US3529111A - Bounce-suppressing arrangement for separable electrical contacts - Google Patents

Bounce-suppressing arrangement for separable electrical contacts Download PDF

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Publication number
US3529111A
US3529111A US709124A US3529111DA US3529111A US 3529111 A US3529111 A US 3529111A US 709124 A US709124 A US 709124A US 3529111D A US3529111D A US 3529111DA US 3529111 A US3529111 A US 3529111A
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United States
Prior art keywords
contact
bounce
energy
weight
inertia
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Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US709124A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ronald P Lupish
Stanislaw A Milianowicz
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.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Publication date
Application filed by Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Publication of US3529111A publication Critical patent/US3529111A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H33/00—High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
    • H01H33/60—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
    • H01H33/666—Operating arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/50—Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
    • 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
    • H01H33/666—Operating arrangements
    • H01H2033/6667—Details concerning lever type driving rod arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/60—Mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock
    • H01H3/605—Mechanical arrangements for preventing or damping vibration or shock making use of a fluid damper
    • 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
    • H01H33/022—Details particular to three-phase circuit breakers

Definitions

  • a circuit interrupter having separable contacts, susceptible to bouncing conditions, has associated with the stationary contact an inertia member, or weight, which is supported in a loose condition relevant to the stationary contact.
  • the impact of closing of the movable contact against the stationary contact causes a compression wave to pass through the stationary contact and be absorbed by the inertia member, which member moves in the closing direction to absorb part of the kinetic energy of the movable contact.
  • the inertia member, or inertia weight settles to its original state, either moving freely or enclosed within a dashpot device to gradually absorb the returning energy.
  • the present invention has for its field of application, a circuit interrupter having separable contacts in which, generally, high-velocity forces and high-energy impact closing forces are present during the closing operation of the interrupter.
  • the present invention is particularly concerned with means for dissipation of a portion of the closing energy during the closing operation of a circuit interrupter, so that a bouncing condition will be avoided.
  • a general object of the present invention is to reduce the bouncing conditions, which are present in a circuit interrupter having separable contacts which close under high-energy and high-velocity conditions.
  • a more specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved circuit interrupter in which an inertia member, or an inertia weight is associated with the stationary contact structure, such weight or inertia member being free to move at the end of the closing stroke to absorb some of tne impact of the movable contact.
  • Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved bounce-suppressing means incorporating a block of metal, which is movable, and has its motion atcnt confined to a dashpot to gradually absorb some of the returned energy of the block of metal or inertia weight.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved vacuum-type circuit interrupter, which is particularly susceptible to welding conditions, by virtue of the oxygen-free atmosphere within the vacuum envelope, and to associate with the stationary contact of the vacuum interrupter an inertia member, or inertia weight, which will absorb, through the compression wave, some of the impact closing energy of the movable contact of the vacuum-type circuit interrupter.
  • This problem is particularly critical in vacuum-type circuit interrupeters due to the non-oxidizing conditions present within the vacuum envelope.
  • an inertia member which provides a bouncesuppressing function, by absorbing a portion of the closing energy of the movable contact.
