US3392249A - Single break oil circuit breaker structure - Google Patents

Description

July 1-968 J. R M cLoub ET AL SINGLE BREAK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 STRUCTURE ,Zai

INVENTORS J/QMES A. M: a 000 BY LOZ/VE Q/W COIVIVfZZ Jrreau-wz, 5955:; 612a fdFRF/Y July 9, 1968 J, MCCLQUD ET AL SINGLE BREAK on. CIRCUIT BREAKER smucwuna Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 9, 1968 J. R. M CLOUD ET AL 3,392,249

SINGLE BREAK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER STRUCTURE Original Filed Nov. 20, 1964 4 Sheets$heet 5 I y 9, 1958 J. R. M CLOUD ET AL 3,392,249

SINGLE BREAK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER STRUCTURE Original Filed Nov 20, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TI @67 I lllllll n ed S a P re o 3,392,249 SINGLE BREAK OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER 7 STRUCTURE I James R. McCloud, Burbank, and Lorne D. McConnell, Sierra Madre, Calif., assignors to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporatio'n of Pennsylvania Original application Nov. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 412,662, now

Patent No. 3,313,901, dated Apr. 11, 1967. Divided and this application Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 641,390

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-150) This application is a division of our application Ser. No. 412,662 filed Nov. 20, 1964, now Patent No. 3,313,901 issued Apr. 11, 1967, and assigned to the assignee ofthe instant application I This invention relates to oil circuit breakers, and more specifically relates to a novel group of features for an improved single break oil circuit breaker interrupter and resistor structure therefor.

Interrupters for oil circuit breakers are well known to those skilled in the art. Such interrupters are, generally shown in copending application Ser. No. 67,125, filed Nov. 3, 1960, now abandoned, entitled Tank Structure for Oil Circuit Breaker in the name of James R. Mc- Cloud and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and include an interrupter structure which is immersed in oil and which has a stationary contact therein which is engaged by a movable rod-type contact. As the movable contact is moved to a disengaged position, the are drawn within the interrupter chamber is extinguished by the flow of gaseous are products and clean oil through the arcand out through exhaust ports in the interrupter chamber. In order to aid inthe interruption of the arc, it is commonpractice to connect a resistor in parallel with the main contacts, This resistor circuit must be opened when the main movable contact moves to its fully disengaged position so that the current flow through the resistor will be interrupted.

A first feature of the present invention is directed to a novel pump structure for causing oil flow during :low power are. interruption wherein a novel check-valve arrangement is provided which normally permits circulation of oil through the pump piston and into the inter rupter. This novelvalve arrangement-includes a first annularvalve disk carried by the main piston which is movable into sealingengagement with a series of openingsin themain piston. Thus, during lowarc current interruption, the novel annular valve closes off the ports in the cylinder so that the. piston can properly operate. Under normal conditions, however, oil flow can easily take place through this series of openings so that improved cooling of the interrupter is achieved. I 1

Moreover, during high current arcing conditions, the pressure generated within the interrupter container serves immediately to force a secondcheck valve disk upwardly to seal 01f channels between the piston and interrupter to prevent the application of excessive, pressure tothe piston.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to provide a novel pump arrangement for an oil immersed interrupter structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for permitting circulation of oil through an interrupter structure, and to automatically seal the oil passages inthe piston during interruption conditions. Another object of this invention is to provide a novel piston arrangement which is automatically operated under spring biasing means when a movable contact of an interrupter structure is moved to a disengaged position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel oil check-valve arrangement.

The present invention further provides a novel valve 3,392,249 Patented July 9, 1968 ice for the exhaust ports of the interrupter structure. That is to say, valves are often used which are in communication with the venting ports of an interrupter chamber wherein the valves seal the ports until a sufficient pressure build-up is provided for an oil piston or by other means. The present invention provides a novel valve structure which is of low mass and provides large area venting with short travel. Moreover, the novel valve structure of the invention is inexpensive, easily assembled and easily replaced.

