GB1114071A - Multiple break high voltage circuit breaker - Google Patents

Abstract

1,114,071. High-voltage circuit-breakers. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. 24 Aug., 1965 [5 Oct., 1964], No. 36224/65. Heading H1N. In a high-voltage circuit-breaker having a plurality of series-connected " breaks," each break is shunted by a variable length gap 73, 88. The length of the gap is reduced during a closing operation of the circuit-breaker so that the gap will break down at a lower voltage than will cause a flashover across any insulation parallelling the gap and so protect the insulation from damage should the breaks not close simultaneously. The circuit-breaker may be that of Specification 842,984 and have a resistor in series with auxiliary contacts 73, 76 connected across each main break. The movable contact 76 is opened against the bias of a spring 84 by a movable crosshead 81. When the closing operation is initiated, compressed gas is applied to a piston 102 which turns a latch 95 to release an electrode 88. This electrode is moved by a spring 90a into the dotted line position 89 to define the reduced gap 90. In this position further movement of the electrode is prevented by the latching head 96 abutting a fixed stop 97. Subsequent movement of the crosshead 81 permits the spring 84 to close the contacts 73, 76, the latch 95 moving with the contact 76 to a position where it relatches the head 96. In an alternative arrangement, Fig. 4 (not shown), the electrode 88 surrounds the contact 76 and is moved up to the stop 97 by the initial movement of the contact 76.