EP1583124B1 - Hybrid high voltage circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

The breaker has a dielectric-gas interrupting chamber (1) with contacts that are disposed longitudinally to an axis. The chamber (1) is connected in series with a vacuum bottle (2) containing a fixed contact (2A) and a moving contact (2B). An actuating unit has an arrangement for re-closing the moving contact such that a single control (4) performs re-closure before the moving contact reaches its open position.

Description

The present invention relates to a hybrid high-voltage circuit breaker.

Such a hybrid circuit breaker comprises for each pole a dielectric gas breaking chamber, for example SF6 under pressure, the fixed contact is connected to a first terminal of the network and connected in series with a switch supporting the dU / dt voltage recovery transient and whose fixed contact is connected to a second terminal of the network. This switch is often a vacuum bulb.

Such a hybrid circuit breaker in a metal envelope, said to be commonly shielded, is described in FIG. US Patent 4,458,119 where break chamber and bulb are connected in series and aligned. The movable contacts of the chamber and the bulb are connected to actuating means between an open position and a closed position by means of a single command. These actuating means comprise a set of rods ensuring the opening of the contacts of the vacuum bulb before that of the contacts of the gas shutoff chamber. This offset is generally of the order of a few milliseconds. It is caused by the trajectory of the shorter moving contact on the vacuum bulb than on the breaking chamber.

This type of hybrid circuit breaker poses the following technical problems.

First of all, given the alignment of the cut-off elements, it is particularly bulky.

Furthermore, its actuating means do not allow any easy adjustment of this shift. However, depending on the power of the hybrid circuit breaker or the dielectric gas used, it may be useful to obtain a more or less time delay between opening the arc chute and the bulb.

To solve these problems, it can be envisaged to arrange the gas-cutting chamber and the vacuum interrupter along two inclined axes, the movable contact of the interrupting chamber being extended by a longitudinal drive arrangement on which is arranged in permanent contact an element connected to the movable contact of the vacuum interrupter, the single command requesting the movable contact of the translation cleavage chamber along the first axis and the length and shape of the drive arrangement ensuring a synchronization between moving the movable contacts from a closed position to an open position of the moving contacts and vice versa.

Such an arrangement for a hybrid circuit breaker is described in the patent document US 2003/0089682 or WO 97/08723 .

However, these arrangements pose the following technical problems.

Once the movable contacts of the interrupting chamber and the vacuum interrupter are in the open position, the interrupting chamber and the vacuum interrupter remain in the open position. Now in this position, the set of moving contacts and the charged parts which their are integral forming a so-called floating potential behaving as a capacitor and likely to cause partial discharges may degrade the circuit breaker, for example in insulating parts under tension, especially when the voltage across the circuit breaker is important. This can lead to reboots, mainly due to the small distance between the contacts of the vacuum interrupter.

This problem can usually be solved by installing disconnectors connected in series with the circuit breaker.

However, in the event that this additional installation is omitted, the performance of the circuit breaker and its lifetime are affected.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a hybrid circuit breaker comprising for each pole a dielectric gas breaking chamber comprising a first contact and a second movable contact disposed longitudinally at a first axis and whose first contact is connected to a first terminal of the network, this breaking chamber being connected in series with a vacuum bulb having a fixed contact and a movable contact disposed longitudinally to a second axis and whose fixed contact is connected to a second terminal of the network, actuating means ensuring by a single control the movement between an open position and a closed position of said movable contacts, characterized in that said actuating means comprise a reclosing arrangement of the movable contact of the vacuum interrupter, ensuring this reclosing by said single command before the opening position of the movable contact of said breaking chamber.

An important feature of the invention is that this reclosing of the vacuum bulb is performed by the same single command as the opening and closing of the contacts thus allowing a particularly light control arrangement. This results in a limited number of parts and a lower cost and lower assembly time.

According to a preferred embodiment, said actuating means comprise an arrangement for moving the moving contact of said breaking chamber over a distance greater than the distance between the contacts of the interrupting chamber in the open position.

Thanks to this feature of the invention, the contacts of the interrupting chamber are spaced a distance greater than that required for the circuit breaker function and the interrupting chamber can fill after this open position a disconnector function.

This is particularly interesting to overcome the serial assembly of a separate disconnector as is generally done, to avoid any possibility of reboots even in case of gas leakage.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the hybrid circuit breaker comprises an arrangement for grounding the second terminal actuated by said single command.

