US2671147A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 w. M. LEEDS CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1950 9 K ORNEY INVENTOR Winthrop M. Leeds. (K BY l} ATT/ March 2, 1954 w, LEEDS 2,671,147

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed May 18. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

INVENTOR Winthrop M. Leeds.

ATTORNEY March 2, 1954 w. M. LEEDS 2,671,147

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed May 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.7.

INVENTOR WITNESSES: 7

69 Winthrop M. Leeds. ww

cification taken .in

2,671,147 "GI'RGUIT INTERRUPTER W nthrop Le ds urg s e so cc ic Cor ital-,acci'ncra on c b rgh,

In st Pitts wV n a ation Application May-18, 1950,- Serial No.-162',658 99mins (L -;2 .0-'= 0) .l invention: relates to circuit interrupters, in genera1,. and-- more particularly to I arewx- Y tinguishingistructures; therefor.

'A general objecttofi my inventioneis touprovide animprovedcircuitzinterrupter in .Whichthe cir- I cu-itstherethroughi is. interrupted.- Gertain features of my invention ihav: particularv applicationlto circuit interruptmore: quicklyand effectively ers of the liquidsbreak-type.

A more specific. object isto provide 1 an improved liqui'd break type of circuit interrupter which :pressure is: generated at a one ,of 1 two serially related arcs and is I forced through .im-

proved conduit means toward 1 the other serially related areQknown as an interruptingarc, to mcre readilyfeifect the =latters 'extinction.

Another object is to providean improved liquid break; circuit interrupter of the typehavin ga pair of terminalz'bushings extending .into

an insulating liquid and havingan improved v pressure generating extinguishing unit ,disposed atthesubmerged end of oneterminal bushing-and having-- an improved interrupting arc -extinguishing unit 'disposedat the submergedend of the other terminal bushing.

Another object is to provide an improved circuit interrupterof the type-set'iorth in the immediately precedingwparagraph in which an improved hollow 1 crossbar construction is provided electrically and nectingthe two units.

#Another object is to provide an improved liquid- 7 hydraulically interconbreak l circuit" interrupter of the type establishingg.pressure-generating: and interrupting arcsiin which improved arc-extinguishing units: are associated -:with the. pressure genei-fating and interrupting arcs.

Another" objecti'is to provide an improved arrangement' ef thezextinguishingiunitsxofa multi- --phase circuit interrupter within a. single tank.

-Flurther objects-and advantages :will readily become apparent upon reading. thefollowing speconjunotionwith the drawings in which:

Figure 1 :isza side elevational view, partially -in section, :ofi an improved circuit interrupter aembodyingcmyiinyention and shown in the. closed circuit positicn;

: Fi ure is anenlar ed side, .elevat onal view partially in VBItiGfirlxfifiQfiQh, of :the interrupter therein-fi uresa e s ne iew-ta arlene sure 12- looking;

in vertical section, ofa

poles of a circuit single tank construction, each pole being of the still another modified type of "circuit i e y appende essure senerc ii s time.

line IVr-lVofFigure ;2, looking in the direction of s the :arrows;

: Figuret-fi isran enlargedside elevationalview,

partially in verticalsectien, ofa modified=type tion;

Figure 6 is. a sectional view :taken along the line VITVI' of Figure 5. looking in the. direction of the: arrows;

Eigure'lisa side elevationalview; partially -moclified type of circuit interrupter. embodyingmy invention and shown inthe closed. circuit position;

Figure 8 is. a sectional view taken-alongthe line VIII-VIII ofLFigure 7, lookingtiinthe direction of the arrows;

Figure an a sectional view taken. along'the 1ine IXIX of Figure 7, lookingrinthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a sectional view,-somewhat--diagrammatic, indicating the disposition oi three interrupter disposed in a fdpeshown-in Figure 7;

Figure 11 is a verticalsectional-viewthrough terr ter embodying my invention, the contacts being shown in the closedcircuit position;

F gure .lz a ect ona -view taken a ong e li of :Fi u ex l ockin n he di ecticr c he arr s: and

isur ,1.. s a secti na v ew kee elcoe h ine lIIfXliIl .o 'l igur .1 lockin the li- .rec i e c t circus,

'Reter ing toihe drawin s and mor nart celarly. to Figure 1. th ef he. efe ence nu era ,l d signat s fil ed to thrille e 2 with a suit ble arkert n ishme fluid 3. (in t i instan e c rcu breake 11 Deucndin fromthe cove 4 of ice t n re wp erm elb ne -infi to the lower end o w h a r ushing un t-1 an int u ing erc tin uisb ins un 8 El tri a ly an h r ul al in e co n c ing h tw rnits end Bis tubnla fluid c n uits act ate vertic yin a c rocal. by:

interrupting chamber 9.

sure-generating arc l3 established therebetween being formed within a pressure-generating chamber generally designated by the reference numeral H and defined by a plurality of ringshaped plates IS. The plates |5 are held together by insulating tie bolts |5a.

