-shaped pressure reflector or a covering such as taping and coating
  • the high resistivity material there can be used, for example, an organic or inorganic insulator, or a high resistivity metal such as copper-nickel, copper-manganese, manganin, iron-carbon, iron-nickel and iron- chromium. It is also possible to use iron whose resistance increases abruptly in accordance with a temperature rise.
  • Figures 6(a) and 6(b) illustrate one embodiment of the circuit breaker according to this invention.
  • an enclosure 1 made of an insulator forms the outer frame of a switching device and is provided with an exhaust port 101.
  • a first movable contactor 2 comprises a first movable rigid conductor 201 with the part intermediate its ends being turnably (pivotally) supported by a pivot pin 103 on a holder 102 that is fixed to the enclosure 1, as well as a first contact 202 which is mounted to one end part of the first conductor 201.
  • a second movable contactor 3 comprises a second movable rigid conductor 301 which moves relative to the first movable rigid conductor 201 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, and a second contact 302 which is mounted on one end part of the second conductor 301 in a manner to confront the first contact 202.
  • An conventional operating mechanism 4 operates the second movable contactor 3 relative to the first movable contactor 2 in order to close or open the circuit breaker (compare e.g. U.S. Patent 3,171,922).
  • this mechanism comprises a supporter 402 which turnably (pivotally) supports the other end part of the second movable rigid conductor 301 by means of a pivot pin 401, a lower link 404 one end part of which is turnably mounted to the intermediate or central part of the second movable rigid conductor 301 by a pivot pin 403, an upper link 406 one end of which is turnably mounted to the other end part of the lower link 404 by a pivot pin 405, and an operating handle 407 which is turnably mounted to the other end part of the upper link 406 by a pivot pin (not shown).
  • Arc extinguishing plates 5 which extinguish an electric arc struck when the second contact 302 is separated from the first contact 202, are supported by a pair of side plates 501 and 502.
  • Arc shields 6 and 7, made of the aforementioned high resistivity material, are respectively mounted on the first and second movable rigid conductors 201 and 301 in a manner to have the first and second contacts 202 and 302 projecting therethrough and to oppose to the electric arc.
  • a spring 8 being interposed between the enclosure 1 and the first movable rigid conductor 201 urges the first contact 202 against the second contact 302.
  • a connection terminal 9 is connected to the first movable rigid conductor 201 through a flexible conductor 10, and also to an external conductor (not shown).
  • the linkage composed of the upper and lower links 406 and 404 operates to engage the first and second contacts 202 and 302 as illustrated in Figure 7. Accordingly, current flows from a power supply side onto a load side from the connection terminal 9, to flexible conductor 10, to first movable rigid conductor 201, to first contact 202, to second contact 302 and to second movable rigid conductor 301.
  • a high current such as a short-circuit current
  • the second contact 302 is separated from the first contact 202 by an electromagnetic repulsive force based on current concentration in the contacting points of the contacts 202 and 302.
  • Figure 8 is an explanatory model diagram of the behaviour of the metal particles in the circuit breaker of Figures 6(a) and 6(b). Even in a case where surfaces X are formed of contact members, the behaviour of the metal particles does not differ from the ensuing explanation at all.
  • a pair of rigid conductors 201 and 301 are constructed in the same shape as in Figure 2, and the arc shields 6 and 7 are respectively mounted on the conductors 201 and 301 in a manner to expose the surfaces X, i.e. the mutually confronting surfaces of the conductors 201 and 301, and to oppose to the arc A.
  • the metal particles a and c emitted from the surfaces X are effectively injected into the arc space.'As a result, the metal particles a and c effectively injected in large quantities deprive the arc space of large quantities of energy beyond comparison with those in the prior device, to therefore cool the arc space remarkably. Accordingly, the resistivity p or the arc resistance R is raised remarkably, and the arc voltage is raised very greatly.
  • the arc shields 6 and 7 are installed closely around the contacting surfaces of the first contact 202 and the second contact.302 as shown by way of example in Figures'6(a) and 6(b), i.e. the opposing surfaces X according to Figure 8, the arc A is prevented from moving to the conductor surfaces Y, so that the size of the feet of the arc A is also limited. For this reason, the generation of the metal particles a and c can be concentrated on the surfaces X, and also the arc sectional area S can be reduced, whereby the effective injection of the metal particles a and c into the arc space can be further promoted. Accordingly, the cooling of the arc space, the rise of the arc resistivity p and the rise of the. arc resistance R are further promoted, and the arc voltage can be raised further.