This other feature of the invention further increases the ease of control, automatic and synchronized, of the hybrid circuit breaker. In known manner, the grounding arrangement is a separate envelope element provided with a specific control. The circuit breaker according to the invention is optimized for the materials used and therefore the cost.

According to a particular and preferred embodiment, said two axes are substantially perpendicular, said movable contact of the interrupting chamber is extended by a longitudinal drive arrangement on which is disposed an element connected to the movable contact of the vacuum interrupter and said single command urges said movable contact of the translation cleavage chamber along said first axis, the length and shape of said drive arrangement providing synchronization between the displacements of said moving contacts.

According to a first variant, said longitudinal drive arrangement is formed by a slide having two running surfaces parallel to each other, said element connected to the movable contact of the vacuum interrupter being disposed in said slideway and permanently in contact with it. one or the other of the two running surfaces.

According to a second variant, said longitudinal driving arrangement is formed by a cam, said element connected to the moving contact of the vacuum bottle being able to press against the rolling surface of said cam on the side opposite to that of the bulb when activating the control of the operating means of the hybrid circuit breaker.

To fulfill the function of opening the vacuum interrupter to a few ms of that of the interrupting chamber, said slide or said cam comprises a first section parallel to the first axis disposed on the side of said extended control on the side of the movable contact of the cutting chamber by a second section inclined in the opposite direction to the movable contact of the vacuum bulb itself extended by a third section parallel to the first axis on the side of the moving contact of the breaking chamber, the latter section being extended a fourth section inclined towards the movable contact of the vacuum bulb itself extended by a fifth section parallel to the first axis on the side of the movable contact of the interrupting chamber.

The choice of the angle of inclination of this second section ensures the adjustment of the separation speed of the contacts of the vacuum interrupter.

Said fifth section provides the reclosing function of the vacuum bulb.

To fulfill the function of disconnector of the interrupting chamber, said fifth section is longer than the distance between the contacts of the interrupting chamber at the end of the open position.

According to a first variant, to fulfill the function of automatic grounding, said grounding arrangement is driven by a connecting rod of which a fixed element is disposed in said slideway or on the rolling surface of said cam, the translation of this rod at the passage of this integral element in the second section ensuring the displacement of a contact electrically connected to said vacuum bulb in a contact member connected to the ground.

According to a second variant, to fulfill the function of automatic grounding, said grounding arrangement consists of a contact disposed at the end of the longitudinal groove arrangement on the control side and coming into a contact member connected to the earth at the end of the opening stroke of the movable contact of the interrupting chamber.

Preferably, a closing spring mechanical spring arrangement is disposed substantially along the second axis.

Said spring of said closing pressure arrangement is advantageously disposed outside a housing which encloses said longitudinal drive arrangement.

According to a preferred application, the circuit breaker according to the invention is in a metal casing grounded.

Said contact member connected to earth may be a tulip contact mounted on said envelope.

The invention is described below in more detail with the aid of figures representing only preferred embodiments of the invention.

The Figures 1 to 4 are views in longitudinal section of a hybrid circuit breaker metal shielded so-called shielded, according to a first embodiment of the invention, according to different positions during an opening command.

The figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hybrid circuit breaker metal enclosure said shielded earth, according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the closed position.

The figure 6 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a hybrid circuit breaker metal shielded so-called shielded, according to a third embodiment of the invention, in the closed position.

The figures 7 and 8 are partial views in longitudinal section of a hybrid circuit breaker in an insulating envelope, according to this third embodiment of the invention, according to different positions during an opening command.

In a manner common to all the embodiments described, a hybrid circuit breaker comprises, for each pole, a dielectric gas breaking chamber 1, for example SF6 under pressure, comprising a fixed contact 1A and a movable contact 1B arranged longitudinally on a first axis. AA ', horizontal seen according to the figures, and whose fixed contact 1A is connected to a first terminal of the network 3A. This breaking chamber 1 is connected in series with a vacuum interrupter 2 comprising a fixed contact 2A and a movable contact 2B arranged longitudinally at a second axis BB ', vertical seen according to the figures, and whose fixed contact 2A is connected to a second terminal of the network 3B.

Actuating means provide by a single command 4 the movement between an open position and a closed position of the movable contacts 1B and 2B.

These actuating means comprise a reclosing arrangement of the movable contact 2B of the vacuum interrupter 2, ensuring this reclosing by the single control 4 before the opening position of the moving contact of the breaking chamber 1.

