US2125525A - Electric circuit breaker - Google Patents

Electric circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US2125525A
US2125525A US140078A US14007837A US2125525A US 2125525 A US2125525 A US 2125525A US 140078 A US140078 A US 140078A US 14007837 A US14007837 A US 14007837A US 2125525 A US2125525 A US 2125525A
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United States
Prior art keywords
contacts
chamber
valve
outlet
circuit breaker
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
US140078A
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English (en)
Inventor
Thommen Hans
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.)
BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany
Original Assignee
Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie
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Publication date
Application filed by Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie filed Critical Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie
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Publication of US2125525A publication Critical patent/US2125525A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/04—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H33/12—Auxiliary contacts on to which the arc is transferred from the main contacts
    • H01H33/121—Load break switches

Definitions

  • Such consumption may be materially reduced by providing the arcing chamber outlet with a valve for stopping the flow of iiuid thereinto and for confining fluid under pressure within the chamber after interruption of the arc.
  • the dielectric strength of atmospherlc air and of a number of other fluids utilized in fluid blast circuit breakers increases with the pressure of the uid at least up to a predetermined value of pressure.
  • the breakdown voltage of the space between the contacts may be maintained at such a high value that the arc will not be reestablished between the contacts, and the opening of the circuit by the disconnecting contacts may then take place at such time as may be found desirable lor convenient.
  • the several contact actuating means should receive iiuid'under pressure simultaneously from the arcing chamber when the pressure within such chamber has reached a predetermined valueto insure simultaneous opening of all contacts when the pressure within the arcing chamber is suiiicient to interrupt the are drawn between the contacts.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker of the fluid blast type in which arcing contacts are separated by iluid under pressure conilned within the arc chamber itr interruption of the arc between the conac s.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a ⁇ circuit breaker of the fluid blast type in which a plurality of pairsv of arcing contacts are caused to open simultaneously only when the pressure within the arcing chamber exceeds a predetermined value.
  • Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a circuit breaker embodying the present invention and comprising a plurality of pairs of arcing contacts and a plurality of pairs of disconnecting contacts;
  • Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of a portion of the arcing chamber of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 taken on two planes III- Ill joining at the axis of the chamber;
  • Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the Iarcing chamber of a modified embodiment of the nvention utilizing only one pair of arcing conacts;
  • Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view of another modined form of the arcing chamber cutlet valve illustrated in Fig. 4;
  • breaker is pivotally mounted on reservoir Il and may be rotated about a vertical axis of a suitable' compressed air motor II.
  • and ⁇ 22 contains a pairof cooperating arcing contacts 23,23.
  • Contacts 2l rare fixed contacts, the upper contact 2l being rigidly mounted on terminal 24 and the lower contacty 2l being rigidly mounted ona perforated diaphragm Il inserted between insulators I4 and 2
  • Contacts V23 are hollow movable contacts penetrating within-member 23 in sliding engagement therewith.
  • Contacts 28 and 23 may. be made of any suitable conductive material and may be provided with renewable arcing tips oi' dimcultly fusible conductive material if desired. When 'the contacts 2l, 23 are.
  • a plurality of contactseparating means op'- erable -by air under pressure are severally associated with the diiferent pairs oi' contacts 23, 2l.
  • EachI such means comprises an annularpiston 32 ⁇ mounted on the associated contact 2l and arf ranged within a cylinder 33 mounted on or forming parto! member 23.
  • Each piston moves the ,associated contact 2l against the action of a spring 34 tending to maintain the associated pair of 'contacts closed.
  • the electrical connection between such 4contacts is, maintained by member 23 and yby a plurality of sliding contacts 38 each urged by springs against the associated contact 23 and against a portion-of member 23.
  • Valves 38 tend to be opened by the pressure of the compressed air within the inlet portion and are normally maintained on the seats thereof by springs 39.
  • the valves' are thus made responsive to increase of the pressure within the inlet portion for supplying compressed air from such portion simultaneously to all the contactseparating -m'eans at such pressure that all contacts 29 may be actuated simultaneously; The compressed air.
  • each cylinder 33 cooperates with another cylinder 43 coaxial-therewith to form an annular space receiving an annular piston 44.
  • Each piston 44 is provided with a cylindrical'extension.forming a slide valve 46 cooperating with a partition 41 ar- A ranged transversely to separate chambers 20, for
