EP2717283B1 - Electrical switching device with multiple nominal contacts and method for manufacturing the electrical switching device - Google Patents
Electrical switching device with multiple nominal contacts and method for manufacturing the electrical switching device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2717283B1 EP2717283B1 EP12187032.3A EP12187032A EP2717283B1 EP 2717283 B1 EP2717283 B1 EP 2717283B1 EP 12187032 A EP12187032 A EP 12187032A EP 2717283 B1 EP2717283 B1 EP 2717283B1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- contact
- contacting area
- switching device
- nominal
- finger
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H1/00—Contacts
- H01H1/06—Contacts characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved
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- 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
- H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
- H01H1/38—Plug-and-socket contacts
- H01H1/385—Contact arrangements for high voltage gas blast circuit breakers
Definitions
- the invention relates to the field of medium and high voltage switching technologies and concerns an electrical switching device and a method for manufacturing said electrical switching device according to the independent claims.
- the electrical switching device is particularly used as an earthing device, a fast-acting earthing device, a circuit breaker or a switch disconnector in power transmission or distribution systems.
- Electrical switching devices are well known in the field of medium and high voltage switching applications. They are e.g. used for interrupting a current, when an electrical fault occurs.
- circuit breakers have the task of opening contacts and keeping them far apart from one another in order to avoid a current flow, even in case of high electrical potential originating from the electrical fault itself.
- medium voltage refers to voltages from 1 kV to 72.5 kV
- high voltage refers to voltages higher than 72.5 kV.
- the electrical switching devices may have to be able to carry high nominal currents of 5000 A to 6300 A and to switch very high short circuit currents of 63 kA to 80 kA at very high voltages of 550 kV to 1200 kV.
- WO 2006/063943 A1 discloses an electrical contact arrangement comprising a first contact point and a second contact point. Adjacent contact regions of the first contact point are staggered in relation to each other. Each contact region is formed by a contact finger. Thus, each contact finger contacts the second contact point in one area which is displaced relatively to the respective contacting areas of adjacent fingers.
- EP 1 973 202 A1 discloses a contact system for low voltage applications with a multiple contact surface.
- a contact spring is formed in such a way that it contacts the contact surface simultaneously in two different areas.
- JP 1187716 discloses a contacting device for an electrical motor.
- JP 1187716 discloses a plate-like contacting piece 2 consisting of flat conductive material and having cut parts 2a, 2b, 2b for receiving energizing members or springs 4, 5 which press the contacting plate 2 as a whole radially inwards.
- a method for manufacturing said electrical switching device comprising the step of grinding the first and the second contacting area of the contact fingers of the finger cage by means of a cylindrical grinder with an outer diameter being equal to an outer diameter of the second nominal contact.
- the first and the second contacting area are heated up less as compared to a single contacting area receiving the entire nominal current or short circuit current, because each of them conducts a lower current. This results in a significantly lower damage of the contact surface, thus prolonging the life of the contact arrangement.
- the method for manufacturing the electrical switching device has the advantage that the radial positions, with respect to the longitudinal axis, of the first and the second contacting areas are mutually adjusted.
- a cylindrical grinder having an outer diameter which is equal to the one of the second nominal contact, it is made sure that all first and second contacting areas have a shape which matches the outer shape of the cylindrical second nominal contact.
- the surfaces of the first and the second contacting area have the same curvature as the outer surface of the second nominal contact, which normally is a metal rod, thus ensuring an optimum contact of the first contact finger to the second nominal contact.
- all contact fingers of the finger cage are formed like the first contact finger, i.e. all fingers have the same shape.
- all contact fingers have at least a first and a second contacting area which are formed in the same way as the respective contacting areas of the first contact finger. This advantageously results in a substantially uniform distribution of the current through all contact fingers.
- the invention is described for the example of a high voltage circuit breaker, but the principles described in the following also apply for the usage of the invention in other switching devices, e.g. of the type mentioned above, such as a disconnector, earthing switch, combined disconnector and earthing switch, load-break switch, fast-acting earthing switch, generator circuit breaker, medium voltage circuit breaker, high-voltage circuit breaker, or the like.
- switching devices e.g. of the type mentioned above, such as a disconnector, earthing switch, combined disconnector and earthing switch, load-break switch, fast-acting earthing switch, generator circuit breaker, medium voltage circuit breaker, high-voltage circuit breaker, or the like.
- Fig. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a simplified basic high voltage circuit breaker 1 in a closed configuration.
- "partial sectional view” means that only the upper half of the circuit breaker is shown, for reasons of clarity.
- the device is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis z. Only the elements of the circuit breaker 1 which are related to the present invention are described in the following, other elements present in the figures are not relevant for understanding the invention and are known by the skilled person in high voltage electrical engineering.
- a "closed configuration" as used herein means that nominal contacts of the circuit breaker are closed and are thus conducting a current, in particular a nominal current.