  • the inertia member may loosely be supported on a guide associated with the stationary contact of the circuit interrupter; or the inertia member may move reciprocally within a dashpot, so that some of the energy is gradually absorbed during the return stroke of the inertia member within such dashpot device.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum-type circuit interrupter incorporated in a truck-mounted frame, and adaptable for use in metal-clad switchgear, the contacts being illustrated in the closed-circut position;
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the circuit interrupter of FIG. 1, the contacts being illustrated in the opencircuit position;
  • FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the position of the inertia weight relevant to the position of the contacts during the closing operation of the interrupter
  • FIGS. '6 and 7 illustrate experimental test results with and without the use of the inertia member of the present invention, illustrating the bouncing conditions, which are present when the inertia member is not utilized;
  • FIG. 8 is a modified type of inertia member which moves within an air dashpot to gradually absorb some of the energy of the moving inertia member.
  • the reference numeral 1 generally designates a three-phase circuit interrupter of the vacuum-type adaptable for metal-clad switchgear use. It will be observed that the three vacuum interrupting units 2, 3, 4 are vertically mounted having their ends electrically and mechanically connected to the inner ends of pairs of vertically-spaced terminal bushings 6, 7. As shown in FIG. 1, a movable frame 8 is provided having wheels 9 to enable its insertion and withdrawal from a cell or cubicle (not shown), as well known by those skilled in the art of metal-clad switchgear manufacture.
  • each vacuuminterrupter element is conductively engaged by mating stationary main contacts (not shown) provided at the inner end of the associated cell, or cubicle of the metalclad switchgear, as well understood by those skilled in the art.
  • an operating mecchnism 12 of any suitable type, such as the solenoid or stored-energy-type of mechanism may be used, enclosed within the grounded framework 8, to effect upward closing movement of the three insulating operating rods 13 associated with the three vacuum interrupter elements 2-4.
  • a distinct application of the present invention is to provide a new method of eliminating the contact bounce, or providing a bounce-suppressing means 19, to eliminate the contact bounce, which is characteristic of all highspeed high-velocity circuit interrupters, and is a particularly critical problem in vaccum-type circuit interrupters, to thus help to increase the contact life by eliminating the erosion due to the arcing during the bounce.
  • contact bounce is due to the returning of some fraction of the kinetic energy of the movable contact 18, which is stored as strain energy in the fixed contact 17 for a short period of time immediately following impact, back to the movable contact 18.
  • the present invention is particularly suited to increase the fraction of the initial kinetic energy, that is dissipated during impact.
  • the basic principle employed is that which is seen when two coins (not shown), laid on a flat surface, so that their edges are touching, are struck along their line of centers by a third coin. When the moving coin strikes the other two, its kinetic energy is transferred through the second coin, imparting the end coin with that same kinetic energy. The moving coin does not bounce off the middle one, and the middle coin does not move.
  • FIG. 2 of the drawings wherein it will be observed that the moving contact 18 moves upwardly by the upward motion of the insulating operating rod 13 to strike the stationary contact 17.
  • the movable contact 18, in striking the fixed contact 17, causes a compression wave to pass through the stationary contact 17 to a block of metal 21 having a mass preferably comparable to that of the movable contact 18, plus whatever mass is connected to it. Having been imparted with this kinetic energy, the block of metal 21 moves upwardly on its guide 22.
  • the energy member, or energy weight 21 is guided upon a stationary stem 22, which is threaded, as at 23, into the upper end 24a of the stationary rod 24 for the stationary contact 17.
  • the rod 24, supporting the stationary contact 17 is clamped within a contact block 25, of bifurcated configuration and clamped thereto by bolts 26.
  • This split contact block 25 is, in turn, secured, as by brazing, to a pair of vertically-spaced conducting straps 28, 29, which are secured to the terminal 31 of the stud 32 extending through the upper terminal bushing 6.