  • Each piston 44 is actuated by compressed air introduced between the associated cylinders 33 and 43 from within cylinder 33 through ports 48 in response to th'e operation. of the associated piston 32. then urges the associated valve 46 toward partition 41 againstthe action of a spring 49 assoy elated therewith.
  • the air confined within the space containing springs 43 may be allowed to escape through ports 5i in cylinders 43.
  • cylinders 33 and 43 and pistons 44 constitute compressed air motors arranged to receive air under pressure in response to the operationof the associated contact sepa- Yrating means'- for actuatingthe associated valves only. upon separation of the arcing contacts to a predetermined distance.'
  • valve 21 is opened eithermanually or in any other manner. Compressedair is thereby admitted through Piston 44 i an air blast capable of cooling and deionizing the shown by the arrows in Fig. 3.
  • each contact 29 are so chosen as to allow the establishment of arc path to a sufficient extent to prevent reestablishment of the arc after passage of the arc current through the value zero when the circuit breaker is utilized in an alternating current circuit.
  • compressed air is admitted behind piston 44 and such piston urges the associated valve 46 into contact with partition 41.
  • Each valve 46 thus functions responsive to the operation of the associated contact separating means for closing outlets 25 thereby confining compressed air within the arcing chamber after interruption of the arc.
  • the reestablishment of the arc between contacts 28 and 29 is thus prevented as eiectlvely as if the air blast were maintained between such contacts, with the advantageous result that'iurther consumption of air is substantially prevented.
  • the operation of valves 46 takes place with a time delay depending upon the size and number of ports I. Upon closure of valves 46 the air pressure within member 23 becomes equal on both sides of pistons 32 and springs 34 return contacts 2.9 to
  • valve 21 Simultaneously with the admission of air to the arcing chamber of the circuit breaker, air is admitted by valve 21 to compressed air motor I9.
  • Such motor causes insulator I3 to rotate and to separate contacts I1 and I8.
  • 'I'he speed of operation of contacts 29, of valves 46 and of motor I9 must be so related that contacts I8 begin to open only after interruption of the arc drawn in the ⁇ arcing chamber and that such contactsl reach substantially the end of the travel thereof before reclosure of contacts 23.
  • valve 21 is of the type disclosed in the above cited application, completion of the operation of motor I9 causes the valve to reclose.
  • the air confined Within the arcing chamber maythen leak past the cooperating surfaces of contacts 28 and 29 and between valve 46 and partition 41 to the atmosphere.
  • valves 46 When the air pressure within the arcing chamber outlet portion decreases below a predetermined value, springs 43 return valves 46 to the position shown. I'he exhaust of air from the arcing chamber may be accelerated by providing valve 21 with a passage placing the arcing chamber in communication with the atmosphere when valve 21 is closed. Contacts 29 thus being returned to the closed position shown on the drawings. the circuit breaker may be reclosed by returning contacts I8 to the position I shown by means of motor I9.
  • FIG. 4 The embodiment partially illustrated in Fig; 4 utilizes reservoir I I,valve 21 and an arcing chamber comprising insulator I4 and a single other insulator 52 mounted thereon.
  • Insulator 52 supports a single xed annular contact 53 which is made at least partially resilient to insure the satisfactory conductive engagement thereof with a single cylindrical contact 54 coaxial with insulator 52 and movable in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • Contact 53 is maintained in position by a terminal member 56 bolted to a clamp 51 mounted on the upper portion of insulator 52.
  • Contact 54 is provided with suitable contact separating means such as a piston 58 mounted thereon and movable in a cylinder 59 arranged within insulator 52.
  • Valve 61 is actuated by a piston 68 within a cylinder 69 supported by or forming part of terminal 56. Air under pressure may be admitted on the upper side of piston 68 from cylinder 59'througha pipe 1I of suitable insulating material. A spring 12 tends to maintain valve 61 in the open position thereof.
  • Fig. 5 utilizes an outlet valve actuated by a compressed air motor connected with the arcing chamber outlet portion.
  • Llerminall 56 extends only up to outlet 66 and supports the motor cylinder 1 3" containing a differential piston 14, which is urged upward toward the position shown by a spring 16.
  • Plston 14 is provided with an extension 11 protruding from cylinder 13 and cooperating with contact 63 and with terminal 56 to form the arcing chamber outlet portion.
  • Extension 11 also forms a valve operable to close outlet upon down- -ward movement of piston 14. Ports.
  • valve 11 is provided for placing the upper face .of piston 14 in communication with the arcing chamber outlet portion whereby the piston is rendered responsive to the admission of compressed air into suchoutlet portion upon separation of contacts 53 and 54 for actuating valve 11. It will be understood that such operation of piston 14 is possible for the reason that the air pressure is applied to the entire upper face of piston 14 and that such pressure may thus overcome the pressure exerted on the lower face of extension 11. which is of smaller diameterfthan piston 14, in addition to the effect of spring 1B. Valve 11 remains closed as long as pressure is maintained in the arcing chamber outlet portion. When such pressure is released by leakage about valve 11 or by the action oi the inlet valve of the circuit breaker, spring 1B returns valve 11 to the position shown.
  • a cylindrical outlet valve 8l is arranged about terminal I6 below outlet 66 for controlling such outlet.
