US2228432A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US2228432A
US2228432A US237264A US23726438A US2228432A US 2228432 A US2228432 A US 2228432A US 237264 A US237264 A US 237264A US 23726438 A US23726438 A US 23726438A US 2228432 A US2228432 A US 2228432A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
arc
liquid
movable
moving
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
US237264A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Benjamin P Baker
Andrew H Bakken
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.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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
Priority to BE436835D priority Critical patent/BE436835A/xx
Priority to NL60719D priority patent/NL60719C/xx
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US237264A priority patent/US2228432A/en
Priority to GB3119/41A priority patent/GB537069A/en
Priority to GB26355/39A priority patent/GB534979A/en
Priority to CH217863D priority patent/CH217863A/fr
Priority to FR861118D priority patent/FR861118A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2228432A publication Critical patent/US2228432A/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
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
    • H01H1/46—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding self-aligning contacts

Definitions

  • This invention relatesto hig -voltage highpower circuit breakers and mo particularly to improvements in the circuit interrupting elements therefor.
  • a stationary contact assembly is provided in each expansion chamber consisting of a plurality terminate adjacent the open end .of the arc chamber'and are adapted to cooperate with a ring contact carried by a movable operating member passing axially through both interrupting elements.
  • the movable contact ring is adapted-to be brought into sliding contacting engagement with the contactsurfaces of the stationary contact ilngers during the closing operation of the breaker.
  • v Y It is an object of our invention to provide a contact structure for circuit breakers oi the fo'regoing type which is freely movable to the closed circuit position even though -the stationary and movable contacts are out of alignment or become pitted from arcing as a result of 'repeated circuit opening operations.
  • a further and more speciiic object o! our invention is the provision of a contact structure of Athe tulip type for circuit breakers in which provision is made for moving the stationary contact lingers laterally at right angles to the movement of the moving contact ,in response to a positive engagement of the moving contact with the stationary contact lingers during the closing stroke ofthe breaker so as.to permit the moving contact to slide unopposed into ilnal contacting engager ment with the stationarycontact fingers.
  • a further object of our invention is to provide nushing means for the interrupting'elements'of circuit breakers of thehigh-voltage type-whereby the rc extinguishing structure is subjected to the fio of clean arc extinguishingliquidfollowing each -circuit interrupting operation.
  • Another object of our invention is the provision of a ilushing device for circuit interrupting elements which is self-contained in the interrupting unit and actuated by the same resilient means used for moving the movable contact mechanism to the open circuit position.
  • Stillganother objectof our invention is the provision of a high-power circuit breaker having a main operating spring for moving the movable A contact lassembly to the open circuit position, which-spring is also employed for actuating a ushing device for the arc extinguishing' elements after each circuit opening operation and which is further used for controlling the release of 'pressure within the interruptr housing.
  • Fig. 2 is an elevation view partially in section of the interrupting unit of the breaker shown in Fis. 1: l
  • Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view ot the interrupting unit .shown in Fis. 2, taken along the line III-HAI; ,x
  • Fig. 6 is a plan view of a casing member forming part of the liquid pumping structure of the interrupting unit shown in Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional View of the casing member shown in Fig. 6, taken along the line VII-VH;
  • Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the liquid pumping structure shown in Fig. 8, taken along the lineD-IX;
  • Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of the interrupting element shown in Fig. 2, taken along the line XII-XII of that figure with certain portions of the element omitted;
  • the reference number I5 designates a metal casing having an upper support plate I1 whichcarries a hollow insulator
  • 9 of weatherproof material, such as porcelain or the like.
  • which carries a metallic dome-shaped closure 23.
  • the hollow insulator i9 is maintained in position by a tubular strain member 25, preferably of insulating material, which is secured at its lower end to the support plate and at its upper end to an annular plate 21 which, in turn, is bolted to the annular plate 2
  • the circuit interrupting unit 29 comprises two interrupting elements 3
  • a second iianged casing 31 is secured to the upper end of the interrupting element 3
  • the support arms 39 are releasably secured to the annular plate 21 and serve as the sole support for the interrupting unit 29 within the breaker housing.
  • and 33 each consists of a tubular casing member 4
  • are a plurality of Washers 45 and 41 of insulating material of different internal diameter alternately disposed in stacked relation so as to provide an arc chamber 48 having corrugated wall surfaces.
  • This stationary contact assembly as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, consists of a plurality of contactl ngers 5
  • the support member 53 has an outwardly extending flange 55 which is adapted to be clamped between the anged casing member 31 and the upper collar 43 of the interrupting element 3
  • the ange 33 is clamped between the flanged casing 35 and the upper collar 43 of that element. .l
  • is connected by means of a flexible shunt 51 to the flanged casing 31.