  • the lower terminal bushing 7 of the device has a terminal end 33, having secured thereto an L-shaped conducting strap 34, which is secured to the lower end 35 of the vacuum interrupter element 4, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the lower movable contact 18 of the vacuum-interrupting element 4 is secured to a suitable flexible bellows (not shown) to provide an evacuated enclosure 36; and the movable stem 37, supporting the movable contact 18, is secured by a pivotal connection 39 to the actuating lever 16, the latter being stationarily supported upon a fixed pivot pin 40.
  • the outer end of the forked actuating lever 16 has an aperture 161) therethrough, which accommodates the upper stem end 13a of the insulating operating rod 13, the contact-compression spring 14 being interposed therebetween.
  • the operating rod 13 moves upwardly causing the bifurcated actuating lever 16 to move in a clockwise direction about its stationary pivot 40.
  • This will effect upward closing movement of the movable contact 18 striking the stationary contact 17 and causing a portion of the closing energy to be transmitted, by the compression wave, to the loose inertia member or weight 21.
  • This will cause the inertia member or weight 21 to move upwardly away from the split contact block 25, thereby absorbing a portion of the closing energy of the movable contact 18.
  • a non-bouncing condition between the separable contacts 17, 18 will thus ensue.
  • FIGS. 3-5 illustrate the relationship between the separable contacts 17, 18 and the position of the inertia member or weight 21.
  • FIG. 3 shows the contact members in the open position.
  • FIG. 4 shows the contact members 17, 1 8 immediately upon the first contact engagement, wherein the loose inertia member 21 has moved upwardly, and
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the separable contact members 17, 18 during a subsequent time, when the loose inertia member or weight has returned to its stationary condition, and the contacts are fully closed.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate test results, which were achieved in the laboratory by using different weights of inertia members.
  • FIG. 6 shows a bouncing condition, which occurs without the use of the energy or inertia weight of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 shows the considerably improved results by utilizing an inertia member 21.
  • a number of tests were made using vacuumtype circuit interrupters, and also using a number of different weights. The results were quite positive. The duration of bounce was decreased with increasing weights, and in particular a weight of 13 pounds caused the bouncing condition to disappear entirely. Tests were also made with a bounc-eliminating weight solidly attached to the vacuum-interrupter unit mounting, to check out the possibility of bounce reduction by increasing the stationary mass. However, the results of these tests were negative, and the bounce duration in fact increased. It was concluded on the basis of the tests that the principles involved in the' present invention have been proven, and eliminate any bouncing condition, which may be present.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a modified type of construction 42 in which the inertia member, or weight 21 is confined to a dashpot 44.
  • a suitable gas such as air
  • the dashpot housing 44a Preferably a suitable gas, such as air, is provided in the dashpot housing 44a, so that there will be a certain absorption of the energy by the movement of the inertia member 21.
  • the moving contact member 18 strikes the fixed contact .17, the kinetic energy of the moving contact 18 is transferred upon impact to a compression wave through the stationary contact 17 to the block of metal 21.
  • the blockof metal 21 moves upwardly within its sealed housing 4a, which acts as a dashpot.
  • the metal block 21 As the metal block 21 moves upwardly, it compresses the air in the housing 44a, which fiows through the annular gap 45 between the metal block 21 and the housing 440, thus dissipating the kinetic energy. Finally, the block of metal 21 stops its upward motion, and begins to fall, compressing the fluid 47 underneath it and rarefying the fluid above it. The fluid 47 is allowed to fiow through the clearance gap 45 between the metal block 21 and the housing 44a, so that the block 21 settles slowly upon the fixed contact support 25, imparting the fixed contact 17 with a minimum of energy, so that no bounce occurs.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 The particular construction of the vacuum-type circuit interrupter, set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2, is set forth in detail and claimed in United States patent application filed Feb. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 709,013, by Russell E. Frink, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.
  • a circuit interrupter comprising, in combination:
  • a vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprising, in combination:

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
US709124A 1968-02-28 1968-02-28 Bounce-suppressing arrangement for separable electrical contacts Expired - Lifetime US3529111A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US70901368A 1968-02-28 1968-02-28
US70912468A 1968-02-28 1968-02-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3529111A true US3529111A (en) 1970-09-15

Family

ID=27108191

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US709124A Expired - Lifetime US3529111A (en) 1968-02-28 1968-02-28 Bounce-suppressing arrangement for separable electrical contacts
US709013A Expired - Lifetime US3603753A (en) 1968-02-28 1968-02-28 Metalclad switchgear using vacuum interrupter elements

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US709013A Expired - Lifetime US3603753A (en) 1968-02-28 1968-02-28 Metalclad switchgear using vacuum interrupter elements

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (2) US3529111A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE728927A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES363978A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2002832A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1250954A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4295024A (en) * 1979-09-24 1981-10-13 A. B. Chance Company Spring biased energy absorber for vacuum switch contact shafts

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3783212A (en) * 1971-07-28 1974-01-01 Ite Imperial Corp Contacts for use in vacuum switch arrangements
US3735065A (en) * 1971-10-26 1973-05-22 Ite Imperial Corp Low profile circuit breaker with staggered terminals
US3784774A (en) * 1972-08-21 1974-01-08 Ite Imperial Corp Vacuum circuit breaker current transfer and actuation
US4005297A (en) * 1972-10-18 1977-01-25 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Vacuum-type circuit interrupters having heat-dissipating devices associated with the contact structures thereof
US3793494A (en) * 1972-11-15 1974-02-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Draw out type vacuum circuit breaker assembly with hinged barrier
US4012609A (en) * 1972-11-21 1977-03-15 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Circuit-interrupters using spaced-apart bars for conductor-assemblies
US3967163A (en) * 1972-11-21 1976-06-29 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Supporting means for the power conductors in circuit breakers
US3920938A (en) * 1974-02-13 1975-11-18 Ite Imperial Corp High voltage circuit breaker unitary pole moldings
US3958093A (en) * 1974-05-03 1976-05-18 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Metalclad switchgear using vacuum interrupter elements with improved resilient supporting means
US4233643A (en) * 1978-11-22 1980-11-11 Electric Machinery Mfg. Company Electrical power switching apparatus with sliding fuse drawer and interlock system
IN155577B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1981-02-12 1985-02-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp
US4933519A (en) * 1988-08-31 1990-06-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Contact structure for grounding switch
US6510047B2 (en) * 2000-12-22 2003-01-21 Eaton Corporation Conductive heat sink
CN101840809A (zh) * 2010-03-15 2010-09-22 常州太平洋电力设备(集团)有限公司 带空气缓冲的真空断路器
EP2979292B1 (en) * 2013-03-28 2016-07-13 ABB Technology Ltd A switch assembly, a switching device comprising a switch assembly, a switchgear comprising a switching device and a method for cooling
USD777116S1 (en) * 2014-09-24 2017-01-24 Abb Technology Ag Switching device with front cover
US9865405B2 (en) 2015-02-03 2018-01-09 General Electric Company Fixed contact for joining a bus bar and a sliding contact of an electrical switchgear
CN112670111B (zh) * 2020-12-17 2021-11-30 国网浙江永康市供电有限公司 一种紧凑型真空固定开关设备

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US2039630A (en) * 1935-07-20 1936-05-05 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Selective switch
US2492009A (en) * 1943-12-11 1949-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Resilient stop and position limiting means for circuit interrupters
US2532468A (en) * 1945-05-31 1950-12-05 Barber Colman Co Movable contact structure
US2735896A (en) * 1956-02-21 Damping means for selecting fingers

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DE966538C (de) * 1949-01-26 1957-09-19 Licentia Gmbh Schalterzelle mit im Leitungszug liegendem ausfahrbarem Leistungsschalter, insbesondere Druckluftschalter
FR1260754A (fr) * 1960-03-31 1961-05-12 Force Et De Lumiere Electr Soc Nouvelle cellule pour poste protégé de distribution à moyenne tension et à disjoncteur débrochable comportant un dispositif de mise à la terre et un court-circuit des canalisations électriques de départ
GB997126A (en) * 1963-04-01 1965-06-30 Ass Elect Ind Improvements in and relating to power switchgear
US3397293A (en) * 1965-08-13 1968-08-13 Gen Electric Metal-clad switchgear employing vacuum type circuit interrupters

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2735896A (en) * 1956-02-21 Damping means for selecting fingers
US2039630A (en) * 1935-07-20 1936-05-05 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Selective switch
US2492009A (en) * 1943-12-11 1949-12-20 Westinghouse Electric Corp Resilient stop and position limiting means for circuit interrupters
US2532468A (en) * 1945-05-31 1950-12-05 Barber Colman Co Movable contact structure

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4295024A (en) * 1979-09-24 1981-10-13 A. B. Chance Company Spring biased energy absorber for vacuum switch contact shafts

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE728927A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-08-01
GB1250954A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-10-27
FR2002832A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-10-31
US3603753A (en) 1971-09-07
ES363978A1 (es) 1971-01-01

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