US3336453A - Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker - Google Patents

Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US3336453A
US3336453A US421776A US42177664A US3336453A US 3336453 A US3336453 A US 3336453A US 421776 A US421776 A US 421776A US 42177664 A US42177664 A US 42177664A US 3336453 A US3336453 A US 3336453A
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Prior art keywords
piston
blast
closing
contact
valve member
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US421776A
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English (en)
Inventor
John W Beatty
Richard H Miller
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Priority to DENDAT1515781 priority Critical patent/DE1515781A1/de
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US421777A priority patent/US3336454A/en
Priority to US421776A priority patent/US3336453A/en
Priority to GB49858/65A priority patent/GB1098380A/en
Priority to DE19651515789 priority patent/DE1515789A1/de
Priority to CH1792965A priority patent/CH457583A/de
Priority to FR43968A priority patent/FR1462615A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3336453A publication Critical patent/US3336453A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • 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
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/04—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H33/14—Multiple main contacts for the purpose of dividing the current through, or potential drop along, the arc
    • 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
    • H01H33/86—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid under pressure from the contact space being controlled by a valve

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electric circuit breaker of the gas blast type and, more particularly, relates to means for controlling the blast valve and movable contacts of such a circuit breaker.
  • the circuit breaker of the present invention there is a pair of relatively movable contacts that can be separated to draw an arc therebetween and a blast valve that is operable at the time of contact-separation to cause a blast of pressurized gas to flow through the arcing region to aid in extinguishing the arc.
  • the blast valve comprises a movable valve member that can be operated from a normally-closed position to an open position to create the gas blast. After a period of time suflicient to insure extinction of the arc, the movable blast valve member is returned to its normally-closed position to terminate the blast, thereby preventing such wastage of pressurized gas as would result from continuation of the blast.
  • the con tacts are held in open position after the blast valve closes, thus maintaining the circuit open.
  • An object of our invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for controlling the blast valve and contacts in this manner.
  • Another object of our invention is to provide an operating mechanism capable of controlling the motion of the blast valve and contacts in the general manner set forth above but capable of responding faster to a closing signal and capable of more precisely controlling contact-closing motion than a mechanism that relies upon the above-described venting of pressurized fluid for initiating and controlling closing motion.
  • Another object is to provide a blast valve and contact operating mechanism which can initiate circuit breaker opening in response to a relatively low-force input signal and within a very short time after reception of the input signal.
  • Still another object is to provide a high speed blast valve and contact operating mechanism that is highly compact and can be located in a small gas-filled tank surrounding the contacts.
  • Another object is to provide an operating mechanism which has opening time characteristics that are relatively insensitive to minor changes in the position of an operation-initiating part.
  • a gas blast circuit breaker that comprises a contact movable from a closed position to an open position to develop 3,335,453 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 an arc, a blast valve member movable from a closed position to an open position to create an arc-extinguishing blast, and a tank that is adapted to contain a supply of high pressure gas in which the contact is located.
  • an actuating piston that has an opening surface on which pressurized fluid is adapted to act in a blast valve-opening direction and a closing surface on which pressurized fluid is adapted to act in a blast valve-closing direction.
  • Means is provided for supplying high pressure fluid to the opening surface of the actuating piston to drive the piston through an opening-stroke that opens the blast valve member.
  • Actuating means coupled to the contact is provided for transmitting contact-opening motion from the actuating piston to the contact when the actuating piston moves through its opening stroke.
  • Means is also provided for supplying high pressure fluid to the closing surface of the piston after the opening stroke to then cause closing of the blast valve member. When the blast valve member is closed, the closing surface is vented to a low pressure region, and this removes from the closing surface high pressure fluid that previously acted on the contact in an opening direction.
  • Closing means is provided for causing the high pressure gas in the tank when the closing surface of the blast valve piston is vented to the low pressure region to exert a net force on the contact acting in a direction to drive the contact toward closed position.
