US1860337A - High tension circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1932.

D. C. PRINCE ET AL HIGH TENSION CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed May 19, 1951 Inventors David C. Prince, William Tur'nloerwrwg, bg f/@M7 MM Their- Attor-rwelsj.

`Patented I May 24, `1932 Latent UNITED STATES lParleur OFFICE DAVID C. PRINCE, 0F SCHENECTADY, AND WILLIAM'T'UBNPENY, OF ALBANY, N'Iltil"- YORK, ASSIGNORS T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC 'COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK I Application led lay 19,

Our invention relates to high tension circuit interrupters, lnore particularly to mult1- ple break interrupters of the oil blast type wherein pressure generating arcs are formed 5 to cause i'low of extinguishing liquid at high velocity through and across arcs in series in v'the circuit to be interrupted.

As is well known, the oil circuit breakers used in modern high tension power transmission systems, as for instance of 220 kilovolts, are massive, expensive, and require a large amount of space. The. huge circuit breaker tanks`on which the heavy lead-in insulating bushings-are supported contain in most instances several thousand gallons of high grade insulating oil which is inflammable and a potential fire hazard so that a large factor of safety in the breaker design ishecessary. Likewise powerful andexpensive operating mechanisms are required to effect operation ofthe circuit breakers at the required speed. In brief, high `tension, oil circuit breakers in present use involve high initial, installation and maintenance costs and likewise involve the disadvantage of requiring a large amount of space and overhead clearance. 1 l

A principal object of our invention is the pr0vision`of an improved high tension circuit interrupter employing an arc extinguishing l liquid, as oil', which shall be compact and of small mass, lrugged and simple in construction, and positive and reliable in operation.

Our invention will be more fully set forth in the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawings, and the features of novelty which characterize our inventionv will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this L specification. A

Referring to the drawings, Fig.- 1 is a partial cross-sectional, elevational view of a high tension circuit interrupter embodying our invention, Fig. 2 is a partial` sectional plan view as viewed from beneath, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings the 5 high tension circuit interrupter comprises a generally tubular housing, horizontally ar- Aall connected in series and immersed in an insulating and arc Iextinguishing liquid, 21,

t the insu atin HIGH TENSION CIRCUIT INTERRUPTEB 1931., Serial No'. 538,580.

ranged, formed bv a pair of strong insulating l tubes 1 and 2 joined by a flanged coupling member 3 which is in turn supported b the insulating shell 4. The insulating tu es 1 and 2 are preferably of laminated insulating material impregnated with a suitable resinl ous product forming a mechanically strong structure. For the purpose of convenience. in illustration the part of the housing formed by the insulating tube 2 is but partially shown, it being understood that the insulating tube 2 and the structure associated therewith are similar to and substantially duplicate of that shown in connection with the insulating tube 1.

The terminals of the circuit interrupter comprise connecting means as the binding posts 5 and 6 extending through the end caps 7 and 8 suitably secured, as by screw-thread ed engagement, to the opposite ends of the 'm housing respectively. The circuit interconplurality of pairs` of contacts connected inf series by flexible conductors, certain pairs of contacts as 9-10 serving as pressure generating contacts and other contacts'as 13-14 and 15-16 related thereto. functioning to interrupt the circuit in a manner hereinafter described. In the present instance eachhalf of the circuit breaker housing contains two pressure generating breaks, as 9-10 and 11- 12, and four main current interrupting breaks, as 13a-14, `15--16, 17-18 and 19`20 as. oil, conta-ined in the housing, it of course being understood that the number and arrangement of breaks in series may be varied in accordance with the particular operating voltage and other considerations.

