US2082028A - Plunger-type current interrupter - Google Patents

Plunger-type current interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US2082028A
US2082028A US605398A US60539832A US2082028A US 2082028 A US2082028 A US 2082028A US 605398 A US605398 A US 605398A US 60539832 A US60539832 A US 60539832A US 2082028 A US2082028 A US 2082028A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
arc
passage
current
plunger
gas
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
US605398A
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English (en)
Inventor
Herbert L Rawlins
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.)
CBS Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing 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
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Priority to US605398A priority Critical patent/US2082028A/en
Priority to DES106467D priority patent/DE607516C/de
Priority to GB8527/33A priority patent/GB400838A/en
Priority to DES108903D priority patent/DE608712C/de
Priority to DES108902D priority patent/DE608711C/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2082028A publication Critical patent/US2082028A/en
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
    • H01H33/70—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/76—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid wherein arc-extinguishing gas is evolved from stationary parts; Selection of material therefor

Definitions

  • My invention relates to current-interrupting devices and particularly to devices of the type in which the arc is extinguished by means of a blast of non-ionized gas or vapor.
  • ...It is an object of my invention to provide a device of the class described which shall be adapted to interrupt arcs over a greater range of current values than has heretofore been possible.
  • I produce these results by providing a plunger type of circuit interrupter in which the plunger travels through a passage lined with boric acid or other arc-responsive material.
  • the passage is provided with a bell-shaped mouth adjacent the starting point of thearc and the movable electrode traveling through the passage elongates the arc. This brings the arc into the small part oi the passage when it lasts long enough to endure through such a movement of the plunger. This can occur only at small currents because at heavy currents suiiicient gas is generated to extinguish the arc While the plunger is still Within the bell.
  • I provide a suiiicient inertia in the plunger to insure that its motion will be slow enough to acturing avoid elongating a heavy-current arc into the small part of the passage and thus avoid the development of heavy gas pressures.
  • Fig. 21 s a view partly in section and partly in side elevation illustrating another form thereof.
  • Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a third form.
  • a cylindrical tube I of fibre or other insulating material is provided at its lower end with a metallic cap 2 adapted to cooperate with clips or other devices at one terminal of the circuit with' which the current interrupter is to cooperate.
  • the other end of the tube l is provided with a metal sleeve 3 which may serve for connection to the other terminal cf the circuit directly or by means of a metallic prolongation t.
  • a metallic washer 5 is connected to the cap 2 in any convenient or suitable manner.
  • This lining may be provided by compressing boric acid with a pressure of 5 to l5 tons per K square inch in suitable moulds to form blocks or brickettes of a size to t the tube i.
  • brickettes are moulded with a central opening to provide the passage 8, which extends. through the whole body of boric acid.
  • boric acid alternate discs of hard libre and fullerboard discs may be provided.
  • the ullerboard is somewhat more edective if soaked in oil but the device is not then Aas permanent.
  • stances which can .beused are borax, aluminum 4 Other subborate, compressed naphthalene, salicyclic acid and silicio acid.
  • Boric acid is a most desirable material since when acted upon by the arc it gives oi water vapor which is non-inflammable and readily condensed.
  • a plunger il is located in the passage 8 and is d secured at one end to the sleeve 3 by a fusible link i2 having a reduced section which melts initially.
  • the plunger lits the passage as closely as may be without friction.
  • Ihe link is soldered or otherwise secured to the adjacent end of the plunger II and is attached to a flange 8 extending inwardly i'rom the sleeve l by any suitable mechanical fastening such as the screw I3.
  • the opposite end of the plunger i I is attached to a disk I4 which serves as one abutment for a spring I5, which bears against the washer l either directly or through an inturned flange of the sleeve 6.
  • Flexible connecters Il extend from the flange I4 to the sleeve I and thus aii'ord connection between the plunger I'I and the cap 2 in all positions of the plunger II.
  • I'he extension 4 mounted upon the sleeve 3 contains copper washers I1 alternating with metallic spacing rings "I8, the pile of alternating rings being secured together and fastened within the extension 4 by bolts I8 which also secure the extension 4 to the sleeve 3 and secure a cap ring 2l in place at the end of the extension 4.