The interrupting arc-extinguishing unit 8 includes a stationary contact structure It which cooperates with the upper end I! of the conduit 9 to establish an interrupting are l8 within a vented interrupting chamber generally designated by the reference numeral I9 and defined by a plurality of ring-shaped insulating plates 20, 2| having different internal diameters. Preferably, one or more vent plates 22 are associated with the upper end of the unit 8, each of which has a configuration more clearly shown in Fig-- ure 4.

The operation of the interrupter set forth in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is as follows. During the opening operation, suitable mechanism (not shown) operates to move the operating rod downwardly, causing simultaneously a separation of the contacts I2 and l6, IT to establish simultaneously a pressure-generating arc l3 within the pressure-generating chamber l4 and an interrupting are [8 established within the Since both units I, 8 are immersed in' oil, oil completely fllls the units.

Hence, the pressure-generating arc l3 reacts upi on the oil within bar It to form gas which forces oil under presthe pressure-generating chamsure out of the pressure-generating chamber l4 through the interior 23 of the crossbar or conduit 9 in the direction of the arrows into the interrupting chamber IS. The flow of oil from unit 1 into unit 8 strikes the interrupting are It! and passes out of the unit |9 through the vent opening 24 afforded by the one or more vent plates 22. The flow of oil out of the unit is indicated by the arrow 25.

Extinction of the interrupting arc l8 soon occurs, and the continued downward movement of the operating rod l0 and tubular crossbar 9 causes both ends l2, ll of the crossbar 9 to pass completely out of the un'ts I, 8 to the open-circuit disconnect position, indicated by the chain lines 28 of Figure 1 For moderate voltages to 69 kv.), only one interrupter of the multi-orifice type, as set forth in United States Patent 2,406,469, issued August 2'7, 1946, and United States Patent 2,467,760, issued April 19, 1949, to Leon R. Ludwig, Winthrop M. Leeds and Benjamin P. Baker and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, is required for the interrupting duty. However, the conventional oil breaker uses duplicate interrupting units on the two terminals of each pole. A great simplification can be achieved in the contact structure, if, instead of putting both a pressure-generating and interrupting gap on each terminal, the pressure for oil flow can be generated in a single gap on one terminal and transmitted to a single interrupting gap on the other terminal. The interrupting structure set forth in Figures 1 to 4 describes features for accomplishing this object. It will be noted that I have used a tubular moving contact crossarm 9 combining the functions of current conduction and fluid flow transmission between the pressuregenerating unit I and the interrupting unit 8. The interrupter set forth in Figures 1 to 4 shows one of the simplest embodiments of my invention where the moving contact and crossarm 9 may be made of a simple, U-shaped, bent metallic tube, for instance, or copper or aluminum,

Pressure generated in the left-hand chamber l4 forces oil through the tube 9 to the top vented interrupting chamber I9 at the right, as viewed in Figure 2, where the arc is deionized and extinguished.

The arrangement set forth differs from Figures 1 to 4 in the right-hand interrupting'chamber only, with a piston construction associated with the left-hand chamber for the prevention of cavitation, and also to speed up the interruption of low currents where the self-generated action is weak. This interrupter will now be described.

It will be noted that in Figures 5 and 6 I have provided a piston arrangement, generally designated by the reference numeral 23, associated with the left-hand pressure-generating chamber 1, a pressure-gencrating arc l3 being established, as before, between the stationary contact structure U and the upper end |2 of the crossbar 9. As before. an insulating operating rod l9 causes the vertical actuation of the tubular fluid conduit 9.

The right-hand interrupting chamber 29 is of modified construction, as compared with .the interrupting chamber l9 of the unit 8 of Figure 2, and in this instance forms a multi-orifice interrupting structure generally designated by the reference numeral 30 and follows the teachings set forth in the aforesaid patents.

Observing the interrupting unit 29, taken in conjunction with the cross-sectional view 6,. it will be noted that an upstanding, rod-shaped contact portion 3| is'integ'rally formed with the conduit 9 with vents 32 leading outof the tubular conduit 9 just below the rod contact 3| as shown in Figure 5. The rod contact 3| cooperates with the stationary contact structure It of the unit 29 to establish an interrupting are l8 within the multi-orifice interrupting structure 30.

