US1731866A - Circuit-controlling system - Google Patents

Circuit-controlling system Download PDF

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Publication number
US1731866A
US1731866A US279154A US27915428A US1731866A US 1731866 A US1731866 A US 1731866A US 279154 A US279154 A US 279154A US 27915428 A US27915428 A US 27915428A US 1731866 A US1731866 A US 1731866A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
vacuum
circuit
casing
switches
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US279154A
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English (en)
Inventor
Chester W Rice
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to NL28920D priority Critical patent/NL28920C/xx
Priority to BE283147D priority patent/BE283147A/xx
Priority to BE360836D priority patent/BE360836A/xx
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US279154A priority patent/US1731866A/en
Priority to GB15493/29A priority patent/GB312084A/en
Priority to FR37831D priority patent/FR37831E/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1731866A publication Critical patent/US1731866A/en
Priority to FR40482D priority patent/FR40482E/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches
    • H01H33/668—Means for obtaining or monitoring the vacuum

Definitions

  • My invention relates to the control of electric circuits particularly by means of vacuum switches having contacts operable into and out of circuit-closing engagement within a highly evacuated enclosing casing, and an important object of the invention is to protect against operation of the vacuum switch in the event that the vacuum of the switch should fail or become impaired.
  • a vacuum switch For controlling high potential electric circuits such as used in the present day power transmission systems a vacuum switch possesses certain inherent advantages over the various forms of oil switches ordinarily used in such service.
  • the vacuum switch is both cheaper and simpler in construction, and furthermore, is capable of interrupting the circuit with practically no inductive disturbance, and with much less energy loss due to arcing than an oil switch of comparable capacity.
  • the loss or impairment of the high degree of vacuum required for successful operation of the vacuum switch may render the latter quite useless as a circuit-interrupting device.
  • the loss of the vacuum is not perceptible as ordinarily would be the case with loss of oil in an oil switch.
  • the present invention aims not onlyto provide a warning or alarm signal in case the vacuum of the switch should at any time become impaired, but also automatically to make it impossible either to open or to close the. circuit through the switch having the im aired vacuum.
  • a plurality of vacuum switches are connected in series in the circuit so as jointly to interrupt the circuit when the switches are in normal operating condition.
  • each of the vacuum switches is provided with a suitable vacuum gauge or device which operates responsively to the failure or impairment of the vacuum therein, and suitable disconnecting or short-circuiting switches are arranged to be automatically operated under the control of the vacuum responsive device so as 1928.
  • Serial No. 279,154 is provided.
  • an alarm or warning signal is arrange to be operated whenever the vacuum of he switch fails or becomes impaired.
  • the present invention eifectively prevents either the opening or closing of the circuit through the agency ofa vacuum switch having an impaired vacuum and at the same time provides a warning signal to indicate the unsafe conditionof the switch.
  • each of the vacuum switches 10 and 11 is shown as of the general type described in the copending applications of David C. Prince, No. 264,115 and No. 264,116, both filed March 23, 1928 and assigned to the assignee of my present invention.
  • this form of vacuum switch comprises 'a highly evacuated casing 127which encloses the relatively movable contacts 13, '14, of the switch.
  • the casing 12 is exhausted 1 to an extremely low pressure, preferably of the order of 1/100 of a micron.
  • the parts of the switch within the casing are specially treated to remove all residual and occluded. gases in order to prevent impairment of the vacuum during operation of the switch.
  • each of the contacts 13 and 14 is mounted upon a corresponding supporting rod 15, 16, which extends through the opposite ends ofthe casing 12 and serves to carry the current to the respective contacts.
  • the relative movement of the contacts within the casing is obtained by sealing the supporting rod 16 for the contact 14 to the casing by means of a yielding-'sylphon 17 which permits movement of the corresponding contact into and out of engagement with the other contact and at the same time provides an air-tight connection with the casing 12.
  • the supporting rod 15 for the contact 13 also may be sealed to the casing 12 by means of the sylphon 18 in order to prevent transmission of shocks to the casing as described and claimed in the previously mentioned Prince application, Serial No. 264,115.
  • the movable contact 14 may be operated by any suitable means, although as shown in the drawing it is arranged to be operated by a high speed operating mechanism of the type described in the previously mentioned application.
  • This mechanism comprises the spring 19 which strongly biases the contact 14 to the circuit opening position, together with the electromagnet 220, which serves to hold the contact 14 in the circuit closing position when it is operatedthereto by the electromagnetic closing mechanism 21.
  • the holding electromagnet 20 cooperates with the armature 22 in holding the contact 14 closed and is provided with a releasing winding 23 which controls the holding effect of the electromagnet 20 to permit operation of the contact 14 to the circuit-opening position in accordance with its bias.
