US3384724A - Circuit breaker with liquid arc quenching - Google Patents

Circuit breaker with liquid arc quenching Download PDF

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Publication number
US3384724A
US3384724A US442016A US44201665A US3384724A US 3384724 A US3384724 A US 3384724A US 442016 A US442016 A US 442016A US 44201665 A US44201665 A US 44201665A US 3384724 A US3384724 A US 3384724A
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United States
Prior art keywords
piston
grating
arc
circuit breaker
chamber
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
US442016A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marx Erwin Otto
Grosskope Rudolf Erich
Kruckewitt Wilfried
Ann Holger
Erk Adil
Schmitz Ludwig
Mollenhoff Klaus
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Individual
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Publication of US3384724A publication Critical patent/US3384724A/en
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/04—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H33/06—Insulating body insertable between contacts
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01H33/08—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
    • 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
    • H01H33/72—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid having stationary parts for directing the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid, e.g. arc-extinguishing chamber
    • H01H33/75—Liquid-break switches, e.g. oil-break
    • 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
    • H01H33/88—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts
    • H01H33/90—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism
    • H01H33/91—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism the arc-extinguishing fluid being air or gas
    • 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
    • H01H33/88—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts
    • H01H33/90—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism
    • H01H33/92—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts this movement being effected by or in conjunction with the contact-operating mechanism the arc-extinguishing fluid being liquid, e.g. oil
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electric liquid switch or circuit breaker having an electric arc chamber and means for establishing a transverse current of quenching fluid in the chamber to extinguish the arc.
  • the object of this invention is to construct and improve the above mentioned kind of liquid switch so that it can be used as a high voltage switch, especially for direct current, and which, if used with alternating current, will effect a considerable shortening of the arcing time as compared with that of known AC high voltage switches.
  • the present invention solves this problem by providing a burning chamber with a narrow end space for the electric are, said are limited in the direction of movement by an arc-stopping grating of narrow mesh.
  • narrow end space By the narrow end space mentioned above is meant a space which is laterally limited in such a manner that the electric arccannot escape transversely to the direction of flow of the quenching fluid.
  • a current of quenching fluid consisting preferably of oil
  • the electric arc is effectively cooled and during its entire time of burning, especially after its subsequent lengthening, is continuously brought into contact with fresh quenching fluid.
  • a previously unattained voltage gradient per unit of length of the arc is realized.
  • the narrow mesh grating serves to limit the movement of the are after it has become extended to its full length by contact with the grating and intense cooling by the quenching fluid is continued until the arc is completely extinguished.
  • the are is not to be permitted to strike through the grating and ignite on the outside thereof where it would largely escape from the restrictive effect of the grating and the cooling effect of the quenching fluid.
  • Such a striking through of the arc is prevented by providing a grating with a suitable wall structure, in combination with devices such as cooling ribs on the outside of these walls.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a schematic representation of the new switch having a horizontally positioned narrow mesh grating wall
  • FIGURE 2 is a section along the line II-II of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURES 3 and 4 show details of the grating wall.
  • 10 is a body of insulating material with a bore 12 in which piston 14 is reciprocably sealingly mounted.
  • Piston propelling means such as the explosive cartridge 16, is operable for impelling piston 14 upwardly in bore 12 when actuated.
  • Bore 12 at its upper end opens into a chamber 18 which tapers outwardly in the upward direction when viewed in one lateral direction (FIGURE 1) and tapers inwardly in the upward direction when viewed in another lateral direction at right angles to the first mentioned lateral direction (FIGURE 2).
  • chamber 18 The upper end of chamber 18 is in the form of an elongated slit-like opening and resting thereon is a grating 20 of insulating material that may be made up of the interfitting comb-like parts 22, 24 which are shown assembled in FIGURE 3 and disassembled in FIGURE 4.
  • the grating has rather small passages 25 therethrough.
  • grating 20 Above grating 20, is a chamber of reservoir 26, which is also preferably of insulating material. Reservoir 26 at the bottom freely communicates with the top of grating 20 and at the top has an outwardly opening check valve 28.
  • Body 10 has laterally aligned cylinders 30 and 32 in the upper portion thereof with metal pistons 34 and 36 reciprocably mounted therein.
  • piston 34, 36 Projecting from the ends of piston 34, 36 that face each other are the contact members 38, 40 which, when pistons 34, 36 move toward each other, will interengage in electrically conductive nature.
