US2154515A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939- w. M. LEEDS arm. 2,154,515-

6 IRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. h mlbrapM 1:203 000 fBY 7,

ATTORNEY CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Mn/h op Be/ Mleeafr and am? PBa/ref. BY 1/ ATTORN E April 1939- w. M. LEEDS ET AL v 2,154,515

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 j v I Ben PB k v jam! a/re/T- Wwz 5M 4 ATTOR' Y iii 18, 1939. w M, LEEDS AL I 2,154,515

ZZZ Wat. H

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 29, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 WITNESSES: r INVENTORS Mn/h ropM deed and Patented is, 1939 ATENT- orrlcs joracm'r aasax'sa winum u. Leeds, Wilkinsbnrg, and m P.Baker,'lnrtleCreek,Pa.,anlgnmtoWest-.

sylvania I Application my 29, 1986, N o. 82,40

This invention relates to circuit breakers and more-particularly to are extinguishing devices therefor. In the copending applications of W. M. Leeds, Serial No. 697.647, flied November 11,

v 1933, now Patent No..2,l02,326 issued December 14, 1937, and H. J. Lingal and R. C. Dickinson. Serial No. 743,697, illed September 12, 1934, now Patent No. 2,112,033 issued March 22, 1938, both assigned to the assignee of this application, are 10 extinguishing devices are disclosed which comprise a plurality of insulating plates arranged in stacks and having narrow aligned slots therein so as to provide a narrow chamber or passage of considerable length in which an arc-may be ll drawn longitudinally thereof by the separation of suitable contact members. Thearc thus drawn is moved laterally in the slot-like passage and acts-upon a material such as oil or other suitable arc quenching media positioned along the walls or the passage to produce a gas which is intermixed with the arc stream to such an extent that the are stream is deionized and the are extinguished. Arc movement in each of the above applications is obtained by a magnetic-fieldset up by coil or coils inserted in the arccircuit when the are is caused to transfer from the main contacts to are horns which are connected in parallel with the main contacts through the iield coils. Transfer of the are from the main contacts to the arc horns is accomplished by drawing the moving contact member closely adjacent the arc receiving tips of the horns and then moving it a distance beyond the horns so that the main contact sepa-' ration exceeds that of the arc horns. Inasmuch less than that between the main contacts, transfer ofthe are from the main contacts to the horns takes place. -We have found, however,

that an arrangement for are movement, as above 10 described, is not reliable over as wide a range of current values as is desirable for some applications. Particularly during the interruption of currents of low value as may be experienced at light or normal line loads, diiiiculty might be exmovement from the main contacts to the arcing. so The present day requirement for circuit 5 as the resistance to are flow across the horns is 11 China (a. zoo-m) breakers capableof interrupting high voltages in very short periods of time has led to the production of a design embodyinga plurality of breaks considerably in excess of the simple double break construction used in the past. Inasmuch s as the voltage appearing across each break of a multiple break interrupter is much less than that across the breaks of a double break structure, considerably less individual gap separation is re-'- quired. Thus, since the time required to attain 10 the total gap separation varies inversely with the number 01' breaks, any number of breaks in excess of two will greatly diminish the time required for electrode separation. However, the use of a large number of breaks in series necessitates the multill plieation of the are extinguishing structures and, therefore, complicates the are moving means.

'The requirement for more rapid arc extinguishment complicates the are moving problem still further in that it calls for a more rapid arc move- D ment within the individual arc extinguishing units than has been heretofore practiced.

A further object of our invention, therefore, is a to provide an arc extinguishing structure in which the are moving means are highly eflicient and 85 capable of moving the are at such velocities necessary to meet the requirements of high speed-arc extinguishment.

. A still further obiect of our invention is to provide an arrangement of the are moving coils and 80 the connections thereof for a multiple break arc extinguisher wherein emcient high speed are movement may be obtained with a minimum number of parts.

