US2600211A - Circuit interrupter having finger contacts - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter having finger contacts Download PDF

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Publication number
US2600211A
US2600211A US156093A US15609350A US2600211A US 2600211 A US2600211 A US 2600211A US 156093 A US156093 A US 156093A US 15609350 A US15609350 A US 15609350A US 2600211 A US2600211 A US 2600211A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
finger
contacts
key
finger contacts
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
US156093A
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English (en)
Inventor
George B Cushing
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 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
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US156093A priority Critical patent/US2600211A/en
Priority to FR1049293D priority patent/FR1049293A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2600211A publication Critical patent/US2600211A/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
    • H01H33/70—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/98—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being initiated by an auxiliary arc or a section of the arc, without any moving parts for producing or increasing the flow
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to finger contact constructions, and more particularly to an intermediate finger contact construction for a circuit interrupter.
  • the general object of my invention is to provide an improved circuit interrupter, particularly one adapted to draw two serially related arcs.
  • a more specific object of my invention is to provide an improved intermediate contact finger construction adapted for use with a cooperable pair of moving contacts, which separate in substantially opposite directions from the intermediate contact arrangement.
  • Still a further object is to provide an improved intermediate contact finger construction which will not only be simple and easy to assemble, but will contain few parts, be preferably of symmetrical design, and which will embody an improved pivoted construction.
  • Yet a further object of my invention is to provide an improved intermediate finger contact construction disposed intermediate 2. pair of movable contacts which will prevent the flow of fluid directly through the intermediate finger contact construction.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in vertical section, of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention and shown in the closed circuit position;
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in vertical section, of the left-hand arc extinguishing unit of Fig. l, the contact structure being shown in the closed circuit position;
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of the intermediate contact construction shown in Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through my improved intermediate contact finger construction, one of the double-ended finger contacts being shown in side elevation;
  • Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of one of my improved double-ended finger contacts
  • Figs. 6 and '7 are, respectively, plan and verticalsectional views through the retainer tube of my improved intermediate contact finger construction
  • Fig. 8 is a plan view of the elongated key utilized in my intermediate contact fingerconstruction
  • T'Fig. 9 is aside elevational viewof a tool, which is utilized to facilitate the assembly and dis-
  • the reference'numeral l designates a tank filled to the level 2 with a suitable arc-extinguishing fluid 3, in thisinstance, circuit breaker oil.
  • a suitable arc-extinguishing fluid in thisinstance, circuit breaker oil.
  • a pair of terminal bushings 5 to the lower ends of which are appended arc-extinguishing units, generally designated by the reference numeral 1.
  • a conducting bridging member 8 Electrically interconnecting the two arc-extinguishing units 1 is a conducting bridging member 8, actuated reciprocally in a vertical direction, as shown in Figure 1, by an insulating lift rod 9.
  • the lift rod 9 is operated by any suitable mechanismnot shown, which forms no part of my invention.
  • FIG. 2 which shows on anenlarged scale the left-hand arc-extinguishing unit 1 of Fig. 1, it will be observed that there is provided a lower movable interrupting contact I 0, preferably of blade-like configuration, which is secured to and movable with the conducting bridging member 8.
  • the lower movable interrupting contact [0 separates downwardly away from an intermediate contact assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral II, and fixedly secured in position.
  • a pivotally mounted pressure-generatingcontact i3 separates upwardly away from the intermediate contact assembly II to establish a pressure-generating are, not shown, therebetween.
  • the pressure-generating contact i3 is pivotally mounted at I4, and is connected externally of the unit I, asat I5, to'a vertically extending operating rod l0.
  • the connection between the operating rod I6 and the pressure-generating contact [3 is such as to allow a certain wiping action, orwill permit a certain flexibility therebetween.
  • the functioning of the arc-extinguishing unit 1 is such as to establish the pressure-generating are between the contacts ll, l3 at substantially the same time as the establishment of an interrupting arc between the contacts. I 0 and I I. This occurs inasmuch as the operating rod I6 is biased downwardly in an opening direction by suitable biasing means, not shown, and the lower end of the operating rod I6 engages in abutting relationship with the upper portion of the conducting bridging member 8.
  • the bridging memher 8 continues its downward opening motion withdrawing the lower movable interrupting contact i0 completely out of the unit 1 to an isolating position.
  • the biasing means not shown, which causes the downward opening motion of the side operating rod l6, maintains the pivotally mounted pressure-generating contact l3 in its raised position in the open circuit position of the interrupter.
  • a butt-type contact has several disadvantages, as compared to a finger-type contact; 1. e., the conducting path is through the arcing surface, the are surface must absorb high impact when the breaker is closed, and adjustment of the breaker moving contact is critical. On the contrary, a finger contact permits copperto-copper contact with the arcing surfaces removed from the circuit, and wiping action on closing tending to burnish the surface and thereby improve conductivity. Also with the use of finger contacts, there is a greater latitude of adjustment before loss of contact and less impact on the closing operation. It is, therefore.