  • 'I'he cap ring may be provided with a central opening through which gases can escape or this opening may be closed by a stopper 2'I as illustrated in the drawing.
  • Fig. 2 the construction is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 but a different means is provided in piace of the fusible member I2 for opening the circuit.
  • Two contact springs 22 are mounted upon the flange 9 of the sleeve I and the plunger I I in its normal position extends between the contact springs 22 and is thereby electrically connected to the sleeve 3.
  • a weight 23 at the lower end of the plunger I I moves the plunger downwardly when released
  • the weight 28 is normally restrained by a catch 2l which is released by a magnet 28.
  • 'Ihe conductor 21 leading to the magnet 28 may bein shunt to the circuit in which the current interrirpter is inserted, or it may extend to an independent circuit intended to control the current interrupter.
  • 'Ihe magnet is connected to the cap 24 and the circuit which controls the magnet is completed through the clips or other contact devices which cooperate with the cap 24.
  • a similar arrangement including' contact springs 22 is provided at the upper end of the plunger II in Fig. 3.
  • the catch 30, corresponding to the catch 25 in Fig. 2, is spring pressed to release position and is held in the illustrated position by a fusible wire II.
  • 'Ihe conductor I2 leading to the wire ll may be connected either to a shunt of the mainclrcuitor to a ⁇ control circuit as explainai in connection with the conductor 21 in Fig. 2.
  • a connecting device Il for the conductor 32 is mounted upon but insulated from thel bracket I4 which extends from the cap 24.
  • One end of the fusible wire 8l is secured by the connecting device 8l and the other end thereof is mechanically secured to the tail of the catch 80, but insulated therefrom by the insulation l5.
  • a connection extends from the wire 8l to the bracket 84 and thus to the cap 24.
  • this slow movement is accomplished by making the plunger II a thick rod of copper, thereby giving it considerable inertia, and selecting for the spring I5 one which cannot exert force enough to accelerate the heavy plunger II to more than a moderate speed.
  • these constants are so chosen that the plunger Il will require from 3 to l0 cycles to travel the full length of its movement.
  • the current being anv alternating current passes through zero at each half cycle and for heavy currents it is intended that the gas generated in. the first half-cycle shall be suiilcient to prevent a restriking of the arc when the voltagerises again in the second half-cycle.
  • the total quantity of gas evolved will not be very great even though the current be heavy because of the short duration of the arc. Because this arc is of short length, it acts upon only a small area of the boric acid. This is another reason why, although the current is heavy, the quantity of gas evolved is not excessive. The gas pressure built up will therefore, be insuiilcient to burst the tube.
  • the hot gases consisting principally of water vapor, pass into the space provided by the openings in the washers I1 and I8 which, being of copper and presenting a large surface, quickly cool the water vapor.
  • the quantity of gas evolved is increased because of this more effective action of the arc upon the material.
  • bell-shaped opening 31 causes an even greater intermixture between the evolved gases and the ionized gases and deionization is thereby quickly effected. Even Vwith currents barely suicient to melt the member I2 the arc will not be rekindled after passing through zero more than a few times, because sufficient deionizing effect is produced to prevent such rekindling.
  • the plunger can be released by sending a current through the conductor 21.
  • This current may be derived by a shunt from the current through the circuit to be 'I'he long passage through 'which the gases must pass to emerge into the protected and may, therefore, be proportional to the main current.
  • the conductor 21 may be supplied with current from an independent source and energized when it is desired to operate the circuit interrupter.
  • current through the conductor -32 may be either from a shunt or from a separate control circuit.
  • this current exceeds a predetermined value, the fusible wire 3
  • the operation of this form of device thereafter islexactly like that for the form shown in Fig.,2.
  • each operation of the device enlarges the passage 8 by destroying some of the boric acid.
  • VThe devices may not be used more than a limited number of times for this reason.
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arc-destroying cmanation said body having a passage therethrough, of a length esW seeding that at which an arc can be struck in open air by the highest voltage expected in the normal use of the device, two electrically com nected members, said members being joined by fusible means for releasing one of said members, means for moving the released member along said passage, thereby separating said members to pro Jerusalem an arc between them. the speed of said moving member being slow enough to require more than two cycles to traverse the length oi said passage.
