US2134572A - Electric circuit breaker - Google Patents

Electric circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US2134572A
US2134572A US145057A US14505737A US2134572A US 2134572 A US2134572 A US 2134572A US 145057 A US145057 A US 145057A US 14505737 A US14505737 A US 14505737A US 2134572 A US2134572 A US 2134572A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
arc
pressure
circuit
lever
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
US145057A
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English (en)
Inventor
William E Paul
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
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US145057A priority Critical patent/US2134572A/en
Priority to US193709A priority patent/US2160673A/en
Priority to GB15763/38A priority patent/GB501390A/en
Priority to FR838465D priority patent/FR838465A/fr
Priority to BE428290D priority patent/BE428290A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2134572A publication Critical patent/US2134572A/en
Priority to GB7080/39A priority patent/GB513619A/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
    • H01H33/98—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being initiated by an auxiliary arc or a section of the arc, without any moving parts for producing or increasing the flow
    • 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

Definitions

  • My invention relates to electric circuit breakers, more particularly to high voltage circuit breakers of the oil blast type wherein pressure generated by arcing at one part of the circuit is utilized for directing a blast .of arc-extinguishing fluid through an arc at another part of the circuit.
  • the contact structure be arranged so that two arcs in series are progressively formed.
  • the first orpressure generating arc has a substantially constant length and is utilized to cause a blast of oil or other arc-extinguishing liquidat the subsequently formed main arc for interrupting the same.
  • Another limiting factor in this design is thatthe speed of operation is somewhat retarded by the movement or fwipe of the contact structure prior to actual arc formation and the interrupting action of the blast. That is, a certain wipe takes place even before formation of the pressure generating arc, and a subsequent wipe or following action of the contacts occurs prior to formationof the main arc which is subject to the oil blast. Where the interruption of high voltage alternating current power circuits within two or three cycles is required, theseiactors are very important in determining the ultimate operating speed of the breaker.
  • the principal object oi my invention is the provision of anrimproved high voltage circuit breaker of the oil blast type that is emcient and reliable particularly as regards arc interruption throughout the entire rated interrupting range of the breaker, and is also capable of high speed circuit interruption.
  • the single figure thereof is an elevational view, partly in section and partly diagrammatic,v of ahigh voltage eleca tric circuit breaker embodying the present invention.
  • the breaker contact structure comprises a 3y electrically connected at 4 to the metallic terminal housing 5, a pivoted arcing contact 6 normally biased by a spring 'i into contact engagement with the fixed contact 3, a stationary intermediate contact 8 electrically connected at 9 to the intermediate contact t, and
  • a movable rod contact l0 which is guided for reciprocal movement through the bottom plate li of the breaker casing. in the open-circuit posi
  • the breaker as shown is tion, the contacts t and lil being insulated from each other by the insulating oil in the casing.
  • the contact rod I0 is suitably operated position,
  • the power circuit is position of the breake structure 4 5, coacting mechanism generally indicompleted in the closed r through the terminal contacts 3 and S, inter-J mediate contact structure 3--Q, and the contact rod lil which is suitably connected to the other terminal.
  • an arc is insulating oil between thereby generating pre
  • the rod immediately formed in the lil is lowered tc open the contacts ti and lil, ssure depending on the arc current within the breaker casing.
  • a suitable retarding device is operatively connected to the contact S through a pivoted lever i 5 and an insulating link I6 connected at Il to an extension of the contact 6.
  • Any suitable retarding or escapement device may be employed, a dash-pot i8 being illustrated by way of example.
  • the dash-pot plunger When the contact S is opened the dash-pot plunger is raised without resistance, the opposite stroke, however, retarding the reclosing movement of the Contact 6.
  • the arc gases etc. tending to decrease the dielectric strength of the oil, can escape from the region of the contacts S-i t before reclosure of contact S, thereby minimizing the possibility or" reignition of the arc.
  • the arc pressure In the case of heavy short circuit currents the arc pressure, particularly where the arc is lengthened as by looping under the iniiuence of magnetic forces, may be so great as to damage the breaker.
  • means for short-circuiting the initial part or" a heavy current arc To this end a conducting sleeve or ring is iixed with respect to and surrounds the contact portion of the intermediate contact 8.
  • the member i 9 which is larger in diameter than the contact rod lil so that no actual contact is made between the two, is provided with laterally disposed pressure relief vents and in the present instance is electrically connected to the contact Ei.
  • the conducting ring is not necessarily electrically connected to the contact il and that under certain conditions a small insulating gap may separate the same.
  • a heavy current are by reason of the magnetic forces tending to cause looping or bowing will shift laterally to the surrounding conductor and strike between the lower edge of the member I9 and the contact rod i0 as indicated at I9', thereby shortening the length of the arc and decreasing the arc pressure correspondingly.
  • the arc tends to strike directly between the contacts 8 and l0 so as to utilize the maximum arc length for building up the blast pressure.
  • the conducting ring l 9 may be formed in any suitabe manner, such as for example like asquirrel cage, the spacing between the bars in this case serving as pressure relief openings for the gas pressure generated when the contacts separate. This gas pressure may otherwise produce an abnormal accelerating effect on the rod I0.
  • a further device is preferably also employed for regulating the arc pressure due to heavy load or short-circuit currents.
  • This comprises a current responsive control mechanism generally indicated at 2l for determining the length of stroke of the contact rod l0 under certain conditions. Since the arc pressure is dependent inter alia on the length of the arc, the opening travel of the contact l0 is shortened as the current increases.
