US2456965A - Valve - Google Patents

Description

De.21,194s. R H LEWZEL 2,456,965

VALVE v Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 /O .I l

WITNESSESI I INVENTOR W gymon'a/e//ze/ ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1948. v R, H LEn-ZEL 2,456,965

VALVE Filed Deo. 5, 1944` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNEssEs; I v INVENTOR @m AW Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orFICEv VALVE Raymond H. Leitzel, Forestliills, Pa., assigner to.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East. Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationl of Pennsylvania- Application December 5, 1944,4 Serial No.,566,'3"25l (Cl. 20d-148),

5 Claims. 1

" -This invention relates to circuit breaker apparatus, and more particularly to a blast valve mechanism and operating means therefor for a iluidv pressure operated circuit breaker oi the type in which a blast of compressed gas is employed for arc extinguishing purposes.

A form of fluid pressure operated circuit breaker that has been successfully employed under modern service conditions comprises a reservoir adapted to be charged with compressed air or other gas, a multi-pole arc extinguishing equipment supported above the reservoir and including suitable movable contact elements, fluid pressure operating means for opening and closing the circuit breaker, and a plurality of gas blast valve mechanisms interposed between the reservoir a-nd the arcv extinguishing apparatus, the blast valve mechanisms being simultaneously responsivel to movement of the operating mechanismfor controlling the flow of compressed air from the reservoir ier extinguishing the arcs drawn in the sepa-v rate pole units. Because of the-fact thatthe'bl'ast lvalve mechanism for each pole of such a circuit breaker equipment is preferably adapted toform part of the supporting structure of the completed assembly, it is desirable to devise the individual blastvalve devices and the operatingy mechanisms thereof in such a manner a-s to render the various elements readily accessible, andto facilitate re- 'movlal of such parts of any blast valve device as may be necessary for inspection or repairs, with'- out dismantling or in any way interfering with the supporting structure of the circuit breaker. It is also desirable toi provide av blast Val-Ve assembly having a minimum number of' relatively simple operating parts that canl be manufactured and assembled at low cost, and which mayv be maintained through a long service life without the requirement of unduly frequent inspection, service and repair.

Itis anobject of my invention to provide. an improved gas blast Valve apparatus for a circuit breaker ofthe above class and incorporating the desirable features just mentioned.

Another object of my'invention is the provision of a blast valve assemblyy for a circuit breaker comprising a casing adapted to be permanently -built into the circuit breaker supporting struc'- ture, a Valve body section removably mounted in the casing, and a blast valve andoperating mechanism therefor operatively supported by thevalve body section, the entire-body section and valve mechanism being4 removable from. thefcasing as a unit.

A further object. of my invention, ienne prova sion of an irr-rproveci blast valve mechanism' for a multi-pole circuit breaker including` actuating lever means for controlling operation of the blast valve in` accordance with operation of a-cam car Tied` by the main operating shaft of the circuit break-er', andI- means for adjusting the cam tokisure` operation of' the associated blast valve with rela-tion'- to operation of the other"blast` valve mechanisms of the circuit breaker.

Other objects andy advantages of the invention will4 appear in the following more detailed'description thereof. taken iin'- connection with vthe accompanying drawings, inl which:

Figurer 1 is an elevational view, partly in'y secticn, ci one end ofA afmultbpole circuit' breaker o1 the iiuid pressure operated gas blast' type in which eachl pole4 unit, one of' which is illustrated; lia'sl a blastvalve assembly constructed in` accordance `ith' myv invention'.