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arc-destroying emanation said body having a passage therethrough, fusible means for causing an arc, and means for causing it to be elongated in said passage, the rate of elongation being approximately two inches per cycle.
  • fusible means for producing an are, a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arcdestroying pressure-producing emanation, said body having a passage therein, means for elongating the arc produced by said fusible means by causing it to be drawn into said passage, said means including a movable electrode and means restraining the motion thereof to a speed which is not substantially greater than two inches per cycle.
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an emanation destructive of the arc said body having a passage therein, an arc electrode having a fusible portion in said passage movable in the direction to elongate the arc and said passage being progressively restricted in said direction;
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arcdestructive emanation said body having a passage therein, fusible means for producing an arc and means for elongating said arc within said passage, said passage flaring toward the origin of said arc.
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arcdestructive emanation said body having a passage with a flared mouth, means having a fusible section for initially producing an are at said mouth, means tor elongating said arc within said passage.
  • a body of material responsive to an arc to evolve an arcdestructlve emanation said body having a passage therethrough with a dared mouth, means having a fusible section at said mouth for producing an are at said mouth means :for elongating said arc within said passage and means lor restricting the ilow of said einanation out of said passage at the other month thereof.
  • o div o. body ⁇ ions evolve iianimablo, condensabie vapor, .i lor housing an are iii intimate contact vv. ierent ⁇ portions of said body and causing aies ol? one current intensity to be :finally extinguished in contact Witli one part ol said body defining an opening of large cross-section and arcs ci" another current intensity to be finally extinguished in contact with another part of said box defining an opening of small cross-section.
  • a body of material l responsive to an arc to evolve a noninfiammable, readily condensable vapor a tubular passage through said body, said passage being oi' a large size adjacent one end and a smaller size adjacent the other end, and means movable through said passage for drawing the arc therein, said means initially drawing the arc at the large end of said passage and later drawing the arc into the smaller end of said passage.
  • means of insulating material having a passage therethrough, said passage having a considerable length of substantially uniform width and having a portion which increases in, width from said portion of uniform width, means for initially causing an arc at the wide portion of said passage and drawing it into said portion of uniform width.
  • means of insulating material having a passage therethrough, said passage having a considerable length of substana cross-section which substantially lls the portion of said passage of uniform width, and said conducting member initially causing the arc at the wide portion of said passage and being movable to draw the arc into the portion oi' said passage oi' uniform width.
  • means of insulating material having a passage therethrough, said passage having aportion of substantially uniform width at one end thereoi ⁇ and said passage increasing in width at the other end thereof and being open at said wide end, a rigid conducting member extending through said passage and having a crosssectional area such as to substantially close the end oi' said passage oi' uniform width, said con ducting member having a portion of fusible material. adjacent the open wide end of said passage for causing an arc and being movable to draw the arc into the passage.
  • said passage having portions of a material which gives off an arc extinguishing substance when acted upon by the arc, said passage having a considerable length of substantially 5 uniform width and having a portion which increases inwidth from said portion f herelcu'xnv width,means for initially causing an are aty the wide portion of said passage and drawing it into said portion of uniform width.
  • insulating material having va passage therethrough, the inner wall of said passage having portions et a material which gives on an are extinguishing substance when acted upon by the arc, said passage having a portion of substantially uniform width at one end thereof and said passage increasing in width at the other end thereof and being open at said wide end, a rigid conducting member exfor causing an arc and being movable to draw the arc into the passage.