- the circuit breaker 1 comprises a chamber enclosed by a shell or housing 5 which normally is cylindrical around the longitudinal axis z. It further comprises a nominal contact arrangement formed by a first nominal contact comprising a plurality of contact fingers 3a, of which only one is shown here for reasons of clarity, formed as a finger cage around the longitudinal axis z. A shielding 9 is arranged around the finger cage.
- the nominal contact arrangement further comprises a second mating contact 3b which normally is a metal tube.
- the contact fingers 3a and the second contact 3b are movable relatively to one another from the closed configuration shown in Fig. 1 , in which they are in electrical contact to one another, into an opened configuration, in which they are apart from one another, and vice versa. It is also possible that only one of the contacts 3a, 3b moves parallel to the longitudinal axis z and the other contact 3b, 3a is stationary.
- the contact fingers 3a are attached to or can be a part of a finger support 2, particularly a metal support cylinder 2.
- the circuit breaker 1 furthermore comprises an arcing contact arrangement formed by a first arcing contact 4a and a second arcing contact 4b.
- the first nominal contact 3a and the first arcing contact 4a may or may not be movable and typically are not movable relatively to one another.
- the second nominal contact 3b and the second arcing contact 4b may or may not be movable and typically are not movable with respect to one another.
- the second nominal contact 3b and the second arcing contact 4b are moved parallel to the direction of the z-axis into the direction indicated by the z-arrow, such that the nominal contact arrangement 3a, 3b disconnects first. Thereafter, the current commutates to the arcing contact arrangement 4a, 4b, which is still closed. With further movement of the second nominal contact 3b and the second arcing contact 4b into said direction, the arcing contact arrangement 4a, 4b also disconnects thereby creating an electric arc between the arcing contacts 4a, 4b, which is normally blasted out in a very short time.
- Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of a nominal contact finger 3a of a finger cage of the high voltage circuit breaker of Fig. 1 in a closed configuration of the circuit breaker.
- the nominal contact finger 3a of a first nominal contact contacts a second nominal contact 3b in a contacting area 6a of the contact finger 3a.
- a current I flows from the second nominal contact 3b through the contacting area 6a into the contact finger 3a of the first nominal contact, which current flow is denoted by the two arrows.
- the contacting area 6a is relatively small.
- the contact finger 3a heats up at and around the contacting area 6a. With regard to the contact heat, it must be made sure that a prescribed maximum value of about 105°C is not exceeded.
- Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a comparative embodiment of a first contact finger 3c which is not according to the invention.
- the second nominal contact 3b can be identical to the one of Fig. 2 , and thus it will not be described in more detail.
- the first contact finger 3c has two arc-shaped contacts which contact the second nominal contact 3b in a first contacting area 6 and a second contacting area 7, respectively.
- the first and the second contacting area 6, 7 are separated by a third area 8 which has no mechanical and/or electrical contact with the second nominal contact 3b, as illustrated in Fig. 3 .
- the two contacts which refer here to the curvature parts of the first contact finger 3c, have the shape of an arc, or at least a rounded shape, on the side facing the second nominal contact 3b, in order to glide easier over the second nominal contact 3b when the circuit breaker is being closed.
- the finger cage not shown here, has a slightly smaller diameter than the second nominal contact 3b, which is a metal tube as mentioned above, in order to exert a pressure on the second nominal contact 3b, which pressure is high enough to ensure a good mechanical and electrical contact.
- the contact fingers 3c of the finger cage are elastically deformed in a radial direction upon closing the circuit breaker.
- the first contact finger 3c is formed in such a way, that the electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact 3b occurs first in the first contacting area 6 and subsequently in the second contacting area 7, when the electric switching device, here the circuit breaker, is being closed.
- the electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact 3b is lost first in the second contacting area 7 and is subsequently lost in the first contacting area 6.
- a small electric arc is formed between the second nominal contact 3b and the first contacting area 6 just before the current commutates to the arcing contacts 4a, 4b.
- the first contacting area 6 has to be made of a material which is comparatively resistant to electrical commutating arcs.
- the first contact finger 3c is advantageously made of copper, at least in a section conducting a first current, here denotes by 1/2, through the first contacting area 6.
- the first contact finger 3c is made of aluminium at least in a section conducting a second current, here denotes by 1/2, through the second contacting area 7.
- the overall cost of the circuit breaker is reduced, because the cheaper aluminium can be used for the conducting section of the second contacting area 7.
- An additional measure can be to coat the contact surface of both the first and the second contacting area 6, 7 with silver.
- Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a first aspect of a first contact finger 3c according to the invention.
- the first contact finger 3c has at least a first subfinger 11a and a second subfinger 11b.
- the first contacting area 6 is formed on the first subfinger 11a and the second contacting area 7 is formed on the second subfinger 11b.
- the first contact finger 3c is typically relatively stiff, such that a problem may arise that the second contacting area 7 has a better contact to the second nominal contact 3b than the first contacting area 6, or vice versa.