Each of the ports associated with the valve structure of the invention form two paths leading to two ports in the interrupter container. The ports are flared out to permit easy expansion of gases and other arc products passing through the ports. The two passages then join in a common passageway located internally of the interrupter, this passageway receiving the novel valve of the invention which is of triangular form so that it can block the passage between the common channel and the two outlet channels. If desired, the valve may be metallic or nonmetallic, and is biased into sealing engagement with the main channel by a metallic or non-metallic biasing spring.

The seal ports, as previously indicated, are enlarged openings and preferably are positioned to direct the flow of emitted oil and gas in directions away from the nearest point of the tank which contains the interrupters and the oil in which the interrupters are immersed.

Accordingly, another important object of this invention is to provide av novel sealing valve for the port of an interrupter which provides large area venting with short travel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel valve for the ports of an interrupter structure which are of low mass.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel valve for the ports of an interrupter structure which is inexpensive, easy to assembly and easily replaced.

A .still further object of this invention is to provide a novel valve for the ports of an interrupter structure wherein the ports increase in area as they approach the outside of the confining tube.

As a still further feature of the invention and in order to insure that pressure can be built up within the interior of the interrupter chamber, a novel seal is further provided around the moving contact rod to prevent loss of oil and oil pressure during opening operation of the interrupter. The novel seal of the invention is so arranged that it fits snugly around the movable contact rod, but is laterally movable within the bottom plug of the interrupter. Accordingly, the opening in the bottom of the tube will be sealed about the movable contact rod although the movable contact rod is permitted to have lateral motion to allow for misalignment between the contact rod and the opening in the bottom of the interrupter tube.

Thus, another important object of the invention is to provide a novel seal about the movable contact rod of an interrupter structure to permit pressure build-up within the interrupter during interrupting conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel seal for the movable contact of an interrupter structure which permits lateral movement of the contact rod.

As indicated in the foregoing, resistors are commonly provided in parallel with the main contacts of an interrupter structure. A further feature of the novel invention provides a novel mounting structure and assembly for a resistor to be connected in parallel with an interrupter structure. More specifically, the novel resistor structure includes a novel pair of floating contacts at either end of the resistor tube which are held assembled 'by a snap-ring arrangement at the ends of the tube. The floating contacts are further formed of hollow members tg perrnit circulation of oil through the resistor for the cooling thereof.

Accordingly, another important object of this invention is to provide anovel arrangement for mounting the resistor to {be connected in parallel with the main contacts of an oil circuit breaker interrupter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel construction for. the resistor of an oil circuit breaker interrupter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel floating contact arrangement which is held in place by snap-rings for the easy assemblyof a complete resistor.

As is well kno:wn,.and as previously indicated, there is terial serves as the support for the interrupter structure usually misalignment between the movable contact which is carried from alift-rod and cross-bar assembly in the well-known manner and the opening at the bottom of the interrupter. The present invention further provides a novel structure for securing the movable contact rod to its cross-bar so that the contact may be adjusted on the cross-barlwith respect to the opening in the interrupter. This novel arrangement includes a locking meansfor the .adjustably. positioned contact rod and a carrying block for receiving the contact rod. v I

Accordingly, a still further object of this invention is to provide a novel connection between the contact rod of an oil circuit. breaker and the cross-bar.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel locking means for adjustably connecting a lift-rod to a cross-bar assembly and the contact rods to the ends of the cross-bar assembly.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an interrupter structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of FIGURE I seen from lines 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 across lines 3--3 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 across lines 44 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 across the lines 5a5a in FIGURE 1 for the upper half of FIGURE 5 and across the lines Sb-Sb in FIGURE 1 for the lower half of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of theport valve structure.