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US605398A 1932-04-15 1932-04-15 Plunger-type current interrupter Expired - Lifetime US2082028A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US605398A US2082028A (en) 1932-04-15 1932-04-15 Plunger-type current interrupter
DES106467D DE607516C (de) 1932-04-15 1932-10-01 Schalter oder Sicherung mit Lichtbogenloeschung durch Dampf
GB8527/33A GB400838A (en) 1932-04-15 1933-03-21 Improvements in or relating to electric current interrupting devices
DES108903D DE608712C (de) 1932-04-15 1933-04-02 Schalter oder Sicherung mit Lichtbogenloeschung durch Dampf
DES108902D DE608711C (de) 1932-04-15 1933-04-02 Schalter oder Sicherung mit Lichtbogenloeschung durch Dampf

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US605398A US2082028A (en) 1932-04-15 1932-04-15 Plunger-type current interrupter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2082028A true US2082028A (en) 1937-06-01

Family

ID=24423496

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US605398A Expired - Lifetime US2082028A (en) 1932-04-15 1932-04-15 Plunger-type current interrupter

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US2082028A (de)
DE (3) DE607516C (de)
GB (1) GB400838A (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2424126A (en) * 1940-05-11 1947-07-15 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2440484A (en) * 1944-03-07 1948-04-27 Ralph R Pittman Voltage-limiting arc interrupter
US2474970A (en) * 1946-02-14 1949-07-05 Eugene M Calkins Overload protection mechanism
US2493347A (en) * 1943-09-15 1950-01-03 George L Hill High-voltage circuit breaker for distribution lines
US2504901A (en) * 1944-03-17 1950-04-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2611846A (en) * 1949-03-07 1952-09-23 Lindsay M Applegate Circuit breaker
US2752458A (en) * 1952-07-26 1956-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2763749A (en) * 1951-02-10 1956-09-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Automatic reclosing circuit breaker
US3184829A (en) * 1961-07-17 1965-05-25 Samuel M Shobert Method of making arc extinguishing sleeve
US4492836A (en) * 1982-05-25 1985-01-08 General Electric Company Arc motivating assembly for circuit breakers

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE941439C (de) * 1935-07-03 1956-04-12 Frida Strauss Geb Ruppel Elektrischer Schalter mit leitender Schaltfluessigkeit
DE759739C (de) * 1939-09-28 1954-07-05 Siemens Schuckertwerke A G Einrichtung zum Unterbrechen von UEberstroemen
DE1074122B (de) * 1955-11-04 1960-01-28
DE1150133B (de) * 1958-02-14 1963-06-12 S & C Electric Company Eine Na Elektrischer Stromkreisunterbrecher
DE1153812B (de) * 1958-11-22 1963-09-05 S & C Electric Company Eine Na Stromunterbrecher und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
FR1255477A (fr) * 1960-01-28 1961-03-10 Merlin Gerin Perfectionnements aux interrupteurs à laminage de l'are
CA713179A (en) * 1961-03-30 1965-07-06 Berg Daniel Circuit interrupters
DE1196753B (de) * 1962-10-01 1965-07-15 S & C Electric Co Elektrischer Stromunterbrecher
DE1221335B (de) * 1963-07-05 1966-07-21 Calor Emag Elektrizitaets Ag Hochspannungsschalteinrichtung
US3415963A (en) * 1964-05-15 1968-12-10 Dow Chemical Co Ethyl cellulose composition for use in arc extinguishing apparatus
GB1476241A (en) * 1973-05-29 1977-06-10 Square D Co Arc-extinguishing materials

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2424126A (en) * 1940-05-11 1947-07-15 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2493347A (en) * 1943-09-15 1950-01-03 George L Hill High-voltage circuit breaker for distribution lines
US2440484A (en) * 1944-03-07 1948-04-27 Ralph R Pittman Voltage-limiting arc interrupter
US2504901A (en) * 1944-03-17 1950-04-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2474970A (en) * 1946-02-14 1949-07-05 Eugene M Calkins Overload protection mechanism
US2611846A (en) * 1949-03-07 1952-09-23 Lindsay M Applegate Circuit breaker
US2763749A (en) * 1951-02-10 1956-09-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Automatic reclosing circuit breaker
US2752458A (en) * 1952-07-26 1956-06-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US3184829A (en) * 1961-07-17 1965-05-25 Samuel M Shobert Method of making arc extinguishing sleeve
US4492836A (en) * 1982-05-25 1985-01-08 General Electric Company Arc motivating assembly for circuit breakers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE607516C (de) 1934-12-29
GB400838A (en) 1933-11-02
DE608711C (de) 1935-01-30
DE608712C (de) 1935-01-30

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