A more specific object of our invention is to 35.

provide a circuit interrupter in which the main contact members in addition to their current carrying function when the breaker is closed, also function to establish the are within the arc extinguishing structure, and in which movement .4

' ture embodying our invention, showing the breake'r-tank partially in cross section to reveal the are extinguishing assemblages therefor;

Pig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the upper portion of one of the are extinguishing assemblages showing the arc moving coils of the uppermost arc extinguishing unit and the coil connections to the next adjacent arc extinguishing unit;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lowermost arc extinguishing unit, showing the are moving coils used therein;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the arc moving coils;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line V--V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the arc passage of an arc extinguishing unit as taken I along line VI--VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary developed sectional view of the arc passage; and

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of the coil connections of one of the arc assemblages of the breaker of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 designates an enclosure or tank provided with two insulating bushings I3, mounted upon the upper wall of the tank l3 and extending interiorly thereof. Each of the bushings l2 encloses a metallic lead-in conductor I3, the lower ends of which are adapted to support an arc extinguishing assemblage generally indicated at IS. The two arc extinguishing assemblages ii are electrically joined by a bridging bar I1 having releasable engagement with spring-pressed contacts 19 in circuit with thearc extinguishing assemblage. The bridging member I! is adapted to'be moved into and 'out of engagement with the contacts I! by means of a lift rod 21 which is actuated by a suitable mechanism, not shown.

Each of the arc extinguishing assemblages I 3 includes a plurality of, in this instance five, arc extinguishing units 33. Each of the units 23 comprises a stack of, in this instance fifteen, circular insulating plates. plates 25 and 21 alternately placed. The plates 21 are relatively thin and have a curved slot 23 therein, as shown in Fig. 6 for defining the walls of an arc passage. The plates 23 which have considerably greater thickness than the plates 21 are provided with indentures or recesses 3| adjacent the slot 23 sons to form pockets for retaining an additional quantity of arc extinguishing fluid within the slot-like e.

The ends of the stack of plates 33 and 31 are provided with an end plate 33 also of insulating material, each of which carry an arc horn 33 having an arcuate configuration which enables it to extend into the slot 23. Adjacent each insulating end plate 33 is secured a metallic end plate 31 preferably of magnetic material. The entire arc extinguishing assemblage including plates 25, 21, 33 and 31 are adapted to be held together inv clamping engagement by means of tie rods 39 preferably of insulating material passing through suitable apertures in the respective plates. The general stack structure-of each of the arc extinguishing units 33 is similar and the entire arc extinguishing assemblage I3 is adapted to be assembled upon suitable tie rods not shown, and maintained in proper spaced relation with respect to each other.

The uppermost unit 33 of each assemblage l3 has secured thereto a contact foot 4| which, in turn, has threaded engagement with the lower end of its respective lead-in terminal l3 and thereby provides a support for the entire are extinguishing assemblage. Each of the are extinguishing units 23 is provided with a pair of contacts,'the fixed one of which, indicated at 43,

The stack is formed of extends through a suitable aperture in the upper end plate 33 downwardly into the slot or are passage 39 and a movable contact 45. which extends through a suitable guide member 41 extending through both the lower end plates 33 and 31, the movable contact 45 is adapted to be brought into and out of engagement with the fixed contact 43 by a suitable straight line linkage mechanism generally indicated at 49 which, in turn, is coupled to a common actuating rod 5| by means of a coupling pin 53. The actuating rod 51 is adapted to pass centrally through suitable apertures formed in the stack of plates comprising each of the units 23. The upper end of the operating rod Si is provided with a follower 55 adapted for reciprocating movement in a cylindrical guide member 51 mounted upon the upper plate 31 of the uppermost unit 23. Secured integrally to the follower 55 is a guide rod 59 about which is placed an accelerating spring 6| which, in turn, is interposed between the end of the cylindrical guide member 51 and the upper end of the follower 55.

The lower end of the operating rod 5!, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is provided with the releasable contact member l9 previously referred to which makes both electrical and mechanical connection with the bridging bar i1. Thus when the lift rod 2| is released pursuant to certain conditions when it is desirable to open the breaker contacts, the accelerating spring 3i will forcefully drive the operating rod 5i 'downwardly which, through its connection with the respective straight line operating linkages 49, will actuate each of the contacts 45 of the respective arc extinguishing units 23 to the open position.