  • the moving contact assembly comprises an operating member 59 extending axially through the arc chambers 48 and the expansion chambers 43. This member carries a contact ring 3
  • the washers 33 have an outside diameter with respect to the in-' side diameter of the Washers 45, such that when the piston member 69 has been moved into the arc chamber 48, the piston member confines and limits the arc chamber to a narrow elongated passage of relatively small cross section.
  • the left-hand contact surface. of the contact ring 6 I has considerably greater length than the remaining contact surfaces, so as to cause the left-hand contact surface to separate last in the point of time from the left-hand contact finger 5
  • the piston member 69 during its movement to the open circuit position displaces arc extinguishing liquid from stream and assists in expelling arc gases from the arc chamber 43 into the expansion chamber 49.
  • the interrupting element 33 is generally similar in construction to the construction of the element 3
  • the tubular sleeve 1I is of metallic material and is connected electrically with the contact ring 3
  • the operating mechanism 11 is utilized primarily to move the operating member 59 and its associated parts to the closed circuit position. 'I'he movement of the operating member 59 to the open circuit ⁇ position is accomplished by means of a battery of compression springs 81 located within the dome-like enclosure 23 and disposed between two movable pressure plates 39 and 9
  • is secured to the upper end of the operating member 59, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and directlytransmits the force .from the springs 81 to the operating member to move it to the open circuit position when released by the straight-line operating mechanism 11.
  • the leading tips of the contact surfaces 53 are rounded so as to normally permit the contact ring 8
  • will not slide freely to theirI final closed circuit position, but will jam so as to prevent free closing unless provision is made to j prevent the contact fingers from making positive engagement with the moving contact rings.
  • Figs. 3 to,5 we have provided an arrangement for supporting the con tact fingers 5I with respect to the support casting 53 so that when the contact fingers makepositive engagement with the contactI ring lII during the closingmovement, the contact fingers will be carried aY short distance with the contact ring.
  • is utilized tocause a lateral movement of the fingers at right angles to the path of movement of the contact ring 5
  • are disposed about the outer circumference of the cylindrical supportcasting 53,
  • is provided with two laterally extending projections91, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.
  • the projections 91 are disposed between the flange 55, which supports the cylindrical casting 53, and a second outwardly extend- I ing flange 99 located at the upper end of the cylindrical casting 53.
  • the upper ange 99 is spaced some distance above the support flange 55 so as to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement of the contact finger 5
  • is provided with ac-cam surface
  • 05 in this instance two, encircle the 'contact fingers 5
  • are provided with four apertures
  • Each guide and support rod I I5 is secured at its lower end to a respective support arm 39.
  • 5 are united with a stop plate
  • each of the four sides of which is provided with a rectangular preferably comprises a lower cylindrical section
  • 21 is provided with a nut
  • the springs 81 apply a biasing force through Ithe movable pressure plate 89,the levers
  • the main operating springs 91 are also utilized to actuate a liquid pumping device for flushing the arc chambers 48 following each lo circuit interrupting operation.
  • the liquid circulating device and the manner of its association with the main operating spring will now be described.
  • the nanged casing 31 is provided with a cover plate
  • 43 has four outwardly projecting ears
  • 41 normally maintains the cylinder
  • Liquid is admitted into the chamber
  • 55 are normally open but are adapted to be sealed during the downward stroke of the cylinder
  • communicates with the arc chambers 48 of the interrupting elements 3
  • 39 is provided with an aperture
  • 61 is also provided with a ball spring pressed check valve
  • 61 in the langed casing member 31 terminate in an-opening
  • 63 are provided with suitable fittings for joining the conduits to the lower collars 43 of e() the interrupting elements 3
  • the collars 43 are provided with radially extending passages
  • 13 terminate in an annular channel
  • 43 is maintained in its raised or uppermost position by the springs 49. Movement in the downward direction so as to cause a discharge of liquid 10 from the chamber
  • 11 normally maintains the bolt
  • which directly actuates the operating member 25 59, is provided with four outwardly extending ears
  • is less than the tension of the main operating springs 81, which makes compression of the 35 springs
  • 43 is rendered operative during the opening movement of the operating member 59 by the direct action of the main operating springs 81. 40
  • 43 is not moved downwardly to discharge the liquid contained within the chamber
  • the main operating springs 81 merely place the moving cylinder
  • 43 per- 55 mits movement of the operating member 59 and consequently the movable contact ring 6
  • 43 are, of course, more readily com- 65 pressible than the auxiliary operating springs
  • 49 retract the cylinder
  • This ,spacing provides a layer of liquid between the plates
  • the latter is preferably perfor-ated, as shown in Fig. 8, which necessitates the use of the buffer plate
  • a pair of separable Y contacts at least one of which is movable said 40 contactshaving slidably engageable surfaces parallel to the general direction of movement of said movable contact, and means cooperating with said other contact for moving said other contact laterallynin a direction away from said movable contact in response to longitudinal movement by said movable contact during the closing movement ci' said contacts to cause said surfaces of said contacts to be brought into alignment.