  • This operating mechanism for the vacuum switch is more fully described andbroadly claimed in the Tritle Reissue Patent No.- 15,441, dated August 29, 1922, and provides for releasing the movable contact 14 with the utmost speed upon energization of the tripping winding 23.
  • the particular form of lever mechanism associated with the armature 22 and the closing electromagnet 21 is constructed in accordance with the Tritle Patent No. 1,560,440, dated November 3, 1925, and permits free tripping of the vacuum switch in case the tripping winding 23 is operatively energized upon closure of the vacuum switch.
  • the vacuum switch 10 is connected in the circuit L1, L2, through. the disconnecting switches 24 and 25 which are 'biased to the open position by the springs 26 and 27 re-' spectively.
  • the disconnecting switch ,24 is maintained closed bythe electromagnetically actuated latch mechanism 28 and the corelec'tromagnetically actuated responding latch mechanism 29 serves to hold the switch 25 in the closed position.
  • the disconnecting switches 24 and 25 are arranged to be operated under the control of the automatic vacuum-responsive apparatus 30 which is responsive to the condition of vacuum within the casing 12 so as to disconnect the switch 10 from the circuit in case the Vacuum of the switch fails when the switch is in the circuit-opening position, as will be described more fully hereinafter.
  • the switch 31 is connected to short-circuit the vacuum switch 10 under the control of the vacuumrcsponsive apparatus 30 in case the vacuum of the'switch fails when the switch is in the closed position.
  • the switch 31 is biased to the short-circuiting position by the spring 32 and is held in the open position in which it is shown by the electromagnetically controlled latch mechanism 33.
  • the vacuum-responsive apparatus 30 as illustrated is of the thermocouple type and comprises a filament 40 which is heated from a suitable source, such for example as the battery B, and is enclosed within a chamber 41 in communication with the evacuated casing 12 so as to be subjected to the degree of vacuum obtained therein.
  • the heat is dissipated from the filament 40 by radiationand by convectiondue t0 the gases withinthe evacuated casing.
  • the convection current set' up in the gases within the casing quickly reduces the temperature of the filament 40.
  • thermocouple 42 is located in close proximity thereto and connected to operate the electro-responsive relay 43 in accordance with the current set up in the thermocouple 41 due to the temperature in the filament 40.
  • a current-amplify ing device illustrated diagrammatically as 44 is providedfor amplifying the relatively small current supplied from the thermocouple 41 to the relay 43.
  • the relay-43 preterably is of the type having a rotating coil 45 located between the magnetic poles indicated diagrammatically as N and S.
  • a mirror 46 is carried by the rotating coil 45 so as to deflect light from the source L in ac-' cordance with the current su plied from'the thermocouple 42.
  • the light beam controlled by the relay 43 isrendered effective to'operate the electroresponsive switch 47 through lay, such for example as the Wheatstone bridge arrangement 48, although a photoelectric cell or other form of light-responsive device may be employed if desired.
  • the Wheatstone bridge lightresponsive means comprises the four resistors .the agency of [a suitable light-responsive re- R1, R2, R3, and R4, to which current is sup. plied from a suitable source such as the battery I32. At least one of the resistors, such as the resistor R1, is formed of a material which changes its resistance under the action of light, such for example as selenium.
  • the ⁇ Vheatstone bridge arrangement may be enclosed within the suitable light-proof casing 49 having a window 50 arranged to receive light from the mirror 46 on the le-. lay 43.
  • the vaciuim-responsive apparatus 30 is such that when the vacuum within the casing 12 is of the required high degree, the operating winding of the relay 43 assumes such a position that the mirror 46 directs the light from the source L away from the window 50 and projects light into the window 50 only when the vacuum of the switch 10 becomes impaired to such degree as to render the switch unlit for circuit-closing or circuit-opening service.
  • a stop 56 is provided on the relay 43 to keep the light beam from going beyond the window 50 in case the vacuum becomes further impaired.
  • the vacuum-responsive apparatus just described not only provides an accurate and quick response to failure of the vacuum within the casing 12 of the vacuum switch, but also effectively serves to insulate the control apparatus from the vacuum switch where the latter is employed in extremely high voltage service.
  • the IVheatstone bridge resistance arrangement may be located remotely from and effectively insulated from the light-responsive relay 43.
  • the vacuum switch 10 is provided with an auxiliary switch 51.
  • This switch in conjunction with the electromagnetic switch 47 connects the battery B3 to energize the electromagnetically operated latches 2S and 29 to release the disconnecting switches 24 and 25 in case the switch 47 is operated due to failure of vacuum when the vacuum switch 10 is in the opening position as shown or to energize the electromagnet latch mechanism 33 of the short-circuiting switch 31 in case the vacuum fails when the switch 10 is in the circuit-closing position.
  • closure of the vacnum con trolled electroresponsive switch 47 completes the energizing circuit for the alarm signal 52 which may be either an electric lamp, semaphore, or other suitable alarm device.