  • the contact l0 which is'operatedD in a manner presently described by the iioating lever 22 of the operating mechanism l2 is connected in series with a conductor loop 23.
  • the opposite sides of the loop are secured with respect to a pair of insulating jaws 24 and 25 ,pivotally connected at 26.
  • the 'jaw 24 is secured to a fixed mounting at 2l, and the relatively movable jaw 25 is operatively connected by means of a link 28 to a slidably mounted stop member 29 adapted to coact with the lower end of the Contact rod I0.
  • a compression spring 30 bearing between a fixed guide 3l and the jaw 25 tends to maintain the conducting loop in a compressed position as indicated.
  • the loop 23 is expanded by the magnetic forces so as to slide the stop member 29 a short distance toward the right as viewed so that the step 29 is beneath the 5 insulating end portion l0' of the contact rod.
  • the opening stroke of the contact is thereby reduced by a predetermined amount and the arc correspondingly shortened. If a heavy short circuit is involved the member 29 will be moved so that the step 29" is beneath the Contact end l0', thereby further shortening the arc.
  • stop member may be wedge-shaped so as to limit the arc length more closely with respect to the current to be interrupted.
  • the floating lever 22 is pivotally connected at one end to the armature 33 of a tripping magnet 33 and at the other end is connected to the contact rod l0 through a link 34.
  • the central part of the lever coacts through a guide member 35 with an operating arm 36 of a suitable power device.
  • lever 22 can be pivotally rotated about its pivotal connection with the armature 33' to cause upward or circuit-closing movement of the rod I0 when the arm 36 of the power device is rotated clockwise.
  • the guide member 35 comprises a cylinder guided for vertical reciprocal movement at 3l and at 38.
  • the cylinder 35 has mounted therein a. spring buffer arrangement 39 for coacting with the roller 40 of the power device.
  • the cylinder 35 is connected to the lever 22 through a pin and slot connection 4I-42, the slot 42 in the lever 22 being slightly elongated 'for permitting pivotal movement of the lever with respect to the tripping magnet 33.
  • a cornpression spring 43 acting between the guide 35 and lever at 43 is utilized for biasing the lever toward thel right so as to center the magnet end of the lever during the resetting operation.
  • the spring buler 39 takes up the additional wipe of the mechanism formerly assumed by the contact structure.
  • connections between the floating lever 22, which is directly controlled by Athe tripping magnet 33, and the movable contact structure can be rigid so that opening of the circuit immediately upon release of the iioating lever is effected by the spring 32.
  • the tripping magnet 33 is well known in the art and can be readily understood from the drawing, the tripping coil M for causing release of the armature 33' from the permanent magnet 33 being energized from the conventional line current transformer at M.
  • the operation of the mechanism I2 is as follows: In the open circuit position shown the magnet 33 is' reset so that the armature 33 constitutes a iixed pivot for the oating lever 22.
  • the guide member 35 When the power device at 36 is actuated, the guide member 35 is raised and the lever 22 rotated clockwise about the armature 33' against the bias of spring 32 so as to close the breaker at the contacts 8-I0.
  • the tripping coil 44 of the magnet releases the armature 33' so that floating lever 22 is rotated rapidly about its central pivot at 4i in counterclockwise direction by the opening spring 32.
  • Resetting of the mechanism is effected by simply lowering the arm 3B of the power device so that the armature 33 again engages the magnet. It will be apparent that the mechanism is tripfree in operation since at any time duringthe closing stroke the spring 32 is effective to rotate the lever 22 about its central pivot pin upon' release of the armature 33.
  • the wip-e" connection at 39 is between the power device and the lever 22 so that release of the armature 33 is effective to cause instant separation of the coacting butt contacts ill-ld which have no wipe contact. Accordingly, the pressure-generating arc is instantly formed after the tripping impulse and the pressure created for interrupting the arc is generated at the earliest possible moment.
  • An electric circuitbreaker of the oil blast type comprising a pressure-confining casing containing an arc-extinguishing liquid and relatively movable contact structure adapted to form two breaks in series in said-liquid including a movable pivoted contact normally biased toward closed circuit position, said pivoted contact normally closing "a pressure relief passage in said casing, an intermediate relatively fixed contact and a second movable contact coacting with said xed contact, the arc pressure generated in said casing at the break between said fixed and second movable contact being utilized to open said biased contact and drive an arc-extinguishing liquid blast through said passage and the arc at that point.
  • An electric circuit breaker oi the oil blast type comprising a pressure-confining casing containing an arc-extinguishing liquid and relatively movable contact structure immersed in said liquid including a movable contact normally biased toward closed circuit positiori,'means for generating arc pressure in said casing for causing' opening of said biased contact and an arc-extinguishing liquid blast through the arc at that point, and retarding means for delaying reclosure of said movable contact after extinction of said are.
  • An electric circuit breaker of the oil blast type comprising a pressure-confining casing containing an arc-extinguishing liquid, relatively movable contact structure adapted to form two breaks in series in said liquid including a movable contact normally biased to closed circuit position, an intermediate relatively iixed contact .electrically connected to said biased contact and a movable rod contact coacting with said fixed contact, the are pressure generated at the break between said xed and.
  • rod contacts being utilized to open said biased contact and drive an arcinterrupting liquid blast through the arc at "that point, and a retarding device operatively con ⁇ nected to said biased contact for permitting free opening movement thereof and for retarding reclosure thereof for decreasing the possibility of reestablishment of arcing betweenv said xed and rod contacts.
