US1953788A

US1953788A - Electric circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US1953788A
Application number: US651777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thieme Paul
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1931-10-27
Filing date: 1933-01-14
Publication date: 1934-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1951-04-03
Also published as: GB402927A; GB402990A; GB403600A; DE664986C; DE666337C; FR744357A

Description

P. THIEME ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Jan. 14, 1953 April 3, 1934.

h'WVQH COF'Z Paul Thierne His Attorney Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE issagss-" ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER Paul Thieme, Kopenick, Wendenschloss, Germany, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York f Application January. 14, 1933, Serial No. 651,777

In Germany. April 20, 1932 Claims. (01. 200-150) My invention relates to electric circuit break-- ers and more particularly to circuit breakers of the type utilizing an arc extinguishing liquid.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of an improved circuit breaker of the aforesaid type which is simple, rugged and compact in construction, efficient in operation and comparatively free of objectionable liquid throw during normal operation.

'My invention will be more fully set forth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features ofnovelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to w. and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section of a part of a circuit breaker embodying my invention and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified form of go my invention.

The circuit breaker illustrated by way of examplecomprises relatively movable contacts including a stationary socket contact 1 and a coacting movable rod contact 2. The contacts ooact within a pressure confining chamber 3 in which the stationary contact is suitably mounted. The pressure confining chamber 3 may be formed in any suitable manner as by a cylindrical member 4 closed at one end as at 5 and pro vided at its opposite end with an exhaust opening which is arranged to receive the movable rod contact 2. The pressure confining chamber likewise contains an arc extinguishing liquid as hereinafter described.

In a circuit breaker of this type it will be apparent that separation of the contacts for the purpose of interrupting a high tension power circuit causes intensive arcing which tends to vaporize and expel liquid from the chamber 3 due to the high pressure generated therein. For the purpose of receiving the exhaust liquid and for aiding interruption of the circuit, there is provided a casing '7 which is in communication with the exhaust opening 6 so as directly to receive liquid expelled from the chamber 3 during circuit interruption. The casing 7 may be composed of a suitable insulating material and is provided with an opening 4 in which the cylindrical memher 4 is secured. An arc extinguishing liquid 8,

as water or oil for example, partly fills the casing 7 so as completely to cover the exhaust opening 6 of the pressure confining chamber.

For the purpose of reducing and minimizing the expulsion of liquid during circuit interruption the casing 7 is provided with a deflecting wall or partition 9, forming with the casing a second chamber 10 through which the movable rod contact is operable. The deflecting wall 9 is disposed substantially opposite the exhaust opening 6 and is inclined with respect to the exhaust of liquid therefrom so as to deflect the liquid into the lateral extension 7' of the casing 7 as diagrammatically illustrated. It will be noted that the longitudinal axis of the casing 7 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressure confining chamber 3, the deflecting wall 9 being inclined approximately 45 to each axis so as to deflect liquid expelled from said chamber across thearc drawn between the contacts and longitudinally of the casing 7. 79 The deflecting wall 9 is provided with an opening 9' for receiving the movable contact, the casing 7 likewise being provided with an aligned opening 2 for said contact.

.When the circuit is to be interrupted, the rod contact 2 is moved upwards by suitable operating means, not shown, with the result that the arc is drawn-between

contacts

1 and 2 within the chamber 3. The resulting pressure causes expulsion of liquid from said chamber in the direction of the 80 are when the rod contact has cleared the exhaust opening, the main part of the liquid being deflected by the wall 9 into the lateral extension of the casing 7 and across the are formed between the contacts. It will be apparent that the defiec- 5- tion of liquid through the arc aids interruption thereof in the event that the arc is not already extinguished shortly after the rod 2 has cleared the exhaust opening. Upon further opening movement of the contact 2 expelled liquid is free to enter the second chamber 10 through the opening 9 which is of small cross sectional area as compared with the deflecting wall. The amount of liquid directed through this opening is therefore not large and is collected in the chamber 10 so that the final expulsion of liquid from the circuit breaker is negligible.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification wherein the deflecting wall 9 is provided with a portion 11 which is spaced from the upper wall of the casing 7 so as to provide communication as at 11 between the chamber 10 and the interior of the casing 7. The operation is substantially the same as described above except that when the rod contact 2 is in the position shown during circuit interrup- 106 tion, pressure within the chamber 10 due to expulsion of liquid through the opening 9 may be relieved by way of the opening 11'. Accordingly there is little or no tendency for liquid to escape through the opening 2 in the casing 7. no

It should be understood that my 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 my invention.

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

1. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a pressure confining chamber containing an arc extinguishing liquid in which one of said contacts is disposed, the coacting contact being movable into and out of said chamber through an exhaust opening therein, a casing in communication with said exhaust opening through which said movable contact is withdrawn upon separation of said'contacts, and a partition forming with said casing a second chamber through which said movable contact is operable, said partition being substantially opposite and inclined in substantially the same direction with respect to the exhaust of liquid from said pressure confining chamber during circuit interruption.

2. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a pressure confining chamber containing an extinguishing liquid in which said contacts are arranged to separate, said chamber having an exhaust opening through which one of said contacts is drawn during circircuit interruption so that said liquid is deflected across the are drawn between said contacts and into said lateral extension.

3. An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a pressure confining chamber containing an arc extinguishing liquid in which one of said contacts is disposed, the coacting contact being movable into and out of said chamber through an exhaust opening therein, a casing into which liquid may exhaust through said opening, the longitudinal axis of said casing being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said pressure confining chamber and a partition forming with said casing a second chamber through which said movable contact is operable, said partition being substantially opposite said exhaust opening and inclined in substantially the same direction so as to defiect liquid expelled from said chamber longitudinally of said casing.

4. An electric circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact, a pressure confining chamber containing an are extinguishing liquid in which said contacts coact, said stationary contact being disposed in said chamber and said rod contact movable through an exhaust opening therein, a casing having a lateral extension into which liquid from said chamber may exhaust through said opening, and a partition within said casing having a substantially plane portion disposed above said opening and inclined with respect thereto so as to deflectliquid expelled from said chamber into said lateral extension and across the are formed between said contacts.

5. An electric circuit interrupter comprising relatively movable contacts and a pressure confining chamber containing an arc extinguishing liquid in which said contacts are arranged to separate, said chamber having an exhaust opening through which one of said contacts is drawn during circuit interruption, a casing having a lateral extension in communication with said exhaust opening, and a substantially plane deflecting Wall disposed above and inclined with respect to said exhaust opening forming a second chamber through which said movable contact is operable, said wall having an aperture for receiving said movable contact and being spaced from the wall of said casing at one end to provide communication between said second chamber and casing.

PAUL, THIEME.