  • Latching means is provided for holding the contact in an open position against this closing means when the closing surface of the piston is vented to the low pressure region, and closing control means is provided for releasing the latching means to permit the closing means to drive the contact into closed position.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view partly in section of a circuit breaker embodying one form of our invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 3 shows the circuit breaker in its normally-closed position.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 except showing the circuit breaker in a position in which its blast valve and contacts are fully open.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view partly in section also showing the circuit breaker in its normally-closed position.
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except showing the circuit breaker in its fully-open position.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates the position of the parts when the circuit breaker has just entered its fully-open position, and, accordingly, the normally-closed blast valve is still open but is in readiness to reclo-se.
  • the circuit breaker shown therein comprises a metallic tank 10 filled with a highly pressurized gas, preferably air.
  • This tank 10 is mounted on a tubular insulating column 12, preferably of porcelain, that isolates the tank from ground.
  • each of these bushings comprises a centrally-disposed rigid conductor 18 and a tubular insulator 20 surrounding and supporting the conductor 18 and insulating it from the tank 10 when the circuit breaker is open.
  • each of these conductors 18 At the inner end of each of these conductors 18 is a stationary contact 22;. Cooperating with their respective stationary contacts 22 are a pair of movable contacts 24, each of which is pivotally mounted at 26 on a central a casting 28 that is mounted on the tank It) and electrically connected thereto.
  • a pair of movable contacts 24 Cooperating with their respective stationary contacts 22 are a pair of movable contacts 24, each of which is pivotally mounted at 26 on a central a casting 28 that is mounted on the tank It) and electrically connected thereto.
  • the contacts 24 are simultaneously operated from their closed position of FIG. 1, into their open position by driving a centrally disposed crosshead 30 in a downward direction.
  • This crosshead 30 is coupled to the contacts 24 by means of links 32, each of which is pivotally, connected at its opposite ends to a contact 24 and the crosshead 3tB. Whcn the crosshead moves downwardly from its position of FIG. 1, it acts through links 32 to pivot the movable contacts 24 about their pivots 26, moving the upper portion of each movable contact 24 toward the central casting, thus separating the movable contacts 24 from their respective stationary contacts 22.
  • the above-described contact-separation produces an arc between the contacts of each pair, and this arc is extinguished after a short interval by a blast of pressurized gas which flows through the arcing region.
  • This gas blast is produced by opening a normally-closed blast valve 35 just prior to the time the contacts separate to form the arc.
  • the normally-closed blast valve 35 comprises a movable valve member 36 that is located in a blast passage 37.
  • This blast passage 37 extends upwardly to atmosphere from two nozzles 38 respectively located adjacent the two arcing regions.
  • the movable blast valve member After the movable blast valve member has remained in open position for a sufficient period to effect arc-extinction, it is returned to its closed position of FIG. 1 to terminate the gas blast.
  • This valve-closing prevents the pressurized gas in the tank from being wasted by continued flow fro-m the tank after a circuit-interrupting operation.
  • the contacts are normally caused to remain open after an interrupting operation to maintain two series-related intercontact gaps in the circuit through the circuit breaker.
  • a pneumatically-controlled operating mechanism 56 located in the hollow casting 28 is provided.
  • This operating mechanism 50 is best shown in FIG. 3. It comprises a stationary centrally-located cylinder 52 that is normally filled with pressurized gas from the tank 10. This pressurized gas is supplied from the tank through a feed passage 56 having ports 57, 58, 59 and opening into the interior of the stationary cylinder 52.
  • the stationary cylinder 52 has a lower end wall 53 and an upper end wall 54.
  • the dashpot piston 66 has a vertically-extending piston rod 61 that extends through the lower end wall 53 of cylinder 52 and is suitably joined to a portion 150 of the crosshead 30.
  • a threaded portion of the piston rod 61 extends through the portion 150 of crosshead 3i), and a nut 62 is threaded thereon to clamp the crosshead portion 156 between the nut 62 and a shoulder on the piston rod 61.