  • An electric circuit breaker of the oil blast type comprising a pressure-confining casing containing anew-extinguishing liquid, said casing being vertically positioned and having a chimneylike exhaust passage at the upper part thereof,A and relatively movable contact structure adapted 1 to form two breaks in series in substantially Vertical alinement in said liquid including a movable contact normally biased to lclosed circuit position, said contact being .positioned in said passage so as to close the same in said closed circuit position, and means at one of said breaks for creating arc pressure in the lower part of 4 said chamberl for opening said biased contact and driving an arc-extinguishing liquid blast through said passage and the arc at that point.
  • An electric circuit breaker of' the oil blast type comprising a pressure-confining casing having an exhaust Ipassage and containingan arcextinguishing liquid, and relatively movable contact structure adapted to form two breaks in series in said liquid including a pivoted Contact normally biased toward closed circuit position and locatedi-in said exhaust passage to close the same, opening of said pivoted contact forming a break in the circuit substantially transversely of said passage, a relatively fixed rigidly mounted contact electrically connected to said pivoted contact, and a movable rod contact adapted to abut said xed contact, opening movement of said rod contact causing instantly a break at said l fixed Contact for generating in said chamber are pressure for opening said biased contact and driving an arc-extinguishing liquid blast through said passage and the arc at said first-named break.
  • An electric circuit breaker of the oil blast type comprising relatively movable contact structure adapted to form two breaks in series in an arc-extinguishing liquid, means ier directing the pressure generated at one of said breaks so as to dii cause a blast oi said liquid at tl'ieotlier break for interrupting the circuit, and means for controlling the arc pressure at said generating break including conducting structure substantially surrounding said generating break adjacent the point of :formation thereof sc that a heavy current are is short cireuited in part by said conducting structure so as to shorten said arc.
  • An electric circuit breaker of the oil blast type comprising a xedcontact and a relatively movable rod vcontact positioned within a pressureconfining casing and immersed in an arc-extinguishing liquid, a conducting cylinder connected to said fixed contact so as-to surround in concentric relation the contact end of said rod contact in closed circuit ⁇ position, said cylinder having pressure relief openings and being spaced from said Contact rod so as to short circuit the enclosed part of the arc at comparatively heavy arc currents.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact structure, and electromagnetic means responsive to the magnitude ci" the current to be interrupted for determining the degree of separation ci said contact structure.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising nxed and relatively movable contacts arranged to form two breaks in series, the arc pressure generated upon separation of said contacts at one of said breaks being utilized for interrupting the circuit at the other of said breaks, and means coacting with the movable contact structure at said pressure generating break responsive to the magnitude of the current to he interrupted for limiting uthe opening stroke of said Contact structure so as to decrease the arc pressure at comparatively high currents.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, the arc pressure generated upon separation of said contacts being utilized for interrupting the circuit, and electromagnetic means responsive to the magnitude of the current to be interrupted for blocking the separation of said contact structure at a predetermined point.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact structure, the arc pressure generated upon separation of said contact structure being utilized for interrupting the circuit, and arc pressure control means including a conductor in series with the circuit normally positioned in the form of a compressed loop, resilient means biasing said loop toward Said compressed position and a member adapted to coact with said contact structure for limiting the degree of separation thereof, said member being operatively connected to said loop so that expansion of said loop in response to comparatively large currents causes movement of said member toward a position for limiting the aforesaid contact separation.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contact structure adapted to coact in substantially non-yielding engagement for facilitating quick separation thereof and means for effecting high speed separation of said contact structure
  • an operating member having a non-yielding operative connection with a movable part oi said structure,means for biasing said member to open circuit position, a tripping device directly connected to said member for restraining the member in closed circuit position, actuating means for moving said member against said biasing means to closed circuit position, and resilient means interposed between said actuating means 'and said member for permitting a limited over-travel of said actuating means upon contact engagement.
  • An electric circuit breaker comprising relatively movable contacts, a iloating lever operatively connected at one end to the movable contact, a tripping device coacting With the opposite end of said lever, said lever being pivotally mounted with respect to s'aid device and movable contact, actuating means coacting with said lever intermediate the ends thereof for' closing said movable contact, a reciprocally guided resilient connection between said lever and actuating means, said lever having a limited lateral movement with respect to said guided connection for permitting rotation'about said tripping device, and spring structure for biasing said lever to- Ward open circuit ⁇ position about said guided connection in response to actuation of said tripping device.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
US145057A 1937-05-27 1937-05-27 Electric circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US2134572A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US145057A US2134572A (en) 1937-05-27 1937-05-27 Electric circuit breaker
US193709A US2160673A (en) 1937-05-27 1938-03-03 Electric circuit breaker
GB15763/38A GB501390A (en) 1937-05-27 1938-05-26 Improvements in and relating to electric circuit breakers of the oil blast type
FR838465D FR838465A (fr) 1937-05-27 1938-05-27 Perfectionnements aux disjoncteurs
BE428290D BE428290A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1937-05-27 1938-05-27
GB7080/39A GB513619A (en) 1937-05-27 1939-03-03 Improvements in and relating to liquid-blast electric circuit breakers