The contact operating mechanism com= prises an operating rod 22 of strong insulate ing material, as wood, vertically movable within a tubular metallic guide 23 extending through and secured as by welding to a clampln plate 23' closin the upper end of shell 4. uitable actuatin means (not s own) disposed at the base o the insulating shell may be operatively con= i nected to the rod 22 for imparting movement thereto. For the purpose of opeiiingthe circuit interrupter at high speed independently of the actuating. means, the rod 22 is Y connected through a link 24 to a rod 25 excompression spring 29 serving as an energy.

storing devi/ce for causing circuit opening movement. Motion is transmitted from the operating .rod 22 to the switch cont-acts through a crank 30 pivoted to the coupling 3 as at 31. An arm 32 of the crank extends through a slot 22 in the guide tube 23 and is pivotally connected to the rod 22. Another forked arm 33 of the crank engages a cross pin 34 interconnecting a pair of parallel contact operating rods 35 and 36 of strong insulating material, as maple, extending horizontally within the breaker housing so as to cause reciprocatory movement of said rods in response to rotation of the crank.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the parallel rods 35 and 36 serve to guide and actuate the movable contacts 10 and 12 of the pressure generating contacts, and 14, 16, 18 and 20 of the main current interrupting contacts, and likewise the corresponding movable contacts disposed within the insulating tube 2. Each movable contact is connected to a crossbar 37 mounted for sliding movement on the rods 35 and 36, the crossbar and likewisethe movable contact being normall biased towards closed circuit position by tlie coilsprings 38 disposed between the crossbar 37 and the insulating sleeves 39 which are pinned or otherwise secured to the rods 35 and 36. For the purpose of moving the crossbars in the opposite direction the insulating sleeves are of suitable length to engage and move the crossbar of the adjacent contacts. f 7

The main mounting and supporting structure for the contacts and for the rods 35 and 36 comprises a strong insulating partition 40 of laminated wood or the like disposed within the housing as best illustrated in Fig. 3,

formin a lower pressure generating chamber an an upper relief chamber, the partition 40 being suitably positioned and braced by the bolts 41 and insulating spacing blocks 42 disposed at opposite ends of the housing. The mid-portion of the partition 40 is likewise supported and braced by a plate 40 which is secured as by Welding'to the couplin 3, the guide tube 23 extending freely throug the partition 40 and plate 40. The crank 30 ts snugly within a slot 30. formed in the partition 40 so thahcom'munication between the upper and lower chambers is restricted except as hereinafter described.

Opposite the main current interrupting contacts in the partition 40 are pressure relief openings 43, 44, 45 and 46, each pair of contacts being positioned within an insulat ing tube or thimble 47, open at bot-h ends, secured in any suitable manner within the corresponding relief opening to the partition 40 as by threaded engagement with a retaining insulating Awasher 48. As clearly illustrate in Fig. 1 the oil level is but a-short distance above the partition 40 and the relief openings, thereby maintaining a low pressure head at those points.

Each pair of the main current interrupting contacts is similar inarrangement, the stationary contact 13 ofthe break1314 for example extending through and clamped to the wall of the corresponding thimble 47 by suitable means 49 servin likewise to connect one end of a flexible bralded conductor 50 to the stationary contact. The coacting movable contact 14 which is carried by a crossbar 37 extendsthrough and isslidably mounted'and supported within the o posite wall of the thimble so as to make an break contact with in the thimble Aand adjacent the relief openring 43. The remaining main current interrupting contacts are similarly mounted within thimbles 47 so that further description thereof is unnecessary. v

The pressure generating contacts' on the other hand are remotely positioned from the relief openings in the partition 40 and are preferably placed intermediate a pair of main interrupting contacts. Referring by way of example lto the pressure generating contacts 9 and 10, the stationary contact 9 is suitably secured to one arm of-a U-shaped member 51 clamped to the lower side of the partition 4() by a bolt 41, the U-shaped member likewise supporting and guiding the movable contact 16 of the adjacent pair of main contacts. The movable contact ,10

-is carried by -crossbar 37 in a manner above described and is controlled by movement of the rods 35 and 36. The pressure generat- -ing contacts 11 Aand 12 are similarly ar-Alf ranged and constructed.

