US3522399A - Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots - Google Patents

Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3522399A
US3522399A US711613A US3522399DA US3522399A US 3522399 A US3522399 A US 3522399A US 711613 A US711613 A US 711613A US 3522399D A US3522399D A US 3522399DA US 3522399 A US3522399 A US 3522399A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
contacts
slot
arc
button
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
US711613A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Donald W Crouch
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.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
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 General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3522399A publication Critical patent/US3522399A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—Switches wherein the means for extinguishing or preventing the arc do not include separate means for obtaining or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/66—Vacuum switches
    • H01H33/664—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings
    • H01H33/6643—Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings having disc-shaped contacts subdivided in petal-like segments, e.g. by helical grooves

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a vacuum-type circuit interrupter and, more particularly, to contact structure for such an interrupter that is capable of interrupting very high currents for a small diameter of contact.
  • the invention is concerned with the general type of contact structure shown and claimed in US. Patent 2,949,- S20Schneider, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the contact of the Schneider patent comprises a disc-shaped member having a plurality of slots therein extending both radially and circumferentially of the disc member. These slots are used to produce an arc-rotating effect that forces arcs having a terminal located on the slotted potrion of the disc member to revolve about the central axis of the disc member.
  • Centrally of the disc member there is a contact-making region where arcs are initiated during circuit interrupting operations.
  • Such an arc is magnetically driven radially outward ofii of the contact-making region; and as it approaches the outer periphery of the disc member, it is rotated by the arc-rotating action produced by the slots in the disc member.
  • An object of my invention is to construct the contacts in such a manner that currents above this current limit can be successfully interrupted with a contact of equal diameter.
  • I provide a pair of disc-shaped contacts having a substantially circular outer periphery and a pair of contact-making buttons respectively secured to said contacts, each having a substantially circular outer periphery concentric with the outer periphery of its associated contact.
  • the contact-making buttons have a diameter greater than onehalf that of the disc-shaped contacts.
  • Each contact is provided with circumferentially-spaced slots extending from a starting point at the outer periphery of the contact substantially tangent to the outer periphery of the but ton to provide circumferentially-extending finger portions between the slots and the outer contact periphery.
  • the slots have an average width of at least substantially half of the average widht of the fingers.
  • Each slot extends away from its starting point at the outer periphery of the contact for a substantial distance past the point at which the slot first touches the outer periphery of the button.
  • the slot has a portion extending transversely of the tangential portion of the slot past the outer periphery of said button to a point spaced radiallyinwardly from said button periphery.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevational view of vacuum interrupter embodying one form of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the contact structure of FIG. 2 with a portion thereof removed for clarity.
  • a vacuumtype circuit interrupter comprising a sealed envelope 10 evacuated to a pressure of 10 millimeters of mercury or lower.
  • This envelope comprises a tubular casing 11 of insulating material and a pair of end caps 12 and 13 joined to opposite ends of the casing 11 by suitable vacuumtight seals 14.
  • the upper contact 17 is a stationary contact suitably attached to a conductive rod 17a, which at its upper end is united to the upper end cap 12.
  • the lower contact 18 is a movable contact attached to a conductive operating rod 18a, which is suitably mounted for vertical movement. Upward movement of the contact 18 from its solid line position to its dotted line position engages the contacts and thus closes the interrupter, whereas return movement in a downward direction separates the contacts and opens the interrupter.
  • the operating rod 18a projects freely through an opening in the lower end cap 13, and a flexible metallic bellows 20 provides a seal about rod 18a to allow for vertical movement of the rod without impairing the vacuum inside envelope 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the bellows is secured in sealed relationship at its respective opposite ends to the operating rod 18a and the lower end cap 13.
  • Each of the contacts 17 and 18 is of a substantially circular disc-shape and has one major surface facing the other contact.
  • Each contact comprises a centrally located contact-making button 25 suitably brazed to the remainder of the contact.
  • Each of the contact-making buttons is provided with a centrally-located recess 27 so that contact between the buttons occurs on an annular contact-making area 30 when the contacts are in their dotted-line engaged position of FIG. 1.
  • These annular contact-making regions 30 are of such a diameter that current flowing through the closed contacts follows a radially-outwardly bowing loop-shaped path L, as is indicated by the dotted line of FIG. 1. The magnetic effect of current flowing through this loop-shaped path L tends in a well-known manner to lengthen the loop.
  • the outer diameter of the contact-making button 25 is made greater than half that of the disc-shaped contact.
  • each slot 32 extends from a starting point at the outer periphery of its disc 17 or 18 substantially tangent to the outer periphery of the button 25, first touching the outer periphery of the button at a point 34, and continuing tangentially of the button periphery for a substantial distance past point 34.
  • each slot has an inwardly-extending portion 35 that is substantially perpendicular to the tangential portion of the slot.
  • This inwardly extending portion 35 extends from the outer periphery of the button to a point 36 spaced radially inward from the outer periphery of the button. As seen in FIG. 2, the button extends across, or bridges, the inwardly-extending slot portion 35.
  • These slots 32 force the current flowing to or from an arc terminal on a finger 33 to follow a path through the finger that extends circumferentially of the disc in the vicinity of the are.
  • the effective path of the current flowing through the finger 33 to the arc will be as shown at 41, extending circumferentially of the disc.
  • This circumferential component of the current path causes the current flowing through the loop L to develop a net circumferentially-acting force component which revolves the arc about the central axis of the disc.