FIGURE 7 is a partial front plan viewof the interrupter container of FIGURE 1 to illustrate the ports in the container.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken across the lines 88 in FIGURE 1. I

FIGURE 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the resistor upper support cap taken across the lines 99 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of the resistor lower support structure taken across the lines 1010 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the resistor contact structure.

Referring now to the figures, an interrupter structure is 'shown for an oil circuit breaker of the type shown in c0- pending application Ser. No. 67,125, where the interrupter structure of the figures will be immersed in oil within an oil filled tank (not shown) and will be carried from suitable insulator bushings which enter the tank. Thus, the interrupter, as shown in FIGURES 1 and2, is provided with an upper conductive cap assembly which is securable to a suitable adapter structure 21 shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, which is, in turn, connected to the end of an insulator bushing. Note that the upper portion of cap 20 has a smooth circular opening 22 which is best suited for high voltage purposes.

The cap 29 which is cast ofa suitable metallic magenerally shown by numeral 23 in FIGURE 1 which contains the various components of the interrupter equipme-nt.

The interrupter structure 23 more specifically includes an insulation" container 24 which may he formed of any iiable material"such as fiber glass which'has an larged upper section 25 (FIGURE 1) that receives a mounting ring 26. The mounting ringi26, then has a plurality of bolt holes therein which receive respective bolts such as bolt '27 in FIGURE 1, and bolts 30 through; 34 in FIGURE 3, which extend upwardly through a conductive pressure pad 28 and into suitably tapped openings in the bottom of cap.20. The member 28 and the bottom of cap 20 further serve to receive the stationary contact structure generally indicated by numeral 34 in FIGURE l.- More specifically, the stationary contact structure includes a conductive hub 35-which carries a plurality of spring biased contact fingers .about its .periphery. FIGURE 1 shows two'of these contact fingers 36 and 41,-"while the left-hand side of FIGURE 5 shows the manner in which similar contact fingers 37-through 40 surround and are carried by thecontact hub 35. The contact finger 41 of FIGURE 1 is longer than the other of the contact'fingers and serves as the arcing contact.

Eachof the various contact fingers are carried from the hub 35, as shown inFIGURE 1, by conductive straps such as straps 42 and 43 for contacts 36 and 41 respectively which are secured to the contact hub by screws 44-45 and 46-47 respectively which are threadedzto suitably tapped openings in the hub 35. Each of the contact fingersare also biased inwardly by suitable biasing leaf springs such as leaf springs 48 and 49 in FIGURE 1 which bear upon insulated buttons 50 and 51-52 for contacts 36 and 41 respectively. These insulation buttons prevent the formation of a conductive path through the biasing springs so that the springs will not be heated by the conduction of current therethrough.

The contact hub 35 along with the various contacts assembled thereto then has a centralopening therein which receives a threaded bolt 53 whichpasses through through-typeopenings in the top of hub 35- and in plate .28and into threaded engagement with a suitably threaded opening in cap 20.

.The stationary contact structure receives a cooperating movable contact rod which may have an arcing tip 61 of suitable arc-resistantmaterial secured to the conductive lower body of the rod 60. The rod 60 is then secured to a cross-.bar 62 which is carried, in turn, from a lift-rod in the usual manner, and as shown, forexample, in copendingapplication Ser. No. 67,125, and as will be .described more fully hereinafter. V

The cross-bars .62 are movable from a lower position-at which the contact tip 61 is completely removed from the interrupter to the position shown in FIGURE 1 where the contact rod 60 is. in engagement with the stationary contact structure. During movement of. contact rod 60 to the disengaged position, an arc will be drawn directly from tip 61'to arcing contact finger'41. In order to'extinguish this arc; the interrupter container-24 has therein a series of plates. More specifically, the interrupter container 24 shown in FIGURE la-and have a central opening 60a for receiving .the contact rod 60 and an opening 911: for receiving rod 91. They also.have keying openings 72a and 72b forreceiving keying pins.and through holesSZa and 82b. for receiving alignment rods such as rod 82,.