  • Also secured to the crosshead 30 is a plurality of rods 64 that project upwardly from the crosshead about the outside of cylinder 52. As will soon appear more clearly, contact-opening forces are transmitted through these rods 64 to effect downward opening motion of crosshead 35.
  • the rods 64 bear at their upper end against a blast valveand contact-actuating piston 65 that is integral with the movable blast valve member 36.
  • This piston 65 is of an annular form and surrounds the cylinder 52 with a sliding fit.
  • a suitable O-ring seal 63 is preferably provided to prevent pressurized air from leaking past the piston 65 along the outer surface of cylinder 52.
  • the movable blast valve member 36 is of a cylindrical form and closely surrounds the upper end wall 54, which has a circular outer periphery slidably fitting within the cylindrical blast valve member 36.
  • the outer periphery of the movable blast valve member 65 is slidably mounted within a cylindrical portion 67 of the stationary casting 38 that cooperates with a suitable piston ring on piston 65 to prevent pressurized air from leaking along this outer periphery into the space It)? beneath the piston 65.
  • the movable blast valve member 36 can be driven in a downward opening direction by supplying pressurized air to an actuating chamber 66 located immediately above the blast valveand contact-actuating piston 65.
  • the upper end wall 54 of cylinder 52 extends radially outward past the outer periphery of the cylinder 52 and defines an upper wall for this actuating chamber 66.
  • An inlet passage 69 communicates with this actuating chamber 66. When high pressure air is permitted to flow through this inlet passage 69, as will soon be described, it will flow into the actuating chamber 66 and build up a pressure that acts on the upper surface 65a of the blast valveand contact-actuating piston '65 to drive the piston 65 in a downward blast-valve-opening direction.
  • This upper surface 65a of the piston 65 is referred to hereinafter as the blast valve-opening surface.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the blast valve member 36 in its fully open position with the high pressure air streaming past its upper surface.
  • downward movement of the blast valve-and contact-actuating piston 65 into its position of FIG. 4 is also transmitted through the rods 64 and the crosshead 30 to the movable contacts 24. This causes these contacts to open and draw a pair of arcs adjacent the nozzles 38. These arcs are extinguished after a short period by the gas blast through the nozzles.
  • a normally-closed pilot valve 70 comprising a movable pilot valve member 71 is provided.
  • a flow passage 72 located centrally of the end wall 54 and a connecting passage 73 that connects the central passage 72 with inlet passage 69.
  • an annular sealing surface thereon abuts against a suitable seat on the end wall 54 and thus prevents high pressure air from entering the passages 72, 73 and 69.
  • the movable pilot valve member 71 is driven in a downward opening direction into its position of FIG.
  • the pilot valve member 71 is provided with a booster piston 75.
  • This booster piston 75 is secured to the upper end of an upwardlyextending extension of pilot valve member 71.
  • the booster piston 75 is slidably mounted within a booster cylinder 76, and a compression spring 77 is located between the booster piston 75 and the end wall 54 to exert an upward biasing force on the movable pilot valve member 71 that normally holds the movable pilot valve member in its closed position of FIG. 3.
  • An actuating chamber 78 for the booster piston 75 is located between the upper surface 79 of the booster piston and the upper end wall of the booster cylinder 76.
  • the actuating chamber 78 for the booster piston is normally vented to atmosphere through a passage 80 that extends through the extension of the movable pilot valve member 71 into the central flow passage 72.
  • the central flow passage 72 is, in turn, normally vented to atmosphere through a passage 82 and a slot 84 formed in the inner cylindrical surface of blast valve member 36 and aligned with passage 82 when the blast valve is closed.
  • Reset of the movable pilot valve member 71 to its closed position of FIG. 3 is accomplished at a subsequent point by supplying high pressure air to the space 87 beneath the booster piston 75.
  • a pilot valve reset passage 90 is provided leading into the reset space 87.
  • This pilot valve reset passage 90 has an inlet that is located in vertical alignment with the passage 73, but no effective communication normally is present between passages 73 and 90.