all connected in series by the flexible braided' conductors 50 connecting a movable contact of one pair with the stationary contact of the next pair in series therewith. AV braided e conductor 52 likewise connects the sets of contacts on opposite sides of the housing in series through the coupling 3, the contacts being connected to theterminals 5 and 6 by the conductors 53 and 54 respectively. t

For the purpose of venting gas from the upper relief chamber and for preventing expulsion of oil therefrom, the housing 26 forms a separating chamber of Athe Well known pebble type, the chamber having a lower perforated wall 55 supporting a body of pebbles, 56. The c ap 28 is likewise perforated as at'57 so that gas may be freelyvvented through the separating chamber While preventing expulsion of oil therefrom.

In actual practice a grading reslstance (not shown) may be connected in parallel across the terminals, taps from vthe resistance being suitably connected across theindividual pairs of main current interrupting contacts for the purpose of equalizing the voltage at eachv pair of cont-acts. This arrangement, however, forms no part of our present invention and has been omitted for the purpose of clarity since illustration Athereo is not necessary for complete understandingof our invention.

The operation of the circuit interrupter is as follows: When the circuit interrupter is in the closed circuit position illustrated in F ig. 1 wherein each pair of contacts is in engagement, the spring 29 is under compression tending to rotate the crank 30 in a counter-clockwise direction to cause opening movement of the parallel rods 35 and 36. lWhe-n the operating rod 23 is released by tripping mechanism of any suitable type either at the option of the operator or in by these contacts generate, as is wellknown,

high pressure in that regibn. The main current interrupting contacts however are so arranged with respect to the respective relief openings that the arcs drawn between the same are directly in the path of flow of oil` exhausting int-o the upper relief chamber. By positioning a pair of pressure generating contacts between a pair of main current interrupting contacts, sufficient pressure is generated within the lower pressure chamber to cause a blast of oil at high velocity upwardly through each of the thimbles and associated `the thimble by the-corresponding main contacts is traversed and effectively extinguished by the oil blast in exhausting into the upper relief chamber which maybe at atmospheric pressure. .-In view of the fact that all main current interrupting contacts are in series and are opened .practically simultaneously, the arc at each pair of main contacts is traversed simultaneously by an oil blast so that in` terruption of the circuit is positive and effective. Furthermore, the arcs formed Within the thimbles47 have no chance to shift from or dodge the oil blast since the entire arc space is subjected to the blast of oil.

The switch .closing operation is edected simply by downward' movement of the ing rod 22 by the actuating means, causing clockwise movement of the crank 30 to shift the parallel rods 35 and 36 to the circuit clos-` ing position, meanwhile compressing the spring 29 for a subsequent circuit opening operation. The springs 38 which normally.

bias the crossbars 37 and the movable contactstowards closed circuit position serve to resiliently bias the contacts into engagement as well as provide for overtravel of the opy eratin'g mechanism during the closing operaoperatu p tion, the insulating sleeves 39 engaging the bars 37 in the circuit opening operation.

The operation of a high tension circuit interrupter embodying our invention is without appreciable noise and is accompanied by low` gas pressure and very little, if any, oil throw, thereby reducing to an appreciable extent fire hazard. The circuit interrupter moreover for a given interrupting rating is small and occupies little space and requires but a few gallons of ,oil as compared with the huge amount required by oil circuit breakers now in use. Furthermore, the operating mechanism may be simple'and have a comparatively low power rating.

Although oil is specifically referred to as the insulating andare extinguishing liquid, it should be understood that other insulating and extinguishing liquids having suitable characteristics may be used. Oil, however,

has the advantage ofbeing a lubricant` as' well so that all moving parts are sufficiently lubricated at all times.

