US2249499A - Electric circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Electric circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US2249499A
US2249499A US243587A US24358738A US2249499A US 2249499 A US2249499 A US 2249499A US 243587 A US243587 A US 243587A US 24358738 A US24358738 A US 24358738A US 2249499 A US2249499 A US 2249499A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
arc
chute
pins
spaced
insulating
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
US243587A
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English (en)
Inventor
Joseph W Seaman
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
Priority to BE438001D priority Critical patent/BE438001A/xx
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US243587A priority patent/US2249499A/en
Priority to GB31395/39A priority patent/GB533834A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2249499A publication Critical patent/US2249499A/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
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/34—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
    • H01H9/36—Metal parts

Definitions

  • My invention relates to electric circuit interrupters, more particularly to air circuit interrupters of the type wherein the arc is to be interrupted within confining or partially confining means, such as an arc chute, and has for its principal object the provision in an air circuit interrupter of the character above deiined of improved arc-interrupting means that is effective rapidly to extinguish a high voltage power are within a comparatively small space, and to confine under all operating conditions the are within this space.
  • arc chutes of arc cooling and quenching structures such as metal or insulating plates, between which the arc is driven, and spaced metal pins or bars positioned transversely of the arc path
  • a circuit breaker of the magnetic blow-out type is provided with a plurality of spaced metal plates within an arc chute arranged so that the arc, as it is driven into the plates by the blow-out field, is divided into a plurality of serially related sections.
  • an arc chute provided with arc-extinguishing structure of the charatcer above described can also be made even more effective and compact by the use of an insulating arc bave structure at the exhaust end of the chute.
  • the baille structure is made up of baille plates spaced so as to form a plurality of approximately parallel narrow slots each approximately V.” in width extending substantially parallel to the arc path. These slots are effective not only as an aid in extinguishing the arc in case it is driven through the main arc extinguishing means, but also to prevent extension of the arc exteriorly of the chute.
  • the slots however provide free venting of the arc gases within the chute.
  • Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the essential portion of an air circuit breaker embodying the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is an end viewof the circuit breaker structure shown by Fig. l
  • Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetail view of the arc interrupting structure.
  • the arc-extinguishing structure or are chute 3 comprises in the present instance a pair of spaced insulating plates 8 composed of asbestos board or the like forming an arc chamber that is adapted at its lower end to receive the arc and to vent the are gases at the upper or exhaust end.
  • the are chute is substantially closed at one side by the arcing horn I and an insulating spacing and supporting member 9 secured to the support or panel 4. and at the opposite side by the arcing horn 2'.
  • the arcing horn I forms part of the fixed contact structure and is secured in position by the terminal conductor 5.
  • the arcing horn 2 is secured between the insulating plates 8 by an insulating spacing member 10.
  • the arc chute so far described is of a more or less conventional design, the arc formed between the contacts I and 2 being blown by a magnetic field, for example, into .the arc chute along the arcing horns I and 2 so that the arc is greatly lengthened and cooled.
  • a compactly arranged group of spaced metal elements such as copper pins H, are mounted between the plates 8 so that the pins extend preferably in staggered rows as shown transversely of the arc.
  • the copper pins are preferably spaced from each other approximately 3 3" with respect to the adjacent arcing surfaces of the pins. That is, the outer cylindrical surfaces of the pins are spaced approximately from each other throughout the arc chute. The theoretical reasons for this precise spacing are not believed necessary for a clear understanding of the invention' as it has been definitely proved that improved interrupting action takes place when the pins so spaced.
  • this spacing is substantially independent of the magnitude of the current to be interrupted and also of the exact number of plus within the chute, assuming, of course that there is sufiicient mass of metal within the chute "to dissipate the initial heat of the are so that the pins are not vaporized greatly.
  • the spacing is also substantially independent of the voltage impressed across the circuit breaker terminals, a ough it ould be understood that for high voltagm an ease ill size of the arc chute structure is nose Under non" interrupting conditions the arc enters the chute along the arcing horns i and 2' and is split up as it moves among the pins so that extinction generally occurs well within the chute.
  • the arc may be driven toward the exhaust or upper end of the chute.
  • spaced parallel insulating baffles 52 arranged to form a plurality of narrow slots are effective to maintain the arc within the chute and also to cause final extinction.
  • the insulating bafiles 12 comprise a plurality of arcuate strips of suitable arc resisting insulating material, such as asbestos board or the like clamped between the upper edges of the plates 8 by means oi through bolts l3 and insulating spacers i4. tend throu hout the length of the exhaust end of the chu e,
  • the slots so formed are preferably in width or less as I have found that a number of narrow slots having a sufllciently large aggrega e exhaust gas venting area are most effective in maintaining the are within the chute and aiding are extinction.
  • an integral moulded bafile structure can be used.
  • An air circuit breaker constructed as above described is compact in size as compared with air circuit breakers of similar rating having the conventional type of arc chutes. Furthermore, arc interruption is more consistent and the duration of arcing is considerably less.
  • the are can be driven into the arc chut y
  • the bailles preferably exfrom the arcing horns.
  • This magnetic structure comprises a pair of yokes I5 and I6 composed of iron or other suitable magnetic material.
  • the yokes are secured, as illustrated, to the contacts so that the open ends face each other in a position offset with respect to the point of contact engagement so as to be more remote That is, the iron yokes are mounted somewhat beneath the point of engagement between contacts i and 2 so that there will be present upon separation of the contacts a magnetic flux tending to drive the arc into the arc chute.
  • the arcing horn 2 and the movable contact 2 are connected as in the usual case through flexible conductors i3 to the other terminal of the circuit breaker (not shown).
  • each cylindrical recess being countersunk as at [9 to form a conical recess so that the pins are spaced from that part of the wall insulation that is flush with the inner sides of the chute.
  • This arrangement serves effectively to prevent excess fusing of the pin metal at the side walls of the chute.
  • An alternate arrangement consists in turning down the ends of each pin a certain distance so as to increase the spacing between the pins where they are in contact with the side walls of the arc cnute.
  • An electric circuit interrupter having arcforming means and an arc chute for receiving the arc comprising spaced insulating side walls and a compactly arranged group of metal pins mounted between said insulating walls transversely of the arc, the adjacent arcing surfaces of said pins throughout said chute being spaced substantially uniformly from each other approximately 1%".
  • An electric air circuit interrupter having arc-forming means and an arc chute for receiving the arc comprising spaced insulating walls open at one end for venting the arc gases, a compact oup of metal pins mounted within said chute between said walls in substantially uniformly spaced relation to extend transversely of the arc path, the spacing of said pins from each other at the arcing surfaces thereof being approximately and insulating baffle structure disposed beyond said pins at the exhaust end of said chute, said baille structure forming a plurality of narrow slots not exceeding ,4," in width parallel to the are for confining said are within a d chute.
  • an arc chute comprising a pair of spaced insulating walls and a plurality of metal pins mounted in said plates so as to extend between said walls, the ends of said pins being mounted within conical shape recesses in said insulating Walls for minimizing fusing of the pin metal at said walls.
  • an arc chute comprising a pair of spaced insulating walls and a plurality of metal pins mounted in said plates so as to extend between said walls, the ends of said pins "being mounted within enlarged recesses in said insulating walls whereby the insulation of said walls in flush alinement with the inner sides of I said chute is spaced from said pins.
  • the metal adjacent to the ends of said pins subject to arcing being spaced with respect to the insulation surfaces of said walls for minimizing fusing of the pin metal at said walls.

