US2679561A - Circuit breaking device - Google Patents

Circuit breaking device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2679561A
US2679561A US293919A US29391952A US2679561A US 2679561 A US2679561 A US 2679561A US 293919 A US293919 A US 293919A US 29391952 A US29391952 A US 29391952A US 2679561 A US2679561 A US 2679561A
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United States
Prior art keywords
arm
movable
contacts
contact
force
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Expired - Lifetime
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US293919A
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English (en)
Inventor
Thompson Harry
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.)
Telemecanique SA
Original Assignee
La Telemecanique Electrique SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/50—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
    • H01H1/54—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position by magnetic force
    • 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
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/22—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact
    • H01H1/221—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member
    • H01H1/225—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting with rigid pivoted member carrying the moving contact and a contact pressure spring acting between the pivoted member and a supporting member the supporting member being pivotable

Definitions

  • each of "the movable contacts is pressed against the corresponding fixed contact, generally'byaspring force.
  • the direction in which the .movable contact is opened is towards the outside of the loop 'formed by the conductors leading to the contacts, so that "the consequent electromagnetic forcesset up by the current in these conductors tend to separate the contacts.
  • the currents which the device is capable of interrupting thus have an upper limit which may belower than thepossible values of the short-circuit currents met with in practice which results in serious difliculties.
  • the present invention has-for an object to provide a device for compensating for the electromagnetic repulsion force acting on the movable contacts of circuit breakers.
  • a member through which thecurrentvfiows and on which a movable contactis mounted is subjected, in the direction of a co-operating fixed contact, to the magnetic action of .an electromagnet in which the magnetomotive forceis set u'pby the actual current which flows through the said contacts.
  • the member on which the ⁇ movable'contact is mounted is secured to a magnetic armature adapted to be attracted by the electromagnet in the direction of the fixed contact.
  • the electromagnet and its armature preferably form a magnetic circuit in which, by reason of theconsiderablecurrents concerned, the magnetomotive force "is produced by currentpassing through one of the conductors leading to the contacts and forming part of the loop formed by the electric circuit.
  • the member on which the movable contact is mounted passes atleast once through an air gap in a magnetic element by which it is partially surrounded and which constitutes the core of the electromagne't, and the said member is movable in relation to the said element in the said air gap in a direction parallel to the surfaces defining the air gap, the said element being so positioned that the relative movement of the member on which the movable contact is mounted takes place in the direction in which the contacts move towards one the magnetic flux generated in the said element by thecurrent flowing through the said member increases.
  • the member on which the movable contact is mounted is pivoted to the movable part of the contactor and the core of the electromagnet is also mounted on this part.
  • the attractive force created by the electromagnet not only does not oppose the opening of the contacts, but promotes it.
  • the member supporting the movable contact is held fast and the attractive force therefore tends to drive the movable part of the contactor in the opposite direction, that is to say, in the direction of the opening of the contactor.
  • Figure 1 shows in side view, partly in diagrammatic form, a unipolar contactor according to the invention, the contactor being in the closed position.
  • Figure 2 is a partial view similar to that of Figure 1 showing the contactor in the open posi tion.
  • Figure 3 is a section taken along the line III-III of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 is a side view similar to that of Figure 1, showing a modified form of construction
  • Figure 5 is a section taken along the line V-V of Figure 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale.
  • the contactor shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises two fixed terminals I and 2, in and lead out conductors 3 and 4 are connected.
  • the terminal 2 is secured to a rigid right-angled member 5 which carries a fixed contact stud 5, while the terminal I is connected by a flexible conductor 1 to an arm contact stud 9 is mounted.
  • a pin IE in a U-shaped element ll of magnetic metal which, by means of a plate l2 and bolts I3, is fixedly secured to an insulating shaft [4 of the contactor.
  • the said shaft which is of rectangular section, comprises cylindrical portions Ma which are journalled in bearings not shown.
  • the shaft is adapted to be rotated by an electromagnet, diagrammatically illustrated at l5, which acts on an armature l6 secured to the said shaft.
  • the arm 8 is acted upon by a spring I! surrounding a bolt 58 extending both through the U-shaped element and the said arm, a nut IS on the said bolt permitting adjustment of the force excited by the spring H.
  • the thrust of the spring is transmitted to the arm 8 by a plate 29 of magnetic material, the edges of which tie opposite the arms of the U-shaped element H. Stops 2