Under certain conditions, as in outdoor operation, an outer insulating shell of porcelain or the like may be used to substantially enclose the elongated tubular housing, thereby minimizing the cha-nce of lashover between l1ve parts of the breaker.

uff.-

lle() It should be understood that our invention is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that` changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What We claim as new and desire to secure vb L tt f t relief openmg so that-the are drawn withm y e ers Patent o he Umted States 1S 1. A high tension circuit interrupter comprising a housing having a pressure chamber and a relief chamber communicating therewith through a 4plurality of relief openings,

an arc-extinguishing liquid filling said lpressure chamber, and a plurality of pairs of contacts connected in series in said pressure 'chamber, certain pairs of said contacts being ings and `across the arcs drawn between the corresponding adjacent pair of contacts.

2. A. high tension circuit interrupter comprising a housing having a lower pressure chamber and an upper relief chamber connecting through a plurality of relief openings, an insulating and arc-extinguishing liquid filling said lower chamber, a plurality of pairs of contacts connected in series immersed in said liquid, certain of said pairs of contacts positioned adjacent and opposite said relief openings and other of said pairs of contacts being remotely positioned with respect to said openings, and means operatively connected to said pairs of contacts causing simultaneous'separation thereof so that the arcs drawn between said remotely positioned contacts generate pressure within the pressure chamber to blast extinguishing liquid through said relief openings and across the arcs formed between the corresponding adjacent pair of contacts. l,

3. A high tension circuit interrupter comprising anlelongated-tubular housing horizontally arranged, a partition in said housc ing forming a lower pressure chamber and an upper relief chamber, sald chambers communicating through relief openings in said l uid from said pressure chamber throng l each relief opening so that the corresponding pair of adjacent-contacts is directly in the path ofsaid liquid, and means operatively connected to each pair of contacts causing simultaneous separation thereof so that the remotely positioned contacts form pressure generating breaks for forcing extinguishing liquid at high velocity through saidrelief openings and across the arcs formed between the corresponding adjacent contacts.

4. A high tension circuit interrupter comprising an elongated insulating housing horzontally arranged, an insulating partition dividing said housing into a lower pressure chamber and an .upper relief chamber, said chambers communicating through relief openings in said partition, an insulating and arc-extinguishin liquid filling said pressure chamber, a plura 'ty of pairs of contacts connected in series lmmersed in said liquid within the pressure chamber, insulating thimbles mounted in said relief .openings and extending into said pressure chamber, certain of said pairs of contacts each arranged to make and breallr contact within a corresponding thimble4 and adjacent its reliefl opening, ot er pairsjof said contacts being remotely positioned with respect to said relief openings, and contact operating means causing substantially simultaneous separation of each pair of contacts so that the pressure generated by arcing between the remotely positioned contacts serves to force extinguishing liquid at high velocity from said pressure chamber through said insulating thimbles to extinguish the arcs formed therein.

l5. A high tension circuit interrupter comprising a housing having a partition dividing the same into a lower pressure chamber and an upper relief chamber, said chambers communicating. through relief openings in said partition, a plurality of pairs of contacts connected in series Within said pressure chamber, an insulating liquid in said chamber in which said contacts are immersed, certain of said pairs-of contacts serving as main current interrupting contacts positioned adjacent and opposite said relief openings, another pair of said contacts serving as pressure generating contacts positioned intermediatetwo pairs of main current interrupting contacts, and contact operating means effecting separation of each pair of contacts Aso that arcing at the pressure generating contacts forces insulating liquid at high velocity between said main current interrupting contacts to exhaust into. said relief chamber.

6. A high tension circuit interrupter comprising an insulating tubular housing horizontally arranged, an insulating partition dividing said housing into a lower pressure chamber and an upper relief chamber, said chambers communicating through relief openings in said partition, an insulating oil within said pressure chamber, a plurality of pairs of contacts connected in seriesl within said pressure chamber, said contacts mounted on and supported by said partition, certain pairs of said contacts positioned adjacent and opposite said relief openings, and operating means causing substantially simultaneous separation of each pair of contacts so that the arcing pressure generated by the contacts remotely positioned with respectr-to said relief openings forces individ- H5 ualblastsof oil through the relief openings and across the arcs formed thereat.

In witness whereofjve have hereunto set

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