  • a ⁇ cylinder 82 is mounted on valve 8i' and is connected therewith through a plurality oi supports 03.
  • Cylinder I2 is slidably mounted on a piston 04 forming part of terminal 56. The space within cylinder 82 is placed ln communication with the arcing chamber outlet portion tion as long as pressure -is ,maintained within the arcing chamber outlet portion and the valve is returned to tlie position shown by spring 8l upon release of the pressure'within such cham# ber portion.
  • An, electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber, means cp'erable by fluid under pressure for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of fluid from said source into said chamber and to said 'contact separating means to cause' separation of said contacts and interruption of the arc drawn therebetween, and means distinct from said contact separating means and responsive tb the operation of said contact separating means for closing said outlet and maintaining fluid under pressure in said chamber.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply oi.' fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber. means operable by fluid under pressure for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of fluid from said source into said chamber ⁇ and to said contact separating means pressure at said contacts after separation thereof, a cylinder arranged to receivefluid under pressure in response to the operation of said contact separatingvmeans, and a piston within said cylinder for actuating said valve.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of' supply of fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged to divide said chamber into an inlet portion and an outlet portion, means for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of fluid from said source into said inlet portion, a valve for controlling said outlet, and a fluid pressure motor con-4 nected with said outlet portion for actuating said valve to maintain fluid under pressure after separation of said contacts.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooper ating contacts arranged in said chamber, means operable by fluid under pressure for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of fluid fronrsaid source into said chamber and to said contact separating means to cause separation of saidcontacts and interruption of the arc drawn therebetween, a valve for controlling said outlet, and means responsive to-sepa ration of said contacts to a predetermined distance for actuating said valve.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, an arc-- ing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged to divide said chamber into an inlet portion and an outlet portion, means for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of iuidfrom said source into said inlet portion, a valve for controlling said outlet, means responsive to increase of the pressure within said outlet portion above a predetermined value for closing said valve, and meansresponsive to decrease of the pressure within said outlet portion below said predetermined value for opening said valve.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of iluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of pairs of cooperating contacts arranged to divide said chamber into an inlet portion and an outlet portion, a plurality of contact separating means operable by uid under pressure severally associated with said pairs of contacts, means for controlling the admission of iluid from said source into said inlet portion, means responsive to increase of the pressure within said inlet portion above a predetermined value for supplying fluid from said inlet portion simultaneously to all said contact separating means. valve means for controlling said outlet, and means responsive to the operation of said contact separating means for actuating said valve means.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber, means for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of fluid from said source into said chamber for producing a fluid blast across said contacts for extinguishing an arc drawn therebetween upon separation thereof, and means for thereafter closing said outlet to conne fluid under pressure in said chamber.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber, means for separating said contacts, means for controlling l the admission of fluid from said source into said chamber for interrupting the arc drawn between said contacts upon separation thereof by a blast of fluid issuing from said chamber through said outlet, and means responsive to the operation of said contact separating means for closing said,
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising a source of supply of iluid under pressure, an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber, means operable by iluid under pressure for separating said contacts, means for controlling the admission of iiuid .from said source into said chamber and to said contact separating means to cause separation of said contacts and interruption of the arc drawn therebetween, and means responsive to the operation of said contact separating means for closing said outlet.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising an arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of co- .'operating contacts arranged in said chamber,
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising an .arcing chamber having an outlet, a pair of cooperating contacts arranged in said chamber, means for separating said contacts, auxiliary contacts in series with said contacts, means for producing a fluid blast across said rst said contacts for extinguishing an arc drawn therebetween upon separation thereof, means for thereafter closing said outlet to coniine iluid under pressure in said chamber, and means for thereafter separating said auxiliary contacts.