  • a multipolar contactor may be constructed in a similar manner, each being arranged in the magnetic flux developed in the circuit which is formed by to which lead 8 on which a movable The arm 8 is pivoted
  • the contactor hereinbefore described operates in the following manner:
  • the movable equipment that is to say, all the parts mounted on the shaft l4, pivots about the axis 0-0 in a direction which moves the movable stud 9 towards the fixed stud 6.
  • the remainder of the travel of the movable equipment produces compression of the spring l1, thereby exerting pressure on the two contacts.
  • the contactor is held operated by the magnet 15 and current passes from the conductor 3 to the conductor 4.
  • the arm 8 in particular is subjected to an electromagnetic force which tends to move it away from the fixed contact 6.
  • this force may become equal to that of the spring 11, whereby the contact pressure would be nullifled and fusing of the contacts would be promoted.
  • the current flowing through the arm 3 produces in the magnetic circuit formed by the U-shaped element H and the plate 20 a magnetomotive force which acts on the plate 2
  • This attractive force which tends, by reaction, to drive the element H in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, also combines with an external force, acting on the movable equipment in such manner as to cause opening of the contacts.
  • the movement of this equipment in the case of tripping due to excess current, is therefore accelerated, which accelerated movement assists in. preventing fusing of the contacts.
  • the said external force is provided by a return member (not shown) of the movable equipment, which acts in opposition to the attraction of the electromagnet IS, the energisation of which is interrupted at the instant of the short-circuit.
  • the contact opening force may also be supplied by other mechanical means or electromagnetically as in the case of circuit breakers for example.
  • limit the compression stroke of the spring i'l against the U-shaped element and also increase the reluctance of the magnetic circuit consisting of the U-shaped element H and the plate 263, so that although the current may be sufficient to exert a strong pull at the instant when the contacts are closed, the elements H and it do not stick, which might interfere with the operation of the device.
  • the air gap is formed by the distance separating the internal faces of a U-shaped element 23.
  • the magnetic field set up by this current is, as in the previously described construction, concentrated in the U-shaped element and the lines of force of this field extend across an air gap 24 from one inner face tc the other of the U-shaped element, perpendicularly to these faces.
  • this arm is subjected, by reason of this field, to a force which tends to move it inwards, towards the web of the u-shaped element, that is to say in a direction which tends to apply the contacts 6 and 9 one against the other.
  • the outer face of the arm 8 lies fiush with the edges of the U-shaped position.
  • the arm may also project from the U-shaped element.
  • this compensating force which is always proportional to the square of the current, is lower ing the leverage of this force, that is to say, by disposing the U-shaped element H at as great a distance as possible from the pivot of the arm 8 without interfering with the disposition of the contacts.
  • a stop 25 is provided on the element ll so that when the contacts become worn, the travel of the movable contact under compression is limited by the stop 25. This does not however substantially modify the action of the compensating force, while the limit of travel by means of the stop Zl, in the case or the construction of Figures 1 to 3, affects the air gap 22 and therefore the desired compensation.
  • a circuit-breaker comprising a fixed contact element; a p-ivotally mounted structure movable towards and away from said fixed contact element, including a U-shaped magnetic core having legs extending away from said fixed contact element; a movable contact arm pivotally connected to said structure and extending at least partly between the legs of said core; a contact element located on said arm beyond said core with respect to pivotal connection between said structure and said arm, adapted to make contact with said fixed contact element; and resilient means interposed between said structure and said arm for urging said arm towards said fixed contact element.
  • said movable contact arm carries a magnetic armature cooperating with the ends of the legs of the magnetic core.
  • a circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a coilspring, one end or which engages said movable contact arm while the other end engages an adjustable stop carried by said structure.
  • a circuit-breaker comprising a fixed contact element; an insulating pivotally mounted structure movable with respect to said fixed element into a contact-making and a contactbreaking position, respectively towards and away from said fixed element; a magnetic U haped member secured to said insulating structure and having flanges extending perpendicularly to the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 18,630 Van Sickle Oct. 18, 1932 1,395,327 Aalborg Nov. 1, 1921 1,753,650 Gay Apr. 8, 1930 2,590,523 Edwards Mar. 25, 1952

Landscapes

  • Electromagnets (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
US293919A 1951-09-19 1952-06-17 Circuit breaking device Expired - Lifetime US2679561A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1042303T 1951-09-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2679561A true US2679561A (en) 1954-05-25

Family

ID=9589969

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US293919A Expired - Lifetime US2679561A (en) 1951-09-19 1952-06-17 Circuit breaking device

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US2679561A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE510633A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR1042303A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB743178A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2795671A (en) * 1952-07-17 1957-06-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breakers
US2828380A (en) * 1955-03-14 1958-03-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Flux phase shifter and high speed closing with contact construction
US2841670A (en) * 1954-12-23 1958-07-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Frictionless plunger switch having alignable self-holding contacts
US2883487A (en) * 1957-01-31 1959-04-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electromagnetic device
US2989603A (en) * 1959-02-05 1961-06-20 S & C Electric Co Interrupter switch operating mechanism
US3065317A (en) * 1960-09-29 1962-11-20 Gen Electric Alternating current circuit interrupter
US3123691A (en) * 1964-03-03 Movable contact assembly with a magnetic shield
US3202781A (en) * 1960-12-20 1965-08-24 Merlin Gerin Stationary contact structure for electrical circuit breakers
US3225160A (en) * 1963-10-25 1965-12-21 Gen Electric Electric switch
US3238326A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-03-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Contactor with a load current hold-in feature
US3263042A (en) * 1963-02-18 1966-07-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electric control device with electromagnetic contact-biasing means
US3419828A (en) * 1966-12-13 1968-12-31 Arrow Hart Inc Means proportional to magnetic flux to bias electric switch contacts closed
US3560683A (en) * 1968-01-24 1971-02-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker with improved contact structure
US4006439A (en) * 1975-09-11 1977-02-01 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Circuit interrupter having an insulated bridging contact
US4030053A (en) * 1975-09-11 1977-06-14 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Distribution transformer secondary circuit breaker having cantilevered contacts
DE3121159A1 (de) * 1980-05-30 1982-03-04 La Télémécanique Electrique, 92002 Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine Schalter mit abschalteigenschaften
US4513270A (en) * 1981-11-30 1985-04-23 La Telemecanique Electrique Contactor having self-protection means against the effect of the forces of repulsion between the contacts

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1282776B (de) * 1960-09-08 1968-11-14 Siemens Ag Elektrischer Schalter
DE1157293B (de) * 1962-01-31 1963-11-14 Siemens Ag Einrichtung an elektrischen Selbstschaltern
US3794948A (en) * 1970-10-02 1974-02-26 Fuse Indicator Corp Blown fuse indicators
FR2559308B1 (fr) * 1984-02-03 1986-10-17 Telemecanique Electrique Contact equipe d'un compensateur magnetique avec seuil de liberation reglable et contacteur-disjoncteur utilisant un tel contact

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1395327A (en) * 1920-10-18 1921-11-01 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit-breaker
US1753650A (en) * 1927-09-10 1930-04-08 Frazer W Gay Electric switch
USRE18630E (en) * 1932-10-18 Hxuse electric
US2590523A (en) * 1947-10-11 1952-03-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter contact pressure increasing device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE18630E (en) * 1932-10-18 Hxuse electric
US1395327A (en) * 1920-10-18 1921-11-01 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit-breaker
US1753650A (en) * 1927-09-10 1930-04-08 Frazer W Gay Electric switch
US2590523A (en) * 1947-10-11 1952-03-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter contact pressure increasing device

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123691A (en) * 1964-03-03 Movable contact assembly with a magnetic shield
US2795671A (en) * 1952-07-17 1957-06-11 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breakers
US2841670A (en) * 1954-12-23 1958-07-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Frictionless plunger switch having alignable self-holding contacts
US2828380A (en) * 1955-03-14 1958-03-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Flux phase shifter and high speed closing with contact construction
US2883487A (en) * 1957-01-31 1959-04-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electromagnetic device
US2989603A (en) * 1959-02-05 1961-06-20 S & C Electric Co Interrupter switch operating mechanism
US3065317A (en) * 1960-09-29 1962-11-20 Gen Electric Alternating current circuit interrupter
US3202781A (en) * 1960-12-20 1965-08-24 Merlin Gerin Stationary contact structure for electrical circuit breakers
US3263042A (en) * 1963-02-18 1966-07-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electric control device with electromagnetic contact-biasing means
US3225160A (en) * 1963-10-25 1965-12-21 Gen Electric Electric switch
US3238326A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-03-01 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Contactor with a load current hold-in feature
US3419828A (en) * 1966-12-13 1968-12-31 Arrow Hart Inc Means proportional to magnetic flux to bias electric switch contacts closed
US3560683A (en) * 1968-01-24 1971-02-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit breaker with improved contact structure
US4006439A (en) * 1975-09-11 1977-02-01 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Circuit interrupter having an insulated bridging contact
US4030053A (en) * 1975-09-11 1977-06-14 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Distribution transformer secondary circuit breaker having cantilevered contacts
DE3121159A1 (de) * 1980-05-30 1982-03-04 La Télémécanique Electrique, 92002 Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine Schalter mit abschalteigenschaften
US4513270A (en) * 1981-11-30 1985-04-23 La Telemecanique Electrique Contactor having self-protection means against the effect of the forces of repulsion between the contacts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE510633A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR1042303A (fr) 1953-10-30
GB743178A (en) 1956-01-11

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