GB2150352A - Circuit breaker assembly - Google Patents
Circuit breaker assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2150352A GB2150352A GB08331516A GB8331516A GB2150352A GB 2150352 A GB2150352 A GB 2150352A GB 08331516 A GB08331516 A GB 08331516A GB 8331516 A GB8331516 A GB 8331516A GB 2150352 A GB2150352 A GB 2150352A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- circuit breaker
- coil
- circuit
- breaker assembly
- trigger means
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/54—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
- H01H9/541—Contacts shunted by semiconductor devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
- H01H33/02—Details
- H01H33/28—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism
- H01H33/285—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism using electro-dynamic repulsion
Landscapes
- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
Description
1
GB 2 150 879 A
1
SPECIFICATION Circuit breaker assembly
5 This invention relates to circuit breaker assemblies for breaking a current path.
Known circuit breakers include a pair of contacts connectable by a contact bridge. Typically the contact bridge includes a spring toggle arrangement 10 having a dead centre which is adapted to require only a small initial movement to cause the bridge to move from a contacting position to a circuit breaking position and to provide a pre-determined insulation gap between the contacts. Known ar-15 rangements for causing this small initial movement comprise a disc of conducting material connected to the bridge and a planar winding to cause the disc to move to provide the small initial movement. Such circuit breakers frequently have the in-20 sulation gap immersed in a gas having a dielectric strength greater than air.
Unfortunately circuit breaker assemblies as described above are relatively slow so that even if an arc reducing arrangement is employed on the cir-25 cuit breaker assembly, sparking can still occur resulting in decomposition of the gas and damage to the contacts and the contact bridge. In order to reduce these problems a large insulation gap is frequently provided.
30 It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit breaker assembly having rapid separation of contacts and contact bridge within one half cycle of mains frequency.
According to the invention there is provided a 35 circuit breaker assembly for breaking an alternating current path comprising: a circuit breaker having an armature movable from a contacting position to a circuit breaking position providing a predetermined insulation gap between contacts, a planar 40 element of conducting material arranged on the armature transversely of the direction of movement, a planar coil disposed to repel said element when energised to move the armature to the circuit breaking position; and trigger means to energise 45 the coil.
By providing a planar coil to repel the planar element to cause the armature to move to the circuit breaking position, it is possible to achieve a rapid opening of the circuit breaker assembly so that 50 rapid separation of contacts and armature are achieved within one half cycle of mains frequency. The rapid separation substantially reduces the incidence of arcing and hence damage to the armature and contacts. In addition, since separation is 55 achieved rapidly the insulation gap can be reduced thereby allowing a smaller construction of circuit breaker assembly.
Preferably the circuit breaker assembly includes a diode arrangement connected in parallel with the 60 circuit breaker to provide a short circuit during half cycles of the alternating current having one polarity, and further including another said circuit breaker connected in series with said diode arrangement and first mentioned circuit breaker and 65 having its coil also energisable by said trigger means, the trigger means being capable of energising the first mentioned breaker coil during said half cycles and of energising said another breaker coil during half cycles of the alternating current having the other polarity. In this way a substantially arc free circuit breaker assembly is provided. The first mentioned circuit breaker is disconnected when it is short circuited by the diode arrangement and the another circuit breaker is disconnected during the following half cycle of the alternating current when the first mentioned circuit breaker is not short circuited.
Conveniently the trigger means comprises an analogue switching device for connection to a source of coil energising current and having a control terminal for altering the state of the device to control flow of the energising current. When two circuit breakers are employed the trigger means preferably comprises first and second analogue switching devices for connection to a source of coil energising current, the first switching device being connected to energise the coil of the first mentioned circuit breaker and the second switching device being connected to energise the coil of said another circuit breaker, each switching device having a control terminal for altering the state of the device to control flow of the energising current.