  • This circumferentially-acting force component is high enough to drive each terminal of the arc across slots 32 at the free end of fingers 33, thus producing a continuous rotational movement of the arc n the contact surface. It is now generally recognized that such continuous rotational movement of the arc enables higher currents to be interrupted, apparently because it reduces the quantity of metal vapors generated by the arc, thus permitting more complete condensation of the metal vapor at current zero.
  • the slot configuration most widely used for effecting arc-rotation in vacuum interrupters is substantially that shown in FIG. 2 of the aforesaid Schneider patent. While that slot configuration is quite effective, I have been able with the slot configuration disclosed and claimed in the present application to interrupt considerably higher currents with contacts of a given diameter. For example, with contacts having a diameter of 1% inches, I have been able under corresponding voltage conditions to interrupt 10,000 amperes R.M.S., as compared to 7500 R.M.S. with contacts of the same diameter slotted in substantially the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the aforesaid Schneider patent. For larger diameter contacts, an increase in interrupting capacity by approximately was also noted.
  • One feature which contributes to the improved performance of my slotted construction is the relatively great width of the slots 32 in comparison to the width of fingers 33.
  • This enlarged slot width contributes to a number of important advantages. First of all, it results in reduced width of the fingers and thus confines the current path through the finger to a direction more effectively cir cumferential in the vicinity of the arc terminal.
  • the magnetic force on the arc is directed more effectively circumferential and is thus more effective in rotating the arc about the disc periphery.
  • the enlarged slot Width reduces the chance that molten metal resulting from high current arcs will fill the slots and thus decrease their effectiveness by forming metal bridges thereacross.
  • Such metal bridges are undesirable in that they form current paths across the slots which interfere with confining the current to the desired circumferentially-extending path.
  • Another feature which contributes to improved performance of my slot configuration is that the finger 33 formed by each slot between the outer edge of the slot and the contact-periphery extends over most of its length substantially parallel to the disc periphery. This contributes to making the current path 41 more effectively circumferential than would be the case with a slot that was more effectively radial.
  • each finger is rounded, being radiused or arcuate over its entire width, as indicated at 45.
  • Previous contact designs have had sharp points at the end of the fingers, and there seems to have been a tendency for the arc terminal to hang on such points, hesitatoing before moving across the solt 32. By removing these sharp points, this tendency for the arc to hang at the end of a finger is reduced and the arc moves more freely across slot 32.
  • my slot 32 except for its inner end portions 35, is of a substantially straight-line configuration.
  • This straight-line configuration permits the slots to be easily formed by a milling process.
  • a rotating milling-tool driven about an axis perpendicular to the disc 17 and having a diameter equal to the slot width, is simply fed from the outer periphery of the disc into a position near the inner end of the slot along a straight line path. Thereafter, the direction of feed is changed by approximately degrees to form the short inwardly-extending portion 35 of the slot.
  • each of the slots 32 which is bridged by contact-making button 25, serves to discourage the are from stalling near the inner end of a slot, as is explained in application Ser. No. 583,808, now Pat. No. 3,462,572-Sofianek, filed Oct. 3, 1966, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • a sleeve 43 of high resistance metal such as stainless steel is provided about each of the contact rods 17a and 18a where it is joined to the contact structure. The presence of the sleeve forces most of the current to enter the contact through its central region, thus forcing it to flow radially outward to reach the contact-making area 30.
  • the button 25 is made of material that has a high resistance to contact welding, e.g., the copper-bismuth or copper-lead alloys disclosed and claimed in Pat. 3,246,979-Lafferty et al., assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
  • the remainder of the contact is preferably made of a dissimilar metal which is easy to process, e.g., pure copper.
  • it is preferred to make the button of a different material from the rest of the contact it is satisfactory in certain applications to use the same material for the entire contact so that the button is integral with the remainder of the contact.
  • the slots 32 in the region outside button 25, extend through the entire thickness of their associated discs and also extend to the outermost periphery of the discs, thereby rendering the fingers almost completely separate from each other. This separateness results in a stronger arc-rotating force being available since the current flowing to an arc terminal is confined to a path especially shaped to produce arc-rotation.
  • suitable vapor-condensing shields 50 and 54 are provided.
  • the main shield comprises a tubular member 50 surrounding the arcing gap 52 and located between the insulating casing 11 and the arcing gap. This shield is preferably maintained at a potential substantially midway that of the two electrodes when the circuit interrupter is opened.
  • a vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprising:
  • buttons respectively secured to said disc-shaped contacts and each having a substantially circular outer periphery substantially concentric with the outer periphery of its associated disc-shaped contact, the diameter of said button being greater than half the diameter of said disc,
  • each of said contacts having circumferentiallyspaced slots therein extending from a starting point at the outer periphery of said contact substantially tangent to the outer periphery of said button to provide circumferentially-extending finger portions between said slots and the outer periphery of said contact,
  • each of said slots having an average width of at least substantially half of the average width of the circumferentially-extending finger portion bounding its outer edge, said widths in each contact being measured as viewed from the other contact,
  • each of said slots extending away from its starting point at the outer periphery of said contact for a substantial distance past the point at which the slot first touches the outer periphery of said button
  • said slot having a portion at its innermost end extending transversely of the tangential portion of said slot across the outer periphery of said button to a point spaced radially inwardly of the button periphery.
  • each of said finger portions has a rounded free end, being arcuate over its entire width.
  • each of said slots follows a substantially straight line path from the outer contact periphery to said portion at its innermost end.