  • each finger contact 23 has a pair of recesses 24 formed therein to provide seats for compression springs 25, the outer ends of which seat against the inner wall 26 of a retainer tube 21.
  • Each finger contact 23 preferably has an arcresisting tip portion 28 composed of a suitable arc-resisting alloy, such as an alloy of silver and tungsten.
  • a recess 29 is also milled out of the inner surface 30 of the contact 23 to accommodate an elongated key 3
  • therefore, forms a pivotal fulcrum point for slight rotation of the contact fingers 23.
  • has its ends seated in square apertures 32 formed in the retainer tube 21, as shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 7.
  • the retainer tube 21 is provided with a broken internal flange 33, as more particularly shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
  • the internal flange 33 prevents the fingers 23 from being displaced longitudinally out of the retainer tube 21 when the contact assembly II is positioned within the unit 1.
  • and the broken internal flange 33 lock the finger contacts 23 into their proper position, in which position they are biased inwardly by the com pression springs 25 to a central position, as shown in Fig. 4.
  • 2 are provided, one end of each of which is inserted into an aperture 34 drilled through the side wall 35 of the retainer tube 21, as shown more clearly in Fig. '7. Then a pair of elongated fiber screws
  • 2a (Fig. 12) is provided to lock the aforementioned metal screws [2 into position.
  • each contact finger 23 is substantially of semi-circular shape, as shown in Fig. 3, the fingers 23 cooperate with the inner wall 26 of the retainer tube 21 to fill up most of the space therein. The remaining space is blocked by the key 3
  • an elongated wedge-shaped tool 38 is provided, as shown more clearly in Figs. 9-11, to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the several component parts of the intermediate contact assembly
  • the right-hand end of the tool 38 is of wedge-shaped cross-section, whereas the left-hand portion thereof is of square crosssection or substantially the same dimensions as the key 3
  • my improved finger-type contact arrangement ll possesses all of the advantages of a finger-type contact, but yet has the simplicity approaching that of a butt-type contact. It will be noted that there are only four different itemsa retainer tube, a key, four identical springs, and a pair of identical fingers. Its symmetry permits inversion and rotation in the grid assembly, minimizing the possibility of misassembly. It will also be noted that in addition to performing as a conductor when the breaker is closed, the finger contact assembly II is an effective seal, blocking oil flow directly down from the pressure-generating chamber 18 through the tube 21 and into the interrupting region. The retainer tube 21 forms a housing which contains the assembly and supports it within the unit I. The key 31 looks the fingers 23 in assembly, maintains the fingers 23 in position when the breaker is open, blocks oil fiow through the assembly, initially compresses the springs 25, and finally provides a fulcrum for pivoting of the fingers 23.
  • the fingers 23 provide a conducting path from the pressure contact l3 to the interrupting contact l0, and interlock with the tube 2'! and the key 3
  • the springs 25 maintain contact pressure when the contacts of the breaker are closed, and center the fingers 23 when the contacts are open. The removal of the square key 3
  • the improved intermediate contact assembly H has other advantages than simplicity. It is self-contained and compact, yet provides large contact area, protected with large alloy arcing tips. The conducting sections are also relatively large, making maximum use of the available space. Assembly and disassembly can be accomplished with the single tool 38 of Fig. 9. Contact faces are in a common uninterrupted plane facilitating dress- 6 ing of areas roughened from use. Each finger 23 is allowed sufficient freedom to permit it to align with the pair of blade-type contacts. It will be observed that the parts are few in number and easily manufactured.
  • a circuit interrupter including a movable contact, an intermediate contact finger assembly, a second movable contact, the intermediate contact finger assembly including a housing having an internal flange portion intermediate the ends of the housing, a pair of opposed double-ended finger contacts having recesses at their back sides, the flange portion extending within the recesses, and a removable locking key extending across the housing between the opposed finger contacts and furnishing a fulcrum point for rocking motion of the finger contacts.
  • Intermediate contact structure i'or a circuit interrupter including a housing, a pair of opposed double-ended finger contacts disposed within the housing, a removable locking key extending across the housing between the opposed finger contacts, spring means biasing the finger contacts toward each other, and interlocking means between the back sides of the finger contacts and the inner Wall of the housing to prevent substantial fluid flow through the housing at the back sides of the finger contacts.
  • a circuit interrupter including a movable contact, an intermediate contact finger assembly, a second movable contact, the intermediate contact finger assembly including a housing having an internal fiange portion intermediate the ends of the housing, a pair of opposed double-ended finger contacts having recesses at their back sides, the flange portion extending within the recesses, a removable locking key extending across the housing between the opposed finger contacts and furnishing a fulcrum point for rocking motion of the finger contacts, and spring means biasing the finger contacts toward each other.
  • Intermediate contact structure for a circuit interrupter including a retainer tube having a broken internal flange midway between the ends thereof, a pair of double-ended finger contacts having recesses at their back sides, the flange fitting into the recesses to provide a substantially fluid-tight passage through the tube at the back sides of the finger contacts, an elongated removable locking key extending across the tube between the finger contacts to provide a fulcrum therefor, and spring means biasing the finger contacts toward each other.