It will thus be seen as the contact 45 in each unit 23 of the two are assemblages l5 separate simultaneously, an arc will be drawn between each of the contacts 43 and 45. The ends of the arc horns 35 positioned adjacent the contacts 43 and 43 are provided with are receiving tips 33 and 33, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7. It will benoted that the opposed arc receiving tips 33 and 33 provide diverging arc terminal surfaces for the ends of the are so that during the initial movement thereof the arc will be progressively lengthened thereby aiding in its extinguishment. Now, in order to obtain efiective movement of the are from the contacts 43 and 43 on to the arc horns 33, disposed-respectively in the upper and lower end of the arc passage 39, two separate and distinct electromagnetic means are employed. The

first means comprises what may be termed a se-.

ries coil 33 positioned in an annular recess 31 provided in the upper metallic end plate 31 of each arc extinguishing unit 33. One end of the coil 33 is directly connected with the fixed contact 43 as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. In fact, the coil 33 also provides the necessary mechanical support for the fixed contact 43. The other end of the coil 33 is connected by means of a screw 33 to a conductor strip 1| which, in turn, is connected by means of a bridgin bar 13 to thecontact foot. Theturns ofthecoil 33 are insulated from each other and from the walls of the annular recess 31 by suitable insulation, as

shown. Itwillthusbeseenthatcm'rentfiowing from the incoming terminal I 3 through the contact foot 41, bridging bar 13, the conductor 1|,

coil 33 and contacts 43 and 43 will produce a radial magnetic field across the arcuate slot-like passage 23. This field is augmented and intensifiedattheupperendoftheslotbyvirmeofthe magnetic material comprising the upper end plate I! in which the coil' OI is embedded.

It therefore follows that as soon as the contacts ii and I semrate, an are drawn therebetween will be. acted upon by this radial mag netic field produced by the coil 8' to move at least the upper end oi the are into engagement with the upper are receiving horn 3'. Since the current carrying capacity of the series coil '8 ,must be equivalent to that of the contacts I! and 45, the required cross section limits in practice the number of turns to considerably fewer than are necessary to move the are at a speed which will produce the most eil'ective arc extinguishing 5 action. Therefore, additional means for moving the arc are'required which, however, will be brought into play only during the arc extinguishing process. These means are provided by a second coil i5 also positioned in the annular recess 1 C1 in the upper end plate Ii and a similar 0011 located in a similar annular recess 'I'l positioned in the lower end plate II. The two annularly shaped coils 15 positioned in the end plates II [are preferably of edge-wound construction, as 5 shown, and have a considerably larger number of turns than the series type coil 05 previously described. y In order to simplify the description, the coils 15 will hereinafter be referred to as shunt coils by virtue of the fact that they are connected, as will appear, in parallel with the contacts is and 45, while the coil II will be referred to as a series coil since it is connected directly in series with the contacts 43 and ll. The uppercoil I! 5 has one end thereof connected by a lead II to the connector strip 1i which in turn makes con- \tact between the contact foot ii and one end of the series coil 65. The other endof the upper coil 15 is connected to the upper, arc horn II. It, ,"therefore'foll'ows that as soon as the upper end of the are drawn between'the contacts 43 and ii is shifted by virtue of the magnetic-field produced by the-coil 65 on to the upper arc horn 3| that the upper coil 15 will be insertedin the arc circuit, thus current flowing through the coil ll will create a strong radial magnetic field across the upper end of the passage 28 to further the movement'ofthe are along the upper horn 3i. The foregoing description has proceeded on p the assumption that, the circuit through the moving contact 4 was completed so as to make possible the flow of current through theparticular .collsabove referred to. The particular circuit connections by-which the flow of current through 5 themoving contact 46 and through the lower shunt coil II of each unit is accomplished will 1 now be described.

a flexible shunt 1's interconnects the lower end of the moving contacts with a bracket ll ywhich, in turn, makes electrical connection through studs '3 with the lower metallic end plate 31. The lower end plate 31 is connected by a bridging member II to the upper end plate.

31 of the next adjacent unit 23, the conducting 5 member I! interconnects the bridsins connec-' 23 to the fixed contact 4!. The lower end plate;- 31 of the uppermost unit 13 is also directly connected by means of a screwjl and afconnecting stud 93 .to the lower arc horn Iii Thelower arc- 5 horn 35, in turn, makesconnection with one end tinguishing assemblage.