- the length of the subfingers 11a, 11b is chosen in such a way that the stiffness of the first contact finger 3c is reduced, and in particular that the stiffness of the first subfingers 11a and the second subfingers 11b are reduced and their contact forces are made more equal.
- Another additional or alternative measure to ensure a good contact of the subfingers 11a, 11b to the second nominal contact 3b is to adjust the angle between the first and the second subfinger 11a, 11b depending on the geometry of the finger cage and of the second nominal contact 3b. If e.g. the contact fingers are arranged in a cone configuration, said angle has to be wider than in a cylindrical configuration, because in the cone configuration the second subfinger 11b is farther away from the second nominal contact 3b than the first subfinger 11a.
- Another additional or alternative measure to ensure a good contact of the subfingers 11a, 11b to the second nominal contact 3b is to adjust the thickness of each subfinger 11a, 11b according to its position as seen in longitudinal direction.
- Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of another aspect of a first contact finger 3c according to the invention.
- the first contact finger 3c forms an arcuate section 10 between the first and the second contacting area 6, 7.
- the arcuate section 10 has a current path which is longer than a distance (i.e. direct or shortest distance) between the first and the second contacting area 6, 7.
- the length and/or shape of the arcuate section 10 is adjusted to decrease the stiffness of the first contact finger 3c. The longer the arcuate section 10 is chosen, the more flexible is the first contact finger 3c. Additionally or alternatively, the distance between the first and the second contacting area 6, 7 is kept as small as possible.
- Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of a comparative example of a first contact finger 3c.
- the first contact finger 3c has electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact 3b in the first, the second and a fourth contacting area 6, 7, 7a of the first contact finger 3c when the electric switching device is closed.
- the first, the second and the fourth contacting area 6, 7, 7a are separated from one another by two third areas 8.
- the first, second and fourth contacting area 6, 7, 7a correspond to a first, a second and a fourth arc-shaped contact 13a, 13b, 13c respectively.
- the contacts may be attached to or be a part of the first contact finger 3c. In an embodiment of the invention, they may also be arranged in a way similar to the embodiment of Fig.
- each contacting area 6 7, 7a may each be part of a subfinger of the first contact finger 3c.
- This alternative embodiment is herewith disclosed, as well.
- This arrangement with three contacting areas 6, 7, 7a further reduces the current 1/3 conducted by each contacting area 6, 7, 7a.
- the current travelling through each contacting area is calculated as the total current I divided by the number of contacting areas, provided that the current paths through each subfinger or contact have the same electric impedance.
- Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a first contact finger 3c according to the invention.
- the first contact finger 3c has at least a first subfinger 11a and a second subfinger 11b.
- the first contacting area 6 is formed on the first subfinger 11a and the second contacting area 7 is formed on the second subfinger 11b.
- the first contact finger 3c is formed in such a way that the first contacting area 6 contacts a radial surface of second nominal contact 3b and the second contacting area 7 contacts an axial end surface 12 of the second nominal contact 3b.
- the radial surface of the second nominal contact 3b is herein defined as the outer surface of the cylinder forming the second nominal contact 3b, that is, a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, radius from the longitudinal axis z.
- the axial surface 12 is herein defined as a surface extending from an end of the radial surface of the second nominal contact 3b towards the longitudinal axis z, that is a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, axial position along the longitudinal axis z.
- Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a cylindrical grinder G.
- the grinder G which advantageously has the same diameter like the second nominal contact 3b, is inserted into the finger cage and rotates with respect to the longitudinal axis z in order to grind the first and the second contacting areas 6, 7.
- said contacting areas 6, 7 are equalized and it is thus ensured that they have the same diameter like the second nominal contact 3b.
- the first and the second contacting areas 6, 7 have the same curvature like the second nominal contact 3b after grinding. This advantageously improves the conductivity performance by ensuring a maximal contact surface between the first contacting area 6 and the second nominal contact 3b and between the second contacting area 7 and the second nominal contact 3b.
- the contact fingers 3c are relatively stiff, as mentioned above, they still have a certain elasticity, which is desired in order to ensure a pressing force on the second nominal contact 3b when it is inserted into the nominal contact finger cage 3c.
- Said means may for example be supporting means forming a sleeve (not shown) around the finger cage and supporting outer surfaces 14 of the contact fingers 3c against a radial force acting radially away from the longitudinal axis z and being exerted by the grinder during the grinding process.
- the second nominal contact 3b may also have another shape, for example a cone shape.
- the tubular shape of the nominal contact finger cage 3c can be derived e.g. from Fig. 6 , where the first contact finger 3c is parallel to the second nominal contact 3b.
- a cone-shaped nominal contact finger cage 3c can be derived e.g. from Fig. 4 , in which the first contact finger 3c is inclined with respect to the second nominal contact 3b.