  • the first movable rigid conductor 201 is turnably held on the holder 102 by the pivot pin 103, so that when the arc A has developed immediately after the separation of the first and second contacts 202 and 302, this first conductor 201 is separated from the second movable rigid conductor 301 at very high speed by the forces produced by the pressures of the spaces Q rendered very high owing to the effect of the arc shields 6 and 7. This state immediately after the separation is shown in Figure 9.
  • the second movable rigid conductor 301 can have only a comparatively low separating speed on account of the inertia of the operating mechanism 4, whereas the first movable rigid conductor 201 has the very high separating speed owing to the pressure of the space Q. Therefore, the rise of the arc voltage immediately after the separation of the first and second contacts 202 and 302 becomes abrupt, and the peak value of the current to flow through the circuit is suppressed.
  • a magnetic material may be employed so as to attract the arc A and to consequently raise the arc voltage; alternatively, a nonmagnetic material may be employed so as to split the arc A and to consequently raise the arc voltage.
  • the magnetic material With the magnetic material, the arc A is favorably cooled, but a temperature rise attributed to eddy current due to the magnetic material poses a problem in a circuit breaker of a high rated current. With the non-magnetic material, this problem is avoided.
  • Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views showing another embodiment of the arc shields, which can be applied also to other'embodiments to be described later.
  • grooves or arc runways 601 and 701 are respectively provided in the arc shields 6 and 7 to extend from the'first and second contacts 202 and 302 toward the arc extinguishing plates 5, so as to expose the first and second movable rigid conductors 201 and 301.
  • the arc A runs toward the arc extinguishing plates 5 within these grooves, to become effectively extinguished in direct contact with the arc extinguishing plates 5.
  • This described embodiment of the circuit breaker according to the invention is adapted to separate the first movable rigid conductor 201 at high speed by mounting the arc shields 6 and 7, so that the arc voltage can be remarkably raised far beyond the limit thereof in the prior circuit breaker, and so that a high current-limiting performance can be attained.
  • FIGS 12(a) and 12(b) show another embodiment of the circuit breaker according to this invention, in which an enclosure 1 forming the outer frame of a switching device is made of an insulator and is provided with an exhaust port 101.
  • a first contactor 2 is constructed of a first rigid conductor 201 which is turnably supported by a pivot pin 2b on a holder 2a that is fixed to the enclosure 1, and a first contact 202 which is mounted on one end part of the first rigid conductor 201.
  • the first rigid conductor 201 is connected to a connection terminal 204 through a flexible conductor 203.
  • a second contactor 3 moves relative to the first contactor 2 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, and it comprises a second rigid conductor 301 which is operated relative to the first rigid conductor 201 so as to close or open the circuit breaker, and a second contact 302 which is mounted on one end part of the second rigid conductor 301 in a manner to confront the first contact 202.
  • the second rigid conductor 301 is connected to an external conductor (not shown) through a flexible conductor 303, and the other end part thereof is turnably held by a pivot pin 305 on a holder 304 that is fixed to the enclosure 1.
  • a spring 2A being interposed between the first rigid conductor 201 and the enclosure 1 urges the first contact 202 against the second contact 302.
  • An operating mechanism 4 for operating the second contactor 3 so as to close or open the circuit breaker is formed so that one end part of a lower link 401 constituting a linkage is turnably coupled to the second rigid conductor 301 by a pivot pin 402, that one end part of an upper link 403 is turnably coupled to the other end part of the lower link 401 by a pivot pin 404, and that an operating handle 405 is turnably coupled to the other end part of the.upper link 403 by a pivot pin (not shown).
  • Arc extinguishing plates 5 extinguish an electric arc struck when the second contact 302 is separated from the first contact 202, and they are supported by a pair of side plates 501 and 502.
  • Arc shields 6 and 7 made of the aforementioned high resistivity material are respectively mounted on the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 in a manner to have the first and second contacts 202 and 302 projecting therethrough and to oppose to the electric arc.
  • the first rigid conductor 201 is turnably held on the holder 2a by the pivot pin 2b.
  • the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 202 are electromagnetically repelled by the currents flowing therethrough, without waiting'for the operation of the operating mechanism 4, so that the first rigid conductor 201 is separated to generate the arc A.