Fig. 2A is' an enlargedi detailsectional' View of the blast valve mechanism shown in Fig; 12,' and Fig. 3 is an end'y ViewA of thel valve. operating mechanism i taken substantiallyv along: the line III-H1 of Fis. 2a i As shown` inA Fig. 11 of the drawings, al circuit break-er withy which my improvedk blast 'valve mechanism is adapted toibo employed may comprise' a base l0, a compressed air-reservoir" M; sup. portedl thereon and lia-ving` a; pluralityl of boiting flanges M, oneach of which isi mounted ai blast valve casing |53 that may be bolted' or otherwise secured thereto. On: each blast valve. casing. ITS is mounted a' substantiallyV vertically disposed blast conduitl I4 ofA insulatingmaterial, at the upper endA of` whichL is] supported any -arcl extinguishingfstructuref- |251. In addition toftiie support afforded' by the several' conduits- Iill, the arc exftin'guishin'g structures t5 are further supported on. a framework includingr a plurality of insulating members I6i and bracket portions VlV projecting frcmlthe: reservoir Ifl.. Thearc extinguishing structure |451 isl shown in fragmentary: forminthe drawings, but willi be understood to carry' a; suitable terminary element' 20 for the corresponding pole of the circuitbreaker, to which isconnected' a stationary contact element 21:. Journall'e'd on pinsV 23'; carried* byI the' frame sections 2E of there spe'ctiveA pole: unitsf are movablev contacty elements 25, each ofA which is ot curved formation and adapted for movement into and out ot eng-agei-4 ment with the corresponding stationaryv contact elements 2 I. ot the respectivelpole units.. A. suit@ able conductor and terminal member 264 is con'- ne'cte'd toeach ot thecontact,elements 25 tocomplete a circuit which, when the breaker contacts' 3 are in circuit closed position, thus extends from the terminal through the contact elements 2| and to the terminal 26.

For operating the several movable contact elements, there is provided a single iluid pressure responsive mechanism 29 comprising a cylinder 30 in which is mounted a suitable piston, not shown, that is operatively connected through the medium of a piston rod 3I and links 32 to a crank arm 33 carried by a shaft 34. The shaft 34 is suitably journalled on bracket members 35 secured to the reservoir II, and carries a plurality of upwardly extending lever or crank portions 31, each of the lever portions being aligned with one ot the movable contact elements 25 and operatively connected thereto by means of an operating rod 39 formed of insulating material. Suitable means, not shown, is provided for initiating operation of the fluid pressure responsive mechanism 29.

Each of the blast valve casing sections I3 is adapted to be fitted with a suitable blast valve assembly which may be more readily understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The casing I3 has formed therein an inlet passage 40 which communicates with the reservoir II, and a discharge passage 4I communicating with the blast conduit I4, the lower end of which is adapted to rest on a bevelled surface 44 formed on the upper end of the casing. For securing the lower end of the conduit I4 in place, there may be provided a split ring 45 which is held in engagement with the blast conduit by means of an annular element 46 that is, in turn, secured in place by means of a plurality of bolts 41 having screw-threaded connection with the upper end of the casing I3. The casing I3 also has formed therein a bore 5D which is inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical axis of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2, and into which is snugly tted a valve body section 5I. Suitable means, such as bolts 52 indicated in Fig. 3, may be provided for securing the valve body section 5I to the casing I3. The body section 5I is provided with a passageway 4Ia which registers with the discharge passage 4I of casing I3 when the two parts are assembled. An annular valve seat element 54 is interposed between the lower end of the valve body section 5I and a flange 55 formed on the interior surface of the casing I3, a suitable gasket 56 being provided for insuring a leak-tight joint. Disposed in the inlet passage 4l! is a blast Valve element 51 which is adapted to engage a valve seat 58 formed on the seat member 54 for controlling rlow of compressed gas from the reservoir II through the passage 4I to the blast conduit I4. The valve element 51 is carried on a plunger 6U which is slidably mounted in a suitable bore extending through the body section 5I, the outer end 'of the plunger having screw threaded connection with a collar member 63 which is also slidably mounted with respect to the body section, A coil spring 64 is interposed 4between the collar 63 and a suitable wall on the body section for urging the valve element 51 upwardly and into seating engagement with the seat 58. An adjustable member 66 is secured to the outer end of the plunger 60. As may best be seen in Fig. 3, the adjustable member 66 is suitably bifurcated to provide legs 61 having threaded openings through which is screwed a bolt 68 to enable tightening ofthe element 66 into its proper position on the plunger.