  • a pair oi'separable contacts at least one of which is movable, said contacts having engageable surfaces parallel to the general direction of movement of said movable contact, means normally applying a biasing
  • a contact finger In a circuit interrupter, a contact finger, a support therefor, a moving contact disposed for wiping engagement with said contact finger dur- 5 ing movement to the closed circuit position, said contact fingerv having a predetermined amount of longitudinal and lateral movement with respect to said support, means biasing said contact finger both laterally and longitudinally towards 10 said movingcontact, and means carried by said contact finger and said support for moving said contact finger laterally in a direction away from the path of movement of said moving contact in response to longitudinal movement of said contact finger resulting from a positive engagement of ysaid contact finger with said moving contact during movement of the latter to the closed circuit position to break said positive engagement and effect a wiping contact.
  • a contact structure comprising a cylindrical support member, a plurality of contact fingers disposed adjacent the outer surface of said support member, guide means for maintaining said contact fingers substantially parallel Vto the longitudinal axisof said support Y member, said guide means providing limited longitudinal and radial movement of said contact fingers with respect to said support member, a movable operating member extending axially through said support member, a ring con-v tact carried by said operating member the outer surface of which is adapted to make sliding contact with said contact fingers, means biasing said contact fingers into engagement with said 35.
  • cam means associated with said contact fingers and said support member for moving said contact fingers radially from said support member in response to longitudinal movement of said contact fingers resulting from positive engagement of said fingers with said ring contact to effect a release of said positive engagement and enable said ring contact to make sliding engagement with said contact iingers.
  • a circuit interrupter a quantity of arc extinguishing liquid, separable contacts, actuating means for operating said contacts to the open circuit "position for drawing an arc within said l liquid, and means actuated by said actuating means and operative in responseito predetermined pressure conditions in the region surrounding said ⁇ contacts for moving a quantity of ⁇ arc extinguishing liquid which has not been subjected to said arc between said contacts.
  • an arc chamber having arc extinguishing liquid therein, separable contacts for establishing an arc within said arc chamber, actuating means for operating said conztacts, piston means for moving an additional quantity of an extinguishing liquid through said arc chamber following arc extinction, spring jmeans for operating said piston means, and 'means for operatively connecting said contact actuating means with said spring means for stressing the latter during the final movement of said actuating means to the open circuit position.
  • an arc chamber a quantity of arc extinguishing liquid therein, a stationary contact, a cooperating movable contact, an operating member for moving said movable contact to open and closed positions, means actuated by said operating member during the opening movement thereof to place an additional quantity of arc extinguishing liquid under pressure, and means operative in accordance with predetermined pressure conditions within said are chamber for causing said additional quantity of liquid to be directed through said arc chamber.
  • a circuit breaker an enclosure, a body of liquid therein, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least one of which is movable, an operating member for said movable Contact, resilient means for moving said operating member to the open circuit position to establish an arc Within said arc chamber, pumping means rendered' operative by said resilient means during the opening movement of said operating member for moving a quantity of said liquid through said arc chamber after arc extinction, and means for preventing a reverse flow of liquid from said arc chamber to said pumping means.
  • an enclosure a body of liquid therein, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least one of which is movable, an operating member for said movable contact, resilient means for moving said operating member ⁇ to the open circuit position to estab- ⁇ lish an arc Within said arc chamber, said enclosure having pressure relieving means including a vent opening and a releasable cover member therefor, said cover member being biased to the closed position by said resilient means, pumping means rendered operative by said resilient means during the opening movement of said 'operating member for moving a quantity of said liquid through said arc chamber after arc extinction, and means for preventing a reverse flow of liquid from said arc chamber to said pumping means.
  • a housing a body of liquid in said housing, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, a stationary contact adjacent one end oi said arc chamber, a cooperating movable contact, a plunger for carrying said movable contact, a spring for moving said movable contact into said arc chamber to establish an arc therein and cause liquid to flow longitudinally of the arc stream ⁇ to assist in extinguishing the arc, means forv relieving said housing of pressure produced by said arc including a vent opening and a cover therefor, means operatively coupling said cover with said spring for yieldingly holding said cover in the closed position against the pressure within said housing, and pumping means rendered operative by said spring during movement of said plunger into said arc chamber for moving a quantity of liquid through said chamber, said pumping means being ineffective to move said liquid until the pressure within said arc chamber has been reduced to a predetermined value.
  • a circuit breaker an enclosure, a body of liquid therein, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least one of which is movable, operating means for actuating said movable contact to the open circuit position to establish an arc in said arc chamber, and means actuated by said operating means during the latter part of its opening movement and operative in response to predetermined pressure conditions in said arc chamber for moving a quantity of said liquid through said arc chamber.