They also comprise an arrangement for moving the movable contact 1B of the breaking chamber 1 over a distance greater than the distance between the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber at the end of the open position.

The hybrid circuit breaker further comprises an automatic grounding arrangement actuated by the single control 4.

To achieve these actuating means, the two axes AA 'and BB' are therefore substantially perpendicular and the movable contact 1B of the interrupting chamber 1 is extended by a longitudinal drive arrangement said slide on which is disposed in permanent contact a element connected to the movable contact 2B of the vacuum bottle 2 and the single command 4 urges the movable contact 1B of the cutting chamber 1 in translation along the first axis AA ', the length and shape of this drive arrangement ensuring a synchronization between the displacements of the moving contacts 1B and 2B.

A first embodiment is described now with reference to Figures 1 to 4 , representing a hybrid circuit breaker with metal shell C grounded or shielded.

The slideway is here made by a groove 5 arranged on a part extending the movable contact 1B and connecting it to the control rod 4A and the element connected to the moving contact 2B of the vacuum bulb 2 is a post or pin 6 perpendicular to the second axis BB 'which is engaged in this groove 5.

To achieve the desired synchronization of the movable contacts 1B and 2B, the groove 5 is shaped as follows.

To fulfill the function of opening the vacuum interrupter 2 to a few ms offset from that of the interrupting chamber 1, it comprises a first section 5A parallel to the first axis AA ', arranged on the control side 4 and extended on the side of the moving contact 1B of the breaking chamber 1 by a second section 5B inclined in the direction opposite to the moving contact 2B of the vacuum bottle 2 itself extended by a third section 5C parallel to the first axis AA 'of the side of the movable contact 2B of the breaking chamber 2.

Here appears an advantage of the invention. Generally, this time shift of opening is of the order of 3 ms. However, depending on the power of the circuit breaker and the dielectric gas used in the interrupting chamber, this offset may have to be of different value. Thanks to the actuating means according to the invention, it is easy to perform this adjustment and mount a groove element adapted if necessary.

To fulfill the function of reclosing the vacuum interrupter 2, the groove 5 extends from a fourth section 5D inclined towards the movable contact 2B of the vacuum bulb 2 itself extended by a fifth section 5 E parallel to the first axis AA 'on the side of the movable contact 1B of the breaking chamber 1.

In order to fulfill the disconnector function of the interrupting chamber 1, this fifth section 5 E is of greater length than the distance between the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 in circuit breaker function and in the open position.

To fulfill the automatic earthing function of the second terminal 3B, a grounding arrangement is driven by a connecting rod 7 of which a fixed element, a pin or pin 7A, is engaged in an extension of the first section 5A. the groove 5, the translation of this rod 7 during the passage of this integral element 7A in the second section 5B ensuring the displacement of a contact 8 electrically connected to the breaking chamber 1 in a contact member 9 connected to the ground , here a tulip contact mounted on the envelope C.

More specifically, this rod 7 is slidable vertically in a fixed housing 10 and is engaged at its outer end to the housing 10 in a longitudinal groove of a second connecting rod 11 pivoting at its end on a fixed and horizontal axis 14 carried by the housing 10. In this same groove is engaged a pin or integral axis of the contact 8 which is mounted vertically sliding in the housing 10 with the interposition of sliding electrical contacts.

Moreover, in order to ensure the closing pressure of the contacts 2A and 2B of the vacuum interrupter, a pressure arrangement 12 is interposed between the movable contact 2B of the vacuum interrupter 2 and the axis or tenon 6 connected to this contact 2B. Here, this arrangement is a mechanical spring arrangement 13.

This arrangement consists of a radial extension 12A of the movable contact 2B of the bulb 2 which can translate into a cylindrical opening of the housing 10 with the interposition of sliding contacts and which forms a housing for the mechanical spring 13 on the end of which comes in contact with an annular piston 12B whose translational stroke is limited by abutment against a flange of the movable contact 2B. This piston 12B carries the tenon or axis 6. By its calibration, the spring 13 ensures a pressure between the contacts 2A and 2B of the bulb 2 in their position of closure.

An opening cycle will now be described. Further, any reference to "vertical" or "horizontal", "right" or "left", "up" or "down" is to be considered seen according to the figures.

As shown on the figure 1 , the circuit breaker is in the closed position, the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 as well as those 2A and 2B of the vacuum bottle 2 being closed. The axes 6 and 7A are in the first horizontal portion 5A of the groove. The grounding arrangement is in the inactive position.