However, since it is of the lower shunt coil (II while theother end of'thelower shuntcoilflihasa'leadllioining the lead OI'of one end of the upper shunt coil lb of the-next lower unit 23. The other end of the last-named shunt coil II is connected to the arc horn I! of its respective unit in the manner previously described;

The connections for both the series coil II and the shunt coils II for succeeding units are identics! and it is deemed not necessary to describe them in detail. It will be noted, however, that only one series coil I, positioned in the upper end plate 31, is used in be first four units II, whereas the lowermost unit ll has a series coil in both the upper and lower metallic end platu II. The reason for this particular arrangement will be made apparent subsequently in connection with a consideration of the circuit connec tions'of the coil system of the entire are ex- In order to maintain uniform magnetic circuits for both the upper and lower end plates I! throughout all of the stacks, the annular recess 11 in the lower end'plate I! of each unity is means of an annular, plate ill preferablymade of insulating material.

, In the lower end plate 11 of the lowermost unit,

'a series coil is employed. With particular reference to Fig. 3, the coil desilnntedat I; in

general outline. is similar to theseries coil 6. in the lower end plate 31, it must be provided with a suitable aperture to permit the movement of the lowermost contact 4i therethrough. The series coil III also diifers from the coil I! in that it does not have a fixed contact secured thereto as does the coil in the latter instance. As shown in Fig. 13, the moving contact 48 is connected as previously described through a flexible shunt II to a bracket ill. The bracket i" is-mounted upon the end plate I! and makes electrical contact therewith, and, in turn, is electrically connected by means of a screw ill to (amend of the series coil Ill. The other end of the series coil ill makes connection through a screw lllto a bracket III which is mounted upon the end platen-but insulated therefrom by an insulating plate ill. Electrical connection from the bracket III is taken by meansof a flexible conductor H5 having one end secured to the bracket ill by a bolt ill and having its other end connected to one of the pair of releasable contacts I! mounted upon the lower end of the operating rod II. The lower arc horn ii of the lowermost unit, as shown in- Fig; 3, is also connectedto one end of the lower shunt coil II, the other end of the coil II being connected by the screw ill to the lower end plate. 31 of that unit.

A more complete understandingof the respective coil connections and the arc extinguishing operation will be had from aconsideration of the schematic circuit diagram shown in 'Fig. 8. With particular reference to the diagram of Fig. 8,

the same characters of reference as used in connection with the description of the'foregolng flgures'will be. employed. The conductor ll represents the lead-in terminal I! heretofore described and isshown making electrical connection with the upper end plate 81. Assuming then will be from the terminal I3, end plate 31, series coil 55, contact 43, contact 45, shunt connection I9, lower end plate 31, connection 55, which joins the upper end plate 31 of the next adjacent unit 23, from whence the circuit is identical through the succeeding units with the exception of the connection from the lower end plate 31 of the lowermost unit 23. This plate is connected to one end of the series coil I03, the other end of which is connected to the movable spring contacts I9. The releasable spring contacts I9 during the closing position of the breaker of one of the arc extinguishing assemblages I5 is adapted to be connected to the releasable spring contacts I 9 of the other arc extinguishing assemblage I5 by means of the bridging bar I1. Thus the circuit through to the other are extinguishing assemblage is identical with that just described and terminates at the other lead in terminal I3 of the breaker.

In the opening operation of the breaker to be subsequently described, reference will only be had to the operation of one of the arc extinguishing units I5, it being, of course, understood that the operation of the other unit I5 which is identical in construction will be similar. Upon the opening of the breaker contacts in response to overload or other predetermined conditions, the lift rod 2I is released from its closed or holding position which permits each of the operating rods -5I to be moved downwardly under the action of the accelerating spring 6| to move each of the movable contacts 45 to the open position. It will be noted that since the series coil 65 and the series coil I03 are connected in series with the contacts 43 and 45 a radical magnetic field will be maintained across the arc passage 29 when the contacts are closed and when an arc is playing therebetween. Thus as soon as the contacts 45 separate from the contacts 43, the entire arc will be acted upon by the magnetic field produced by the series coil 65. But since the upper ends of the respective arcs are subjected to a more in tense field, these portions will be shifted from the fixed contacts 43 to the receiving tips of each of the upper arc horns 35 prior to movement of the lower portions of the arcs from the contacts 45. Upon the transfer of each of the arcs in the separate extinguishing units 23 to the upper arc horn 35, the arc circuit is now changed and instead of flowing through the fixed contacts, the circuit will be from the terminal I3, the upper end plate 31, upper shunt coils I5, upper arc horn 35, movable contact 45,'the flexible connector IS, the lower end plate 31, the lower shunt coil I5, connection 95, 91 joining the lower shunt coil of the uppermost unit with the upper shunt coil of the next adjacent unit. V