  • a circuit breaker an enclosure, a body of liquid therein, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least one of which is movable, operating means for actuating said movable contact to the open circuit position to establish an arc in said arc chamber, pumping means for moving a quantity of said liquid through said arc chamber, and means operatively coupling said contact opera'ting means Vwith said pumping means during the. final movement of said operating means to its open circuit position for actuating said pumping means, said coupling means enabling said contact operating means to move to its full open circuit position independently of the liquid pumping operation.
  • a circuit breaker an enclosure, a body of liquid therein, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least onefof which is movable, operating means for actuating said movable contact to the open circuit position to establish an arc in said arc chamber, pumping means for moving a quantity of said liquid through said arc chamber following arc extinction, spring means for actuating said pumping means, and means operatively coupling said contact operating means with said spring means during the iinal movement of said operating means to its open circuit position for storing energy in said spring means, said spring means enabling said contact operating means to move to its full open circuit position independently of the operation of said pumping means.
  • a support member a plurality of contact fingers carried by said support member, a contact means movable axially of said contact fingers and adapted to make sliding engagement therewith, said support member having guide means providing limited longitudinal and lateral movement for said contact fingers with respect to the path of movement of said contact means, and means operatively associated with said support and contact fingers for moving said contact fingers laterally in a direction away from said contact means in response to 6 longitudinal movement of said contact fingers resulting from positive engagement oi said iingers with said contact means during the closing movement of said contact means to effect release o1' said positive engagement and enable said contact means to make sliding contact with said contact fingers.
  • a Contact structure comprising a cylindrical support member, a plurality of contact fingers disposed adjacent the lited longitudinal and radial movement of said contact ngers with respect to said support member, a contact member movable axially of said support member and having a contact surface adapted to make slidingcontact with said contact lingers, means biasing said contact lingers into engagement with said contact member when said contact member is in the closed circuit position, and means associated with said contact ngers and said supporting member for moving said contact iingers radially from said support member in response to longitudinal movement of said contact lingers resulting from positive engagement oi' said iingers with said contact member during the closing movement of said contact member to effect a release of said positive engagement and enable said contact member to make sliding engagementwith said contact fingers.
  • an arc chamber having arc extinguishing liquid therein, separable contacts for establishing an arc within said arc chamber, actuating means for actuating said contacts, means i'or moving an additional quantity of arc extinguishing liquid through said arc chamber, energy storing means for operating said liquid moving meansin response to predetermined pressure conditions within said arc chamber, and means for operatively connecting said contact actuatingmeans with said energy storing means to cause said actuating means to store said energy in said energy storing means during the opening operation oi' said actuating means.
  • a quantity of arc extinguishing liquid in a circuit breaker, a quantity of arc extinguishing liquid, an arc chamber immersed in said liquid, separable contacts at least one of which is movable ior establishing an .arc in said arc chamber, operating means for said movable contact, means actuated by said operating means for moving a quantity of arc extinguishing liquid n into engagement with said arc to aid in extinguishing the arc, additional means for moving arc extinguishing liquid into said arc chamber and means for operatively coupling said additional liquid moving means with said contactoperating means at least during the circuit opening movement thereof, said coupling means enabling said contact operating means to move to its full lopen circuit position independently of the additional liquid moving operation.
  • 2Min a circuit interrupter, a housing containing armextinguishing liquid and having a vent opening, a loxsure member for said opening movable to open and closed positions, separable contacts for establishing an arc within said arc extinguishing liquid, liquid moving means operative to cause a flow ci arc extinguishing liquid in the path between said contacts, resilient means for biasing said closure member to the closed position and for actuating said liquid moving means, and a second liquid moving means rendered operative by said resilient means for moving an additional quantity of arc extinguishing liquid into the path between said contacts.
  • a housing containing arc extinguishing liquid, circuit interrupting means within said housing includng separable contacts, at least one of which is movable for establishing an arc, liquid moving means operative for subjecting the arc path to a-flow of arc extinguishing liquid, pressure relieving means for said housing including a member movable to open and closed positions, single lresilient means for actuating said movable contact and said liquid moving means and for biasing said movable member to the closed position against the pressure Y within said housing, and a second liquid moving means made operative by said resilient means for moving an additional quantity of arc extinguishing liquid into the arc path.

