US2294824A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US2294824A
US2294824A US357686A US35768640A US2294824A US 2294824 A US2294824 A US 2294824A US 357686 A US357686 A US 357686A US 35768640 A US35768640 A US 35768640A US 2294824 A US2294824 A US 2294824A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
valve
cam
contacts
gas
roller
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
US357686A
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English (en)
Inventor
Benjamin P Baker
Richard C Cunningham
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.)
CBS Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing 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 BE483536D priority Critical patent/BE483536A/xx
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co
Priority to US357686A priority patent/US2294824A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2294824A publication Critical patent/US2294824A/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
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/28—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism
    • H01H33/30—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism using fluid actuator
    • H01H33/32—Power arrangements internal to the switch for operating the driving mechanism using fluid actuator pneumatic
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T74/00—Machine element or mechanism
    • Y10T74/21—Elements
    • Y10T74/2101—Cams

Definitions

  • the structural arrangement is such that during the opening movement of the contacts the cam is maintained in an extended or operative position, whereas during the closing movement of the contacts the cam is collapsed to an in- IfV an interrupter of this type is closed against a short circuit, there is a hazard that the contact structure may be reversed before the valve operating mechanism has opportunity to restore itself to operative position due to the application f of a tripping impulse to the interrupter before the contacts are fully closed. ,Under this condition the interrupter would open without the aid of an arc extinguishing blast of gas which may cause considerable damage to the interrupting structure.
  • the main object of the instant invention is to improve the operation of circuit interrupters of the aforesaid type by the provision of operating mechanism for the gas blast valve which insures reliable operation of the valve under all operating conditions.
  • a further and more specic object resides in the provision of an improved gas blast valve 0perating mechanism for circuit interrupters of the gas blast type which insures positive valve action during the opening operation of the interrupter and conserves arc extinguishing gas during the closing operation.
  • Figure 1 is aside elevation view partly in section o1' a circuit interrupter illustrating our invention
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the blast valv operating mechanism of the interrupter shown in Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of theV mechanism shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the several parts thereof in relatively different positions;
  • Fig. 4 is asectional view of -a portion of the blast valve operating mechanism taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 5 is a fragmentary and partially schematic illustration of a modified form of blast valve operating mechanism
  • FIG. 6 illustrates another arrangement of gas blast valve operating mechanism also in fragmentary and partially schematic form:
  • the reference numeral 'l designates a tank for storing gas, such as air, under pressure.
  • a relatively short ilanged conduit 9 which, in turn, carries a valve casing Il.
  • a tubular insulator I3 Secured to the upper end of the valve casing II is a tubular insulator I3 which has secured to its upper end an insulating support I5.
  • the insulating support I5 may be given additional support by an insulating member Il.
  • the support I5 carries a stationary contact assembly I9 which, in this instance, is enclosed within an arc extinguishing structure 2
  • the arc extinguishing structure 2i may be of conventional form and does not constitute a specific embodiment of the instant invention.
  • a movable contact 23 Coacting with the stationary contact assembly I9 is a movable contact 23 which is preferably of blade-like construction and generally C- shaped, and mounted for swinging movement about a pivot 25 carried by a conducting bracket 2l.
  • External circuit connections to the interrupter are made through a pair of terminal members ⁇ 29 and 3
  • the movable contact 23 is actuated to open and closed circuit positions, by an insulating operating rod 33 actuated by a crank arm 35 carried by a shaft 31, in turn joumaled in a suitable bracket 39.
  • the shaft 31 is actuated by a crank arm 4I coupled by suitable linkage 49 to the connecting rod 45 of an air actuated piston operated within the cylinder 41.
  • the connecting rod 45 may be moved up and down to effect closing and opening movement of the movable contact 23 by the admission of compressed gas from the tank 1 to the operating cylinder 41 by suitable valves well known in the art.
  • the tubular insulator I3 in addition to serving as a support, also provides a passage for conducting an arc extinguishing blast ci gas from the storage tank 1 to the space between the contacts i9 and 23.
  • This gas blast passage proceeds through the short conduit 9 to the valve casing II, through the tubular insulator I3, and opening 49 through the insulating support I5 which is preferably coextensive with the passage within the tubular insulator I3.
  • the casing i I has a pair of actuating arms 59 secured to the opposite ends thereof.
  • the actuating arms 59 carry a roller assembly generally indicated at 5I in Fig. 1, which is adapted to be actuated by a cam 63 in this instance forming an integral part of the crank arm 35.
  • the two actuating arms 59 are joined by a pin 95. Jcurnaled about the pin 55 and disposed between the arms 59 is a rocker arm 51. 'I'he rocker arm 51, as shown in Fig. 2, is pivoted at A, 69 to a spring guide rod 1 I, the upper end of which is slidably operative in a bracket 13 which forms an extension of the valve casing II. A compression spring 15 encircling the guide rod 1I biases the rocker arm 91 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2.