  • the contact members, or electrodes 38, 40 are disposed just beneath grating 20 so that an are drawn therebetween when piston 34, 36 move apart and separate the contact members from each other will also be disposed just beneath the grating.
  • Wires or rods 42, 44 are connected to and project axially from the sides of the pistons 34, 36 that face away from each other and these wires or rods are engaged by metal guide rollers 46, 48.
  • Reservoir 26 contains oil, as indicated at 50.
  • the oil level in reservoir 26 is preferably above the upper level of grating 20.
  • the piston propelling means is activated.
  • the piston propelling means is an explosive cartridge, detonation thereof will impel piston 14 upwardly in bore 12. In any case, the piston is impelled upwardly in the bore rapidly and the liquid above piston 14 is displaced from the bore 12.
  • the upper end of piston 14 has a reduced diameter portion 58 which fits in a reduced diameter upper end portion 60 of bore 12 so that the piston is cushioned by the liquid in the upper end of the large diameter portion of bore 12 at the top of the piston stroke thereby preventing the piston from impacting with damaging force against the body at the upper end of the piston stroke.
  • the new switch construction according to the present invention has an advantage in that the relatively narrow space for the electric arc in its final position, after the quenching, will be cooled and deionized by the continued flow of quenching fluid. A recommencement of the electric arc in AC switches after it has once been extinguished is prevented with certainty.
  • the velocity of the quenching fluid must be many times that heretofore used for quenching purposes if the desired average potential gradient of several thousand volts per cm. along the electric arc is to be reached.
  • the switch of this invention is designed in such a manner that the oil flows through the narrowmeshed grating with a velocity greater than 25 m./sec.
  • Such parts may be comb-like sections assembled to form gratings on the outlet side and if desired also on the inlet side of the burning chamber.
  • the grating walls or the built-in parts thereof can be formed advantageously of a gas-producing insulating substance whereby the useful life of such substance will be prolonged and the liberated gas will exert a cooling effect.
  • the slot in which the arc is formed is designed to receive quenching fluid along the entire length of the arc and the conduit for delivering the quenching fluid is connected directly to the burning chamber.
  • the electric are always tries to avoid thecurrent of quenching fluid and burn wherever it will not be exposed to the latter.
  • the walls of the latter are provided with transverse grooves extending to the grating. Since the arc will not follow the irregular contour of the grooves, it will remain in the middle of the slot, surrounded by the current of quenching fluid.
  • the piston by which the quenching fluid is put into motion can be actuatedby an explosive or propulsion charge if the switch is to be opened as quickly as possible for interrupting the DC or AC current as quickly as possible.
  • rods and/or cables can be provided, and also control members such as valves which upon rearward movement of the quenching fluid piston permit fresh quenching fluid to enter the quenching fluid cylinder and the burning chamber.
  • a circuit breaker a body with a chamber therein, contact members insulatingly supported by the body and moveable in the chamber from a first position of contact with each other to a second position of spaced relation to each other, port means for supplying quenching liquid to said chamber on one side of the line along which an arc will be drawn between said contact members upon separation thereof, a grating in said body on the opposite side of said line parallel to and adjacent said line, means for supplying quenching liquid via said port means to said one side of said chamber for flow therethrough and through said grating simultaneously with movement of said contact members in separating direction, said chamher on the said one side of said line tapering outwardly from said port means to the region of said line in the direction parallel to said line and tapering inwardly from said port means to the region of said line in the direction at right angles to said line.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 1 in which said means for supplying liquid to said chamber via said port means comprises a bore in said body communicating with said port means, a piston in the bore moveable toward said port means for causing said supply of liquid .to said chamber, piston impelling means for moving the piston in the bore toward said port means, and a reservoir communicating with the side of said grating which faces away from said chamber.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 2 which includes a cylinder in said body into which each contact member extends, piston members in said cylinder substantially smaller in area than the said piston in said bore and connected to respective contact members, and passage means connecting said bore with said cylinders so that movement of the piston in the bore toward said chamber to displace liquid therethrough will cause a simultaneous supply of liquid to said cylinders tourge said piston members away from each other thereby to separate said contact members.
  • a circuit breaker according to claim 2 in which said piston is a free piston and said piston impelling means is carried by said body at the end of said bore which is remote from said port means and is operable for impelling the said piston in said bore rapidly toward said port means 6.
  • said piston impelling means is in the form of an explosive device which, upon detonation, impels said piston toward said port means.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US442016A 1964-04-02 1965-03-23 Circuit breaker with liquid arc quenching Expired - Lifetime US3384724A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEM0060516 1964-04-02
DEM0064158 1965-02-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3384724A true US3384724A (en) 1968-05-21