- the present invention is directed to the implementation of modified contact fingers 3c of a finger cage of a first nominal contact.
- the modified contact fingers of the present invention have each multiple contacting areas 6, 7, 7a in order to divide the current path I between the nominal contacts 3b and 3c, thus reducing the transitional currents flowing through each contacting area 6, 7, 7a.
- the overall contacting area which is a sum of the separate contacting areas 6, 7, 7a, is increased, resulting in a lower electrical resistance and thus better thermal conductivity and heat removal. Not only is the heat generation during current flow through the contacting areas 6, 7, 7a transferred or removed faster, but also the amount of heat generation is decreased. As a result, the lifetime of the nominal contact fingers 3c and 3b is prolonged.
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- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
Description
- The invention relates to the field of medium and high voltage switching technologies and concerns an electrical switching device and a method for manufacturing said electrical switching device according to the independent claims. The electrical switching device is particularly used as an earthing device, a fast-acting earthing device, a circuit breaker or a switch disconnector in power transmission or distribution systems.
- Electrical switching devices are well known in the field of medium and high voltage switching applications. They are e.g. used for interrupting a current, when an electrical fault occurs. As an example for an electrical switching device, circuit breakers have the task of opening contacts and keeping them far apart from one another in order to avoid a current flow, even in case of high electrical potential originating from the electrical fault itself. For the purposes of this document the term medium voltage refers to voltages from 1 kV to 72.5 kV and the term high voltage refers to voltages higher than 72.5 kV. The electrical switching devices, like said circuit breakers, may have to be able to carry high nominal currents of 5000 A to 6300 A and to switch very high short circuit currents of 63 kA to 80 kA at very high voltages of 550 kV to 1200 kV.
- Because of the high nominal current, the electrical switching devices of today require many so-called contact fingers for the nominal current.
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WO 2006/063943 A1 discloses an electrical contact arrangement comprising a first contact point and a second contact point. Adjacent contact regions of the first contact point are staggered in relation to each other. Each contact region is formed by a contact finger. Thus, each contact finger contacts the second contact point in one area which is displaced relatively to the respective contacting areas of adjacent fingers. -
EP 1 973 202 A1 - The invention starts from
JP 1187716 JP 1187716 piece 2 consisting of flat conductive material and having cut parts 2a, 2b, 2b for receiving energizing members orsprings 4, 5 which press the contactingplate 2 as a whole radially inwards. - It is an objective of the present invention to improve an electrical switching device in terms of robustness by reducing the risk of damage to its contact fingers, particularly of the contacting area of the contact fingers. This objective is solved by the features of the independent claims.
- An electrical switching device for medium or high voltage circuits and according to the present invention is defined in the appended
claim 1. - Furthermore, a method for manufacturing said electrical switching device is claimed, comprising the step of grinding the first and the second contacting area of the contact fingers of the finger cage by means of a cylindrical grinder with an outer diameter being equal to an outer diameter of the second nominal contact.
- High nominal currents or short circuit currents, which occur in medium or high voltage applications, heat up the contacting area between the first and the second nominal contact. Furthermore, the developed heat cannot be conducted away efficiently due to the very small contacting area of the contact fingers. Over time, this contacting area erodes and the result is a damage of the contact finger. By providing at least two separate contacting areas for the first contact finger, the nominal or the short circuit current through the first finger is split, wherein a first part of it travels through the first contacting area and a second part of it travels through the second contacting area, when the switching device is in a closed configuration. Thus, the first and the second contacting area are heated up less as compared to a single contacting area receiving the entire nominal current or short circuit current, because each of them conducts a lower current. This results in a significantly lower damage of the contact surface, thus prolonging the life of the contact arrangement.
- The method for manufacturing the electrical switching device has the advantage that the radial positions, with respect to the longitudinal axis, of the first and the second contacting areas are mutually adjusted. By using a cylindrical grinder having an outer diameter which is equal to the one of the second nominal contact, it is made sure that all first and second contacting areas have a shape which matches the outer shape of the cylindrical second nominal contact. In other words, the surfaces of the first and the second contacting area have the same curvature as the outer surface of the second nominal contact, which normally is a metal rod, thus ensuring an optimum contact of the first contact finger to the second nominal contact.
- In an embodiment, all contact fingers of the finger cage are formed like the first contact finger, i.e. all fingers have the same shape. Thus all contact fingers have at least a first and a second contacting area which are formed in the same way as the respective contacting areas of the first contact finger. This advantageously results in a substantially uniform distribution of the current through all contact fingers.
- Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention result from the dependent claims and from the now following description by means of the figures. It is shown in:
-
Fig. 1 a partial sectional view of a simplified basic high voltage circuit breaker; -
Fig. 2 a sectional view of a contact finger of a finger cage of the high voltage circuit breaker ofFig. 1 in a closed configuration of the circuit breaker, according to the prior art; -
Fig. 3 and6 each a comparative example; -
Fig. 4, 5 and7 sectional views of different embodiments of a first contact finger according to the invention; and -
Fig. 8 a schematic sectional view of a cylindrical grinder. - The invention is described for the example of a high voltage circuit breaker, but the principles described in the following also apply for the usage of the invention in other switching devices, e.g. of the type mentioned above, such as a disconnector, earthing switch, combined disconnector and earthing switch, load-break switch, fast-acting earthing switch, generator circuit breaker, medium voltage circuit breaker, high-voltage circuit breaker, or the like.
-
Fig. 1 shows a partial sectional view of a simplified basic highvoltage circuit breaker 1 in a closed configuration. InFig. 1 , "partial sectional view" means that only the upper half of the circuit breaker is shown, for reasons of clarity. The device is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis z. Only the elements of thecircuit breaker 1 which are related to the present invention are described in the following, other elements present in the figures are not relevant for understanding the invention and are known by the skilled person in high voltage electrical engineering. - A "closed configuration" as used herein means that nominal contacts of the circuit breaker are closed and are thus conducting a current, in particular a nominal current.
- The
circuit breaker 1 comprises a chamber enclosed by a shell orhousing 5 which normally is cylindrical around the longitudinal axis z. It further comprises a nominal contact arrangement formed by a first nominal contact comprising a plurality ofcontact fingers 3a, of which only one is shown here for reasons of clarity, formed as a finger cage around the longitudinal axis z. Ashielding 9 is arranged around the finger cage. The nominal contact arrangement further comprises asecond mating contact 3b which normally is a metal tube. Thecontact fingers 3a and thesecond contact 3b are movable relatively to one another from the closed configuration shown inFig. 1 , in which they are in electrical contact to one another, into an opened configuration, in which they are apart from one another, and vice versa. It is also possible that only one of thecontacts other contact - The
contact fingers 3a are attached to or can be a part of afinger support 2, particularly ametal support cylinder 2. - The
circuit breaker 1 furthermore comprises an arcing contact arrangement formed by a first arcingcontact 4a and a second arcingcontact 4b. - The first
nominal contact 3a and the first arcingcontact 4a may or may not be movable and typically are not movable relatively to one another. In the same way, the secondnominal contact 3b and the second arcingcontact 4b may or may not be movable and typically are not movable with respect to one another. For the explanatory purposes of the present invention it is assumed that only the secondnominal contact 3b and the arcingcontact 4b are movable and the nominal finger cage and/or the arcing finger cage is or are stationary. - When the closed circuit of
Fig. 1 shall be disconnected, the secondnominal contact 3b and the second arcingcontact 4b are moved parallel to the direction of the z-axis into the direction indicated by the z-arrow, such that thenominal contact arrangement contact arrangement nominal contact 3b and the second arcingcontact 4b into said direction, the arcingcontact arrangement arcing contacts -
Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of anominal contact finger 3a of a finger cage of the high voltage circuit breaker ofFig. 1 in a closed configuration of the circuit breaker. In this known configuration thenominal contact finger 3a of a first nominal contact contacts a secondnominal contact 3b in a contactingarea 6a of thecontact finger 3a. A current I flows from the secondnominal contact 3b through the contactingarea 6a into thecontact finger 3a of the first nominal contact, which current flow is denoted by the two arrows. As can be seen in the figure, the contactingarea 6a is relatively small. When a high current I passes through the contactingarea 6a thecontact finger 3a heats up at and around the contactingarea 6a. With regard to the contact heat, it must be made sure that a prescribed maximum value of about 105°C is not exceeded. - By using multiple contacting areas, as set forth in the following embodiments of the invention, it is easier to meet this requirement.
