US1269526A - Protective device. - Google Patents

Description

E. E. F. CREIGHTON.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 191's.

Patented June 11, 1918.-

Q? Inventor: EirnerElFTCr 5 i'gdhton, His oqttornes.

g GOIIlPllSSS e inovehle OT. actuating the wipe:

ends oi Lie arcing i'nenihers camp or the sin to the portions of mechenisin pivotelly connected to the switch r end carrying a holding block 0 h Steps 8 9 site provided between. l the block '3' is movehle end which t Vemeiit member The dctuetiiig inhei" 6 when moved to close the switch c w ice the block 7 into engegeinent the stop 8 and tensions sapli g :iil which is es used at one end to the ch '3 The actuating member 6 end heiice the switch is locked in sw ch closing position, by e latch ccopeieti 1g with the ectuetmeinhei 6 end ehly 12 on the hitch 7. The o w ing mechemsm is thereby restrained in c ch closing position and biased by the s 10 to move into switch opening position very quicidy With d snap action. For moving latch ii to release the operating mechanism, T provide at trip coil 13 operetii e to trip the latch with hammer blow automatically in l@- sponse to overload. e latch mey also he released will by means of the o erating rod "8D the le ch is released cm its engagement With the 12, th actuating member 6 moves With snap ectio': the tensioii exerted by 9 i 19 to i switch very quickly incher 2 from engagement engsgem with i and ca n ickly across the arcing poitions of the horn members to transfer the to the eicin portion the actuating i 6 being limited in its movement Toy gegeinent hloclt "5 with the Switches oi the cheiecter which s? slly installed outdoors exposed v-Jeather, become inoperative accumulations of ice l tect switch undo; mount shove the fixed 3114.1 shove the pivots]. connection ectiietting member 6 to theswitch 2 protecting shields 01 umbrellas l5 and respectively Which act to prevent the accumu- This device comprises two cooperating "llQ8lS end 18 "which we pi eiei j loceteth as shown immediately shove Y movable switch inenihei 2, Each hem eiiiher is shown as consisting of e continucis conductor bent to form a configuration llLVlBg e pluielity of sides or legs 19 2O, 21 and 22 to form. 2, closed electric circuit or loop. One group of sides 2i and are in one plsne end the other group of sides 19 end A are 111 another plsne eh J. J3

e to the plsne oi sides 21 end 2%, as best h Wn igs. 2 and 3., ()nc sid ct eech i il cely sides 19 cooperate to form (i1VGZglZRg SPQZk gap end 1 understood tee uecesserily comprise four sides, the essentiel configuration losing t -sh ped intent hers coci lSlZlg eh arcing horn or portion closed on itself such es sides 19 and 21 which are in e plane at an angle to the horizontal with means for completing e closed electric circuit or loop including seid arcing horn or sides 19 Each horn incintheiehy broadly considered coin rises sl cing pot-tic 01 he 1 closed on itself to foi'm eclosed ci cuited hiding. To enable the arc to travel quicly along the aiming portions or sides of t e horn or short circuited members I establish cl'y intense magnetic fields in e direction along seid s been comprising several ell horn gaps turns to increase this magnetism but "with such it coiistzcuc .i :0. each of the turns is so from the cr l of tn the meg- 1 tie force applied to the is compareli ely sinsll. To clots i the tremendously rapid action device, deny hundreds d even seveml thousand empeies of circulstf g current are needed in the horn incinto form the ccetei to feed the vepoi:

Tn en ordinal-Ty llGI-Cli s1- ere from motel melts fer more HlQtPl than is necessary to feed the etc and this hot motel helps to ..L feet that its contact With the metal is being emetic fields along moved so rapidly, it impossible the entire length of the arc with "vapor and consequently the arc is attenuate in cross section as it is drawn out and its resistance is thereby proportionally increased.

'llo distinguish from the ordinar r horn gap, it should be stated that the arc across an ordinary horn gap is not in general attenuated l is extinguished by some accidental inc ement oi the hot rising vapors which throw a sheet or" cold air through the arc stream. The are breaks across again with the rise of current and voltage in the next half cycle or is suddenly extinguished from a comparatively high value of current. In other words the attenuation is slight due to the feeding of the arc vapor through an al* most vertical chimney of arc vapor.