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US145057A US2134572A (en) 1937-05-27 1937-05-27 Electric circuit breaker
US193709A US2160673A (en) 1937-05-27 1938-03-03 Electric circuit breaker

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2134572A true US2134572A (en) 1938-10-25

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ID=26727926

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US145057A Expired - Lifetime US2134572A (en) 1937-05-27 1937-05-27 Electric circuit breaker
US193709A Expired - Lifetime US2160673A (en) 1937-05-27 1938-03-03 Electric circuit breaker

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US193709A Expired - Lifetime US2160673A (en) 1937-05-27 1938-03-03 Electric circuit breaker

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US2134572A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE428290A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR838465A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (2) GB501390A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2530952A (en) * 1947-04-16 1950-11-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
CN113097026A (zh) * 2021-04-06 2021-07-09 中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院 一种用于聚变堆主机的多电压可调式爆破断路器

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB570496A (en) * 1943-08-09 1945-07-10 British Thomson Houston Co Ltd Improvements in gas blast electric circuit breakers
US2456926A (en) * 1944-08-10 1948-12-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2488569A (en) * 1944-10-04 1949-11-22 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
GB583346A (en) * 1944-10-20 1946-12-16 British Thomson Houston Co Ltd Improvements in gas blast electrical circuit breakers
US2462795A (en) * 1945-01-13 1949-02-22 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2439264A (en) * 1945-06-07 1948-04-06 Gen Electric Electric switch
US2460450A (en) * 1946-09-12 1949-02-01 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2806111A (en) * 1954-04-26 1957-09-10 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2927181A (en) * 1958-02-27 1960-03-01 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US2927182A (en) * 1958-02-27 1960-03-01 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US2927986A (en) * 1958-04-30 1960-03-08 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US3028465A (en) * 1958-10-06 1962-04-03 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US3028466A (en) * 1959-05-28 1962-04-03 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter of the liquid-break type

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2530952A (en) * 1947-04-16 1950-11-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
CN113097026A (zh) * 2021-04-06 2021-07-09 中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院 一种用于聚变堆主机的多电压可调式爆破断路器
CN113097026B (zh) * 2021-04-06 2023-12-19 中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院 一种用于聚变堆主机的多电压可调式爆破断路器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB501390A (en) 1939-02-27
GB513619A (en) 1939-10-17
BE428290A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1938-07-30
US2160673A (en) 1939-05-30
FR838465A (fr) 1939-03-07

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