The connections for subsequent units are the same as those above described and need not be repeated. It should be noted that the shifting of the upper end of thearc to the upper arc horn 35 in each of the units 23 causes the upper shunt coil I5 to be inserted in the arc circuit and at the same time causes the series coil 55 of each unit to be disconnectedirom the circuit. It'should also be noted that since the lower shunt coil I5 of the first unit is connected in series by the connections 35, 91, to the upper shunt coil I5 of the next adjacent unit 23 and that the lower shunt coil I5 of theflrst unit is also connected to the lower end plate 31 which is at the same potential as the moving contact 45 that as soon as the upper end of the arc shifts to the upper arc horn 35 that each of the lower shunt coils I5 with the exception of the lower shunt coil 15 of the lowermost unit 23 will also be inserted in the arc circuit. In other words, with the exception of the lower shunt coil 15 in the lowermost unit 23, both the upper and lower shunt coil I5 become effective upon the mere shifting of the upper ends of each v of the arcs to the upper arc horn 35 of each unit.

As soon as the shunt coils I5 become thus energized, a strong radial magnetic field is produced across the respective arc paths having its major concentration at the .upper and lower ends of the paths so as to completely transfer the separate arcs drawn between the contacts 43 and 45 on to the arc horns 35. Since the upper and lower shunt coils I5 are simultaneously energized to complete the are shifting operation from the main contacts 43 and 45 on to the arc horns 35, a series coil in the lower end plate 31 of each unit is not required, with the exception of the lowermost unit 23 where it is desirable to utilize a series coil I53, since there is no subsequent adjacent unit having an upper shunt coil I5 to which the lower shunt coil I5 of the last unit may be connected. Thus the series coil I53 in the lowermost unit 23 serves to establish a radial magnetic field at the lower portion of the arc passage 29 of the lowermost unit until the arc is completely transferred from the main contacts 43 and 45 on to the arc horns 35. Once the separate arcs are transferred to their respective arc horns 35, the electrical circuit is as follows. Terminal I3, upper end plate 31, shunt coil I5, upper arc horn 35, through the arc to the lower arc horn 35, lower shunt coil I5, connection 35, 51, the upper shunt coil I5, of the next succeeding unit from whence the connections repeat for each succeeding unit until the lower arc horn 35 of the lowermost unit 23 is; reached. From this point on, the connection is through the lower shunt coil I5, series coil I03 and the releasable contact I9.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that regardless of the current flowing through the main breaker contacts 43 and 45, in the event that the contacts are separated and the arc extinguishing units 23 are called upon to extinguish the are, there would always be a radial magnetic field set up by the series coil 65 for initially moving at least one end of the are on of the shunt coils 15 of eachunit so as to produce a strong joint magnetic field necessary for moving the arc laterally with its ends playing upon the are horns 35 along the slot 25 with a high velocity. Since the engagement of the arc with the arc quenching fluid contained inthe passage 23 produces fairly large quantities of gas which aid in extinguishing the arc, it is necessary to provide means for relieving the pressure within the passage 25. In the application of R. C. Dickinson and W. M. Leeds, Serial No. 82,594, filed May 29, 1936, and assigned to the assignee of this application, an arc extinguishing structure is shown wherein provision is made for venting the arc passage. In the instant application, similar venting means are shown which comprise suitable ports or passages as indicated at I23 which designate a radial portion along one of the plates=25 which is connected by an axial portion l2l extending through the plates 33 and 31, as shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. These passages permit the escape of gas and are quenching liquid, and thereby prevent the pressure from becoming excessive within the posanem a sage is during the interruption of extremely severe current overloads under which condition fairlyilarge quantities of gas are evolved.