The upper plate 71 hasthe shapeshown in FIGURE lb and includes rod opening 91b for receiving rod 91 and a keyhole opening b for receiving contact rod 60 and contactfinger 41, Alignment rod openings 82c and82d' are also-provided for alignment rods- 82. It will also be noted that two oil passages 71a and-71b also pass through plate The plates 71 through 77, plate 79 and throat. bushing 80 are then; aligned with respect to one another by suitable alignment rods such as rod 82 (FIGURE 1 and the righthand side of FIGURE 5) and a similar rod 33 (left-hand side of FIGURE 5). The plates 71 through 77 also contain aligned openings therein which receive an insulation tube throughwhichan insulation rod 91 passes. The insulation rod.91 is terminated at its top and bottom by suitable fittings 92 and 93, the rod 91 being axially movable within insulation tube 90. The lower fitting 92 is then engaged by an operating rod 94 which is connected to the cross-bar. 62, While theupper fitting 93 engages the lower end of a piston 95. v

More particularly, rod 91 is formed of adensified wood. The fittings 92 and 93 are of steel and are secured to rod 91 over a tapered surface by a suitable epoxy cement. Key anchors are formed in the cemented joint by placing grooves such as groove 91a around the tapered wood ends and filling them with epoxy before connecting the fittings to the rod 91. Preferably, escape openings such as openings 92a and 93a are formed in fittings 92 and 93 respectively to permit escape of excess glue.

The piston 95 is then movable within a cylinder 96, as shown in FIGURES l and 4. The lower portion of piston 95 then carries a movable disk-shaped check-valve 110 (FIGURE 1) which is movable in'to' sealing engagement with respect to the openings such as openings through 109 in piston'95. Thecheck-valve 110 is retained on piston 95 by a suitable sleeve 111 which is threaded on to the threads 112 on the bottom of piston 95. Once member 111 is in place, the threads 112 are preferably staked to prevent movement of member 111;

' Concentric compression springs 113 and114, as shown in FIGURE 1, are then captured between the interior of piston 95 and surface 115 formed within cap 20 to normally bias piston 95 downwardly. This movement is restrained by rods 91 and 94 when the cross-bar 62 is in-the position shown.

The piston 95 serves asa pump for providing high pressure within the interior of the interrupter duri g low cur rent interrupting conditions. To this end, it should be remembered that the volume beneath piston 95 is filled with oil. A plurality of channels and 121 communicate with the volume beneath piston 95a'nd the internal volume of the interrupter. Other similar channels 122 through 125 are shown in FIGURE 4. Note that a further channel 128 (FIGURE 1) permits the introduction of oil into the interrupter structure from the area external thereof.

A second check-valve 126 is then formed on a reduced diameter portion of contact hub 35, as shown in FIGURE 1, check-valve 126 being movable into sealing engagement with openings 120 through-125 in plate 28 when the pressure within the interrupter chamber exceeds the pressure below piston 95. a

As previously indicated, it-is necessary that there be ports in the walls of container 24 through which gas and oil may be ejected during interrupting conditions. More; over, it is'desirable to providea valve in such ports so that venting will not occur untilsome predeterminedpr'essure is built up within the container (for'l'ow current switching). t 1

"To this end, plates 74 and 76, which are each arranged as illustrated in FIGURES l, 5 and 6, are provided with a V-shaped notch which" communicates with channel 141, which,; in turn, communicates .withthe interior oil containing volume 142 of each .of the plates. The V-shaped notch 140 in each of . plates 74 and 76 then receives an insert such as insert which defines first and second channels 151 and 152 respectivelyin each of plates 74 and 76. A similar insert 153 is shown, in FIGURE Ifor the plate 76. The inserts 150. and 153 are then held in place by suitable pins such aspins and 161 in FIGURE 3 which enter into plates 75 and 77 respectively. i

For purposes of pre-alignment of the various plates, a similar pin arrangement keys plates 72 and 73 with respect to one another so that they are automatically properly aligned.