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US711613A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots Expired - Lifetime US3522399A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US71161368A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3522399A true US3522399A (en) 1970-07-28

Family

ID=24858789

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US711613A Expired - Lifetime US3522399A (en) 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3522399A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4745780B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH487489A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1911072C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2003538A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1250420A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3613039A (en) * 1970-07-28 1971-10-12 Chance Co Ab High-voltage power vacuum fuse
US3622724A (en) * 1970-02-24 1971-11-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having contacts with improved arc-revolving means
US3752946A (en) * 1972-03-01 1973-08-14 Gen Electric Arcing contract for an electric circuit breaker and method of making same
US3809836A (en) * 1972-12-21 1974-05-07 Gen Electric Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter
US4028514A (en) * 1974-12-03 1977-06-07 General Electric Company High current vacuum circuit interrupter with beryllium contact
US4324960A (en) * 1978-08-25 1982-04-13 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Windmill-shaped electrode for vacuum circuit interrupter
US4392035A (en) * 1981-06-03 1983-07-05 General Electric Company Vacuum interrupter
US4446346A (en) * 1980-10-21 1984-05-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum interrupter
US4695689A (en) * 1984-11-22 1987-09-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Vacuum circuit breaker
US4695688A (en) * 1986-03-24 1987-09-22 General Electric Company Electrical contact construction
US4999463A (en) * 1988-10-18 1991-03-12 Square D Company Arc stalling eliminating device and system
US5444201A (en) * 1993-11-22 1995-08-22 Eaton Corporation Multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter
US5585696A (en) * 1991-12-06 1996-12-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha High current density glow discharge switch
US5597993A (en) * 1992-11-10 1997-01-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vacuum interrupter
US6479778B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2002-11-12 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vacuum switch including windmill-shaped electrodes
WO2013048609A1 (en) 2011-09-28 2013-04-04 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switch and hybrid switch assembly therefor
US9552941B1 (en) 2015-08-24 2017-01-24 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
US9922777B1 (en) 2016-11-21 2018-03-20 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
US10410813B1 (en) 2018-04-03 2019-09-10 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
FR3155945A1 (fr) * 2023-11-28 2025-05-30 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Tige de conduction de courant électrique pour ampoule à vide

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE59104556D1 (de) * 1990-06-07 1995-03-23 Siemens Ag Kontaktanordnung für eine vakuumschaltröhre.
RU2230386C2 (ru) * 2001-02-06 2004-06-10 Алферов Дмитрий Федорович Вакуумный выключатель тока
RU2291513C2 (ru) * 2004-09-17 2007-01-10 Дмитрий Федорович Алферов Вакуумный выключатель тока
RU2400855C1 (ru) * 2009-05-18 2010-09-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Томский политехнический университет" Вакуумный выключатель тока
KR101085286B1 (ko) * 2010-10-18 2011-11-22 엘에스산전 주식회사 진공 인터럽터의 접점
RU2462780C1 (ru) * 2011-03-11 2012-09-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Национальный исследовательский Томский политехнический университет" Вакуумный выключатель тока

