GB345454A - Improvements relating to electric switches or circuit breakers - Google Patents

Abstract

345,454. Arc-rupturing in switches. ELLISON, Ltd. G. and ANDERSON, J., Wellhead Lane Works, Perry Barr, Birmingham. Feb. 27, 1930, No. 6496. [Class 38 (v).] In a high-power switch a plurality of spaced plates are arranged at right-angles to the direction of motion of a contact which moves through apertures in the plates to engage and disengage a fixed contact, a magnet pole passing through the plates and being arranged at one side of the apertures therein, and an iron or steel rod or rods being arranged parallel with the magnet pole, a magnet winding being situated at one end of the magnet pole and rods. As shown in the Figure the arcing contacts b carried by the bridge member are withdrawn from fixed contact plates a through apertures c in a series of separated insulated non-magnetic plates d arranged at right-angles to the motion of the contact. A radial magnetic field is produced in the spaces between the plates d by an electromagnet f on a central iron or steel rod e, the return magnetic path passing through a series of insulated magnetic rods g spaced around the periphery of the plates d, and a magnetic plate n. This radial field causes the arcs drawn between contacts a, b to be divided into short sections which are whirled around in the air spaces between the plates d until extinguished. The arcing contacts b together with the main contacts i which engage contacts h at the ends of the rods e are mounted resiliently on the bridge carried by the operating- rod k. The blowout coils f are connected by members between the contacts a and the lead-in conductors. If desired, the mains contacts may be omitted.