US2729723A - Alternating-current circuit interrupters - Google Patents

Alternating-current circuit interrupters Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2729723A
US2729723A US337151A US33715153A US2729723A US 2729723 A US2729723 A US 2729723A US 337151 A US337151 A US 337151A US 33715153 A US33715153 A US 33715153A US 2729723 A US2729723 A US 2729723A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrodes
arc
gaps
contact
arcs
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
US337151A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pristsak Gustav Wilhelm
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.)
Siemens Schuckertwerke AG
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
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 Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2729723A publication Critical patent/US2729723A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet

Definitions

  • the extinction of the arc is effected or promoted by extraneous cooling and/or by subjecting the arc to elongation.
  • I provide each arc gap of an alternating-current interrupting device with a movable contact whose separating travel from the stationary contacts extends only up to about the distance needed for making the gap dielectrically resistant to the reignition voltag and I dispose one or more pairs of mutually spaced burn-off or runoff electrodes adjacent to the contacts and in such a relation thereto that the short are originating between the separating contacts is displaced to the run-off electrodes and is caused to travel along the runner gap of the electrodes until it becomes extinguished by the natural zero passage of the alternating current.
  • the blowing effect inherent in the arc circuit or additional artificial means, for instance, magnetic blowing devices may be used for thus displacing the arc.
  • the spacing between the run-oil electrodes is uniform along the arc travel path so that the arc, during its movement, is not subjected to appreciable elongation; and the minimum of the available path for the progressive or, as will be shown, reversible travel of the arc between the run-ofi electrodes, is at least as long as the distance that the travel of the arc may span during a half-wave period of the alternating current.
  • I further provide means for constraining the-arc travel along a predetermined line and direction and, preferably, also as to the width or volume that the are at any moment may occupy.
  • arc guiding or restraining means may comprise a particular shape and electric connection of the run-off electrodes which results in the formation of magnetically effective current loops through the arc or its root points.
  • the definite directioning and, as the case may be, the constraint imposed upon the location and width of the arc travel offer protection from undesired expansion of the switching fire and also permit giving the arc extinguishing arrangement smaller dimensions than otherwise applicable.
  • the run-off electrodes are carried by the wall structure of such an arc chamber. It is then possible to select for the arc chamber walls any suitable material 2,729,723 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 which need not be insulating but, for instance, may also consist of metal.
  • a device may have a single set of run-off electrodes for each interrupting gap.
  • several sets of run-off arranged in each line or pole of the circuit to be interrupted.
  • each individual gap during the interrupting performance, contributes virtually instantaneously to the build-up of the necessary dielectric gap strength. The displacement of the resulting individual arcs then occurs in different directions between the individual systems of electrodes.
  • the normally current-conducting main contacts are subjected to wear if the movable contact can perform bouncing movements when contacting the stationary contacts during the circuit closing operation.
  • the weight of the parts to be moved during the switching operation may be reduced by placing the stationary contacts as close as possible to each other so that only a relatively short bridging contact is required.
  • insulated partition walls prefersupply buses. distance into several gaps, thus increasing the voltage safety of the device.
  • the spacing between the run-off electrodes may be made adjustable.
  • the adjusting means may operate in a constrained connection with the operating means for the movable main contact so that the adjustment is automatically effected together with the interrupting operation and occurs either at the beginning or shortly after the completion of this operation.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically the interrupting device of a circuit breaker with two pairs of arc run-off electrodes
  • Fig. 2 is a front view and Fig. 3 a side view thereof taken along the line AB illustrating another interrupt- Figs. 6 and 7 are modifications, being comparable with Fig. 5 and oth serially subdivided arcs.
  • the circuit breaker device has two separation gaps for one conductor line or interrupter pole.
  • Two fixed contact pieces 1 and 2 are integral with respective current supply buses 3, 4 and form L- shapedstructures together with the buses.
  • a movable open position of contact is such that the gap spacing between contact 5 and respective contacts 1 and 2 corresponds to only about the gap voltage at which the arcs, after extinction at current Zero, will not reignite. Only a short travel distance is required for reaching this condition.