Although we have shown a particular are extinguishing structure embodying specific means for producingarc movement therein, it isto be understood that the same is for the purpose of illustration and that es and modifications may be made by those skilled in theart without 10 departing from the spirit andsscope oi the appended claims. r r We claim as our invention: f 1.. In a circuit interrupter, a pair of separable contact members for establishing spare, a pair of '15 are horns ofgenerally annular shape spaced a considerable distance apart for receiving said arc, a coil in series with said contact members for producing a magnetic field to move said arc on to said are horns, each of said arc horns having a m curved arc path thereon between which said are is adapted-to play in one long section, and a second coil in series with said are hornsi'or producing a radial magnetic field between said are horns to move the arc. laterally along said curved a are paths. y

2. In a circuit interrupter, a plurality oi pairs of separable contact members ior establishing a l/ plurality of serially related arcs, a corresponding plurality of pairs oi arc terminals of generally a circular conformation between which said respective arcs'a're-subsequently adapted to play, -.an-operating ,rod movable through the central portion of said are terminals for actuating said pairs oi contact members, a coil in series with a each of said pairs oi separable contacts for producing a magnetic field to move the said arcs individually on to a'corresponding pair a: are terminals, and a second coil disposed about said operating rod and in series with each of said 49 pairs of arc terminals to produce a radial magnetic field for moving each are along its corresponding arc terminals, said second coils being connected for energizatipn upon the engagement of each arc with at least one of the arc' terminals a'of its respective pairof'terminals.

. 3. In a circuit interrupter, a plurality pairs of separable contact members for establishing a plurality of serially related arcs, a corresponding plurality of pairs of arc terminals of generally annular shape for receiving the, ends of the respective arcs, a coil of annular iorm concentrically arrangedyith respect to said are terminals and in circuit with each pair of separable conon to oneare terminal of each of said pairs of terminals, an operating rod movable through the central portions or said are terminals and said coils for simultaneouslyhctuating said separable so contact members, and anauxiliary coilior. each pair of arc terminals surrounding said operating rod and arranged to be inserted in its respective arc circuit upon the engagement of one end of the arc with one of its respective arc terminals for s setting up radialmagnetic fields for moving the arc's along their respective arc is e 4. In a circuit interrupter, a plurality of pairs of separable contact members for establishing a I plurality of serially related arcs, a 'de 70 log plurality of pairs of arc terminals for receiving the ends: of therespective arcs, a coil in cir-.

is terminal-oi each of said pairs of terminals, and .a

pair-oiaunliaryeoilsioreachpairofarcterminalsarrangedtobeinsertedseriallyintheirrespective arc circuits upon the engagement oi one x end oieacharcwith itsrespective arc terminal and also upon the subsequent engagement of the 5 other end at arc with its respective other arc terminal or setting up magnetic fields for moving-the arcs along their respective arc paths.

'member being adjacent-a contact member, op-

posedportionsorsaidarcterminalmembersadr jacent said separable contact members having inclinedarcpathetherecnwhich divergeinadirection away trom'said contact members, the 90 remaining opposed portions or said arc terminal members having substantially parallel arc paths thereon, a coil in circuitwith-saidcontact members for setting up a magnetic field to move said arcontosaidarcter'minalmembersandasecg ondcoilconnectedincircuit withsaidarc termi; nalmembers andldapted tobeenergisedupon the engagement of said arc with at least one oi said terminal members tor setting up a radial v magnetic field across said slot to move said arc an laterally therealong in onesection with its ends in engagement with said are paths,

6; In an arc extinguisher, a plurality of plates of insulating materlaleach 0! which has a curved narrow slot therethrough, said plates being ar- 3 ranged in a stack withwtheir slots in alignment to define'the walls of a narrow generally annularly shaped passage, a pair of separable contacts iordrawing an are of considerable length longi; tudinally oi said passage, a pair of arc terminals 4" disposed in spaced relsition within said passage for receiving the ends oi said are, a coil responsive to the new of arc current between saidcon tact members for providing a magnetic field to move atleast one end of said are onto one oi said are terminals, and a second coil ve at least to the fiow of arc current between one or said contact members and one of said arctermipairs for producing a radial magnetic field across saidpassagetomovesaidarclaterallyinone long section therealong with its ends in engagement with said arc terminals.