It'will be understood that the valve element 51 and other associated elements of the apparatus, including the plunger 60, are operatively aligned with the corresponding crank arm 31 carried by the operating shaft 34 of the circuit breaker. According to the invention, each crank arm 3l' is equipped with an adjustable cam member 'IU which is secured thereto by means of a pair of bolts 1i tted into suitable slots (not shown) formed in the crank arm. The engaging surfaces of the cam member 10 and of the crank arm 31 are preferably provided with interlocking serrations, not shown in the drawings, to insure a rigid connection of the cam to the associated arm. Also, carried on the cam member 10 is a laterally7 projecting pin 13 which, for a purpose hereinafter explained, is disposed adjacent a cam surface 14 formed on the cam member.

On the outer end of the body section 5I are formed a pair of lugs 15 having suitable apertures for receiving a transversely disposed pin 1B on which are pivotally mounted the parallel intermediate legs of a bifurcated lever 18, the upper end of which, as viewed in Fig. 2, is also provided, with parallel portions 18a which are adapted to straddle the element 66. The parallel portions 18a carry a transversely disposed pin 80, on which is journalled a roller 8| that is engageable with the element 66 carried by the plunger. The parallel leg portions of the lever 18 adjacent and below the pin 16, as viewed in Fig. 2, each terminate in a wing portion 18e in which is provided a screw-threaded bore for receiving a stop bolt 82. The stop bolts 82 are adapted for adjustnient to permit engagement thereof with a surface 85 provided on the body section 5I, to limit counterclockwise rotation of the lever 18 about the pin 16. The lever 18 substantially constitutes a bell crank lever and in addition to the parallel ends 18a is provided with parallel ends 15b, which extend outwardly and carry a transversely disposed pin 85 on which is pivotally mounted a second lever or pawl element 86.

The pawl element 86 has an end portion 36a adapted for engagement with the adjacent face of the lever 18, intermediate the pins 1G and I0. under the force exerted by a coil spring B8 which is interposed between a pin 89 secured to the lever 18 and a guide stem 90 pivotally connected to the pawl 86 by means of a pin 9|. As viewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the spring 88 is thus adapted to urge pawl 86 toward its normal position and in a clockwise direction with respect to the pin 85 pivoting the pawl element to the bell crank lever 18. The end of the lever 86 opposite the end 85a is bifurcated to form a pair of legs 8G11, which are adapted to straddle a roller 93 joui-nailed on a pin 94. The roller 93 is adapted for engagement with the cam surface 14 of the cam element 10 during operation of the circuit breaker, as hereinafter explained. Also formed on the legs 86D are a pair of angularly disposed bearing surfaces 95 and 96 with which the pin 13 carried by the cam element is adapted to engage during operation of the mechanism.

In Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the operating parts of the circuit breaker are illustrated as disposed in contact closed position, with the blast valve element 51 held in seated position under the force exerted by the spring 64 and by the pressure of air in the reservoir II. When the usual circuit breaker control system is rendered operative to effect supply of air from the reservoir II to the piston within the cylinder 30 to effect a circuit opening operation of the circuit breaker, the piston rod 3I is moved downwardly and through the medium of the link elements 32 sananetthe entire mechanism for inspection and renewal of parts without in any way interfering with the circuit breaker structure as a whole. Thus by removing the bolts 52 (see Fig. 3), the body section 6I, together with the valve element 51 and the actuating elements B6 and 1B, may be withdrawn from the casing I3 as a unit, it being understood, of course, that the crank arm 31 will first be disconnectedly moved out of the way. In removing the valve assembly, the casing I3 need not be disturbed. With the valve assembly thus free of the casing, the seat element 54 may be renewed or reconditioned if desired, and the other elements similarly serviced, and after being reassembled, the unit can readily be reinstalled in the casing to condition the circuit breaker for further operation. It will be noted that the advantages inherent in the construction of the blast valve assembly in accordance with my invention are attained with a minimum number `of easily adjusted parts, which although designed to provide adequate strength and endurance under severe operating conditions may nevertheless be manufactured and assembled at moderate cost.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast type having an operating mechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening and contact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valve assemblage therefor comprising a casing structure having uid inlet and discharge passages, normally closed valve means operatively mounted in said casing structure for controlling communication from said inlet passage to said discharge passage, a cam member adjustably mounted on said rotary member, a bell crank lever journalled on said casing structure and having one end operatively associated with said valve means, adjusting means associated with said valve means and said bell-crank lever for determining the amount of opening movement of said valve means, a pawl member operatively connected to the other end of said bell crank for engagement by said adjustable cam member, said pawl member being interlocked with said bell crank for actuating said valve means in response to movement of said cam member during a normal opening operation of the circuit rotary member to determine the time the valve will open during a normal opening operation and also during a reopening operation.

2. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast rtypev having an operating mechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening and contact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valve assemblage therefor comprising a casing structure having fluid inlet and discharge passages, normally closed valve means operatively mounted in said casing for controlling communication from said inlet passage to said 8 discharge passage, retractile lever means operatively connected to said valve means, said lever means having an operative position for cooperation with said rotary means to actuate said valve means during a normal contact opening operation of the circuit breaker, means permitting yielding of said lever means to a retracted position to prevent operation of said valve means by said rotary member during contact closing operation, means for rendering said lever means operative in the retracted position to actuate said valve means in response to a reopening operation of the circuit breaker from a partially closed position, and means for adjusting the last mentioned means and said rotary means for coordinating operation of said valve means with operation of theother elements of said circuit breaker.

3. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast type having an operating mechanism comprising a rotary member movable during contact opening and contact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valve assemblage for said circuit breaker comprising a casing structure having fluid inlet and discharge passages, normally closed valve means mounted in said casing structure for controlling communication from said inlet passage to said discharge passage, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said casing structure, means on one arm of said bell crank engageable with said valve means to open said valve means, a lever pivotally mounted on the other arm of said bell crank for unitary movement therewith in one direction, spring means normally biasing one end of said lever into engagement with said one arm of said bell crank, a cam carried by said rotary member for engaging the other end of said lever and actuating said lever and said bell crank in one direction to effect opening of said valve means, adjusting means for adjusting said cam relative to said rotary member to vary the time said valve means will be opening during a contact opening operation, and adjusting means for varying the extent of opening movement of said valve means.

4. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type having an operating mechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening and contact closing operations of said circuit breaker, a blast valve assemblage therefore comprising a casing structure having fluid inlet and discharge passages, a valve carrier body removably mounted in said casing structure, a normally closed valve means operatively mounted in said carrier body for controlling communication from said inlet passage to said discharge passage, retractile lever means pivotally mounted on said valve carrier body and operatively connected to said valve means, said lever means having an operative position for cooperating with said rotary means to actuate said valve means during normal contact opening operation of said circuit breaker, means permitting yielding of said lever means to a retracted position to prevent operation of said valve means by said rotary member during contact closing operation, means for rendering said lever means operative in the retracted position to actuate said valve means in response to reopening operation of the circuit breaker from a partially closed position, adjusting means cooperating with said lever means and with said valve carrier body for varying the position of said lever means relative to said valve means, and means ior` adjusting said rotary means for coordinating operation of said valve means with the operation of the other elements of the circuit breaker.

5. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type having an operating mechanism comprising a rotary member movable during contact opening and contact closing operations of the circuit interrupter, a blast valve assemblage for said circuit interrupter comprising a casing structure having fluid inlet and discharge passages, a valve carrier removably mounted in said casing structure, normally closed valve means mounted in said carrier for controlling communication from said inlet passage to said discharge passage, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said valve carrier, means on one arm of said bell crank engageable with said valve means to open said valve means, a, lever pivotally mounted on the other arm of said bell crank for unitary movement therewith in one direction, spring means normally biasing one end of said lever into engagement with said one arm of said bell crank, a cam carried by said rotary member for engaging the other end of said lever to actuate said lever and said bell crank in 10 one direction to effect opening of said valve means, adjusting means for adjusting said cam relative to said rotary member to vary the time said valve means will be opened during a contact opening operation, and adjusting means c0- operating with said bell crank and with said valve carrier for adjusting the position of said bell crank relative to said valve means.

RAYMOND H. LEITZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,218,797 Linde et al. Oct. 22, 1940 2,270,351 Schulte Jan. 20, 1942 2,282,154 Bakken May 5, 1942 2,310,779 Hall et al. Feb. 9, 1943 2,338,101 Ellenwood Jan. 4, 1944 2,353,453 Gayer et al July 11, 1944

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