  • circuit breakers for current from power lines of the customary voltage for instance 110 volts, 220 volts, 440 volts or more, at 50 C. P. S. or 60 C. P.
  • this distance may amount to only one to five millimeters depending upon the electrical conditions of the circuit to be interrupted.
  • Such a short travel can readily be produced at a high operating speed especially if the movable mass is kept small.
  • the two stationary contact structures are placed as close together as safely permissible, and the flash-over strength between them is increased by insulated partition plates 6a and 6b mounted between the contact structures.
  • Two burn-off or run-oil electrodes 7 and 8 are disposed in parallel relation with two respective counter electrodes 1a and 2a which are formed by respective lateral extensions of the fixed contact pieces 1 and 2.
  • the two electrodes 7 and 8 are electrically interconnected by a lead 9.
  • the travel distance for the displacing run of the arcs between the electrodes in, 7 or 2a and 8 must, therefore, be so dimensioned that the arcs, taking into account the arc displacing speed, can traverse the entire available distance within a half-wave period of the alternating current.
  • the electrode spacing, and hence the width of the runner gaps, is as small as the spacing between the fully separated interrupter contacts.
  • the electrodes 1a, 2a, 7 and 8 are designed and are given the cross section needed for a good dissipation of the heat developed at the root points of the arcs.
  • the length of the structure to provide for the necessary run-off travel of the arc may be reduced according to the invention by providing a limiting'device acting on the current-loop principle along the distance through which the arc may pass during its displacing movement between each pair of runner electrodes.
  • An example of a circuit breaker equipped with such a device is shown in Fig. 2.
  • the stationary contacts 1 and 2 are again joined with the pertaining current supply buses 3 and 4 and cooperate with a movable bridge contact 5.
  • the arc runner electrodes in the breaker according to Fig. 2 are subdivided into two L-shaped conductor portions, each comprising two pairs of electrodes in, 7a, and 1b, 712 or 2a, 8a, and 2b, 812. These pairs of electrodes are aligned opposite the horizontal leg portions of the L-shapes whose vertical legs are formed by the fixed contacts 1, 2 alone or in conjunction with the pertaining current supply buses 3, 4.
  • the stationary contacts and all electrodes are firmly mounted on a common supporting structure (not shown).
  • Electrodes 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b are all electrically interconnected by a conductor 9. Electrode 1b is connected with bus 3 by a conductor 12, and electrode 2b is connected with bus 4 by a conductor 13. The individual electrodes are furthermore recessed or grooved at their rear portions, as can be most clearly seen by the dotted-line representation in Fig. 2, to obtain the current-loop biasing efiect hereinbelow described.
  • the arc 10 may transfer from electrodes Ia, 7a to electrodes 11), 7b where it may pass through the position 10".
  • the arc becomes part of another loop circuit through conductors 12, 9 and electrodes 1b, 7b.
  • the transferred arc first burns between the inward ends of the electrodes while the arc-current supply conductors 12 and 9 are connected to respective points at the outward ends of the electrodes, the loop at the arc has now a direction opposed to the loop direction previously eifective.
  • Fig. 3 An embodiment of such a design is shown in Fig. 3 which may be considered as a lateral sectional view of the device of Fig. 2.
  • the electrodes collectively denoted in Fig. 2 by 2b and 8b respectively, single parts but are each composed of a pair of horizontally arranged partial electrodes 2b and 2b", or 8b. and 8b.
  • Each of these partial electrodes is so shaped and has preferably a current-supply lead connected at such a point that an are occurring, for instance, between parts 2b and 8b is subjected to current-loop action toward the right as is indicated by an arrow placed in Fig. 3 between electrodes 2b and 8b. If the arc jumps to electrodes 22:" and 8b, it is subjected to current-loop action toward the left.
  • the horizontal electrodes for instance 2b and 2b
  • these electrodes may be combined to a structurally integral unit.
  • these electrodes may form two L shap'ed structures which are connected with each other at the top by a transverse piece and which have their horizontal do not consist of free ends located opposite each other.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate such a modification.
  • the circuit breaker according to Figs. 4 and 5 has two generally L-shaped structures 14 and 15 Whose respective horizontal portions enter into the space of two stationarily mounted hollow bodies 16 and 17. All parts that coact during the switching performance have a generally tubular shape of substantially rectangular cross section with an opening in the bottom side.
  • the hollow bodies are further provided with incisions or slits 18, 19 to thus form the pairs of horizontally arranged partial electrodes.
  • the electrodes connected with the currentsupply buses 14 and 15 are further equipped with horizontal slots 14b and 14c, or 15b and 150 to form L- shaped run-01f electrodes for driving and braking the arc.
  • This particular design, requiring a horizontal slot, is not used for electrodes 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b, since for some purposes the illustrated design is sufficient for securing the desired interrupting effect.