The multi-orifice interrupting structure '39 is made up of a plurality of contiguously disposed insulating plates, these plates being of three different types. The first type of plate is called a vent plate and is generally designated by the reference numeral 33 of Figure 6. The'vent plate 33 is of composite construction and in this instance includes two laterally spaced half plates 34 spaced apart to form two opposed vent passages 35. Immediately above and below each vent plate 33 is an orifice plate 36, the configuration of which is more clearly shown in Figure 6. The orifice plate 36 has an aperture 31 through which the rod-shaped, movable interrupting contact 3| passes. The orifice plate 36 also has a pair of kidney-shaped openings 38, as was the case with the vent plate 33, the purpose'for which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Adjacent to each orifice plate 33 is an insulating inlet plate 40 having a configuration more clearly shown by the dotted lines of Figure 6. The

cutout portion 40a permits entrance of oil from the two vertical passages 4 formed by the alignment of the several openings 38, to pass inwardly toward the interrupting arc |8. The oil then passes upwardly and downwardly through the orifices 31 provided by the orifice plates 33 to pass out of the interrupting unit 29 through the two opposed vent passages 35. As mentioned previously, the passage configuration conforms to the teachings of the foresaid patents.

It will be noted that with the constructionset forth in Figures 5 and 6, the deionizing action is particularly effective by the :multi-oriiice interrupting structure 39 provided. Also, the piston 28 biased downwardly by a-compression spring 7 sure-generating are (not shown) within a multioriflce pressure-generating interrupting structure, generally designated by the reference numeral 13. The pressure-generating interrupting structure I3 is composed of a plurality of suitably configured insulating plates disposed in contiguous relation, and having a shape more fully disclosed in Figure 12. plates. The first type of plate is herein called an inlet plate being designated by the reference numeral 14. The inlet plate 14 has a cutout portion 15 removed therefrom so that oil may pass from the pressure-generating arc passage 16 to the vertical flow passages 5|. From the vertical flow passages 5|, the oil enters the tubes to pass through the conduit 69 to the interrupting arc-extinguishing unit 11.

The second type of plate is herein called a pocket plate 18 and has a configuration more clearly shown by the full lines of Figure 12. The pocket plate 18 has a relatively large central aperture 19 and two oppositely disposed apertures 50, which, upon alignment with other apertures 50, form the vertical flow passages 5| through which the tubes 10 pass.

' The third type of plate is herein called an oriflce plate 80 and has the same configuration as the pocket plate I8, except the central aperture 8| if of smaller diameter than the aperture 19 of the pocket plate 18.

Upon the establishment of the pressure-generating are (not shown) between the contacts ll, 45a, the oil within the multi-orifice, pressuregenerating, arc-extinguishing unit 82 is vaporized and passes in opposite directions out through the inlet passages 83 provided by the cutout portion to pass into the two vertical flow passages 5|. The oil passes downwardly through the tubes 10 and into the hollow conduit 69 of large internal diameter.

The right-hand, multi-flow, interrupting, arcextinguishing unit 11 is composed of three dif-- ferent types of plates, two of which have a construction identical to the plates heretofore discussed inconnection with the unit 82 namely, plates H and 8|]. However, in place of the pocket plates 18, heretofore discussed in connection with the pressure-generating unit 82, vent plates 84 of composite construction are employed shown by the full lines in Figure 13. The composite vent plates 84 are formed by the lateral spacing of two half plates 85, 86 to form two opposed vent passages 81 leading out of the unit 11.

The operation of the interrupter of Figures 11 to 13 will now be described. Upon downward opening movement of the operating rod I0, conduit 69 likewise moves downwardly carrying with it the movable contacts 45a, 88 which respecttively separate from the stationary contacts H,

I6 to draw, respectively, a pressure-generating arc and an interrupting are (not shown).

The pressure-generating arc generates pressure within the multi-orifice, pressure-generating chamber I3 to force oil out through the inlet passages 83 into the vertical flow passages 5|, and down through the pair of tubes In to pass laterally through the hollow conduit 69. The oil, under pressure, then passes upwardly through the tubes 89, 90 disposed, respectively, within the vertical flow passages 9|, 92 to pass inwardly through the inlet passages 83 provided by the inlet plates 14. After passing through the apertures 8| provided by the orifice plates 80, and hence into intimate contact with the interrupting arc, the oil then passes laterally outwardly out of the inter- There are three different types of "8 rupting unit 11 through the opposed vent passages 81 provided by the vent plates 84. The resulting effective deionizing conditions brought about by the oil flow quickly effects extinction of the interrupting arc, and the circuit is open.

Continued downward opening movement of the operating rod l0 and tubular conduit 69 brings about a withdrawal of the contacts 45a, 88 and tubes 10'. 90 and 9| out of the units 82, 11 to the open-circuit, disconnect position (not shown).