  • an interlock slot 92 formed in its inner surface establishes effec tive communication between passages 73 and 90.
  • the other piston 102 which will be referred to as the control piston, is connected to an operating rod 104 which extends through an opening in the lower wall 53 of the cylinder 52 and then, as shown in FIG. 1, through a sealed opening in the wall of tank 10 and then through the interior of the insulating support column 12.
  • Suitable operating means shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is provided at the lower end of the rod 104 for operating the rod 104 in a downward direction.
  • downward movement of the rod produces opening of the circuit breaker, and upward movement of the rod from its open position produces closing of the circuit breaker.
  • the rod 104 preferably passes through the lower end wall 53 of cylinder 52 via a central bore 107 in the dashpot piston rod 61.
  • the upper piStOn 100 continues moving in pneumatically coupled follow-up relationship to the lower piston 102 until the lower piston crosses the port 58. When this occurs, high pressure air flows through the port 58 into the space 105 between the two pistons, equalizing the pressure on opposite sides of the upper piston 100 to, in effect, break the pneumatic coupling between the two pistons 100 and 102.
  • the upper piston does not immediately return to its normal position of FIG. 3. This is the case because the booster chamber 78 has then filled with high pressure air acting in a downward direction on the booster piston 75 and the movable pilot valve member 71. The downward force exerted by this high pressure air holds the pilot valve member 71 in its fully open position until the movable blast valve member as has reached substantially its fully open position.
  • This pressure-equalizing passageway is constituted by passages 69, 73, 72, 86, 82 and 110 and is open when the movable pilot valve member 71, 85 uncovered port 86 near the end of its abovedescribed closing motion.
  • Passage 116 normally vents the blast valve closing space 109 to atmosphere through passages 82 and 84, as seen in FIG. 3. But when the blast valve member 36 is in its fully open position, passage 82 is shut oflf from atmosphere by reason of slot 84 in the movable blast valve member moving out of alignment therewith.
  • a vent passage in the form of an external groove 115 is provided in the movable pilot valve member 71.
  • This vent passage 115 vents the passages 110 and 82 to atmosphere through a vent 116 in the end cap 54 aligned with the vent passage 115 while the movable pilot valve member 71 is in its open position of FIG. 4.
  • This venting means 115, 116 insures that any leakage of high pressure air into blast valve closing chamber 189 (when the blast valve is open and vent 84 in the blast valve member 36 is therefore unavailable) will not build up a significant pressure in chamber 109. Preventing such pressure buildup assures that closing of the movable blast valve member 36 will not be initiated until the pilot valve member 71 has returned to nearly its fully closed position of FIG. 3.
  • the rate at which pressure is built up in blast valve closing space 109 can be controlled by a needle valve 120 that can be adjusted to control the rate of flow through the pressure equalizing passage 69, 73, 72, 86, 82, 110.
  • the pilot valve reset chamber 87 is vented through small bleed passages 123 and 124 communicating with passage and then through passages 82 and 84. Venting of these chambers at this time serves the desirable function of assuring that on a subsequent operation, pressures will be built up in these chambers from the same reference level, i.e. atmospheric pressure. This helps to assure that the blast valve-opening and contact-opening times will not vary appreciably from one opening operation to the next. Also venting the blast valve closing chamber 109 assures that there will be no pressure in this chamber acting downwardly on the ends of rods 64 to interfere with a subsequent circuit breakerclosing operation, when the rods 64 more upwardly through chamber 109, as will soon be described.
  • passages 123 and 124 leading into pilot valve reset chamber 87 function as a portion of a pneumatic lock for folding the pilot valve closed during the period between return of the pilot valve to its closed position and return of the blast valve member 36 to its closed position. More specifically, these passages 123, 124 assure that the pilot valve will not be opened unintentionally by any pressure differential developing on opposite sides of the booster piston 75 while the blast valve member 36is open and booster chamber 78 is therefore unvented. In this regard, these passages 123, 124 maintain communication between chamberas 78 and 87 on opposite sides of the booster piston 75 while the pilot valve is in closed position.