  • the rocker arm 61 is channeled on opposed sides as shown at 11. in Fig. 4 i'or slidably receiving the parallel legs of a U-shaped yoke member 19.
  • the lower end of the yoke member 19 has a pin 8
  • also carries a pair o! bell crank shaped arms 95 disposed on the outer sides oi' the yoke 19.
  • the right-hand end of the arms 95 are provided with an elongated slot 81 through which the pin 55 also extends.
  • the position of the roller 93 is movable with respect to the actuating arms 59.
  • an adjustment is provided which includes the bolt 99 secured at its lower end to the rocker arm 51 and extending upwardly through the yoke 19.
  • adjustable on the upper end of the bolt 99 determines the upper limiting position which the yoke 19 may assume with respect to the rocker arm 51.
  • An S-shape locking member 93 maintains the nut 9
  • the roller assembly is normally maintained in a fixed or set position with respect to the actuating arms 59, the outer ends of which serve as stops for two short sleeves 94 surrounding the ends of the pin 9i which engage the lower sides of the arms 59 at 95, as shown in Fig. 2. Also as long as the roller assembly is held in a set position with respect tothe actuating arms 59, the spring 15 serves the further function of biasing the arms 55 and 59 i'or rotation in a counterclockwise direction about the axis 51 so as to maintain the valve 5I in thev closed position.
  • the valve operating mechanism is so arranged that when the valve 5I is closed, the roller 93 is disposed in the path of movement of the cam 53.
  • the cam 53 has a leading edge 91 which rises steeply and a relatively large top surface 99 and a trailing edge IUI also of slope similar to the leading edge 91.
  • the roller 93 assumes a position adjacent vthe leading edge 91 ci the cam 93, as shown in Fig. 1.
  • cam 53 will have moved a distance suicient with respect to the roller 83 so that the roller will descend along the sloping trailing surface IDI of the cam, thereby permitting the valve 5I to close.
  • crank arm 35. and the cam $3 are rotated in a clockwise direction.
  • thesloping edge'il of the cam 53 engages the roller 83 and rotates the entire roller assembly comprising the rocker arm 61, yoke 19 and arms B5 about the pin 55 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.
  • This counterclockwise rotation of the roller assembly continues until the roller again rides on the top surface 99 of the cam 53.
  • and the pin 99, as well as the various lever arms tending to rotate the assembly and also the angular displacement between the various lever linkages, is such that rotation o! the roller assembly will take place in the counterclockwise direction,
  • is permitted to remain closed so as to conserve arc extinguishing gas during an opening-closing operation.
  • the circuit may be completed as a result of sparkover between the contacts prior to the actual engagement or movement of the contacts to the fully closed circuit position. While closing the interrupter against an overload, the interrupter will immediately receive a tripping impulse so as to cause the contacts to bel reversed before being moved to the fully closed position.
  • during the greater portion of the closing movement of they contacts is in the inoperative position and ineffective to cause an opening of the blast valve 5
  • Fig. 3 more clearly illustrates the position of the roller assembly 5
  • the actuating arms 59 formerly illustrated are replaced by an arm
  • 01 is provided with teeth at its left-hand side so as to provide a rack
  • 09 is adapted to coact with a pinion translatable in the slot
  • the pinion is preferably coaxially secured to a cam roller
  • 3 This clockwise rotation of roller
  • crank arm 35 and cam 63 are rotated in a clockwise direction so that the cam
  • the gas blast valve is thereby not actuated during the closing operation.
  • FIG. 6 Another arrangementfor obtaining the objects of our invention is shown in Fig/6.
  • 5 replaces the arms 59 of Figs. 1 to 4 or the arm
  • 5 carries a cam follower
  • 1 has a rounded bearing surface
  • 1 is maintained in this position by a stop pin
  • the cam follower When the crank arm l! is in the fully closed position, the cam follower will again assume a reset position adjacent the leading edge $1 of the cam 63.
  • the lower end of the cam follower In order to render the cam follower operative at or near the end of the closing stroke in the event of reversal of contact movement initiated by a tripping impulse as a result of closing the interrupter against a short circuit, the lower end of the cam follower is provided with a pawl
  • the arrangement shown in Fig. 6, as the structures previously described, provides for a positive actuation of the gas blast valve during the opening movement of the contact structure irrespective of the circuit conditions and at the same time provides for the conservation of arc extinguishing gas during the closing operation of the interrupter.
  • a circuit interrupter of the gas-blast type separable contacts for establishing an arc, operating means for actuating said contacts to open and closed positions, a source of gas under pressure, a valve for releasing a blast of gas from said source to extinguish said arc, an operating member for actuating said valve to open and closed positions
  • said contact operating means including a cam movable in accordance with the opening and closing movements of said contacts, and a cam follower operative on the surface of said cam during the opening movement ⁇ of said contacts to actuate said operating member to cause said valve to open, said cam having an inclined surface portion to cause said follower to open the valve during the initial portion of the opening movement of the contacts from the fully closed position of said contacts, said cam follower being arranged to be inoperative to cause a valve operation during the closing movement of said contacts, and means in advance of said inclined surface during closing movement of the contacts operable to cause said follower to open said valve when opening movement of said contacts occurs prior to the time the contacts reach the fully closed position.
  • a circuit interrupter of the gas-blast type separable contacts for establishing an arc, operating means for actuating said contacts to open and closed positions, a valve arranged to be supplied with gas under pressure, an actuating member for operating said valve to establish an arc extinguishing blast of gas