From the foregoing description of a few embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved circuit interrupter in which fluid flow is effectively brought about. Also, it will be apparent that I have provided an improved conduit construction not only electrically connecting the units disposed at the lower ends of the terminal bushings 5, 6, but also provided a hydraulic transmission between the two units to bring about effective oil flow. The structure is simple, compact and readily accessible. The multi-orifice, pressure-generating chamber construction set forth in Figures 7 and 11 is very efiective because of the oil trapped in pockets and held closely to the arc. Also, during interruption of low currents, effective deionizing conditions are brought to bear upon the pressure-generating are as well as upon the interrupting arc. The piston construction provided not only afiords'a flushing flow of fluid following high current interruption, but also provides a desired piston flow during low current interruption, when the pressure generated at the pressure-generating arc may be relatively weak.

Although I have shown and described specific structures, it is to be clearly understood that the same were merely for the purpose of illustration, and that changes and modifications may readily be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit interrupter including a vented interrupting chamber having a pair of substantially arallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages, a movable conducting conduit having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto and movable therewith, the movable rodshaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, means for forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, and the fluid passing successively through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting are as a result of the opening movement of the tubular portion along said other passage.

2. A circuit interrupter including a vented interrupting chamber having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages, a, movable conducting conduit having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto and movable therewith, the movable rodshaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, means for forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereoL-and the are passing successivel through spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting are as a result of the opening movement of the tubular portion along said other passage, and means for laterally venting the interrupting chamber at a pluraiit or spaces points along said one passage.

3. A circuit interrupter including a substantially confined pressure-generating chamber, a vented interrupting chamber spaced away from the pressure-generating pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed atone end of one of the passages within the interrupting chamber, a movable conducting conduit interconnecting the pressure-generating chamber with the interrupting chamber and having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, the pressure established within the pressure-generating chamber forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, and the fluid passing successively through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting are as a result of the opening movement of the tubular portion along said other passage.

4. A circuit interrupter including a substantially confined pressure-generating chamber, a vented interrupting chamber spaced away from the pressure-generating chamber and having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages within the interrupting chamber, a movable conducting conduit interconnecting the pressure-generating chamber with the interrupting chamber and having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, the pressure established within the pressure-generating chamber forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, the fluid passing successively through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting are as a result of the opening movement of the tubular portion along said other passage, and means for laterally venting the interrupting chamber at a plurality of spaced points along said one passage.

5. A circuit interrupter including a vented interrupting chamber having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages, a movable conducting conduit having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto and movable therewith, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, means for forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, and

hamber and having a with the stationary 10 the iiuid passing through the spaced inlet passages toward the interruptingarc.

"6. A circuit interrupter including a vented interrupting chamber having apair of substan tially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages, a movable conducting conduit having a movable rodshaped cont-act -secured thereto and movable therewith, the move rod shaped contact-cooperating with the size tionary contact with-in said one passage to establish an interruptin are therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, means for forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, the fluid passing through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting arc, and means for laterally venting the interrupting chamber at a plurality of spaced points along said one passage.

7. A circuit interrupter including a substantially confined pressure-generating chamber, a

' vented interrupting chamber spaced away from the pressure-generating chamber and having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages within the interrupting chamber, a movable conducting conduit interconnecting the pressure-generating chamber with the interrupting chamber and having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, the pressure established within the pressure-generating chamber forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, and the fluid passing through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting arc. I

8. A circuit interrupter including a substantially confined pressure-generating chamber, a vented interrupting chamber spaced away from the pressure-generating chamber and having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed at one end of one of the passages within the interrupting chamber, a movable conducting conduit interconnecting the pressure-generating chamber with the interrupting chamber and having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating with the stationary contact within said one passage to establish an interrupting arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion entering and movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, the pressure estabpressure-generating chamber forcing fluid through the conduit and through the tubular portion thereof, the fluid passing through the spaced inlet passages toward the interrupting arc, and means for laterally venting the interrupting chamber at a plurality of spaced points along said one passage.

9. A circuit interrupter including a substan tially enclosed arc-extinguishing unit having a pair of substantially parallel passages disposed therein, a relatively stationary contact disposed in one of the passages, a movable conducting conduit having a movable rod-shaped contact secured thereto and movable therewith, the movable rod-shaped contact cooperating with the 5 stationary contact within said one passage to establish an arc therealong, the conduit having a tubular portion movable along the other of said passages, a plurality of spaced inlet passages interconnecting the two aforesaid passages, and the fluid passing through the inlet passages and also through the conduit during the opening operation.

WINTHROP M. LEEDS.

12 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,228,232 Hilliard Jan. 7, 1941 2,445,442 Leeds et al July 20, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 76,758 Sweden Apr. 1, 1931 522,369 Great Britain June 1'7, 1940 648,635 Germany Aug. 6, 1937 749,959 France May 15, 1933 801,284 France July 31, 1936

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