Furthermore it is preferable that the circuit breaker assembly is arranged to have the mentioned circuit breakers including a further planar coil disposed to repel the planar element when energised to move the armature to the contacting position and wherein the trigger means is adapted to energise either coil of the respective circuit breaker. In this way once a circuit breaking position has been assumed by the armature it is possible to move the armature back to its contacting position, effectively resetting the circuit breaker assembly.
Conveniently the insulation gap is provided within a vacuum or else provided within a fluid having a dielectric strength greater than air and a viscosity less than water. The fluid can comprise sulphurhexafluoride. The insulation gap can also be reduced when compared with circuit breaker assemblies hitherto known and preferably has a dimension of 6 mm. The armature can also comprise a double break contact.
Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a circuit breaker assembly embodying the invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a further circuit breaker assembly embodying the invention which includes two circuit breakers.
Referring to Figure 1, a circuit breaker assembly comprises a circuit breaker 17 connected to a trigger means 1. The circuit breaker 17 having a double break contact bridge 13 movable to a contacting position to complete a circuit between contacts 15 and 16, the contacts being connected to terminals A and B respectively. An alternating current C of frequency F is applied to terminal A and when contact bridge 13 is in the contacting
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GB 2 150 879 A
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position a current path is provided to terminal B. The contact bridge is also movable to a circuit breaking position wherein a gap d exists between the bridge and contacts 15 and 16.
5 The armature comprises the contact bridge 13 connected by a stub member 12 to a substantially planar disc 10 of conducting material arranged transversely of the movement of the bridge and hence the armature. A substantially planar spiral 10 coil 11 is disposed substantially parallel to the disc 10 to be capable of repelling the disc when energised to move the armature to its breaking position wherein the bridge 13 is out of contact with contacts 15 and 16.
15 The coil 11 is connected through switch means 6 to the trigger means 1. The trigger means comprises a triac 5 connected in series between the switch means 6 and capacitors 2. The capacitors 2 are connected to a source of current suitable for 20 energising coil 11. A diode 3 is connected in parallel with triac 5. When a pulse is provided to a control terminal 4 of the triac 5 to cause it to assume a closed circuit state, power from terminal C, preferably having a high frequency impulse energy, 25 energises coil 11 to cause the armature to move so that it assumes a circuit breaking position.
Therefore by applying a pulse to control terminal 4 the armature 9 is moved substantially completely into its circuit breaking position. If resetting of the 30 circuit breaker assembly is required, a further coil 8, similar to coil 11, can be disposed to repel disc 10 when energised so that the armature 9 assumes its contacting position. The gate means 6 can be arranged to control energisation of either coil 8 or 35 11.
Preferably the gap d being an insulation gap is of the order of 6 mm and the volume indicated by line 7 can either be evacuated or can be immersed in a fluid having a dielectric strength greater than 40 air and a viscosity less than water. It is found that an insulation gap of 6 mm and immersion in sul-phurhexafluoride at 3 atmospheres has an impulse strength of 90 KV and complete movement of the armature is achieved within 3 milliseconds, which 45 is less than one half cycle of mains frequency.
The pulse that is applied to control terminal 4 can be derived from logic circuits detecting an overload current.
Referring to Figure 2, components common to 50 Figure 1 have the same identifying numerals. The circuit breaker 17 has a diode arrangement 20 connected in parallel therewith and a further circuit breaker 17', identical to circuit breaker 17, is connected in series with the diode arrangement 20 55 and circuit breaker 17. The circuit breaker 17' is connected to a further trigger means V identical to trigger means 1.
Therefore when the armature 9 and 9$' of circuit breakers 17 and 17' respectively are in their con-60 tacting position, a current path for alternating current of frequency f is provided between terminals A and B. When circuit breaking of the assembly in Figure 2 is required in response to an overload current, external logic detects when diode arrange-65 ment 20 is forward biased and hence short circuiting circuit breaker 17, a control pulse is applied to control terminal 4 of triac 5 to allow energising power from capacitors 2 to energise coil 11 to move armature 9 to its circuit breaking position. When the external logic detects when diode arrangement 20 is next reversed biased so that point C is electrically isolated from terminal A, then a control pulse is applied to control terminal 4' of triac 5' to allow energising power from capacitors 2' to energise coil 11' to move armature 9' to its circuit breaking position.