By the control 4, the opening cycle begins and the control rod 4A is pulled to the right. After a first run in the first section 5A where the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 are separated and where the contacts 2A and 2B of the vacuum interrupter remain closed, as a first step, as shown in FIG. figure 2 , the axis 6 of the vacuum bulb 2 goes down thanks to the second section 5B of the groove 5 ensuring the offset opening of the contacts 2A and 2B of this bulb. Then, by passing through the third section 5C, the opening of the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 is completed by blowing the arc, in a manner known per se. The axis 7A of the connecting rod 7 of grounding is in turn in the first section 5A of the groove 5 and the grounding arrangement is always in the inactive position.

The separation of the contacts 1A and 1B from the breaking chamber 1 continues, while the axis 6 is raised by the fourth section 5D of the groove 5, ensuring the reclosing of the vacuum bulb, as shown in FIG. figure 3 . In this position, the breaking chamber 1 provides a circuit breaker function. The axis 7A of the connecting rod 7 of grounding is in turn in the first section 5A of the groove 5 and the grounding arrangement is always in the inactive position.

Vacuum bulb 2 closed, the axis 6 then moves in the fifth section 5 E of the groove 5 and the separation of the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 is continued beyond its opening position until at a position represented on the figure 4 where it provides a disconnector function. During this last displacement, the axis 7A of the connecting rod 7 of grounding is lowered by passage in the second section 5B of the groove 5 and also drives down the contact 8 via the grooved rod 11 and at the end of the stroke the grounding arrangement is in the active position, the contact 8 electrically connected to the tulip contact 9 mounted on the envelope C.

The figure 5 represents a second embodiment comprising an alternative embodiment of the automatic earthing arrangement.

Here, the longitudinal drive or slide arrangement carries at its end on the control side 4 a contact 8 'of longitudinal axis AA' and the distance between this contact 8 'and the envelope C which carries a contact 9' connected to the earth, preferably of the tulip type, is such that at the end of the longitudinal travel stroke of the control rod 4A, in the disconnector operating position, this contact 8 'comes into electrical contact with the tulip contact 9' ensuring the grounding.

The figure 6 represents a third embodiment of the invention, in the closed position, comprising another variant of drive means.

The slideway is here made by a rod 5 'arranged in extension of the movable contact 1B and connecting it to the control rod 4A, and the element connected to the movable contact 2B of the vacuum bulb 2 is a tenon or axis 6 'perpendicular to the second axis BB' and rolling against this slide rod 5 '. The rod 5 'comprises sections 5'A to 5'E similar to those already described for the first embodiment groove 5 and identical function.

This axis 6 'carries a bearing and is inserted between the face or the lower generatrix of the connecting rod 5' and a part 7 'connected to the movable contact 2B of the vacuum interrupter 2. This part 7' is in the form of a stirrup and is advantageously slidably maintained by a support 8 'carried by the casing 10.

The figures 7 and 8 partially represent such a circuit breaker during an opening cycle.

An opening cycle using these variants will now be described.

As shown on the figure 6 , the circuit breaker is in the closed position, the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 as well as those 2A and 2B of the vacuum bottle 2 being closed. The axis 6 'is in contact on the first horizontal portion 5'A of the slide rod 5'.

By the control 4, the opening cycle begins and the control rod 4A is pulled to the right. After a first run on the first section 5'A where the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 are separated, in a first step, the axis 6 'of the vacuum interrupter 2 goes down thanks to the second section 5' B of the rod 5 'ensuring the offset opening of the contacts 2A and 2B of this bulb, as shown in FIG. figure 7 . Then by passing on the third section 5'C, the opening of the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 is completed with blowing, in a manner known per se.

The separation of the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 continues, while the axis 6 'is raised by the fourth section 5'D of the rod 5', ensuring the reclosing of the vacuum bulb, as shown on the figure 8 . In this position, the breaking chamber 1 provides a circuit breaker function.

Vacuum bulb 2 closed, the axis 6 'then moves on the fifth section 5' E of the rod 5 'and the separation of the contacts 1A and 1B of the breaking chamber 1 is continued beyond its position. opening to a position where it provides a disconnector function.

As has been illustrated above, the invention applies to any type of hybrid circuit breaker, whether it is in a metal enclosure connected to the earth or insulating in the air.

Claims (14)

1. A hybrid circuit-breaker which, for each pole, comprises a dielectric-gas interrupting chamber (1) which contains a first contact (1A) and a moving second contact (1B) that are disposed longitudinally to a first axis (AA') and in which the first contact (1A) is connected to a first terminal (3A) of the network, said interrupting chamber (1) being connected in series with a vacuum bottle (2) which contains a fixed contact (2A) and a moving contact (2B) that are disposed longitudinally to a second axis (BB') and in which the fixed contact (2A) is connected to a second terminal (3B) of the network, actuating means acting via a single control (4) to move said moving contacts between respective open positions and respective closed positions, said hybrid circuit-breaker being characterized in that said actuating means comprise a re-closure arrangement for re-closing the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle, which re-closure arrangement enables said single control (4) to perform such re-closure before the moving contact (1B) of said interrupting chamber reaches its open position.
2. A hybrid circuit-breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating means comprise an arrangement for moving the moving contact (1B) of said interrupting chamber over a distance greater than the distance between the contacts of the interrupting chamber (1) at the end of the open position.
3. A circuit-breaker according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a grounding arrangement for grounding the second terminal (3B) , which grounding arrangement is actuated by said single control (4).
4. A circuit-breaker according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said two axes (AA', BB') are substantially perpendicular, said moving contact (1B) of the interrupting chamber is extended by a longitudinal drive arrangement against which an element (6, 6') connected to the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle is disposed, and said single control (4) urges said moving contact (1B) of the interrupting chamber to move in translation along said first axis (AA'), the length and the shape of said drive arrangement guaranteeing that the movements of said moving contacts are synchronized.
5. A circuit-breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that said longitudinal drive arrangement is formed by a slideway (5) having two mutually parallel rolling bearing surfaces, said element (6, 6') connected to the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle being disposed in said slideway and being continuously in contact with one or the other of the two rolling bearing surfaces.
6. A circuit-breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that said longitudinal drive arrangement is formed by a cam (5'), said element (6, 6') connected to the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle being suitable for pressing against the rolling bearing surface of said cam on that side of said cam which faces away from the bottle (2) when the control (4) for controlling the means for actuating the hybrid circuit-breaker is activated.
7. A circuit-breaker according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that said slideway or said cam (5, 5') includes a first segment (5A, 5'A) parallel to the first axis (AA'), disposed closer to said control (4), and extended at its end closer to the moving contact (1B) of the interrupting chamber by a second segment (5B, 5'B) that slopes away from the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle, which second segment is itself extended at its end closer to the moving contact (2B) of the interrupting chamber by a third segment (5C, 5'C) parallel to the first axis (AA'), which third segment is extended by a fourth segment (5D, 5'D) sloping towards the moving contact (2B) of the vacuum bottle, which segment is itself extended at the end closer to the moving contact (1B) of the interrupting chamber by a fifth segment (5E, 5'E) parallel to the first axis (AA').
8. A circuit-breaker according to claim 7, characterized in that said fifth segment (5E, 5'E) is of length greater than the distance between the contacts of the interrupting chamber (1) when acting as a circuit-breaker and in the open position.
9. A circuit-breaker according to claims 3 and 8, characterized in that said grounding arrangement is driven by a link (7) of which an integral element (7A) is disposed in said slideway or against the rolling bearing surface of said cam, said link (7) moving in translation while said integral element (7A) goes into the second segment (5A, 5'A) causing a contact (8) that is electrically connected to said vacuum bottle (2) to move into a grounded contact member (9).
10. A circuit-breaker according to claims 3 and 8, characterized in that said grounding arrangement is constituted by a contact (8') disposed at that end of the longitudinal drive arrangement which is closer to the control (4), and coming into a grounded contact member (9') at the end of the opening stroke of the moving contact (1B) of the interrupting chamber.
11. A circuit-breaker according to any preceding claim, characterized in that an arrangement (12) having a mechanical spring (13) is disposed substantially along the second axis (B-B') to apply pressure in the closed position.
12. A circuit-breaker according to claim 11, characterized in that the spring (13) of said arrangement is disposed outside a casing which encloses said longitudinal drive arrangement.
13. A circuit-breaker according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is "metal-clad", i.e. it has grounded metal cladding.
14. A circuit-breaker according to claim 9 or claim 10 and claim 13, characterized in that said grounded contact member is a thimble contact (8, 8') mounted on said cladding.

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