  • booster piston actuating chamber 78 any high pressure present in booster piston actuating chamber 78 will also be present in the reset chamber 87, and there will be a net force on booster piston 75 acting in a pilot valve-closing direction to hold the pilot valve closed in view of the relatively large cosing area 75b as compared to opening area 79.
  • passage 123 is a small bleed passage and, due to its small size, does not permit much high pressure to flow into chamber 87 during the brief period before the passage 123 is covered by an enlarged portion 126 on movable pilot valve member 71. Near the end of a pilot valve-opening stroke, this enlarged portion 126 acts as a dash-pot piston in a cylinder 127. Air displaced from cylinder 127 by piston 126 is forced through passage 124 which becomes progressively more restricted as the pilot valve member 71 reaches the end of its opening stroke.
  • the control piston 162 that was moved downwardly to initiate pilot valve opening is similarly held in its loWermost position of FIG. 6 by a latch schematically depicted at 140.
  • a closure-initiating spring 142 acts on operating rod 104 to bias the piston 102 upwardly toward its initial position of FIG. 5, but the latch 140 retains the piston 102 in its lowermost position so long as it is desired to hold the circuit breaker open.
  • the latch 140 acts on a force-transmitting linkage 170 which is coupled to the rod 104.
  • This force-transmitting linkage 170 comprises a plurality of cranks 172, 173, and 174, which are respectively pivotally mounted on stationary pivats 172a, 173a and 174a. interconnecting the cranks 172 and 173 is a link 1'75 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the two cranks. Interconnecting the cranks 174 and 173 is a link 176 pivotally connected at its opposite ends to these two cranks.
  • the crank 174 carries a latching roller 177 which the latch 140 cooperates with to hold the linkage in its position of FIG. 6.
  • Closing operation of the Circuit breaker Closing of the circuit breaker is initiated by suitably tripping the latch 140 of FIG. 6. This is done with a solenoid 144 that, upon energization, drives its armature upwardly to engage the latch 140 and pivot it counterclockwise about its stationary pivot 146 against the bias of a latch-reset spring 145. This removes the restraining eifect of the latch 140 from the latching roller 17?, permitting the closurednitiating spring 142 near the top of rod 104 to drive the control piston 102 and operating rod 104 upwardly. Upward movement of the operating rod 104 moves the linkage 1'70 into its unlatched position of FIG. 5.
  • the above-described upward movement of the operating rod 104 is used for releasing the contact-restraining latch 130 after a predetermined amount of such upward movement of the operating rod 104.
  • Release of the contact-restraining latch 130 is ettected by means of a latchreleasing linkage 180 that is coupled between the operating rod 104 and the contact-restraining latch 130.
  • This latch-releasing linkage 180 comprises an input arm 181 that is pivotally mounted on a stationary pivot 182 and an output arm 183 that is pivotally mounted on a stationary pivot 104.
  • These arms 181 and 183 are interconnected by a link 185 that is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the respective arms.
  • the input arm 181 has a pivotal connection 186 at its outer end with the operating rod 104.
  • the output arm 103 carries a roller 107 that is adapted to engage the contact-restraining latch 130.
  • the operating rod 104 moves upwardly, it acts through parts 181 and 185 to pivot arm 103 clockwise about its pivot 184, causing roller 187 to engage the latch 130 and pivot it in a counterclockwise releasing direction. After a predetermined upward movement of operating rod 104, the latch 1350 is released.
  • the contact-closing speed is controlled by piston 150 attached to the crosshead 30.
  • This piston 150 is slidably mounted in a stationary cylinder 152 having a large opening 154 therein. Initial closing motion takes place at high speed since the air in cylinder 152 ahead of the upwardly moving piston 150 can be freely expelled through opening 154. But when the upwardly moving piston 150 passes the opening 154, the air ahead of it is forced through a restricted passage 156 at a controlled rate, thus providing a dashpot action that smoothly terminates upward closing movement of the piston 150 and the connected contacts.
