US3443142A - Spark gaps for incorporation in enclosures containing gas under pressure - Google Patents

Spark gaps for incorporation in enclosures containing gas under pressure Download PDF

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Publication number
US3443142A
US3443142A US629673A US3443142DA US3443142A US 3443142 A US3443142 A US 3443142A US 629673 A US629673 A US 629673A US 3443142D A US3443142D A US 3443142DA US 3443142 A US3443142 A US 3443142A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
container
gas
spark gap
electrodes
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
US629673A
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English (en)
Inventor
Georg Koppl
Mathias Sanders
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany
BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Original Assignee
BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BBC Brown Boveri France SA filed Critical BBC Brown Boveri France SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3443142A publication Critical patent/US3443142A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B11/00—Switchgear having carriage withdrawable for isolation
    • H02B11/26—Arrangements of fuses, resistors, voltage arresters or the like
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T1/00—Details of spark gaps
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T1/00—Details of spark gaps
    • H01T1/15—Details of spark gaps for protection against excessive pressure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B—BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02B13/00—Arrangement of switchgear in which switches are enclosed in, or structurally associated with, a casing, e.g. cubicle
    • H02B13/02—Arrangement of switchgear in which switches are enclosed in, or structurally associated with, a casing, e.g. cubicle with metal casing
    • H02B13/025—Safety arrangements, e.g. in case of excessive pressure or fire due to electrical defect
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0059—Arc discharge tubes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to fully enclosed electrical switch installations and which include a spark gap designed to break down at a certain limiting voltage in order to protect the equipment.
  • the arc caused by breakdown i.e., arcing over of the spark gap, causes the pressure to rise in the housing which fully encloses the switch equipment and the insulating gas used within the housing, to decompose. Both phenomena are undesirable, most particularly in the case where the insulating gas is of the type e.g., SE; in which the decomposition products attack insulation on the electrical equipment within the housing. Because of this undesirable consequence, it has been previously proposed to shorten the arc-over time of the spark gap by incorporating a specially constructed auxiliary device which permits the electrode ends which form the spark gap to come together at a predetermined time after the arc has been initiated. However, such an auxiliary device for closing the gap is quite expensive.
  • the general object of the present invention is to provide an improved arrangement for the spark gap within the housing fully encapsulating the switch equipment and which avoids the disadvantages of the prior known constructions.
  • This objective is attained by enclosing the electrodes, or at least the confronting end portions thereof which form the arc gap, in an auxiliary container made from electrically insulating material and located within the overall encapsulating housing for the switch equipment.
  • This auxiliary container which has a volume comparatively small in relation to that of the overall switch housing, is provided with a small port through the wall thereof placing the interior of the container in communication with the gas filled interior of the switch equip ment housing so that under normal conditions the interior of the container within which the electrodes are located is filled with the insulating gas and at the same pressure.
  • housing 1 that part of the overall switch equipment housing in which the protective arc gap component is located is indicated by numeral 1, and can have a cylindrical configuration.
  • the electrical equipment to be protected by the spark gap is located in another part of housing 1 and has not been included in order to simplify the drawing.
  • the interior of housing 1 is filled with an insulating gas such as SP at a superatmospheric pressure.
  • the required spark gap is established by stationary electrodes in the form of rods 2, 2' which are axially aligned and have their ends in confronting spaced relation to establish a gap G.
  • Electrode rod 2 is mounted at its opposite end in a plug type connector 3 which in turn is carried by a bolt 4 which extends through the end wall of housing 1, which is grounded as indicated by the conventional symbol, and is secured to such wall by nut 5. Electrode rod 2 is mounted at its opposite end in a plug type connector 3 which in turn is carried by a stud 6 which is secured to and passes through the central opening in a bell-like insulator 7 which is attached at its periphery to the inner wall surface of housing'l. A resistor unit 8 is connected at one end to stud 6 and the opposite end of this stud is connected to a rigid rod type voltage-carrying conductor 9 which in turn is electrically connected to the equipment within the housing I desired to be protected by the arc gap.
  • the electrode rods 2, 2', or at least the confronting ends thereof, are enclosed within an auxiliary container structure 10 made of electrically insulating material.
  • the lower part of this container is cup-shaped and includes an aperture 11 through which the electrode rod 2 passes.
  • Aperture 11 is of substantially the same diameter as electrode rod 2 to provide a snug, gas-tight fit, and the rest point for the electrode rod with respect to the container 10 is established by a collar 12 on rod 2 which abuts against the outer surface of the container adjacent the passthrough aperture 11.
  • the upper part of container 10 is flanged at 13 and closed by an end plate 14 which is fastened to flange 13 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 15.
  • Electrode 2 passes through an aperture 16 in the closure plate 14 of substantially the same diameter as electrode rod 2 and the rest point for this electrode rod with respect to the closure plate 14 is established by a collar 17 on rod 2.
  • the wall of container includes a small port 18 placing the interior thereof in communication with the interior of housing 1.
  • this port is provided in the end plate 14 but could be located just as well at some other part of the wall of the container.
  • Port 18 serves as a means for equalizing the gas pressure within the container 10 to that which prevails in the housing 1.
  • the interior of container 10 is filled with the same gas which fills housing 1 and at the same pressure.
  • the insulating gas within container 10 is at the same pressure as that which obtains in the interior of housing 1.
  • the heat of resulting are between the electrode ends causes the gas within container 10 to decompose and its pressure to rise.
  • This temporary increase in gas pressure within container 10 is relieved through port 18 and is accompanied by outflow of a small amount of the decomposed gas from the container into the surrounding housing 1.
  • the arc since the arc lasts for only a comparatively short time, only a correspondingly small amount of decomposed gas will escape through this port.
  • the decomposition products of the gas thus remain almost entirely within container 10.
  • the pressure peak within container 10 falls oif rapidly after opening of the switch, as a consequence of heat transmission through the electrodes.
  • the gas outside of container 10 but inside of the surrounding housing 1 remains practically uncontaminated.
  • the spark gap electrodes can be easily replaced by dismantling the container.
  • spark gap structure is comprised of a pair of electrodes arranged in spaced relation to establish the gap therebetween, and said electrodes are enclosed within an auxiliary container located Within said housing, said auxiliary container being provided with a pressure equalizing port in a wall thereof placing the interior of said container in communication with the interior of said housing, and which serves to confine therein substantially all of the gas decomposed as a result of an arc-over of said gap.
  • auxiliary container for said electrodes includes a removable cover to permit replacement of said electrodes.
  • auxiliary container for said electrodes includes a removable cover to permit replacement of said electrodes and which further includes plug type connection means for said electrodes located within said housing but exteriorly of said auxiliary container.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Gas-Insulated Switchgears (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
US629673A 1966-05-17 1967-04-10 Spark gaps for incorporation in enclosures containing gas under pressure Expired - Lifetime US3443142A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH711866A CH438466A (de) 1966-05-17 1966-05-17 In eine Druckgaskapselung eingebaute Funkenstrecke