'1. In an arc extinguisher, means of insulating material defining the walls of a narrow generally annularly' shaped e, a pair of separable contacts for drawing an arc longitudinally of said terminalineachend oi'saidpas sage to provide generally circularly shaped paths for the ends of said arc, electromagnetic means initially in circuit with said are for causing at so least one end thereof to be moved from one con-.

" tact member to once! saidarc terminals, asecsaid one oisaidarcterminalsior causing said are to bemoved laterally along said passage with its ends in t with said are terminals, a material along said passage which produces a gas when acted upon by an arc to aid in extinguishing 10 the arc, and vent means enabling the escape of gasi'romsaidpassage.

-8. In a circuit interrupter, means of insulating material for defining ,a generally ann'ularly shaped narrow slot, means for establishing an arc v s lengthwise of said slot, arc terminals within said slot adjacent said are establishing means for receiving the ends of said arc, a coil in circuit with said arc establishing means for setting up a magnetic field for moving said arc on to said are terminals, a second coil in circuit with said are terminals and adapted to be energized upon engagement of the arc-with at least one of said arc terminals for setting up a radial magnetic field across said slot to whirl the arc therealong, said slot having a material therealong which gives oil a gas when acted upon by an arc to aid in extinguishing the arc, and vent passages leading from said slot to enable gas to escape therefrom.

9. In a circuit breaker, a plurality of are extinguishing units, each of said units comprising means of insulating material for defining a narrow passage, means for simultaneously establishing an arc in each of said passages, said arcs having a series relationship with respect to each other, arc terminals in each or said passages for the ends of the are established therein, means responsive to the initial arc current for producing a magnetic field at each unit to cause each of said arcs to be moved laterally into engagement with its respective arc terminals, means for each unit made operative by the engagement of at least one end of each of said arcs with one of its respective arc terminals for producing a magnetic field to move each of said arcs along its respective passage, and means along said passage which gives oil a gas when acted upon by an arc to aid in extinguishing the arc.

10. In a circuit breaker, a plurality o! are extinguishing units, each of said units comprising means of insulating material for defining the walls of a narrow arcuate passage, a pair 0! separablecontacts in each of said passages, means connecting said pairs of contacts in series, means for causing the simultaneous separation oi said pairs of contacts to establish a series are in each of said passages, a pair of curved spaced arc terminals in each of said passages for receiving the arc established therein, a coil in circuit with each pair of contacts and positioned adjacent 7 one end of each of said passages for setting up a within said passage into engagement with one of said are terminals therein, a second coil positioned adjacent the first coil of each of said units connected in circuit with one of said are terminals and adapted to be energized upon the en'- gagement of said one end of each arc with the said one of said arc terminals for setting up a radial magnetic field across each passage to rotate the arc therein along its respective arc terminals,

a material along each passage which gives oi! a gas when acted upon by an arc to aid in extinguishing the arc, and vent openings, leading from each passage to enable the escape of gas from said passages.

' 11. In a circuit breaker, a plurality of arc extinguishing units, each of said units comprising means of insulating material for defining the walls of a slot of generally annular shape, a pair of separable contact members in each slot, means connecting said contact members in series, a common actuating member for simultaneously separating said pairs of contacts to establish a series arc in each of said slots, an are how of generally circular shape positioned at each end of each of said slots, a coil situated at one end of each slot and in circuit with the pair of contact terminals therein for setting up a radial magnetic field acm each slot to move at least one end of first-named field for moving the noon to one of said are horns, an auxiliary coil situated adjacent opposed ends of each of said slots and positioned concentrically with respect to said first coil, the auxiliary coil of each unit adjacent the first coil of each unit being connected to one of said'arc horns and adapted to be energized upon the transfer of the said end of the are from one of said separable contacts to the said one of said are horns for setting up a radial magnetic field across the respective slot, the other auxiliary coil of each unit being connected to the other arc horn and adapted to be energized upon the insertion into the circuit of the first auxiliary coil of a unit next adjacent for setting up a radial magnetic field jointly with said first auxiliary coil of each unit to cause the other end of the arc to transfer to the other arc horn of its respective unit, and for moving the arc along the slot with its ends in contact with the arc horns contained therein, said first-named coil of each unit being disconnected from the arc circuit upon the transfer of one end of each arc to one of the. arc horns.