-
Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a comparative embodiment of afirst contact finger 3c which is not according to the invention. For this comparative example and the following embodiments the secondnominal contact 3b can be identical to the one ofFig. 2 , and thus it will not be described in more detail. As can be seen, thefirst contact finger 3c has two arc-shaped contacts which contact the secondnominal contact 3b in a first contactingarea 6 and a second contactingarea 7, respectively. The first and the second contactingarea third area 8 which has no mechanical and/or electrical contact with the secondnominal contact 3b, as illustrated inFig. 3 . - The two contacts, which refer here to the curvature parts of the
first contact finger 3c, have the shape of an arc, or at least a rounded shape, on the side facing the secondnominal contact 3b, in order to glide easier over the secondnominal contact 3b when the circuit breaker is being closed. This is advantageous, because the finger cage, not shown here, has a slightly smaller diameter than the secondnominal contact 3b, which is a metal tube as mentioned above, in order to exert a pressure on the secondnominal contact 3b, which pressure is high enough to ensure a good mechanical and electrical contact. Thus, thecontact fingers 3c of the finger cage are elastically deformed in a radial direction upon closing the circuit breaker. Thefirst contact finger 3c is formed in such a way, that the electrical and mechanical contact with the secondnominal contact 3b occurs first in the first contactingarea 6 and subsequently in the second contactingarea 7, when the electric switching device, here the circuit breaker, is being closed. When the circuit breaker is being opened, the electrical and mechanical contact with the secondnominal contact 3b is lost first in the second contactingarea 7 and is subsequently lost in the first contactingarea 6. Hence, particularly in case the circuit breaker is being opened, a small electric arc is formed between the secondnominal contact 3b and the first contactingarea 6 just before the current commutates to thearcing contacts area 6 has to be made of a material which is comparatively resistant to electrical commutating arcs. Accordingly, thefirst contact finger 3c is advantageously made of copper, at least in a section conducting a first current, here denotes by 1/2, through the first contactingarea 6. Instead of copper other electric conductive materials with similar robustness in the presence of electrical arcs may be used, as well. For example, thefirst contact finger 3c is made of aluminium at least in a section conducting a second current, here denotes by 1/2, through the second contactingarea 7. By this, the overall cost of the circuit breaker is reduced, because the cheaper aluminium can be used for the conducting section of the second contactingarea 7. However, it is also possible to use copper for the section conducting the second current through the second contactingarea 7, as well. An additional measure can be to coat the contact surface of both the first and the second contactingarea first contact finger 3c, which will be described in the following. - As can be seen in a comparison of
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 , the current I coming from the secondnominal contact 3b is now split into two parts, one flowing into thefirst contact finger 3c via the first contactingarea 6 and the other part flowing into thefirst contact finger 3c through the second contactingarea 7. Thus, the current amount flowing through each of the two areas is reduced, with the result that less heat is produced at the contact surfaces, whereas still the same amount of nominal current is transferred between the firstnominal contacts 3c and the secondnominal contacts 3b. -
Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a first aspect of afirst contact finger 3c according to the invention. In this embodiment thefirst contact finger 3c has at least afirst subfinger 11a and asecond subfinger 11b. The first contactingarea 6 is formed on thefirst subfinger 11a and the second contactingarea 7 is formed on thesecond subfinger 11b. Thefirst contact finger 3c is typically relatively stiff, such that a problem may arise that the second contactingarea 7 has a better contact to the secondnominal contact 3b than the first contactingarea 6, or vice versa. Thus, particular attention has to be paid to ensuring that all contactingareas first contact finger 3c are contacting the secondnominal contact 3b with sufficient force in order to reliably conduct their respective transitional currents, here each denoted as 1/2. For this, the length of thesubfingers first contact finger 3c is reduced, and in particular that the stiffness of thefirst subfingers 11a and thesecond subfingers 11b are reduced and their contact forces are made more equal. Another additional or alternative measure to ensure a good contact of thesubfingers nominal contact 3b is to adjust the angle between the first and thesecond subfinger nominal contact 3b. If e.g. the contact fingers are arranged in a cone configuration, said angle has to be wider than in a cylindrical configuration, because in the cone configuration thesecond subfinger 11b is farther away from the secondnominal contact 3b than thefirst subfinger 11a. Another additional or alternative measure to ensure a good contact of thesubfingers nominal contact 3b is to adjust the thickness of eachsubfinger subfingers second subfinger subfingers areas -
Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of another aspect of afirst contact finger 3c according to the invention. In this embodiment thefirst contact finger 3c forms anarcuate section 10 between the first and the second contactingarea arcuate section 10 has a current path which is longer than a distance (i.e. direct or shortest distance) between the first and the second contactingarea first contact finger 3c, in this embodiment the length and/or shape of thearcuate section 10 is adjusted to decrease the stiffness of thefirst contact finger 3c. The longer thearcuate section 10 is chosen, the more flexible is thefirst contact finger 3c. Additionally or alternatively, the distance between the first and the second contactingarea -
Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of a comparative example of afirst contact finger 3c. Thefirst contact finger 3c has electrical and mechanical contact with the secondnominal contact 3b in the first, the second and a fourth contactingarea first contact finger 3c when the electric switching device is closed. The first, the second and the fourth contactingarea third areas 8. The first, second and fourth contactingarea contact