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3443142A true US3443142A (en) 1969-05-06

Family

ID=4320235

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US629673A Expired - Lifetime US3443142A (en) 1966-05-17 1967-04-10 Spark gaps for incorporation in enclosures containing gas under pressure

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3443142A (de)
CH (1) CH438466A (de)
GB (1) GB1178009A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2287103A1 (fr) * 1974-10-02 1976-04-30 Alsthom Cgee Parafoudre sous enveloppe metallique
US4075682A (en) * 1975-07-04 1978-02-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Gas-insulated thyristor assembly
US4077057A (en) * 1976-03-08 1978-02-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Gas-insulated thyristor arrangement comprising a pressure encapsulation formed in the manner of a tank
US4080645A (en) * 1975-07-04 1978-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Converter valve comprised of a plurality of modular elements
US4613789A (en) * 1983-12-24 1986-09-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh Spark plug with capacitor spark discharge
US4661747A (en) * 1983-12-16 1987-04-28 Gray Sr Edwin V Efficient electrical conversion switching tube suitable for inductive loads

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1173165A (en) * 1913-04-09 1916-02-29 Leon S Brach Lightning-arrester.
US2899587A (en) * 1959-08-11 Lightning arrester
US3303381A (en) * 1964-02-03 1967-02-07 Yarmovsky Max Voltage regulator tube with integral plural series discharge devices
US3366824A (en) * 1965-02-16 1968-01-30 Siemens Ag Low pressure gas discharge device with parallel electrodes and a sliding spark triggering electrode

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2899587A (en) * 1959-08-11 Lightning arrester
US1173165A (en) * 1913-04-09 1916-02-29 Leon S Brach Lightning-arrester.
US3303381A (en) * 1964-02-03 1967-02-07 Yarmovsky Max Voltage regulator tube with integral plural series discharge devices
US3366824A (en) * 1965-02-16 1968-01-30 Siemens Ag Low pressure gas discharge device with parallel electrodes and a sliding spark triggering electrode

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2287103A1 (fr) * 1974-10-02 1976-04-30 Alsthom Cgee Parafoudre sous enveloppe metallique
US4075682A (en) * 1975-07-04 1978-02-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Gas-insulated thyristor assembly
US4080645A (en) * 1975-07-04 1978-03-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Converter valve comprised of a plurality of modular elements
US4077057A (en) * 1976-03-08 1978-02-28 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Gas-insulated thyristor arrangement comprising a pressure encapsulation formed in the manner of a tank
US4661747A (en) * 1983-12-16 1987-04-28 Gray Sr Edwin V Efficient electrical conversion switching tube suitable for inductive loads
US4613789A (en) * 1983-12-24 1986-09-23 Robert Bosch Gmbh Spark plug with capacitor spark discharge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1178009A (en) 1970-01-14
CH438466A (de) 1967-06-30

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