12. In a circuit breaker, means of insulating material for defining the walls of a narrow annularly shaped passage, a pair of contacts, said contacts being engageable for carrying the entire load current of the connected circuit and separable to establish an are within said passage, arc terminals within said passage between which said are is adapted to play, a coil in series with said contacts for setting up a radial magnetic field across said passage to move said arc onto said are terminal means, and a second coil adapted to be inserted into the arc circuit upon the engagement of at least one end of the arc with one of said are terminals for setting up a radial magnetic. field across said passage coextensive with said first magnetic field for rotating the arc in said passage.

13. In a. circuit breaker, means of insulating material for defining the walls of a narrow annularly shaped passage, a pair of contacts, said contacts being engageable for carrying the entire load current of the connected circuit and separable to establish an arc within said passage, arc terminals within said passage between which said are is adapted to play, a coil in series with said contacts for setting up a radial magnetic field across said passage to move said are onto said arc terminal means, and a second coil adapted to be inserted in the arc circuit upon the engagement of the arc with said are terminals for setting up aradial magnetic field across said passage co-extensive and jointly operative? with said the arc laterally along said passage.

14. In a circuit interrupter, means of insulating material for defining the walls of a narrow annularly-shaped passage, a. main circuit through saidinterrupter including a pair of contacts engageable or carrying the load current of the connected circuit and separable for establishing an are within said e, a branch circuitsaid branch circuit for moving said are laterally' along saidarc terminal members, at least one of said first-named coils being common to both the main and the branch circuits.

15. In a multiple break circuit interrupter, a plurality of arc extinguishing structures, a plurality of pairs of serially related? separable contacts for establishing an arc in each of said structures, a pair of spaced arc terminal members within each of said structures between which said arcs are adapted to be moved, a plurality of coils within each of said structures, each of said structures having at least one coil connected in series with said separable contacts to establish a field in response to current fiow through said contacts for moving the arc onto said terminal members, and two additional coils each of which is connected in series with one of said arc terminal members to establish a magnetic field in response, to the current flowing between said terminal members for moving the arc therealong, and means for connecting one of said last-named coils of one structure in series with the other lastnamed coil of an adjacent structure to thereby complete'a branch circuit through said interrupter for carrying the arc current following the separation of said pairs of contacts.

16. In a multiple break circuit interrupter, a plurality of arc extinguishing structures, a plurality of serially related separable contacts for establishing an arc in each of said structures, a pair of spaced arc terminal members within each arc extinguishing structure, a coil adjacent each arc terminal member and connected thereto adapted when energized to produce a magnetic field for moving the arc within each are extinguishing structure laterally between its respective arc terminal members, means for moving at least one end of each are established between said separable contacts onto one are terminal member of each arc extinguishing structure, and circuit connections between said coils, contacts and arc terminal members so arranged that upon the transfer of said one end of each arc onto the said one are terminal member of each are extinguishing structure saidcoils and arcs will be connected in series circuit relation.

17. In a circuit interrupter, an arc extinguishing structure comprising means of insulating material defining a narrow generally annularly shaped arc passage, a circuit. through the interrupter for normally carrying the entire load of the connected circuit comprising an annular coil of low reactance disposed in coaxial relation with and adjacent to one end of said are passage and a pair of separable contacts within said passage, One of which is directly connected to and supported by said coil, a second circuit through the interrupter comprising an arc terminal member disposed at each end of said are passage and a coil of relatively higher reactance than said first coil disposed in coaxial relation about said first coil and connected in series with one of said arc terminal members, said first coil maintaining a radial magnetic field across said are passage during the fiow of current through said separable contacts and being effective to move an arc established by the separation of said contacts onto said are terminal members, said second coil being'energized upon the transfer of the arc to at least one of said are terminal members to provide a radial magnetic field across saidarc passage to move the arc laterally therealong.

wm'maor M. LEEDS. BENJAMIN P. BAKER.

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