of thefirst contact finger 3c. In an embodiment of the invention, they may also be arranged in a way similar to the embodiment ofFig. 4 , that is, they may each be part of a subfinger of thefirst contact finger 3c. This alternative embodiment is herewith disclosed, as well. This arrangement with three contactingareas area -
Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of afirst contact finger 3c according to the invention. In this embodiment, like in the first aspect according toFig. 4 , thefirst contact finger 3c has at least afirst subfinger 11a and asecond subfinger 11b. The first contactingarea 6 is formed on thefirst subfinger 11a and the second contactingarea 7 is formed on thesecond subfinger 11b. In this embodiment thefirst contact finger 3c is formed in such a way that the first contactingarea 6 contacts a radial surface of secondnominal contact 3b and the second contactingarea 7 contacts anaxial end surface 12 of the secondnominal contact 3b. The radial surface of the secondnominal contact 3b is herein defined as the outer surface of the cylinder forming the secondnominal contact 3b, that is, a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, radius from the longitudinal axis z. Theaxial surface 12 is herein defined as a surface extending from an end of the radial surface of the secondnominal contact 3b towards the longitudinal axis z, that is a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, axial position along the longitudinal axis z. -
Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a cylindrical grinder G. In a manufacturing step the grinder G, which advantageously has the same diameter like the secondnominal contact 3b, is inserted into the finger cage and rotates with respect to the longitudinal axis z in order to grind the first and the second contactingareas areas nominal contact 3b. As mentioned, the first and the second contactingareas nominal contact 3b after grinding. This advantageously improves the conductivity performance by ensuring a maximal contact surface between the first contactingarea 6 and the secondnominal contact 3b and between the second contactingarea 7 and the secondnominal contact 3b. Even though thecontact fingers 3c are relatively stiff, as mentioned above, they still have a certain elasticity, which is desired in order to ensure a pressing force on the secondnominal contact 3b when it is inserted into the nominalcontact finger cage 3c. Thus, in order to ensure that the first and the second contactingareas contact fingers 3c are uniformly grinded it may be preferred to provide means for keeping the contact fingers fixed throughout the grinding procedure. Said means may for example be supporting means forming a sleeve (not shown) around the finger cage and supportingouter surfaces 14 of thecontact fingers 3c against a radial force acting radially away from the longitudinal axis z and being exerted by the grinder during the grinding process. - It is noted that in all mentioned embodiments of the invention a cylindrical second
nominal contact 3b has been assumed. However, the secondnominal contact 3b may also have another shape, for example a cone shape. The same applies to the nominalcontact finger cage 3c of the invention. The tubular shape of the nominalcontact finger cage 3c can be derived e.g. fromFig. 6 , where thefirst contact finger 3c is parallel to the secondnominal contact 3b. A cone-shaped nominalcontact finger cage 3c can be derived e.g. fromFig. 4 , in which thefirst contact finger 3c is inclined with respect to the secondnominal contact 3b. - The present invention is directed to the implementation of modified
contact fingers 3c of a finger cage of a first nominal contact. Contrary to a shape of fingers known in the prior art, the modified contact fingers of the present invention have each multiple contactingareas nominal contacts area areas areas nominal contact fingers - While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims. In other words, throughout this application, terms like "preferable", "preferred", "advantageous", "favourable" and the like shall designate embodiments or exemplary features only, that are thus disclosed to be optional only.
-
- 1
- = basic circuit breaker
- 2
- = finger support
- 3a
- = contact finger of first nominal contact (prior art)
- 3b
- = second nominal contact
- 3c
- = contact finger of first nominal contact (according to the invention), nominal contact finger cage
- 4a
- = first arcing contact
- 4b
- = second arcing contact
- 5
- = shell, housing
- 6
- = first contacting area
- 6a
- = contacting area according to prior art
- 7
- = second contacting area
- 7a
- = fourth contacting area
- 8
- = third area
- 9
- = shielding
- 10
- = arcuate section
- 11a
- = first subfinger
- 11b
- = second subfinger
- 12
- = axial end surface
- 13a
- = first contact
- 13b
- = second contact
- 13c
- = third contact
- 14
- = outer surface
- I
- = total current
- I/2
- = current through one contacting area (2 contacting areas)
- I/3
- = current through one contacting area (3 contacting areas)
- z
- = longitudinal axis
- G
- = grinder
Claims (15)
- Electrical switching device (1) for medium or high voltage circuits,
having at least a nominal contact arrangement, wherein the nominal contact arrangement comprisesa) at least a first nominal contact comprising a plurality of contact fingers (3c) forming a finger cage concentric with respect to a longitudinal axis (z), andb) at least a mating second nominal contact (3b),wherein at least one of the nominal contacts (3c, 3b) is movable parallel to the longitudinal axis (z) and cooperates with the other nominal contact (3b, 3c) for closing and opening said electric switching device (1),
wherein at least a first contact finger (3c) is formed in such a way that it has electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact (3b) in at least a first contacting area (6) and a second contacting area (7) of the first contact finger (3c) when the electric switching device (1) is closed, wherein the first and the second contacting area (6, 7) are separated from one another by a third area (8), wherein the third area (8) is not in mechanical contact with the second nominal contact (3b),
either characterized in that the first contact finger (3c) has at least a first and a second subfinger (11a, 11b), wherein the first contacting area (6) is formed on the first subfinger (11a) and the second contacting area (7) is formed on the second subfinger (11b), or characterized in
that the first contact finger (3c) has an arcuate section (10) between the first and the second contacting area (6, 7), wherein the arcuate section (10) has a current path which is longer than a direct distance between the first and the second contacting area (6, 7). - Electrical switching device according to claim 1, wherein all contact fingers of the finger cage have the same shape as the first contact finger (3c).