Family

ID=25987529

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US442016A Expired - Lifetime US3384724A (en) 1964-04-02 1965-03-23 Circuit breaker with liquid arc quenching

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3384724A (xx)
BE (1) BE661996A (xx)
CH (1) CH479156A (xx)
DE (2) DE1490021B2 (xx)
FR (1) FR1436152A (xx)
GB (1) GB1106032A (xx)
SE (1) SE326482B (xx)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4251701A (en) * 1978-02-23 1981-02-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter
US4271341A (en) * 1977-01-26 1981-06-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker operating mechanism
US4354072A (en) * 1979-10-22 1982-10-12 General Electric Company Pyrolytic cartridge interruption assistance actuator for puffer breaker
US4563556A (en) * 1984-03-28 1986-01-07 Michel Goldstein Internal combustion circuit breaker
EP2523204A1 (en) * 2011-05-12 2012-11-14 ABB Technology AG Circuit arrangement and method for interrupting a current flow in a DC current path
US8957335B2 (en) 2010-08-27 2015-02-17 Auto Kabel Managementgesellschaft Mbh Electrical disconnecting device and method for the electrical isolation of connecting parts with the aid of a disconnecting device

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3278747D1 (en) * 1981-12-01 1988-08-11 Elektroprojekt Anlagenbau Veb Method of extinguishing the arc in high-voltage high-power circuit breakers
FR3017239B1 (fr) * 2014-02-04 2017-12-08 Ncs Pyrotechnie Et Tech Sas Coupe-circuit pyrotechnique

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2345724A (en) * 1942-03-19 1944-04-04 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2655578A (en) * 1950-10-02 1953-10-13 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with notched barrier plates
US2668217A (en) * 1951-08-28 1954-02-02 Oerlikon Maschf Liquid switch
US2709735A (en) * 1952-08-01 1955-05-31 Gen Electric Arc chute for electric circuit breakers
US3281561A (en) * 1962-07-16 1966-10-25 Marx Erwin Circuit breaker with circulating oil arc quenching means

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2345724A (en) * 1942-03-19 1944-04-04 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Circuit breaker
US2655578A (en) * 1950-10-02 1953-10-13 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with notched barrier plates
US2668217A (en) * 1951-08-28 1954-02-02 Oerlikon Maschf Liquid switch
US2709735A (en) * 1952-08-01 1955-05-31 Gen Electric Arc chute for electric circuit breakers
US3281561A (en) * 1962-07-16 1966-10-25 Marx Erwin Circuit breaker with circulating oil arc quenching means

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4271341A (en) * 1977-01-26 1981-06-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit breaker operating mechanism
US4251701A (en) * 1978-02-23 1981-02-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Circuit interrupter
US4354072A (en) * 1979-10-22 1982-10-12 General Electric Company Pyrolytic cartridge interruption assistance actuator for puffer breaker
US4563556A (en) * 1984-03-28 1986-01-07 Michel Goldstein Internal combustion circuit breaker
US8957335B2 (en) 2010-08-27 2015-02-17 Auto Kabel Managementgesellschaft Mbh Electrical disconnecting device and method for the electrical isolation of connecting parts with the aid of a disconnecting device
EP2523204A1 (en) * 2011-05-12 2012-11-14 ABB Technology AG Circuit arrangement and method for interrupting a current flow in a DC current path

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH479156A (de) 1969-09-30
DE1490021B2 (de) 1971-06-16
DE1490021A1 (de) 1969-05-14
FR1436152A (fr) 1966-04-22
BE661996A (xx) 1965-08-02
DE1540148B2 (de) 1974-07-04
GB1106032A (en) 1968-03-13
SE326482B (xx) 1970-07-27
DE1540148A1 (de) 1972-02-03

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