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US140078A 1935-07-13 1937-05-01 Electric circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US2125525A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2125525X 1935-07-13

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BE (1) BE416391A (en:Method)
FR (1) FR810024A (en:Method)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2426250A (en) * 1943-05-21 1947-08-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Gas blast circuit breaker
US2428575A (en) * 1943-07-10 1947-10-07 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2439952A (en) * 1944-08-31 1948-04-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2440995A (en) * 1943-08-09 1948-05-04 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2444765A (en) * 1944-12-27 1948-07-06 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2470628A (en) * 1944-05-24 1949-05-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2500429A (en) * 1942-02-19 1950-03-14 Nijland Hendrik A Hidde Electric gas blast circuit breaker
US2558757A (en) * 1947-07-19 1951-07-03 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Multibreak gas blast circuit breaker with grounded operating motor
US2575949A (en) * 1943-07-17 1951-11-20 Asea Ab Compressed air circuit breaker
US2627005A (en) * 1949-02-03 1953-01-27 Westinghouse Electric Corp Interrupter part of compressed-air breakers
US2892913A (en) * 1955-04-14 1959-06-30 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Air blast switch with auxiliary point of interruption for shunt resistance
US2905793A (en) * 1957-06-21 1959-09-22 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Differential piston for recirculating gas blast interrupters
US2911507A (en) * 1957-06-21 1959-11-03 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Recirculating gas blast interrupter
US2965735A (en) * 1956-06-07 1960-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed-gas circuit interrupter
US2997563A (en) * 1955-05-27 1961-08-22 Westinghouse Canada Ltd Circuit interrupters
US3134876A (en) * 1961-10-02 1964-05-26 Gen Electric Gas blast circuit breaker with noisereducing exhaust muffler assembly
US3167630A (en) * 1959-06-02 1965-01-26 English Electric Co Ltd Multi-break gas blast circuit breaker and operating means therefor
US3214552A (en) * 1961-03-27 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Gas-blast circuit interrupter with purifying means
US3214553A (en) * 1964-07-09 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Gas-blast circuit interrupters with closed recirculating system having gas filtering means
US3309482A (en) * 1965-11-22 1967-03-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp Recirculating-type gas-blast doublebreak circuit interrupter with filtering housing surrounding intermediate contact

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2500429A (en) * 1942-02-19 1950-03-14 Nijland Hendrik A Hidde Electric gas blast circuit breaker
US2426250A (en) * 1943-05-21 1947-08-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Gas blast circuit breaker
US2428575A (en) * 1943-07-10 1947-10-07 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2575949A (en) * 1943-07-17 1951-11-20 Asea Ab Compressed air circuit breaker
US2440995A (en) * 1943-08-09 1948-05-04 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2470628A (en) * 1944-05-24 1949-05-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2439952A (en) * 1944-08-31 1948-04-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2444765A (en) * 1944-12-27 1948-07-06 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker
US2558757A (en) * 1947-07-19 1951-07-03 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Multibreak gas blast circuit breaker with grounded operating motor
US2627005A (en) * 1949-02-03 1953-01-27 Westinghouse Electric Corp Interrupter part of compressed-air breakers
US2892913A (en) * 1955-04-14 1959-06-30 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Air blast switch with auxiliary point of interruption for shunt resistance
US2997563A (en) * 1955-05-27 1961-08-22 Westinghouse Canada Ltd Circuit interrupters
US2965735A (en) * 1956-06-07 1960-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed-gas circuit interrupter
US2905793A (en) * 1957-06-21 1959-09-22 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Differential piston for recirculating gas blast interrupters
US2911507A (en) * 1957-06-21 1959-11-03 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Recirculating gas blast interrupter
US3167630A (en) * 1959-06-02 1965-01-26 English Electric Co Ltd Multi-break gas blast circuit breaker and operating means therefor
US3214552A (en) * 1961-03-27 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Gas-blast circuit interrupter with purifying means
US3134876A (en) * 1961-10-02 1964-05-26 Gen Electric Gas blast circuit breaker with noisereducing exhaust muffler assembly
US3214553A (en) * 1964-07-09 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Gas-blast circuit interrupters with closed recirculating system having gas filtering means
US3309482A (en) * 1965-11-22 1967-03-14 Westinghouse Electric Corp Recirculating-type gas-blast doublebreak circuit interrupter with filtering housing surrounding intermediate contact

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Publication number Publication date
BE416391A (en:Method)
FR810024A (fr) 1937-03-13

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