To produce a magnetic field of the character 1 describe I make each of my horn members 17 and 18 with their arcing portions or horns 19 to constitute a closed electric loop or winding, each loop or circuit being inductively related to a winding in an external circuit such as the circuit through the s itch. This I accomplish by connecting each loop through one or more turns on sides 20, for instance, as the secondary circuits of current transformers 23 and 24; having primary circuits 25 and 26, The transformers 23 and 2% have their primaries 25 and 26, respectively, connected in the conductor 1 on each side of the switch. The current flowing through the conductor 1 when the switch is closed, flows through the transformer primaries 25 and 26 and induces currents in their secondary circuits which comprise respectively the horn loops or members 17 and 18. The heavy currents traversing each of the horn ineinbers'l? and 18 set up strong electromagnetic fields which are in a direction to cause the arc, entering the ields to travel along the incline of the arcing por tions or sides 19 with great rapidity. So test does the arc travel along the horns and become attenuated that the body the are between the two horn members l7 and 18 does not have time to rise appreciably, the path or the are being usually an inverted arch in shape. Due to the fact that the magnetic field is stronger within the inclosure formed by the sides of each horn member and as the are is moved so rapidly, the arc takes place substantially parallel to the arcing portions 19, the stronger field in the center of the horn inclosures tending to move the arc in that direction.

The are is attenuated and extinguished in a few thousandths of a second and with such rapidity, due to the intense magnetic field produced along the arcing portions of the horn members, that the arc has no opportunity to bow out and be blown into adjacent To prevent the are from, under any unusual ciriunstances, rising and arcing on sides 21 and 22, the sides of the horn members are located away from the arcing portions 19 and not vertically over the sides 19 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The attenuation of the arc causes inherent r sistance to automatically increase so that as the arc is extinguished its resistance is suliicient to prevent the formation of dangerous surges, as the extinguishi force on the arc is always automatically about proportional to the value current in the arc. When the arc is short, the force is great and when the arc is long and liable to be accidentally extinguished the force is less, that is, it is proportional to the severity of the are but does not tend to suddenly extinguish the are from a high value of current and thereby cause a dangerous rise of potential. I thus utilize the inherent resistance of the arc itself caused by its attenuation to prevent surge conditions with out the use of any external resistance in series.

In cases where a weaker current is circulated in the horn loops or members, prefer to add, as a precautionary measure to prevent the arcs from being blown into adja cent phases, are resisting means such as metal plates or grids 2? along the arcing portions of the horn members as shown, for instance, on horn member 18 in Fig. 1. These plates have a central opening 28 through which the horns 19 pass with clearance, which openings insulate the plates from the horns 19. A plurality of these grids are located along each born 1% and are spaced apart and parallel to each other, each plate or grid being mounted at an angle to the of the horns 19 to form constricted arc coolii chutes. The are as it is moved up the arcing portions 19 passes through the openings 28 between the plates 27 and horns. Should the are, for any reason, bow outward, it engages plates :9? forms a plurality of arcs in series which act to quickly extinguish the are by further attenuating it, the plates, at the same time, acting to cool the arc and prevent it from rising outside the plates and engaging adjacent phases. Instead of plates 1 may use, as best shown in Fig. 5, a member 28 surrounding the arcing portion 19 of one or both horn members, which member may be of any shape but is preferably tubular in form. v

It may often be desirable that the current transformers 23 and 24 be normally inoperative and not consuming current while the switch is closed. In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of switch in which the movable switch member 2 carries contacts 29 and 30 adapted to cooperate with contacts Cit 3i and 32 respectively, to close a shunt circuit about the primary 25 of current transformer 23. These cooperating contacts 29, 31, and 30, 32, are arranged to separate on the initial opening movement oi the switch member 2 to open the shunt circuit about the primary 25 an instant before the switch member breaks engagement with fired contaste 3, so that the transformer 23 is rendered operative to produce a dense field around the horn member 17 as the switch opens. in like manner, I provide contacts 33 and "3% carried by a member 35 which pivotally supported on the actuating memher 6 and arranged when the switch opens to be likewise moved to break en agement with cooperating contacts 86 and 3?, respectively, to open the shunt circuit about the primary 26 of transformer 2d. The opening of the shunt circuits about both transformers 23 and 2% takes places simultaneously to produce a strong magnetic field in both horn members 17 and 18 as the switch opens The operation of member 35 does not attract the circuit through the switch as l provide a flexible connection or conductor 38 be tween the switch and transformer it is understood that my novel are ertin guishing or attenuating device is not re stricted in its use to extlnguishing arcs produced by the opening of an electric switch but may be used by itself as an exceedingly quick acting horn gap lightning arrester, the are occurring between the horn members it and 18 being quickly extinguished in the manner already described. it will also be understood both the arcing portions of the horn members 17 and i8 constituting my arc extinguishing device may not be portions or closed electrical circuits or loops but one may be a part or such a circuit and the cooperating arcing portion may be a horn of ordinary type.