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US156093A 1950-04-15 1950-04-15 Circuit interrupter having finger contacts Expired - Lifetime US2600211A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US156093A US2600211A (en) 1950-04-15 1950-04-15 Circuit interrupter having finger contacts
FR1049293D FR1049293A (fr) 1950-04-15 1951-04-12 Interrupteur de circuit à doigts de contact

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US156093A US2600211A (en) 1950-04-15 1950-04-15 Circuit interrupter having finger contacts

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2600211A true US2600211A (en) 1952-06-10

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US156093A Expired - Lifetime US2600211A (en) 1950-04-15 1950-04-15 Circuit interrupter having finger contacts

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US2600211A (fr)
FR (1) FR1049293A (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2708699A (en) * 1952-01-02 1955-05-17 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Finger contact structure for circuit interrupting device
US2733317A (en) * 1953-04-20 1956-01-31 Pl tayi or
US2811614A (en) * 1953-11-03 1957-10-29 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit breaker employing sickle shaped contact, engaging stationary contact and impulse grid
US2848583A (en) * 1955-12-12 1958-08-19 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Primary disconnect contacts
US3617673A (en) * 1970-06-18 1971-11-02 Porter Co Inc H K Contact structure

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE592265C (de) * 1934-02-05 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Schalter mit einer leitenden Schaltfluessigkeit
US2123631A (en) * 1935-07-08 1938-07-12 Charles H Koehler Electrical connecter
US2422603A (en) * 1944-07-20 1947-06-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE592265C (de) * 1934-02-05 Siemens Schuckertwerke Akt Ges Schalter mit einer leitenden Schaltfluessigkeit
US2123631A (en) * 1935-07-08 1938-07-12 Charles H Koehler Electrical connecter
US2422603A (en) * 1944-07-20 1947-06-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2708699A (en) * 1952-01-02 1955-05-17 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Finger contact structure for circuit interrupting device
US2733317A (en) * 1953-04-20 1956-01-31 Pl tayi or
US2811614A (en) * 1953-11-03 1957-10-29 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit breaker employing sickle shaped contact, engaging stationary contact and impulse grid
US2848583A (en) * 1955-12-12 1958-08-19 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Primary disconnect contacts
US3617673A (en) * 1970-06-18 1971-11-02 Porter Co Inc H K Contact structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1049293A (fr) 1953-12-29

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