  • a passage 157 containing a check valve 158 is provided in the piston to allow air to flow upwardly into the space above the piston should a reduced pressure be developed in this space.
  • a passageway is provided leading from the high pressure tank into the cylinder space behind the piston 60.
  • a check valve 162 in this passage 160 allows air to flow upwardly therethorugh into the space behind the piston 60 as it moves upwardly. This check valve prevents air from flowing through passage 160 during an opening operation.
  • control piston 102 moves upwardly and returns to its position of FIG. 3, it is once again pneumatically coupled to the pilot piston 100. Accordingly, when a subsequent opening operation, the control piston 102 is moved downwardly, the pilot piston 100 will move behind it in coupled follow-up relationship.
  • a fluid motor 190 for controlling opening of the pilot valve
  • This fluid motor 190 comprises a reciprocable piston 191 that is slidably mounted in a stationary cylinder 192.
  • piston 191 moves rapidly upward, pivoting the crank 174 clockwise about its stationary pivot 174a and thereby rapidly pulling the operating rod 104 downwardly by force transmitted through the linkage 170.
  • This downward movement of operating rod 104 causes the pilot valve 70 to open, thereby initiating a circuit breaker-opening operation, as described hereinabove.
  • valve 195 When the piston 191 reaches the top of its upward pilot valve-opening stroke, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressurized fluid beneath it is vented to a low pressure region, and the piston 191 quickly returns to its lowermost position of FIG. 5 in response to such venting.
  • a suitable reset spring 193 is provided to facilitate this resetting operation.
  • the flow of pressurized fluid into and out of the cylinder spaced beneath piston 191 is controlled by suitable threeway valve 195 that in its normal position vents the cylinder space to a low pressure region.
  • valve 195 When the valve 195 is opened, as by energizing its solenoid operator 1%, the valve establishes communication between a high pressure source and the cylinder space and also isolates the cylinder space from the low pressure region.
  • valve 195 At the end of the upward opening stroke of piston 191, valve 195 is returned (by conventional means, not shown) to its normal position to vent the cylinder space and permit resetting of piston 191.
  • the fluid motor 190 needs to develop only a relatively low force in order to initiate an opening operation. This is the case because this fluid motor does not directly actuate the blast valve member 36 or the contacts 24 but merely operates the small pilot valve 70. This pilot valve, in turn, initiates operation of the relatively massive blast valve and contacts by controlling the flow of pressurized fluid into the actuating chamber 66 above the blast valve-actuating piston 65.
  • the pressure in blast valve-actuating chamber 66 can be built up very quickly because there is only a very small volume upstream from the pilot valve 70 that needs to be filled with pressurized fluid in order to develop a pressure build-up in the actuating chamber 66.
  • the actuating chamber 66 itself is quite small, and the passageways '72, '73 and 69 between the pilot valve 70 and the actuating chamber 66 are quite short, as will be apparent from FIG. 3. Hence a very rapid pressure build-up in chamber 66 is possible when the pilot valve 70 is opened.
  • pilot valve 70 is located immediately adjacent the actuating chamber 66 and in a generally central position with respect to the actuating chamber 66.
  • closing motion of the contacts is initiated by releasing the latch 130.
  • closing force is available even before latch release inasmuch as there is a net force acting in a closing direction on the contacts as soon as this space 189 is vented, and such venting occurs long before release of the latch 13%.
  • This closing force which is available at the time of latch-release can drive the contacts in a closing direction with no appreciable delay, and the speed of closing can be more precisely controlled since it does not depend upon the previously-used venting. Still further, using a fluid pressure-derived force for closing the contacts has certain advantages over using'a spring-derived force in that there is no force gradient to diminish the available force as the contacts near their closed position. Thus, a fluid pressure-derived force for closing the contacts has certain advantages over using'a spring-derived force in that there is no force gradient to diminish the available force as the contacts near their closed position.