My invention may be embodied in other forms than that shown and described and therefore do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction shown but intend to cover by the appended'claims all changes and modifications which are within the scope of my invention and will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination with an electric switch, of arc extinguishing means comprising cooperating members having portions coijpcrating to form a horn gap and adapted to take the arc. as said switch opens,'said cotiperating members constituting closed electric circuits, and means inductively re-- lated to each of said closed electric circuits for inducing therein heavy electric currents in a direction to cause an intense magnetic field along the portions constituting said to traverse said closed circuited members and produce an intense magnetic field along said horns in such a direction that the arc travels with great rapidity along said horns and is quickly attenuated.

3. The combination with an electric switch, of an arc extinguishing device comprising two coiiperating members each forming a conducting loop having a plurality o sides, one side of one loop cobpen ating with a corresponding side of the other loop to term arcing portions oil a horn gap, an electrical winding on each side of said switch in the circuit oi. said switch cooperating with the loops constituting said arcportions to form transformers, the windings of said transformers having such a relation that the current traversing said loops produces an intense magnetic field along said arcing portions acting to move said are rapidly along said portions to attenuate, it.

i. The combination with a movable switch member, of means for extinguishing the are as said switch member opens comprising two closed circuited members having coclperating diverging portions adapted to form a spark gap, means for positively carrying the arc formed as said switch opens to said diverging portions of said closed circuitedmembers, means responsive to the current through the switch for inducing a heavy current in each of said closed circuited members in a direction such that an intense magnetic field is produced along said diverging portions and within the inclosure or said closed circuited members to cause the arc across said gap to travel rapidly along said diverging portions and substantially parallel to said portions.

5. The combination with a movable switch member, of a horn gap device comprising two closed circuited conducting members provided with portions cotiperating to form a horn gap, transformers having primary windings connected in the circuit through said switch member, said closed circuited members forming the secondaries of said transformers and traversed by a heavy induced current whereby an intense magnetic field is produced along said portions thereofforming said horn gap, means 'operatively related to said switch member Ill Mill

lid

zi eee oso for short cii'cuitiug the primaries of said trsnsformerswhile said switch member is closed end for opening said short circuits prior to the opening of said switch member 6., The combination with a movable switch member, of ore extinguishing means coEipei-"sting therewith comprising two short circuited membe having portions coopec to form a horn gap, means responsive to the current thzcugh the switch for inducing a heavy current in said short Cil= cuited members in direction to cause insgne ic field set up on said portions forming be born gap to rapidly sttentuate the are, and as member carried by said switch members cooper-sting with arcin c extinguishing device ccmpris" "3" 2211 co'zipeceti members having ZOUT'iIiOHS ther sdeoted to receive an arc and cooperating form horn gap, each of said cooperate g members forming 3, closed electric circuit inductively related to an external circuit whereby magnetic field setup by the curren nduced in said cooperating members to move the are along the are ing portions of said membeirs with rapidity. o a

9. An are extinguishing device comprising cooperating members heviug portions thereof adopted to receive an arc and cooperating I to form a horn gap cooperating portions I c-i producing in each of said members it closed electrical loop, means responsive to the cur rent through the switch 01 inducing cur rents in loops comprising said cooperate ing memoei's in c direction to cause the magnetic fields around the arcing portions of said cooperatin members to be of an intensity to rapid y move the etc along said povtions and attenuate it.

10. Au extinguishing means comprising cooperating members each constituting a closed electrical circuit and having arcing portions thereof coopersting to form. a horn ggap, transformers having primanes connected in an external circuit, said cooperate ing members forming the secondaries of said, transformers and arranged to produce a magnetic fieid along the arcing portlons mcticeii thereof in a direction. and of an intensity to cause the arc to be attenuated with great rapidity;

11, Au ere extinguishing means compris= ing a horn gap device each horn being closed on itself to form a closed circuited Winding cooperating windings in inductive relation to said closed circuited windings and adapt ed to csuse heavy induced currents to traverse said closed circuited windings to produce an intense magnetic along each horn in e dicection to rapidly attenuate the arc and thereby automatically increase its ini'iei'ent resistance wh eby the are is extinguish" quickly Without ducing detrimental surges ere extinguishing device compiis cooperating arci members eech consisting o; e continuocs conduct c bent to form coufiguretion having a, p lity of sides, one side of each member cooperating form 22 diverging spark gap, moons for inducing at current sai continuous con-- ductors to produce magnetic ficid along sides oi'ming seid spark having on into; end a t between said members to be moved uickly along s and rapidly sittenu i3, "cc attenuating device compris ing nductors fo using c d loop members o a config seti having lurelity of Si'LiES one side of each. operating "form s horn. gap, inductively to: each member for cousing a current to flow bilfmlgh said closed loop members to produce magnetic field along said sides constituting said horn gap such that on ere ecross said horn gap is rapidly drawn out c direction substantially pessilel to said sides and ottenusted whereby the attenuation of the eutoincreases its resistance until it is extinguished.