  • the pressure of the space Q between the arc shields 6 and 7 becomes very high, and hence, the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 can be separated at very high speed by the effect of the arc shields 6 and 7 in addition to the electromagnetic repellent force, so that the arc voltage starts rising very quickly and rises very greatly. Accordingly, the peak value of the current to flow through the circuit can be made very small, the arc voltage can be made remarkably higher than in the prior circuit breaker, and a very high current-limiting performance can be attained.
  • FIGS 15(a) and 15(b) show still another embodiment, in which an enclosure 1 made of an insulator forms the outer frame of a switching device and is provided with an exhaust port 101.
  • a first contactor 2 is constructed of a first rigid conductor 201, and a first contact 202 which is mounted on one end part of the first rigid conductor 201, the other end part of which is turnably supported by a pivot pin 2b on a holder 2a fixed to the enclosure 1.
  • the first rigid conductor 201 is connected to a connection terminal 204 through a flexible conductor 203.
  • a second contactor 3 being movable relative to the first contactor 2 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, is constructed of a second rigid conductor 301 which is operated relative to the first rigid conductor 201 so as to close or open the circuit breaker, and a second contact 302 which is mounted on one end part of the second rigid conductor 301 in a manner to confront the first contact 202.
  • the second rigid conductor 301 is connected to an external conductor (not shown) through a flexible conductor 303, and the intermediate part thereof is turnably supported on one end part of a movable frame member 305 by a pivot pin 304.
  • the other end part of the movable frame member 305 is turnably supported on a supporter 306 by a pivot pin 307.
  • a spring 2A is interposed between the first rigid conductor 201 and the enclosure 1, and a torsion spring 3A is applied to the pivot pin 304 and has its respective end parts held in engagement with the second rigid conductor 301 and the movable frame member 305. These springs bias the first and second contacts 202 and 302, respectively.
  • An operating mechanism 4 for operating the second contactor 3 so as to close or open the circuit breaker, is formed so that one end part of a lower link 401 constituting a linkage is turnably coupled to the pivot pin 304 and that also an operating handle 402 is turnably coupled to the linkage.
  • Arc extinguishing plates 5 extinguish an electric arc struck when the second contact 302 is separated from the first contact 202, and they are supported by a pair of side plates 501 and 502.
  • Arc shields 6 and 7 made of the aforementioned high resistivity material are respectively mounted on the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 in a manner to have the first and second contacts 202 and 302 projecting therethrough and to oppose to the electric arc A.
  • the first and second contacts 202 and 302 are engaged as illustrated in Figure 16.
  • a high current such as a short-circuit current flows under these conditions
  • the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 are electromagnetically repelled on account of parallel currents flowing in senses opposite to each other through these rigid conductors, and the first and s-cond rigid conductors 201 and 301 are both separated, so that the electric arc A develops across the first and second contacts 202 and 302 as illustrated in Figure 17.
  • the operating mechanism 4 works to completely separate the second rigid conductor 301.
  • metal particles are reflected by the arc shields 6 and 7 to render the pressure of the arc space high, with the result that the arc is effectively cooled and extinguished.
  • the other end part of the second rigid conductor 301 is turnably supported on the movable frame member 305 by the pivot pin 304
  • the other end part of the first rigid conductor 201 is turnably supported on the supporter 2a by the pivot pin 2b
  • the currents flowing through the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 are in parallel and opposite in sense to each other. Therefore, when the high current, such as short-circuit current flows, the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 are electromagnetically repelled by the currents flowing therethrough, without waiting for the operation of the operating mechanism 4.
  • the electromagnetic repellence separates both the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301, to generate the arc A.
  • the rigid conductors Upon the generation of the arc A, the rigid conductors can be separated at very high speed by the pressure rise of the space Q between the arc shields 6 and 7, in addition to the electromagnetic repellent force. Accordingly, the arc voltage starts rising very quickly. Since both the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 separate, the arc length stretches, and this raises the arc voltage very greatly conjointly with the effect of the arc shields 6 and 7, so that the peak value of the current to flow through the circuit can be made very small. In a circuit breaker for alternating current, the polarity of the current on a contact during arcing is not decided; moreover, the polarity on the same contact changes even during arcing.
  • the circuit breaker of the present embodiment can prevent the polarity effect on the current-limiting performance from becoming different in dependence on whether the polarity on the contact to be separated by the electromagnetic repellence is a cathode or an anode, and it can stabilize the current-limiting performance. That is, such beneficial result is achieved by the measure that both.the first rigid conductor 201 and the second rigid conductor 301 on which the first contact 202 and the second contact 302 are respectively mounted, are formed of the turnable electromagnetic repulsion type.
  • Figure 18(a) and 18(b) show yet another embodiment, wherein an enclosure 1 made of an insulator forms the outer frame of a switching device and is provided with an exhaust port 101.
  • a stationary contactor 2 is constructed of a stationary rigid conductor 201 which is fixed to the enclosure 1, and a stationary-side contact 202 which is mounted on one end part of the stationary rigid conductor 201.
  • a movable contactor 3 being movable relative to the stationary contactor 2 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, is formed of a movable rigid conductor 301 which is operated relative-to the stationary contactor 2 so as to close or open the circuit breaker, and a movable-side contact 302 which is mounted on one end part of the movable rigid conductor 301 in a manner to confront the stationary-side contact 202.
  • the movable rigid conductor 301 is connected to an external conductor (not shown) through a flexible conductor 303, and the intermediate part thereof is turnably supported on one end part of a movable frame member 305 by a pivot pin 304.
  • a cross bar 306 is penetratingly inserted in the other end part of the movable frame member 305 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and it turnably supports the movable frame member 305 in each phase.
  • An operating mechanism 4 for operating the movable contactor 3 so as to close or open the circuit breaker is constructed of a lower link 401 one end part of which is turnably mounted on the intermediate part of the movable rigid conductor 301 by the pivot pin 304, an upper link 403 one end part of which is turnably mounted on the other end part of the lower link 401 by a pivot pin 402, an operating handle 404 which is turnably mounted on the other end part of the upper link 403 .by a pivot pin (not shown), and a torsion spring 405 which is applied to the pivot pin 304 and has its respective end parts held in engagement with the movable rigid conductor 301 and the movable frame member 305.
  • Arc extinguishing plates 5 extinguish an electric arc struck when the movable contact 302 is separated from the stationary contact 202, and they are held by a pair of side plates 501 and 502.
  • Arc shields 6 and 7 are made of the aforementioned high resistivity material, and are respectively mounted on the stationary rigid conductor 201 and the movable rigid conductor 301 in a manner to project the stationary contact 202 and the movable contact 302 and to oppose to the electric arc A.
  • the movable rigid conductor 301 is turnably held on the movable frame member 305 by the pivot pin 304; further, the arc shields 6 and 7 are provided. Accordingly, although the operating mechanism 4 affords a low separating speed of the movable rigid conductor 201 on account of its inertia, the pressure of the space Q between the arc shields 6 and 7 becomes very high and the movable rigid conductor 201 is therefore separated at very high speed without waiting for the drive of the operating mechanism 4.
  • Figures 21(a) and 21(b) show a further embodiment, wherein an enclosure 1 made of an insulator forms the outer frame of a switching device and is provided with an exhaust port 101.
  • a first contactor 2 is constructed of a first rigid conductor 201 which is turnably supported by a pivot pin 2b on a holder 2ai fixed to the enclosure 1, and a first contact 202 which is mounted on one end part of the first rigid. conductor 201.
  • the first rigid conductor 201 is connected to a connection terminal 20/4 through a flexible conductor 203.
  • a second contactor 3 being movable relative to the first contactor 2 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, is constructed of a second rigid conductor 301 which is operated relative to the first rigid conductor 201 so as to close or open the circuit breaker, and a second contact 302 which is mounted on one end part of the second rigid conductor 301 in a manner to confront the first contact 202.
  • the second rigid conductor 301 is connected to an external conductor (not shown)' through a flexible conductor 303, and the intermediate part thereof is turnably held on one end part of a movable frame member 304 by a pivot pin 305.
  • a cross bar 306 is mounted on the other end part of the movable frame member 304 in a.direction perpendicular to the plane of the'drawing, and acts to move the movable frame member simultaneously in each phase.
  • a torsion spring 307 is applied to the pivot pin 305 and has its respective end parts held in engagement with the second rigid conductor 301 and the movable frame member 304.
  • a spring 2A being interposed between the first.rigid conductor 201 and the enclosure 1 urges the first contact 202 against the second contact 302.
  • An operating mechanism 4 operates the second contactor 3 in order to close or open the circuit breaker, and is formed so that-one end part of a lower link 401 constituting a linkage is turnably coupled to the second rigid conductor 301 by the pivot pin 305, that one end part of an upper link 402 is turnably coupled to the other end part of the lower link 401 by a pivot pin 403, and that an operating handle 414 is turnably coupled to the other end part of the upper link 402 by a pivot pin (not shown).