- Electrical switching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first contact finger (3c) has electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact (3b) in the first contacting area (6), the second contacting area (7) and a fourth contacting area (7a) of the first contact finger (3c) when the electric switching device (1) is closed, wherein the first, the second and the fourth contacting area (6, 7, 7a) are separated from one another by two third areas (8).
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact finger (3c) is formed in such a way that the electrical and mechanical contact with the second nominal contact (3b) occurs first in the first contacting area (6) and subsequently in the second contacting area (7), when the electric switching device (1) is being closed.
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, and according to the first alternative in claim 1 wherein the first contact finger (3c) has at least the first and the second subfinger (11a, 11b), wherein the first contacting area (6) is formed on the first subfinger (11a) and the second contacting area (7) is formed on the second subfinger (11b), and wherein further the first contact finger (3c) is formed in such a way that the first contacting area (6) contacts a radial surface of the second nominal contact (3b) and the second contacting area (7) contacts an axial end surface (12) of the second nominal contact (3b).
- Electrical switching device according to claim 5, wherein the radial surface of the second nominal contact (3b) is defined as the outer surface of the cylinder forming the second nominal contact (3b), that is a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, radius from the longitudinal axis (z), and the axial surface (12) is defined as a surface extending from an end of the radial surface of the second nominal contact (3b) towards the longitudinal axis (z), that is a surface arranged at a substantially constant, in particular constant, axial position along the longitudinal axis (z).
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact finger (3c) is made of copper at least in a section conducting a first current (1/2; 1/3) through the first contacting area (6).
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first contact finger (3c) is made of aluminium at least in a section conducting a second current (1/2; 1/3) through the second contacting area (7).
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a contact surface of the first contacting area (6) is silver-coated.
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a contact surface of the second contacting area (7) is silver-coated.
- Electrical switching device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said contact fingers (3c) are elastically deformed in a radial direction upon closing said switching device (1).
- Electrical switching device according to claim 3, and according to the first alternative in claim 1 wherein the first contact finger (3c) has at least the first and the second subfinger (11a, 11b), wherein the first contacting area (6) is formed on the first subfinger (11a) and the second contacting area (7) is formed on the second subfinger (11b), wherein further the first contacting area (6), the second contacting area (7) and the fourth contacting area (7a) correspond to a first, a second and a fourth arc-shaped contact (13a, 13b, 13c), respectively, and are each part of a subfinger of the first contact finger (3c).
- Electrical switching device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the current travelling through each contacting area is calculated as a total current I divided by the number of contacting areas, provided that the current paths through each subfinger have the same electric impedance.
- Method for manufacturing an electrical switching device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of grinding the first and the second contacting area (6, 7) of the contact fingers (3c) of the finger cage by means of a cylindrical grinder (G) with an outer diameter being equal to an outer diameter of the second nominal contact (3b).
- Use of the electrical switching device (1) of any of the claims 1 to 13 as an earthing switch, a fast-acting earthing switch, a disconnector, a combined disconnector and earthing switch, a load-break switch, a generator circuit breaker, a medium-voltage circuit breaker, or a high-voltage circuit breaker.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP12187032.3A EP2717283B1 (en) | 2012-10-02 | 2012-10-02 | Electrical switching device with multiple nominal contacts and method for manufacturing the electrical switching device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP12187032.3A EP2717283B1 (en) | 2012-10-02 | 2012-10-02 | Electrical switching device with multiple nominal contacts and method for manufacturing the electrical switching device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2717283A1 EP2717283A1 (en) | 2014-04-09 |
EP2717283B1 true EP2717283B1 (en) | 2019-07-24 |
Family
ID=46970129
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12187032.3A Not-in-force EP2717283B1 (en) | 2012-10-02 | 2012-10-02 | Electrical switching device with multiple nominal contacts and method for manufacturing the electrical switching device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2717283B1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3091547B1 (en) * | 2015-05-07 | 2018-07-04 | ABB Schweiz AG | Circuit breaker |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4002400A (en) * | 1975-08-01 | 1977-01-11 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Electrical connector |
US4329552A (en) * | 1980-04-23 | 1982-05-11 | Gould Inc. | Wire formed interleaved spring contact structure |
DE3622494A1 (en) * | 1986-07-02 | 1988-01-07 | Siemens Ag | Contact system for an electrical gas-blast circuit breaker |
JPH01187716A (en) * | 1988-01-20 | 1989-07-27 | Meidensha Corp | Electric contact |
DE102004061276A1 (en) | 2004-12-13 | 2006-06-22 | Siemens Ag | Electrical contact arrangement |
EP1973202B1 (en) | 2007-03-21 | 2013-06-19 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Contact system with multiple contact plate |
-
2012
- 2012-10-02 EP EP12187032.3A patent/EP2717283B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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None * |
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Publication number | Publication date |
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EP2717283A1 (en) | 2014-04-09 |
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