  • said contact operating means including a cam movable in accordance with the opening and closing movements of said contacts, a cam follower coacting with said cam and arranged to have a set position with respect to said valve actuating member for causing said member to be operated during the opening movement of said contacts, said cam having an inclined surface portion for causing said follower to open the valve during the initial portion of the opening movement of said contacts from the fully closed position of said contacts, said cam follower being movable from said set position to an inoperative position during movement of said contacts to the closed position without imparting motion to the valve actuating member, and means other than said inclined surface portion and rendered operative during the closing movement of said contacts a predetermined time prior to complete closing of said contacts to cause said cam follow
  • a circuit interrupter of the gas-blast type separable contacts for establishing an arc, operating means for actuating said contacts to open and closed positions, a valve arranged to be supplied with gas under pressure, an actuating member for operating said valve to establish an arc extinguishing blast of gas
  • said contact operating means including a cam movable in accordance with the opening and closing movements of said contacts, an arm hinged to said valve actuating member, a roller carried by said arm adapted to coact with said cam, means biasing said arm to a set position with respect to said valve actuating member to cause said cam to operate said valve actuating member during the opening movement of said contacts, said caml having an inclined surface portion for causing said arm to open said valve during the initial portion of the opening movement of said contacts from the fully closed position of said contacts, said arm being moved relative to said valve actuating member by said cam without imparting motion to said valve actuating member during the closing movement of said contacts, and means on said cam for engaging said arm to restore it to its set position in the
  • a circuit interrupter of the gas-blast type separable contacts for establishing an arc.
  • operating means for actuating said contacts to open said valve to the closed position
  • an actuatingV- Y A member for operating said valve to establish an arc extinguishing blast of gas
  • said'contact operating means including a cam movable in accordance with the opening and closing movements of said contacts, a coacting cam follower hingedly secured to said valve actuating member and biased by said valve biasing means to a set position with respect to said valve actuating member to cause said cam to operate said valve actuating member during the opening movement of said contacts, said cam having an inclined surface portion for causing said cam follower to open said valve during theinitial portion of the opening movement of the contacts from the fully closed position of said contacts, said cam follower being movable by said cam relative to said valve actuating member without imparting motion to said member during the closing movement of said contacts,'and means independent of said inclined surface portion operative to-move said follower to set position to open
  • a valve arranged to be supportion forcausing said follower to Aopen said valve during the initial portion'of the opening movement of said contacts from the fully closed position of said contacts and having another surface portion for causing said follower to maintain said valve in substantially full open position for a predetermined distance of the opening movement of said contacts, said cam follower being moved by said cam'with respect to said valve actuating member to an inoperative position ,during the closing movement of said contacts. and means including a pawl and ratchet arrangement between said cam and said cam follower operative to move said cam follower to said set position upon reversal of contact movement from closing to opening movement prior to the time said contacts reach the fully closed position.
  • a gas-blast circuit interrupter separable contacts for establishing an arc, a source of gas under pressure, a valve for releasing gas undery pressure from said source to extinguish said arc, operating means for said valve operative during opening movement of said contacts from the closed position to open said valve and to maintain the valve in its fully open position during a substantial portion of the opening movement oi plied with gas under pressure, an actuating member for operating said valve to' establish an arc ating means to operative condition to cause opening of the valve upon contact reversal from closing to opening occurring during the time when thecontactr are within a predeterminedl distance of the fully closed position.

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  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
US357686A 1940-09-21 1940-09-21 Circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US2294824A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE483536D BE483536A (de) 1940-09-21
US357686A US2294824A (en) 1940-09-21 1940-09-21 Circuit interrupter

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2447627A (en) * 1946-01-12 1948-08-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed gas circuit interrupter
US2473892A (en) * 1944-12-05 1949-06-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US3284602A (en) * 1961-12-20 1966-11-08 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed-gas circuit interrupters
US3482069A (en) * 1966-12-12 1969-12-02 Gen Electric Voltage controlling shunting resistor with operating cam contour modifying means

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2473892A (en) * 1944-12-05 1949-06-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2447627A (en) * 1946-01-12 1948-08-24 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed gas circuit interrupter
US3284602A (en) * 1961-12-20 1966-11-08 Westinghouse Electric Corp Compressed-gas circuit interrupters
US3482069A (en) * 1966-12-12 1969-12-02 Gen Electric Voltage controlling shunting resistor with operating cam contour modifying means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE483536A (de)

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