Each of inserts 150 and153 are then provided with a suitable notch such as notch 165 which receives compressionsprings such as springs 166 and 167 for inserts 150 and 153 respectively. Each of springs 166 and 167. are then-secured to'a V-shaped, preferably non-metallic, valve such asvalves 168. and 169 respectively. These valves are then biased into engagement with the main channel of their. respective; interrupter, as shown-fortheengagement between valve168 inthe channel 141 in.FIGURE 3. Note that the adjacent plates 7,3-and 75 serve to seal the upper and-lower portionsof channel 141 in FIGURE 3 by over lapping the notch opening 14 at the point where valve 168 is positioned.

The channels 151 and 152 then communicate with ports 170 and 171 respectively in container 24 (FIGURE 7) and are normally isolated from main channel 141. A similar port arrangement including ports 170a and 171a (FIGURE 7) will, of course, be found for plate 66 with itstwo respective channels and two respective ports being normally isolated from the interior of container 24.

Moreover, it will be noted from FIGURE 5 that the ports 170 and 171 in container 24 flare outwardly so that the port area increases as the outer diameter of container 24 is approached. By using a dual port arrangement, the direction of gas blast through channels such as channels 151 and 152 may be directed toward those portiousof the main tank which are furthest removed from the interrupter structure.

In order to maintain internal pressure within container 24 during line switching or low current interrupting conditions, it has been further found desirable to provide a seal about the movable contact rod 60. This seal has previously been avoided because of unavoidable misalignment between the contact rod and the center of the interrupter container.

In accordance with the present invention, however, a shelf (FIGURE 1) is provided in the throat bushing 80 which receives an internal gasket ring 191. The internal diameter of ring 191 forms a snug fit on rod 60 which permits axial motion of rod 60, yet forms a good pressure seal to the rod 60. Moreover, the outer diameter of ring 191 has smaller diameter than the diameter of shelf 190. Accordingly, lateral movement of ring 191 along with contact rod 60 is permissible. The upper and lower surfaces of ring 191 are then confined between the bottom of this shelf 190 and the upper disk 192. Note particularly that ring 191, which may be of any suitable (phenolic) material, has a conically shaped interior surface 193 which permits the camming of the ring to a proper central position as the tip 61 of contact rod 60 is brought through the central opening in throat bushing 80 As previously indicated, it is desirable to provide a resistive path in parallel with the main contacts during is mounted between an upper mounting assembly which includes a conductive cap 202 (FIGURE 9) and a lower insulation support structure 203' (FIGURES 4 and 10). The upper support structure 202 is bolted to the upper cap as by bolts such as bolt 204. Each of resistors 2-00 and 201 are then received in openings 205 and 205a respectively in cap'202. A'similar arrangement is provided for lower support 203 where the support 203 is suitably secured to container 24 as by suitable bolts 210 and 211, shown inFIGURE 4, which are threaded into the throat bushing 80.

Each of the resistors such as resistor 200 are then formed of an insulation tube 212 which has therein a stack of resistor elements such as resistor elements 213, 214 and 215. These resistor elements may be of any desired type well known to those skilled in the art, and are stacked to a desired height and are of a diameter to meet particular operating characteristics required.

The ends of the stack of resistor elements terminate in conductive washers 216 and 217 respectively which receive compression spring 218 and 219'respectively. The compression springs 218 and 219 are then contained by floating hollow contacts 220 and 221 respectively. The floating contacts 220 and 221 each have flanges 222 and 223 respectively which, after assembly of all of the various elements of the resistor within the tube 212, are captured by snap- rings 224 and 225 respectively. The floating contact 220 is biased into engagement with conductive support 202 to form one terminal connection for the resistor, while the lower floating contact 221 is biased toward engagement with contact strip 230 (FIGURES 1 and 4) which is captured within insulation support 203.