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  • Breakers (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
US237264A 1938-10-27 1938-10-27 Circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US2228432A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE436835D BE436835A (en)) 1938-10-27
NL60719D NL60719C (en)) 1938-10-27
US237264A US2228432A (en) 1938-10-27 1938-10-27 Circuit interrupter
GB3119/41A GB537069A (en) 1938-10-27 1939-09-02 Improvements in or relating to electric circuit interrupters and contacts therefor
GB26355/39A GB534979A (en) 1938-10-27 1939-09-21 Improvements in or relating to liquid immersed electric circuit interrupters
CH217863D CH217863A (fr) 1938-10-27 1939-10-25 Interrupteur.
FR861118D FR861118A (fr) 1938-10-27 1939-10-26 Interrupteur de circuit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US237264A US2228432A (en) 1938-10-27 1938-10-27 Circuit interrupter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2228432A true US2228432A (en) 1941-01-14

Family

ID=22892992

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US237264A Expired - Lifetime US2228432A (en) 1938-10-27 1938-10-27 Circuit interrupter

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US2228432A (en))
BE (1) BE436835A (en))
CH (1) CH217863A (en))
FR (1) FR861118A (en))
GB (2) GB537069A (en))
NL (1) NL60719C (en))

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2528197A (en) * 1944-06-29 1950-10-31 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2667556A (en) * 1950-06-14 1954-01-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2528197A (en) * 1944-06-29 1950-10-31 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2667556A (en) * 1950-06-14 1954-01-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH217863A (fr) 1941-11-15
GB534979A (en) 1941-03-25
NL60719C (en))
BE436835A (en))
GB537069A (en) 1941-06-06
FR861118A (fr) 1941-02-01

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