  • Electrodes 16 and 17 are electrically interconnected by a conductor 20. An are which may occur between the electrodes 14 and 16 (or 15 and 17) at their lateral, vertical limbs, is driven downwardly by current-loop action into the slits 18, 19 of parts 14 and 16 or 15 and 17.
  • parts 16 and 17 may also be combined to a single body which is to be given an opening for the insertion of the two vertical legs of the L-shaped contact structures 14 and 15, and an opening for the bridging contact 21 to cooperate with the stationary contact pieces 14a and 15a.
  • the illustrated bridging contact 21 is so arranged that the slit of its tubular cross section lies at the top. Arcs occurring between parts 14a and 21 or between parts 15a and 21, after the bridging contact has moved downward until its horizontal limbs are about level with the lower horizontal limbs of the parts 16, 17 (see Fig.
  • Such an electrode system may be further equipped with a housing structure as represented in cross section in Fig. 6.
  • This structure is obtained by inserting the outer electrodes 22 (correspondingto part 16 in Figs. 4, 5) into a U-shaped or box-shaped housing 23.
  • This housing may consist completely of metal.
  • the shape of the outer electrodes may be modified according to Fig. 7.
  • This design comprises a housing whose walls 24, 25 form directly part of the electrodes corresponding to parts 16 and 17 in Figs. 4 and 5.
  • the walls 24 and 25 carry mutually spaced hollow bolts 26 and 27 with closed and outwardly rounded front faces.
  • These cup-shaped bolts serve as run-off electrodes and for forming the arc-displacing current loops. They are inserted or rivetted into the walls 24 and 25 and face each other at their respective free ends. These ends lie opposite the electrodes connected to the supply buses, for instance opposite electrode 28 corresponding to electrodes 16 in Fig. 4.
  • the walls 24 and 25 may also form the side portions of a frame-shaped or annular, rectangular cross section of aprismatic housing with openings for the insertion of the stationary current-supply buses and for the passage of the movable bridging contact.
  • This housing may be subdivided preferably in a plane parallel to the switch contacts 14 and 15 according to Fig. 4, or in Fig. 7 perpendicular to the plane of illustration, the plane of division extending between the electrodes 26 and 27 for facilitating the assembling of the circuit breaker.
  • the two halves of the housing are to be moved toward each other into the closed position for then surrounding and enclosing the electrodes, such as electrode 28 in Fig. 7 or electrodes 14, 15 in Fig. 4.
  • the hollow structures that form pairs of electrodes accordingito Figs. 4 to 7 need not necessarily have the abovementioned, substantially rectangular cross section but may also be given any suitable different shape, for instance, that of a cylindrical tube.
  • a faster recovery of the dielectric strength and resistance of the arc gap during the interrupting performance can be secured according to the invention by providing a plurality of series arranged arc gaps in each pole or line of the breaker.
  • An example of such an interrupter is illustrated in Fig. 8.
  • two stationary L-shaped contact structures 44 and 45 have horizontal extensions which form respective electrodes.
  • the contact portions of the structures 44 and 45 cooperate with a movable bridging contact 46.
  • Two run-off electrodes 47, 48, and 49, 50 are disposed opposite each electrode extension of the contact structures 44 and 45.
  • These run-01f electrodes designed for instance in the shape of studs or bolts according to Fig. 7, may, if desired, also operate as braking electrodes.
  • Intermediate electrodes 51 and 52 are disposed between the respective two sets of run-off electrodes and the electrode extensions of structures 44 and 45.
  • the electrodes 51 and 52 are insulated from structures 44, 45 as well as from the electrodes 7 to 50.
  • the run-off electrodes 47 to 50 are all conductively interconnected. During the interrupting operation, an arc 53 occurring for instance between main contacts 44 and 46 is driven outwardly and, when passing between the run-off electrodes, is subdivided into two series arranged partial arcs 54 and 55.
  • the arc run-elf electrodes for most favorable operation, should be given a smaller mutual spacing than is permitted by now applicable safety regulations and standards concerning the required minimum spacing between the breaker contacts when in the fully open position.
  • any standards seemingly adverse to best performance in accordance with the invention may nevertheless be satisfied by making the paired run-oif electrodes movable relative to each other. This may be done by constrainedly moving one of the two electrodes away from the other under control by the actuating mechanism that moves the movable contact to the circuit opening position. The electrode movement may be set to occur at the beginning, during, or after the interrupting performance.
  • circuit breakers according to the invention has shown that for the control of power current; under normal operating conditions in power lines, a travel distance of the movable main contact in the order of l to 5 millimeters is sufficient. It has further been found that in many cases the interruption is completed by extinction of the are occurring within the first pair of runofi electrodes following the main breaker contacts in the running direction of the arc. Consequently, if desired,