It is to be noted that in the mounting arrangement shown, the resistor casing 212 is directly received. It is, however, possible to form contacts 220 and 221 with lugshaped ends so they may serve as both the mechanical support and electrical terminal for the resistor. The lower end of the resistors 200 and 201 are connected to the contact rod 60 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 11. The resistors 200 and 201 are connected in parallel by virtue of their common connection at the top through conductive support 202 and at the bottom through conductive strip 230 carried in insulation support 203 (FIGURE 10).

The conductive strip 230, as shown in FIGURE 8, is electrically connected to a conductor 240 which is, in turn, connected to a conductive bolt 241 which is threaded into throat bushing 80. The bolt 241 terminates in a conductive block 242 and pulls block 242 into engagement with a conductive shunt jumper 243. The conductive jumper 243 has a U-shape, as shown, and its opposite ends terminate on movable contact members 244 and 245 respectively, shown in FIGURES 1 and 4.

The central opening in the throat bushing 80 which receives conductive blocks 244 and 245 also receives insert 245a which has cut-out sections 246 and 247 for blocks 244 and 245 respectively which limit the motion of conductive blocks or contacts 244 and 245 toward and away from one another. Biasing springs 248 and 249 are then captured in the contacts 244 and 245 respectively with the opposite ends of springs 248 and 249 bearing against the internal walls of the opening in throat bushing 80. Thus, the contacts 244 and 245 are biased toward engagement with contact rod 60, thereby connectin the bottom of resistors 200 and 201 to the contact rod 60.

Note that when the contact rod 60 is moved to its disengaged position and withdrawn from the bottom of the throat bushing 80, the inward motion of contacts 244 and 245 is limited by the stop configuration of sections 246 and 247, as well as by the projecting section of member 242.

From the foregoing it is believed clear that the re sistors are now connected in parallel with the main contacts where, for example, the upper end of resistors 200 and 201 are connected to contact hub through the cap 20 and conductive support 202, while the bottom of the resistors is connected to the contact rod 60 by the circuit previously described.

During operation of the circuit interrupter to the disengaged position, it is believed further clear that the resistors 200 and 201 remain connected in parallel with the main interrupting contacts until, after interruption is successfully accomplished and tip 61 of contact rod 60 leaves throat bushing 80, the current path through the resistors will be interrupted at contacts 244 and 245.

As a further feature of the invention, I have provided a novel manner for the adjustable connection between contact rod 60 and the cross-rod 62. Moreover, a similar type connection may be made between the lift-rod and the cross-bar 62.

More particularly, and as shown in FIGURES 1, 1c, and 1d, conductive cross-bars 300 and 301 have key ways 302 and 303 therein which receive keys 304 and 305 extendingfrom block 306. Block 306 is slotted by slot 307 and has threaded openings 308 and 309 therein for receiving the threaded ends of rods 60 and 9.4. The rod height of rods 60 and 94 are then adjusted by threading and a pair of bolts 310 and 311 are then passed through openings 312 and 313 respectively, and lock rods 60 and 94 into place by squeezing slot 307 in a closing direction. Moreover, the key way connection between the block 306 and cross-bars 300 and 301 permits a limited lateral adjustment before looking by bolts 310 and 311.

The manner in which the novel interrupter operates is described in the following with the novel interrupter broken into various sections, as indicated.

(A) Oil check-valve arrangement In order to operate the circuit interrupter of FIGURE 1 to the disengaged position from the engaged position shown, the cross-bar 62 is moved downwardly. During this downward motion, the contact rod 60 moves out of engagement with the various contacts carried from contact hub 35, and an arc is drawn from arcing contact finger 41.

It is necessary now to generate sufiicient :pressure within the interior of the container 24 so that are products and oil will be caused to flow through the arc and out of the various ports such as ports 170 and 171 in the container wall.