  • Arc extinguishing plates 5 to extinguish an electric arc struck when the second contact 302 is separated from the first contact 202 are supported by a pair of side plates 501 and 502.
  • Arc shields 6 and 7 made of the aforementioned high resistivity material are respectively mounted on the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 302 in a manner to have the first and second contacts 202 and 302 passing therethrough and to oppose to the electric arc.
  • the first and second contacts 202 and 302. are engaged as illustrated in Figure 22.
  • a high current such as a short-circuit current flows in this state, the first and second rigid conductors 201 and 301 are not repelled electrcmagnetically because parallel currents flow in an identical sense through these rigid conductors, and the first rigid conductor 201 is separated as illustrated in Figure 23, so that the electric arc A develops across the first and second contacts 202 and 302.
  • the operating mechanism 4 works to completely separate the second rigid conductor 301.
  • metal particles are reflected by the arc shields 6 and 7 to render the pressure of the arc space high, with the result that the arc is effectively cooled and extinguished.
  • the first rigid conductor 201 is turnably held on the movable frame member 304 by the pivot pin 305; further the arc shields 6 and 7 are provided. Accordingly, although the operating mechanism 4 affords a low separating speed of the movable rigid conductor 201 on account of its inertia, the pressure of the space Q between the arc shields 6 and 7 becomes very high and the movable rigid conductor 201 is therefore separated at very high speed without waiting for the drive of the operating mechanism 4.
  • the circuit breaker of the present embodiment can prevent the polarity effect on the current-limiting performance from becoming different depending upon whether the polarity on the contact to be separated by the electro- magnetic repellence is a cathode or an anode, and it can stabilize the current-limiting performance. That is, such beneficial result is achieved by the measure that both the first rigid conductor 201 and the second rigid conductor 301 on which the first contact 202 and the second contact 302 are respectively mounted are formed of the turnable electromagnetic repulsion type.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
EP86115277A 1981-03-12 1982-03-12 Ausschalter Expired - Lifetime EP0232473B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP86115277A EP0232473B1 (de) 1981-03-12 1982-03-12 Ausschalter

Applications Claiming Priority (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3555681U JPS57147552U (de) 1981-03-12 1981-03-12
JP35554/81U 1981-03-12
JP3555281U JPS57147548U (de) 1981-03-12 1981-03-12
JP1981035554U JPH0218516Y2 (de) 1981-03-12 1981-03-12
JP35557/81U 1981-03-12
JP35555/81U 1981-03-12
JP35556/81U 1981-03-12
JP3555781U JPS57147553U (de) 1981-03-12 1981-03-12
JP3555581U JPS57147551U (de) 1981-03-12 1981-03-12
JP35552/81U 1981-03-12
EP86115277A EP0232473B1 (de) 1981-03-12 1982-03-12 Ausschalter

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82102015.3 Division 1982-03-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0232473A2 true EP0232473A2 (de) 1987-08-19
EP0232473A3 EP0232473A3 (en) 1987-09-09
EP0232473B1 EP0232473B1 (de) 1991-05-29

Family

ID=27545382

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86115277A Expired - Lifetime EP0232473B1 (de) 1981-03-12 1982-03-12 Ausschalter

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0232473B1 (de)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3127488A (en) * 1960-07-18 1964-03-31 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Current limiting circuit breaker having both contacts movable
US3402273A (en) * 1965-12-01 1968-09-17 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chamber for circuit breakers
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
DE2928823A1 (de) * 1978-08-10 1980-02-21 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Selbstschalter
EP0054833A1 (de) * 1980-12-09 1982-06-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vorrichtung zum Einschränken eines Lichtbogens in einem Schutzschalter

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3127488A (en) * 1960-07-18 1964-03-31 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Current limiting circuit breaker having both contacts movable
US3402273A (en) * 1965-12-01 1968-09-17 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chamber for circuit breakers
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
DE2928823A1 (de) * 1978-08-10 1980-02-21 Fuji Electric Co Ltd Selbstschalter
EP0054833A1 (de) * 1980-12-09 1982-06-30 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vorrichtung zum Einschränken eines Lichtbogens in einem Schutzschalter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0232473A3 (en) 1987-09-09
EP0232473B1 (de) 1991-05-29

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