  • these first run-elf electrodes may already serve to perform the arc travel inhibiting and reversing function.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising stationary contact means, a movable contact member engageable with said contact means and separable therefrom to form primary arc gap, two pairs of electrodes forming two respective interstitial gaps of substantially uniform gap spacing aligned with each other and with said primary gap to define together an arc travel path, conductor means electrically connecting one electrode of each of said pairs with said stationary contact means and connecting the two other electrodes with each other, said conductor means having at the electrode pair adjacent to said primary gap 21 point of connection located close to said primary gap to provide arc-blowing action away from said primary gap, and said conductor means having with the other electrode pair a point of connection located away from said primary gap for arc-blowing action toward said primary gap.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising two stationary contacts and a movable contact bridgingly engageable with said two stationary contacts and movable away therefrom to form two primary arc gaps with said respective stationary contacts, two pairs of electrodes forming two respective interstitial runner gaps of substantially uniform gap spacing and disposed adjacent to said respective primary arc gaps on opposite sides thereof to receive in said runner gaps the arcs originating in said respective primary arc gaps, one electrode of each pair being electrically connected with one of said respective stationary contacts, the other two electrodes being electrically connected with each other, an arc chamber structure enclosing said gaps and having conductive chamber walls, and conductor means connecting said electrodes with said contact means to form blow-action loop circuits together with the arc, said walls forming part of said conductor means.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising two stationary contacts and a movable contact bridgingly engageable with said two stationary contacts and movable away therefrom to form two primary arc gaps with said respective stationary contacts, two pairs of electrodes forming two respective interstitial runner gaps of substantially uniform gap spacing.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising two stationary contacts and a movable contact bridgin ly engageable with said two stationary contacts and movable away therefrom to form two primary arc gaps with said respective stationary contacts, two pairs of electrodes forming two respective interstitial runner gaps of substantially uniform gap spacing and disposed adjacent to said respective primary arc gaps on opposite sides thereof to receive in said runner gaps the arcs originating in said respective primary arc gaps, one electrode of each pair being electrically connected with one of said respective stationary contacts, the other two electrodes being electrically connected with each other, an arc chamber structure enclosing said gaps and having conductive chamber walls, said electrodes having respective currentsupply conductors and forming respective L-shaped electrode structures together with said conductors, and said L-shaped structures being mounted on said chamber walls in conductive connection therewith so as to form blowaction loop circuits together with the arcs in said runner gaps.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising two stationary contacts and a movable contact bridgingly engageable with said two stationary contacts and movable away therefrom to form two primary arc gaps with said respective stationary contacts, two pairs of electrodes forming two respective interstitial runner gapsof substantially uniform gap spacing and disposed adiac'ent to said respective primary arc gaps on opposite sides thereof to receive in said runner gaps the arcs originating in said respective primary arc gaps, one electrode of each pair being electrically connected with one of said respective stationary contacts, the other two electrodes being electrically connected with each other, and an arc chamber structure of metal enclosing said gaps, said electrodes being cup shaped and having their respective open ends conductively secured to said structure.
  • a device for interrupting alternating current comprising two stationary contacts and a movable contact bridgingly engageable with said two stationary contacts and movable away therefrom to form two primary arc gaps with said respective stationary contacts, two pairs of electrodes forming two. respective interstitial runner gaps of substantially uniform gap spacing and disposed adjacent to said respective primary arc gaps on opposite sides thereof to receive in said runner gaps the arcs orig inating in said respective primary arc gaps, one electrode of each pair being electrically connected with one of said respective stationary contacts, the other two electrodes being electrically connected with each other, each of said stationary contacts having a current supply bus and forming with said bus a substantially L-shaped structure of which one leg is assigned to said contact and the other to said bus, said two L-shaped structures having their contact legs extending in opposite directions and aligned with each other and having their bus legs spaced in parallelrelation to each other, and conductive partitions disposed between said bus legs in parallel and in sulated relation to said bus legs and to each other.