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3182156A (en) * 1961-09-19 1965-05-04 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3345484A (en) * 1965-05-10 1967-10-03 Gen Electric Shielding for a vacuum type circuit interrupter
FR1505699A (fr) * 1965-12-16 1967-12-15 Ass Elect Ind Perfectionnements aux contacts d'interrupteurs dans le vide
US3441698A (en) * 1966-10-03 1969-04-29 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3182156A (en) * 1961-09-19 1965-05-04 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3345484A (en) * 1965-05-10 1967-10-03 Gen Electric Shielding for a vacuum type circuit interrupter
FR1505699A (fr) * 1965-12-16 1967-12-15 Ass Elect Ind Perfectionnements aux contacts d'interrupteurs dans le vide
US3441698A (en) * 1966-10-03 1969-04-29 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter

Cited By (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3622724A (en) * 1970-02-24 1971-11-23 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having contacts with improved arc-revolving means
US3613039A (en) * 1970-07-28 1971-10-12 Chance Co Ab High-voltage power vacuum fuse
US3752946A (en) * 1972-03-01 1973-08-14 Gen Electric Arcing contract for an electric circuit breaker and method of making same
US3809836A (en) * 1972-12-21 1974-05-07 Gen Electric Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter
US4028514A (en) * 1974-12-03 1977-06-07 General Electric Company High current vacuum circuit interrupter with beryllium contact
US4324960A (en) * 1978-08-25 1982-04-13 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Windmill-shaped electrode for vacuum circuit interrupter
US4446346A (en) * 1980-10-21 1984-05-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum interrupter
US4392035A (en) * 1981-06-03 1983-07-05 General Electric Company Vacuum interrupter
US4695689A (en) * 1984-11-22 1987-09-22 Hitachi, Ltd. Vacuum circuit breaker
US4695688A (en) * 1986-03-24 1987-09-22 General Electric Company Electrical contact construction
US4999463A (en) * 1988-10-18 1991-03-12 Square D Company Arc stalling eliminating device and system
US5585696A (en) * 1991-12-06 1996-12-17 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha High current density glow discharge switch
US5597993A (en) * 1992-11-10 1997-01-28 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vacuum interrupter
US5646386A (en) * 1992-11-10 1997-07-08 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vacuum interrupter
US5444201A (en) * 1993-11-22 1995-08-22 Eaton Corporation Multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter
US6479778B1 (en) * 1999-06-04 2002-11-12 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Vacuum switch including windmill-shaped electrodes
WO2013048609A1 (en) 2011-09-28 2013-04-04 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switch and hybrid switch assembly therefor
US8653396B2 (en) 2011-09-28 2014-02-18 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switch and hybrid switch assembly therefor
US9552941B1 (en) 2015-08-24 2017-01-24 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
US9922777B1 (en) 2016-11-21 2018-03-20 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
US10490363B2 (en) 2016-11-21 2019-11-26 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
US10410813B1 (en) 2018-04-03 2019-09-10 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Vacuum switching apparatus and electrical contact therefor
FR3155945A1 (fr) * 2023-11-28 2025-05-30 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Tige de conduction de courant électrique pour ampoule à vide

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4745780B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-01-18
DE1911072A1 (de) 1969-10-30
DE1911072B2 (de) 1978-05-24
GB1250420A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-10-20
CH487489A (de) 1970-03-15
DE1911072C3 (de) 1979-01-25
FR2003538A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-11-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3522399A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots
US3809836A (en) Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter
US3622724A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having contacts with improved arc-revolving means
US3462572A (en) Vacuum type circuit interrupter having contacts provided with improved arcpropelling means
US3210505A (en) Electrode structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3280286A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3372258A (en) Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with arc-voltage control means for promoting arc transfer
US2949520A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3089936A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US4117288A (en) Vacuum type circuit interrupter with a contact having integral axial magnetic field means
US3327081A (en) Contact with high resistance material insert
US3163734A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US2976382A (en) Arc extinguishing structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3182156A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3185799A (en) Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter in which a main arc is divided into series-related arcs
US4329551A (en) Alternating current interrupter with magnetic arc extinguishing means
US4553002A (en) Axial magnetic field vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3372259A (en) Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter with arc-voltage limiting means
US3158719A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US4149050A (en) Cup-shaped contacts for vacuum interrupters having a continuous annular contact surface
US3185797A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved arc splitting means
US3225167A (en) Vacuum circuit breaker with arc rotation contact means
EP0133368B1 (en) High current switch contact
US3321598A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with arc-voltage limiting means
US3711665A (en) Contact with arc propelling means embodied therein