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US243587A 1938-12-02 1938-12-02 Electric circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US2249499A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE438001D BE438001A (enrdf_load_html_response) 1938-12-02
US243587A US2249499A (en) 1938-12-02 1938-12-02 Electric circuit interrupter
GB31395/39A GB533834A (en) 1938-12-02 1939-12-04 Improvements in and relating to electric air-break circuit interrupters

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US243587A US2249499A (en) 1938-12-02 1938-12-02 Electric circuit interrupter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2249499A true US2249499A (en) 1941-07-15

Family

ID=22919341

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US243587A Expired - Lifetime US2249499A (en) 1938-12-02 1938-12-02 Electric circuit interrupter

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US2249499A (enrdf_load_html_response)
BE (1) BE438001A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB (1) GB533834A (enrdf_load_html_response)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2427074A (en) * 1945-01-12 1947-09-09 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chute
US2445529A (en) * 1944-09-19 1948-07-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2446027A (en) * 1944-08-19 1948-07-27 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chute
US2450268A (en) * 1945-08-30 1948-09-28 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2467937A (en) * 1944-04-08 1949-04-19 Square D Co Arc suppressor
US2564178A (en) * 1945-06-08 1951-08-14 Howard M Strobel Deion circuit breaker
US2606982A (en) * 1949-06-11 1952-08-12 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute defining two alternate arc paths
US2611060A (en) * 1945-10-20 1952-09-16 Monitor Controller Co Circuit controlling apparatus
US2622173A (en) * 1947-03-03 1952-12-16 Canadian Controllers Ltd Magnetic blowout system for high-voltage contactors
US2734842A (en) * 1949-02-23 1956-02-14 Process of manufacturing spaced plate arc extinguishers
EP0048699A3 (en) * 1980-09-24 1982-12-01 Bassani Ticino S.P.A. Deionization cell for the extinction of the electric arc

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2467937A (en) * 1944-04-08 1949-04-19 Square D Co Arc suppressor
US2446027A (en) * 1944-08-19 1948-07-27 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chute
US2445529A (en) * 1944-09-19 1948-07-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2427074A (en) * 1945-01-12 1947-09-09 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Arc chute
US2564178A (en) * 1945-06-08 1951-08-14 Howard M Strobel Deion circuit breaker
US2450268A (en) * 1945-08-30 1948-09-28 Gen Electric Circuit breaker
US2611060A (en) * 1945-10-20 1952-09-16 Monitor Controller Co Circuit controlling apparatus
US2622173A (en) * 1947-03-03 1952-12-16 Canadian Controllers Ltd Magnetic blowout system for high-voltage contactors
US2734842A (en) * 1949-02-23 1956-02-14 Process of manufacturing spaced plate arc extinguishers
US2606982A (en) * 1949-06-11 1952-08-12 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute defining two alternate arc paths
EP0048699A3 (en) * 1980-09-24 1982-12-01 Bassani Ticino S.P.A. Deionization cell for the extinction of the electric arc

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE438001A (enrdf_load_html_response)
GB533834A (en) 1941-02-20

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