Landscapes

  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US337151A 1952-02-14 1953-02-16 Alternating-current circuit interrupters Expired - Lifetime US2729723A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DES27182A DE1034245B (de) 1952-02-14 1952-02-14 Anordnung zum Abschalten von Wechselstrom

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2729723A true US2729723A (en) 1956-01-03

Family

ID=7478985

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US337151A Expired - Lifetime US2729723A (en) 1952-02-14 1953-02-16 Alternating-current circuit interrupters

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US2729723A (ko)
BE (1) BE517673A (ko)
CH (1) CH318043A (ko)
DE (1) DE1034245B (ko)
FR (1) FR1080547A (ko)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475574A (en) * 1966-05-26 1969-10-28 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Power switch including opposed diodes in circuit with switch contacts
US4109122A (en) * 1976-03-03 1978-08-22 Hazemeijer B.V. Vacuum switch with intermittently energized electromagnetic coil

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206330A (en) * 1978-01-11 1980-06-03 Gould Inc. Moving contact for radial blow-in effect for arc spinner interrupter

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1851238A (en) * 1928-05-10 1932-03-29 Branchu Paul Joseph Electric arc disrupter
US2356039A (en) * 1942-07-31 1944-08-15 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Arc limiting device
US2534069A (en) * 1947-04-09 1950-12-12 Arrow Hart & Hegeman Electric Arc extinguishing means for alternating current electric switches
US2629036A (en) * 1950-03-16 1953-02-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Circuit breaker
US2632074A (en) * 1950-06-29 1953-03-17 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute utilizing interleaved u-shaped conductive members

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE312134C (ko) *
DE596746C (ko) *
FR597454A (ko) * 1924-05-09 1925-11-21
FR636699A (ko) * 1926-04-10 1928-04-14
DE588693C (de) * 1928-10-02 1933-11-28 Sigwart Ruppel Dipl Ing Schalter mit Lichtbogenloeschung durch Druckgas
GB478824A (en) * 1936-08-20 1938-01-26 Frank Whyman Improvements in arc extinguishing devices for electric circuit interrupters
DE707432C (de) * 1939-04-05 1941-06-21 Aeg Lichtbogenloescheinrichtung fuer Wechselschalter mit einer magnetischen Blasung

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1851238A (en) * 1928-05-10 1932-03-29 Branchu Paul Joseph Electric arc disrupter
US2356039A (en) * 1942-07-31 1944-08-15 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Arc limiting device
US2534069A (en) * 1947-04-09 1950-12-12 Arrow Hart & Hegeman Electric Arc extinguishing means for alternating current electric switches
US2629036A (en) * 1950-03-16 1953-02-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Circuit breaker
US2632074A (en) * 1950-06-29 1953-03-17 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute utilizing interleaved u-shaped conductive members

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475574A (en) * 1966-05-26 1969-10-28 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Power switch including opposed diodes in circuit with switch contacts
US4109122A (en) * 1976-03-03 1978-08-22 Hazemeijer B.V. Vacuum switch with intermittently energized electromagnetic coil

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE517673A (ko)
CH318043A (de) 1956-12-15
FR1080547A (fr) 1954-12-09
DE1034245B (de) 1958-07-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2276859A (en) Circuit interrupter
US2243040A (en) Circuit interrupter
US2590543A (en) Spaced plate circuit interrupter
US2249499A (en) Electric circuit interrupter
US2353729A (en) Air blast arc chute
US2749410A (en) Arc chute with perforated barrier plates having staggered slots
US2524287A (en) Circuit interrupter
US2443017A (en) Electric arc extinguishing apparatus
US2729723A (en) Alternating-current circuit interrupters
US2446027A (en) Arc chute
US3201551A (en) Air-magnetic type circuit interrupter having planar blowout coils and primary conductor mounted puffer means
US2343323A (en) Electric switch
US2180147A (en) Electric circuit interrupter
US2486127A (en) Air blast electric circuit breaker
US3538279A (en) Blowout magnet structure for air-break circuit interrupter
US2913557A (en) Circuit interrupter
US2759073A (en) High voltage magnetic arc extinguishing means
US2888539A (en) Arc-extinction chambers for circuit-breakers
US2365134A (en) Electric circuit breaker of the gas-blast type
US2335068A (en) Electric circuit breaker
US1825298A (en) Arc extinguishing means
US2443521A (en) Arc chute
US2821606A (en) Circuit interrupter
US1916418A (en) Circuit breaker
US2697154A (en) Circuit interrupter