14. etc attenu ting device comprising coiioereting hoi :1 members adapted to form s horn gap, each of said horn member-s consisting of a conductor bent to form a closed eiect'ricel circuit, means inductively related each horn member for causing a heavy current to pass through the closed electrical circuits of said members such that the intense magnetic field produced by said horn members acts to so quickly lengthen the are that it is rapidly attenuated and. extinguished without setting up detrimental surges.

15. A, protective device comprising two substantially V-shaped members spaced apart and having their sides in a plane at an angle to the horizontal, one side of each member being on arcing portion and co section to cause on are moons cooperating with sai V-shaped memhers to produce closed circuited "windings including said members, inductive means causing a heavy induced current to llovv in said closed circuited windings to produce an intense magnetic field in a direction to rap idly attenuate the arc, whereby the resistance to the flow of current through the arc is rapidly increased. until the are is extinguishedo 16. A protective device comprising cooperating" arcing members each formed of a conductor bent in configuration having a plurality of sldes, onegroup of sides in a plane at an angle to the plane of the first group of sides, said plurality of sides losing arranged to form a closed circuited second ary oi transformer, one side of each member forming an arcing horn, each arc ing horn heing traversed by the current in said closed circuit secondary to produce an intense magnetic field in a direction to tenuate the are occurring across said home with great rapidity,

l7. An arc extinguishing means compris- Zing two short circuited inernhers provided with sides cooperating to form a sparlr sap, "windings i inductive relation to said snort circuited noeinhers and so ranged tha the currents induced in said closed cited niemloers intense magnetic fields along said sides constituti gap in a d ection to ii i great rapi ii'ty'. orotective device comprising ingr horns 'Eorining a horn gap, nieans whereby said horns are each adapted form a portion of a closed electrical loop, means in induc ive relation to each loop for. a current to traverse each loop and set magnetic iield on each horn, the currents in each loop heing so the mag netic fi ld along each horn is in a c iect. to cause the arc to be rapidly said he is ted,

l lice comprising two coop formed a continu ous conductor roeniloer hav ng sides, tvvo of said sides being i one plane and the other tivo sides being a plane at an angle to the plane of t two sides, one side of each ineinher cooperati to form. horn gap, transrorrners having said four sided members as secondary "Windugs and with primary windings in an external circuit.

2%. An arc extinguishing device compris ing cooperating members adapted i orrn closed electrical circuit and provided with arcing portions cooperating to form a horn gap, transformers having said cooperating; members as short circuited secondary circu ts whereby a heavy current "flows along said arcing portions and magnetic fields are produced which move the arc along said portions with rapidity to attenuate and finally extinguish the arc.

2i. in are attenuating device comprising coiiperating members provided with horns adapted to form a horn gap, nienihers forming closed electric circuits, a plurality of plates mounted on said horns and provided with openings through Which said horns pass, means inductively related to each of said closed circuits for inducing therein heavy electric currents forming mag netic iields along said (T311153 in a direction to rapidly attenuate the arc loy drawing along said horns through the openings in said plates,

22. An arc extinguishing device conipris ing an arcing horn, said horn co prising a conductor hent to form a closed lectric cir cuit, means inductively to said closed electric circuit for heavy induced current to lovv in sank arcing" horn, and a second horn cooperating to form a horn 23, An are extinguishing device compris a member constitutino" an horn, said horn forming p t cia closed circuited secondary of a "onner, arcing plates mounted along said and spaced apart to form con ricteo hutes, said are with horn passes with clean a cooperating to fence horn paw are a nieinher focircuit and provided W in an arcing portion, said nieniher io the secondary circuit of a trans lcrnic: v herehy y" in duced currents cause flow in said horn member, an crating arcii horn forming Wit-n er portion of said r horn ii g device cor pris ng a closed r me fidll l afiltr ers spacer; part 25. device comp closed c provided opera/tin i sparli: means induc ively related to closed cir cuited ineinhers cans a heavy to traverse said closed circnited nienih and form dense fields along arcing portions in rectic-n to attenuate the are, re resiscir nicans surround ing one or O p with a circuit 26. lo conihin device, means ior extinguishing the learned as device operates, comprise cooperative members portions adapted to receive arc shaped to attenuate the same, andineans inductively related to said roemher for setting up magnetic fields along the portions of said members in a direction to attenuate the are with rapidity.

pcations co 27. In combination with a circuit opening device, arcing horns cooperating with said device to take the are formed as said device operates, and means for settin up magnetic fields along said arcing orns in a direction to move the arc upwardly along said horns with great rapidity.

28. An arc extinguishing device comprising cooperative members spaced apart to form a horn gap, and means for causing magnetic fields to exist along said horn members in a direction to attenuate the arc with great rapidity.

ELMER E. F. OREIGHTON.

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