  • a gas blast circuit breaker comprising a contact movable from a closed position to an open position to develop an arc and a blast valve member movable from a closed position to an open position to create an arcextinguishing blast
  • said piston having an opening surface on which pressurized fluid is adapted to act in a blast valveopening direction and a closing surface on which pressurized fluid is adapted to act in a blast valveclosing direction
  • closing means for causing the high pressure gas in said tank, when the closing surface of the blast valve piston is vented to a low pressure region, to exert a net force on said contact acting in a direction to drive said contact toward closed position
  • latching means for holding said Contact in an open position against said closing means when said closing surface of said piston is vented to said low pressure region
  • An electric circuit breaker of the gas-blast type comprising:
  • opening means for moving said second contact from said closed to said fully open position
  • closing means for causing the high pressure gas in said tank, when said opening means is rendered ineffective, to exert a net force on said second contact acting in a direction to drive said second contact toward closed position
  • pilot valve operating means releasably coupled to said pilot valve for causing said pilot valve to operate and produce operation of said opening means
  • said closing control means being responsive to said return of the pilot valve operating means for effecting release of said latching means.
  • An electric circuit breaker of the gas blast type comprising:
  • (g) means defining a blast valve-closing chamber at the other side of said annular piston where pressurized fluid is adapted to exert a force for driving said piston in a blast valve-closing direction
  • said contact actuating means comprising a forcetransmitting member coupled to said contact and slidably mounted on said mounting structure and a plurality of rods coupled to said force-tranmitting member and projecting therefrom through said blast valve closing chamber into engagement with said blast valve-controlling piston,
  • circuit breaker of claim 4 in which said mounting structure has a cylinder space therein and said pilot valve comprises a movable flow-controlling pilot valve member, the circuit breaker further comprising:
  • a gas blast circuit breaker comprising a contact movable from a closed position to an open position to develop an arc and a blast valve member movable from a closed position to an open position to create an arcextinguishing blast
  • a normally-closed pilot valve comprising a movable pilot valve member having a normally-closed position for closing said pilot valve and an open position for opening said pilot valve
  • (j) means for rendering said pneumatic coupling inetfective after a predetermined movement of said control piston so that said movable pilot valve member can return to its normally-closed position free of said control piston
  • (k) means responsive to return of said pilot Valve member to its closed position to effect closing of said blast valve member
  • (l) actuating means coupled to said contact and driven by said blast valve-actuating piston for imparting contact-opening movement to said contact in response to blast valve-opening movement of said blast valveactuating piston
  • circuit breaker of claim 8 in combination with:
  • closure-initiating means for returning said control piston to its normally-closed position adjacent said pilot piston in response to release of said restraining means
  • a gas blast circuit breaker comprising a contact movable from a closed position to an open position to develop an arc and a blast valve member movable from a closed position to an open position to create an arcextinguishing blast
  • a normally-closed pilot valve comprising a movable pilot valve member having a normally closed position for closing said pilot valve and an open position for opening said pilot valve
  • actuating means coupled to said contact and driven by said blast valve-actuating piston for imparting contact-opening movement to said contact in response to blast valve-opening movement of said blast valveactuating piston
  • said means for moving said pilot valve member into an open position comprises a driving member releasably coupled to said pilot valve member, and in which means is provided for releasing the coupling between said driving member and said pilot valve member after a predetermined movement of said driving member to then permit closing movement of said pilot valve member.
  • circuit breaker of claim 11 in which said means for moving said pilot valve member into an open position comprises a driving member releasably coupled to said pilot valve member, and in which means is provided for releasing the coupling between said driving member and said pilot valve member after a predetermined movement of said driving member to then permit closing movement of said pilot valve member, said circuit breaker further comprising:
  • closure-initiating means for returning said driving member to a position where it is coupled to said pilot valve member in response to release of said restraining means
  • said pilot valve comprising a movable pilot valve member having a normally-closed position for blocking pressurized fluid from reaching said opening surface and an open position for permitting .pressurized fluid to reach said opening surface
  • booster means effective when operative to apply a supplemental opening force to said pilot valve member to accelerate opening movement of said pilot valve member and to urge said pilot piston toward said control piston
  • circuit breaker of claim 15 in combination with a normally-closed blast valve member that is openable to produce a fluid blast that facilitates circuit interruption and means responsive to movement of said contact-actuating piston in a contact-opening direction for producing opening of said blast valve member.