When interrupting arcs of low power, insuflicient pressure may be generated to effectively interrupt the arc. Accordingly, and particularly for the interruption of such low power arcs, the piston 95 serves as a pump to generate the pressures required to move oil and are products through it and out of the venting ports. Thus, when the cross-bar 62 is moved downwardly, the operating rod 94 and rod 91 are also moved downwardly, thereby permitting powerful compression springs 113 and 114 to drive pistons 95 downwardly.

As the pressure beneath piston 95 increases, the checkvalve moves into sealing engagement with the openings 100 through 109 in piston 95 whereby oil is forced from the volume beneath piston 95 through openings through and into the interior of container 24. This high pressure oil is then used to extinguish low current arcs.

In the event that a high current are is drawn, then very high pressures are generated within container 24. This normally tends to force oil back through openings 120 through 124, thereby forcing piston 95 upward.

In order to prevent this action which could damage piston 95, the novel check-valve arrangement includes the further check-valve 126 which is forced upwardly by high pressure oil within the interrupter container 24 created by high current arcs, thereby closing off openings 120 through 125 and thus sealing the volume beneath piston 95 from the interrupter tube.

Note, however, that during normal operating conditions, both check-valves 111 and 126 will be open. Accordingly, a path is formed for the natural flow of oil 9. through the interrupter; for example, due to convection so that continuous cooling by convection canoccur;

-(=B) Fl'oatingseal for contact rod (C) Valvestructure forventing ports Further associated witlith'e 'problem of permitting a build-up of sufficient pressureifor the interruption of low current arcs, the venting ports such as ports 170 and 171 are normally clos'edby valves such as valves-168 and 169. During a low current arc,""'no venting occurs until the pressurewithin the chamber becomes sufficiently high to overcome the biasing force of springs 1 66 and 167. As soon as this pressure, whichis a pressure sufficiently high to cause effective interruption of'the arc, 'is reached, the valves 168 and 169are moved outwardly so that venting can proceed from the interior of container 24 to the exterior channels such'as channels 151 and Note that a single triangularly shaped valve controls the communication to each of the two exhaust channels in any one plane. Furthermore, the valve arrangement is such that a large area is exposed for venting action responsive to a relatively short travel of the 'valve members. Moreover, the novel manner of assembly of the valves clearly permits inexpensive manufacturing techniques along with ease of assembly and maintenance.

By using two blast channels in each plane and causing them to increase in area as the ports near the outside of the tube, the outwardly directed jet of are products may now have a lower velocity with a decreased resistance to flow. Therefore, lower reaction forces occur by the outward tapering of the exhaust ports such as ports 170 and 171.

Note also that the arrangement shown provides an inherent stop surface for the movement of valves 168 and 169 wherein the motion of the valves is rigidly stopped when they engage their respective inserts 150 and 153.

(D) Resistor and mounting structure therefor The novel arrangement and mounting for the resistors 200 and 201 insure positive electrical contact under extreme vibration. Thus, all points of electrical contact include high compression springs such as springs 218 and 219 for contacts 220 and 221 respectively, and similar compression springs 248 and 249 which bias contacts 244 and 245 respectively into engagement with contact 60.

Moreover, the novel mounting arrangement is such that oil may circulate through the resistors while much of the contamination from dirty circuit breaker oil is excluded. This circulation of oil, of course, occurs through the openings in floating contacts 220 down through the resistor stack, and out through opening in contact 221.

A further important advantage of the resistor arrangement is that the unit assembly may be easily connected and removed from the interrupter structure proper, thus substantially simplifying assembly and maintenance.

A still further advantage of the novel resistor structure lies in the compact subassembly permitted by the use of the snap- rings 224 and 225 which capture the floating contacts -220 and 221 respectivelyto. maintain the integrity of the subassembled .resistor.- 1

Although this-invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations-and modificationswill now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred therefore that the scopeof the invention belimited notby the specific disclosure herein but, only by the appendedrclaims.