  • each of the vacuum switches 10, 11 is operated from the open position in which it is shown to the .closed position. This is accomplished by closing the push button switches 53 and 53 to energizefthe closing magnets 21 and 21 of the operating mechanism for the respective vacuum switches. This results in operating the armatures 22 and 22 into engagement with their respeta tive holding ma nets 20 and 20.
  • the overload relay 55 is opera tively energized from the current transformer T and closes its contacts to energize the tripping windings 23 and 23 of the vacuum switches 10 and 11 respectively from the supply cource indicated as and in the drawing. This results in the release of the armatures 22 and 22 and permits the biasing springs 19 and 19 to quickly operate the movable contacts 14 and 14 to the circuitopening position. WVith an alternating current circuit as illustrated and with the contacts 13 and 14 of suitable material, the current continues to flow between the contacts of the vacuum switches due to electron emission until he zero point of the wave is reached. Thereupon the circuit is interrupted with practically no inductive disturbance.
  • the correspondng Vacuum-responsive apparatus 30 functions to direct the light from the source L upon the light-sensitive resistance R1 to unbalance the "Wheatstone bridge and thereby operatively energizing the corresponding protective relay 47.
  • Closure of the contacts of the relay 47 with the vacuum switch 10 in the open position and the auxiliary control switch 51 inits corresponding lower position results in energizin the tripping electromagnets 28 and 29 o the disconnecting switches 26 and 27 respectively. This releases the disconnecting switches for operation to the circuitopening position in accordance with their bias thereby entirely disconnecting the switch 10 from the circuit L1, L2.
  • a vacuum switch having relatively movable contacts within an evacuated casing, means responsive to an electrical condition of the circuit for automatically operating the contacts, a switch for short-circuiting said contacts, and means res onsive to impairment of the vacuum wit iin said casing for operating said short-circuiting switch to render operation of the contacts ineffective to control the circuit.
  • a vacuum switch having relatively movable contacts within an evacuated cas ing for closing and opening the circuit, means responsive to the condition of vacuum within said casing, and switch mechanism controlled by said means for rendering the vacuum switch inefiective to open and close vacuum switch ling the operation of the switch to open and close the circuit.
  • a circuit controlling device the com bination of a vacuum switch having relatively movable contacts within an evacuated casing, switch mechanism for disconnecting the vacuum switch from the circuit, independently operable switch mechanism for short circuiting the vacuum switch, means responsive to the condition of vacuum within said casing for operating said disconnecting switch mechanism upon impairment of the vacuum within said casing when the vacuum switch is open and for operating said short circuiting switch mechanism upon impairment of the vacuum within said casing when the vacuum switch is closed.
  • a circuit controlling device the com bination of a vacuum switch having relatively movable contactswithin an evacuated casing, electroresponsive switch mechanism for disconnecting the said contacts from the circuit controlled by the vacuum switch, electro responsive switch mechanism for short circuiting the relatively movable contacts of the vacuum switch, auxiliary control switch mechanism operable to one position when the vacuum switch is closed and to another position when the vacuum switch is open, circuit controlling means responsive to the condition ofyacuum within said casing, and connections jomtly controlled by said auxiliary switch mechanism and said vacuum responsive means for effecting operation of said electroresponsive disconnecting switch mechanism upon impairment of the vacuum within said casing when the vacuum switch is open and for effectmg operation of said electroresponsive short circuiting switch mechanism upon impairment of the vacuum within said casing when the vacuum switch is closed.
  • a circuit controlling device the combination of avacuum switch having relatively movable contacts within an evacuated casing, electroresponsive means for separating said relatively movable contacts in response to predetermined electrical conditions in the circuit controlled by the vacuum switch, electro responsive switch mechanism for disconnecting the relatively movable contacts of the rom the circuit controlled thereby, electroresponsive switch mechanism for short circuiting the relatively movable contacts of the vacuum switch, means responsive to the condition of vacuum within the evacuated casing of the vacuum switch ineluding a light sensitive circuit controlling element, electroresponsive switch mechanism controlled by said element, auxiliary switch mechanism associated with the vacuum switch to be operated to one circuit controlling po-.
  • a circuit controlling system comprising a pair of vacuum switches connected in series relation to jointly control the opening and closing of the circuit when the vacuum conditions of the switches are normal, auxiliary switch mechanism associated with each vacuum switch for rendering the switch ineffective to control the circuit and thereby place the circuit exclusively under the control of the other switch, and means responsive to the condition of vacuum in each switch for controlling the corresponding auxiliary switch mechanism associatedtherewith.