  • circuit breaker of claim 15 in combination with a housing at high voltage surrounding said contact, said contact-actuating piston, said pilot valve, said pilot piston, said control piston, and said booster means; insulating means on which said housing is mounted; and means extending from said control piston to a location outside said tank for imparting motion from said outside location to said control piston.

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  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Fluid-Driven Valves (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
  • Actuator (AREA)
US421776A 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US3336453A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DENDAT1515781 DE1515781A1 (de) 1964-12-29
US421777A US3336454A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve of a gas blast circuit breaker
US421776A US3336453A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker
GB49858/65A GB1098380A (en) 1964-12-29 1965-11-24 A gas blast circuit breaker
DE19651515789 DE1515789A1 (de) 1964-12-29 1965-12-11 Elektrischer Schalter mit einer Geblaeseeinrichtung
CH1792965A CH457583A (de) 1964-12-29 1965-12-28 Druckgasschalter
FR43968A FR1462615A (fr) 1964-12-29 1965-12-28 Organes de contrôle de la soupape de soufflage et des contacts d'un interrupteur àsoufflage gazeux

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US421777A US3336454A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve of a gas blast circuit breaker
US421776A US3336453A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3336453A true US3336453A (en) 1967-08-15

Family

ID=27025357

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US421776A Expired - Lifetime US3336453A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve and contacts of a gas blast circuit breaker
US421777A Expired - Lifetime US3336454A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve of a gas blast circuit breaker

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US421777A Expired - Lifetime US3336454A (en) 1964-12-29 1964-12-29 Means for controlling the blast valve of a gas blast circuit breaker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US3336453A (de)
CH (1) CH457583A (de)
DE (2) DE1515789A1 (de)
FR (1) FR1462615A (de)
GB (1) GB1098380A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3780244A (en) * 1972-10-18 1973-12-18 Gen Electric Gas blast circuit breaker of the axial blast type
US3928738A (en) * 1973-04-04 1975-12-23 Siemens Ag Coupling arrangement for a compressed-gas circuit breaker equipped with a hydraulic drive

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3505488A (en) * 1967-01-27 1970-04-07 Ite Imperial Corp Stationary contact structure forcing blow out shaped current path
SE342354B (de) * 1970-05-27 1972-01-31 Asea Ab

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2783337A (en) * 1953-12-10 1957-02-26 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US2783338A (en) * 1955-09-21 1957-02-26 Gen Electric Operating mechanism for a fluid-blast circuit breaker
US3214540A (en) * 1960-10-03 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Interrupting structures and control for compressed-gas circuit interrupters

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2783337A (en) * 1953-12-10 1957-02-26 Gen Electric Fluid blast circuit interrupter
US2783338A (en) * 1955-09-21 1957-02-26 Gen Electric Operating mechanism for a fluid-blast circuit breaker
US3214540A (en) * 1960-10-03 1965-10-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Interrupting structures and control for compressed-gas circuit interrupters

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3780244A (en) * 1972-10-18 1973-12-18 Gen Electric Gas blast circuit breaker of the axial blast type
US3928738A (en) * 1973-04-04 1975-12-23 Siemens Ag Coupling arrangement for a compressed-gas circuit breaker equipped with a hydraulic drive

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1462615A (fr) 1966-12-16
GB1098380A (en) 1968-01-10
DE1515789A1 (de) 1970-01-22
US3336454A (en) 1967-08-15
CH457583A (de) 1968-06-15
DE1515781A1 (de)

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