The embodiments-of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an oil circuit breaker interrupterran interrupter container having a.plate therein,asai d plate having a central opening therein for passing a contact rod and a first and a second outlet channel .eachextending. from said central opening to the edgeof said plate; said interrupter container having a first and second port thereinangularly displaced from one another; theends of said firstand second channels being terminated at said first and second portsrespectively; said first and second ports having a larger circumferential lengththan that of saidzfirst and second ports respectively a single valve means; said'single valve means having a first and second surface engageable with the surfaces of said first and second channels respectively at the beginning of said channels.

2. An interrupter structure comprising a container having a first and second angularly displaced port in the wall thereof and a plurality of plates positioned in said container having aligned openings for the reception of a movable contact rod; at least one of said plates having a first and second channel and a common channel therein; said common channel connecting said first and second channels to the said opening in the said plate; and valve means for sealing said common channel; said valve means including a movable member having a first and second valve surface engageable with surfaces of said first and second channels leading to said common channel, and spring biasing means for biasing said movable member into engage: ment with said surfaces of said first and second channels.

3. The device substantially as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve means is a triangular member.

4. The device substantially as set forth in claim 2 wherein plates of said plurality of plates adjacent either surface of said plate having said channels therein enclose the top and bottom surface of said channels.

5. The device substantially as set forth in claim 2 wherein said plate having said channels therein is comprised of a plate having a generally V-shaped notch therein, and a V-shaped insert spaced from the ends of said V-shaped notch for forming said first and second channels.

-6. The device substantially as set forth in claim 5 wherein plates of said plurality of plates adjacent either surface of said plate having said channels therein enclose the top and bottom surface of said channels.

7. The device substantially as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring biasing-means is captured between said movable member and said V-shaped insert.

8. A circular interrupter structure plate comprising a first plate section having a generally V-shaped notch therein and a generally V-shaped insert portion positioned within said V-shaped notch; the opposing surfaces of said V-shaped notch and said V-shaped insert being spaced from one another to define a first and second channel; said first plate section having a centrally located opening therein; the bottom of said V-shaped notch having a passage therein communicating with said centrally located opening; a valve member having a V-shaped engaging surface; said valve member being positioned adjacent the bottom of said V-shaped notch and being movable to a position wherein said V-shaped engaging surface engages the bottom of said V-shaped notch wherein the central opening of said plate is isolated from said first and second channels.

9. The device substantially as set forth in claim 8 which includes spring biasing means connected between said 1 1 12 valve member and said insert for biasing said valve mem- 2,806,111 9/ 1957' Baker et a1. 200 150 her to an engaging position. 3,284,603 11/1966 Rietz et a1. 200- 150 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,107,013 7/1955 f v 1 1,955,213 4/1934 Whitney et a1 200150 ROBERT S. MACON, PrimaryrExaminer.

1,955,216 4/1934 Whitney et a1. 200-450

Claims (1)

1. IN AN OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER INTERRUPTER; AN INTERRUPTER CONTAINER HAVING A PLATE THEREIN, SAID PLATE HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN FOR PASSING A CONTACT ROD AND A FIRST AND A SECOND OUTLET CHANNEL EACH EXTENDING FROM SAID CENTRAL OPENING TO THE EDGE OF SAID PLATE; SAID INTERRUPTER CONTAINER HAVING A FIRST AND SECOND PORT THEREIN ANGULARLY DISPLACED FROM ONE ANOTHER; THE ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHANNELS BEING TERMINATED AT SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTS RESPECTIVELY; SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTS HAVING A LARGER CIRCUMFERENTIAL LENGTH THAN THAT OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PORTS RESPECTIVELY A SINGLE VALVE MEANS; SAID SINGLE VALVE MEANS HAVING A FIRST AND SECOND SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CHANNELS RESPECTIVELY AT THE BEGINNING OF SAID CHANNELS.

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