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
US279154A 1928-03-23 1928-05-19 Circuit-controlling system Expired - Lifetime US1731866A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL28920D NL28920C (hu) 1928-05-19
BE283147D BE283147A (hu) 1928-05-19
BE360836D BE360836A (hu) 1928-05-19
US279154A US1731866A (en) 1928-05-19 1928-05-19 Circuit-controlling system
GB15493/29A GB312084A (en) 1928-05-19 1929-05-17 Improvements in and relating to electric circuit controlling systems
FR37831D FR37831E (fr) 1928-03-23 1929-05-17 Perfectionnements apportés aux appareils à vide, et plus particulièrement aux interrupteurs
FR40482D FR40482E (fr) 1928-03-23 1931-07-07 Perfectionnements apportés aux appareils à vide, et plus particulièrement aux interrupteurs

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US279154A US1731866A (en) 1928-05-19 1928-05-19 Circuit-controlling system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1731866A true US1731866A (en) 1929-10-15

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ID=23067861

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US279154A Expired - Lifetime US1731866A (en) 1928-03-23 1928-05-19 Circuit-controlling system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US1731866A (hu)
BE (2) BE360836A (hu)
GB (1) GB312084A (hu)
NL (1) NL28920C (hu)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060126257A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2006-06-15 Domo James F Vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus
WO2009013292A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Elettrotec S.R.L. Electronic vacuum switch with main parameters quickly settable also during operation of the plant under control

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060126257A1 (en) * 2006-01-31 2006-06-15 Domo James F Vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus
WO2007089311A3 (en) * 2006-01-31 2007-10-11 Danaher Corp Vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus
US7499255B2 (en) 2006-01-31 2009-03-03 Thomas & Betts International, Inc. Vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus
KR101014131B1 (ko) * 2006-01-31 2011-02-14 토마스 앤드 베츠 인터내셔널, 인코포레이티드 진공형 전기 스위칭 장치
CN101379579B (zh) * 2006-01-31 2011-08-10 托马斯及贝茨国际股份有限公司 真空式电切换装置
WO2009013292A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Elettrotec S.R.L. Electronic vacuum switch with main parameters quickly settable also during operation of the plant under control
US20100226057A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2010-09-09 Elettrotec S.R.L. Electronic vacuum switch with main parameters quickly settable also during operation of the plant under control

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE283147A (hu)
BE360836A (hu)
GB312084A (en) 1930-10-17
NL28920C (hu)

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