Consequently the circuit breaker assembly illustrated in Figure 2 breaks the circuit from terminals A to B without a spark since the actual movement from conducting to circuit breaking positions is achieved within half cycles of the frequency f during which the diode arrangement is either forward or reversed biased. Preferably the volumes 7 and T are immersed in sulphurhexafluoride gas to provide an increased impulse strength across the insulation gap of the respective contact breakers 17 and 17'. By including coils 8 and 8' and suitable operation of the gate means 6 and 6', the circuit breaker in Figure 2 can be reset so that the armatures 9 and 9' are in their conducting positions.
Therefore the circuit breaker assembly shown in Figure 2 prevents arcs and consequently the properties of the sulphurhexafluoride gas remain constant in addition to which the dielectric strength thereof remains stable. It will be apparent that trigger means other than those illustrated can be employed to energise the coils of the circuit breaker 17 and can include analogue switches other than triacs. Although the contact bridge 13 is illustrated as a double break contact the invention is not limited to the use of double break contacts.
Claims (1)
1. A circuit breaker assembly for breaking an alternating current path comprising a circuit breaker having an armature movable from a contacting position to a circuit breaking position providing a predetermined insulation gap between contacts,
a planar element of conducting material arranged on the armature transversely of the direction of movement,
a planar coil disposed to repel said element when energised to move the armature to the circuit breaking position; and trigger means to energise the coil.
2. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a diode arrangement connected in parallel with said circuit breaker to provide a short circuit during half cycles of the alternating current having one polarity, and further including another said circuit breaker connected in series with said diode arrangement and first mentioned circuit breaker and having its coil also energisable by said trigger means, the trigger means being capable of energising the first mentioned breaker coil during said half cycles and of energising said another breaker coil during half cycles of the alternating current having the other polarity.
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GB 2 150 879 A
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3. A circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 wherein said trigger means comprises an analogue switching device for connection to a source of coil energising current and having a control terminal
5 for altering the state of the device to control flow of the energising current.
4. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said trigger means comprises first and second analogue switching devices for con-
10 nection to a source of coil energising current, the first switching device being connected to energise the coil of the first mentioned circuit breaker and the second switching device being connected to energise the coil of said another circuit breaker,
15 each switching device having a control terminal for altering the state of the device to control flow of the energising current.
5. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein mentioned circuit
20 breakers include a further planar coil disposed to repel the planar element when energised to move the armature to the contacting position and wherein the trigger means is adapted to energise either coil of the respective circuit breaker.
25 6. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said gap is provided within a vacuum.
7. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said gap is provided
30 within a fluid having a dielectric strength greater than air and a viscosity less than water.
8. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fluid is sulphurhexafluoride.
9. A circuit breaker assembly as claimed in any
35 one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said insulation gap is approximately 6 mm.
10. A circuit breaker assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Printed in the UK for HMSO, D8818935, 4/85, 7102.
Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,
WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08331516A GB2150352A (en) | 1983-11-25 | 1983-11-25 | Circuit breaker assembly |
| EP84307618A EP0147036A1 (en) | 1983-11-25 | 1984-11-05 | Circuit breaker assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08331516A GB2150352A (en) | 1983-11-25 | 1983-11-25 | Circuit breaker assembly |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8331516D0 GB8331516D0 (en) | 1984-01-04 |
| GB2150352A true GB2150352A (en) | 1985-06-26 |
Family
ID=10552348
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08331516A Withdrawn GB2150352A (en) | 1983-11-25 | 1983-11-25 | Circuit breaker assembly |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0147036A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2150352A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4002733A1 (en) * | 1990-01-31 | 1991-08-01 | Papst Motoren Gmbh & Co Kg | Linear induction motor for movements in millimetric range - consists of units of flat prim. coil and honeycomb sec. coil subject to forced-draught cooling |
| CN106463283A (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2017-02-22 | Abb瑞士股份有限公司 | High speed limiting electrical switchgear device |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4209199C2 (en) * | 1992-03-19 | 1997-02-06 | Elpro Ag | Disconnector with high switching speed |
| SE9900852D0 (en) | 1999-03-08 | 1999-03-08 | Secheron Sa | An electrical coil module, an electrical coil comprising such modules, an actuation mechanism including such a coil and a circuit breaker comprising such an actuation mechanism |
| SE9901627D0 (en) | 1999-05-03 | 1999-05-03 | Asea Brown Boveri | Switchgear |
| DE59913821D1 (en) | 1999-07-06 | 2006-10-12 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Fast mechanical switching point |
| DE50013565D1 (en) | 2000-08-15 | 2006-11-16 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Fast mechanical switching point |
| WO2011144256A1 (en) * | 2010-05-21 | 2011-11-24 | Abb Research Ltd | An actuator, circuit breaker and method therefor |
| WO2014048483A1 (en) * | 2012-09-28 | 2014-04-03 | Abb Technology Ag | Electrical switch with thomson coil drive |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB637393A (en) * | 1947-07-18 | 1950-05-17 | Jan Forman | Improvements in or relating to electrical circuit breakers and electrical circuit protection systems |
| GB804388A (en) * | 1955-04-06 | 1958-11-12 | Siemens Ag | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1094192A (en) * | 1963-11-27 | 1967-12-06 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1094191A (en) * | 1963-10-17 | 1967-12-06 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1371947A (en) * | 1971-02-26 | 1974-10-30 | Max Planck Gesellschaft | Bistable induction switch |
| GB1489010A (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1977-10-19 | Merlin Gerin | Circuit interrupter having an electromagnetic repulsion device |
| GB1576877A (en) * | 1976-09-21 | 1980-10-15 | Merlin Gerin | Apparatus for the rapid interruption of currents |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR78480E (en) * | 1960-10-03 | 1962-07-27 | Comp Generale Electricite | Improvements to electrical switches |
| US3764944A (en) * | 1972-07-06 | 1973-10-09 | C Erven | Spiral motor coil |
| FR2333338A1 (en) * | 1975-11-25 | 1977-06-24 | Merlin Gerin | Synchronous mechanical contact switch for AC - has mechanical contact in its main circuit, shunted by diode and control device connected to thyristor |
-
1983
- 1983-11-25 GB GB08331516A patent/GB2150352A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1984
- 1984-11-05 EP EP84307618A patent/EP0147036A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB637393A (en) * | 1947-07-18 | 1950-05-17 | Jan Forman | Improvements in or relating to electrical circuit breakers and electrical circuit protection systems |
| GB804388A (en) * | 1955-04-06 | 1958-11-12 | Siemens Ag | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1094191A (en) * | 1963-10-17 | 1967-12-06 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1094192A (en) * | 1963-11-27 | 1967-12-06 | Atomic Energy Authority Uk | Improvements in or relating to electric switches |
| GB1371947A (en) * | 1971-02-26 | 1974-10-30 | Max Planck Gesellschaft | Bistable induction switch |
| GB1489010A (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1977-10-19 | Merlin Gerin | Circuit interrupter having an electromagnetic repulsion device |
| GB1576877A (en) * | 1976-09-21 | 1980-10-15 | Merlin Gerin | Apparatus for the rapid interruption of currents |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4002733A1 (en) * | 1990-01-31 | 1991-08-01 | Papst Motoren Gmbh & Co Kg | Linear induction motor for movements in millimetric range - consists of units of flat prim. coil and honeycomb sec. coil subject to forced-draught cooling |
| CN106463283A (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2017-02-22 | Abb瑞士股份有限公司 | High speed limiting electrical switchgear device |
| CN106463283B (en) * | 2014-05-19 | 2018-12-21 | Abb瑞士股份有限公司 | High speed limitation electric switch equipment |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0147036A1 (en) | 1985-07-03 |
| GB8331516D0 (en) | 1984-01-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |