US3576960A - Flange fastening means for a contact button for a vacuum-type circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Flange fastening means for a contact button for a vacuum-type circuit interrupter Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3576960A
US3576960A US711759A US3576960DA US3576960A US 3576960 A US3576960 A US 3576960A US 711759 A US711759 A US 711759A US 3576960D A US3576960D A US 3576960DA US 3576960 A US3576960 A US 3576960A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
button
boss
groove
base wall
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
US711759A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Donald R Kurtz
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 US3576960A publication Critical patent/US3576960A/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 contact structure for a vacuumtype circuit interrupter and, more particularly, relates to improved means for securing an annular contact-making button to the remainder of the contact structure.
  • An object of my invention is to provide a supplemental joint for the contact-making button which is free from these disadvantages.
  • I provide an annular groove in one surface of the disc-shaped contact.
  • This groove surrounds an integral central boss and has a base wall and two sidewalls,-one sidewall being defined by the outer periphery of the boss.
  • An annular contact-making button is mounted in the groove.
  • This button comprises a main body portion of annular form and an annular shoulder projecting radially inward from said body portion along the base wall of the groove.
  • the outer periphery of the boss is deformed to define an integral lip extending radially outward from the remainder of the boss, overlapping said shoulder and sandwiching the shoulder between said lip and said base wall.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section showing a vacuum interrupter embodying one form of my invention.
  • FIG. la is an enlarged section view along the line la-Ia of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. I.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 2 prior to incorporation of the contact-making button.
  • a vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprising a sealed envelope 1Q evacuated to a pressure of IO torr 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 I7 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
  • 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 1Q. 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, referred to as an arcing surface, facing the other contact. Projecting beyond each arcing surface is a centrally located contact-making button 25 of annular form that is joined to the remainder of the contact in a manner soon to be described.
  • annular groove 50 is provided in the arcing surface of each contact.
  • this annular groove has a base wall 51 and two spaced-apart sidewalls 52 and 53. Bounded by the groove 50 is an integrally formed central boss 55 that projects toward the other contact. The outer periphery of boss 55 defines the sidewall 53 of groove 50.
  • the contact-making button 25 comprises a main body portion 25a of annular form and an annular shoulder 25b projecting radially inward from the body portion along the base wall 51 of the groove.
  • boss 55 is deformed, preferably by a staking operation, to define an integral annular lip 57 that extends radially outward from the remainder of the boss, overlapping the shoulder 25b, and tightly sandwiching the shoulder between the lip and the base wall 51.
  • the contact-making button 25 is brazed to its associated contact along the base wall 51, as indicated at 60. Normally, substantially all of the current flowing through the contactmaking button flows through this brazed joint, this being the path of least resistance between the contact-making button and its adjacent contact structure.
  • 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 dash 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 diameter of the contact-making buttons is made greater than half that of the disc-shaped contacts.
  • the arc As the terminals of the arc move toward the outer periphery of the discs 17 and 18, the arc is subjected to a circumferentially acting magnetic force that rotates the arc about the central axis of the discs.
  • This circumferentially acting magnetic force is produced by a plurality of slots 32 provided in each of the discs and dividing the discs into a plurality of fingers 33.
  • each of the slots 32 is of the configuration disclosed and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 71 I,6I3-Crouch, filed Mar. 8, 1968, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Accordingly, each slot 32 extends from the outer periphery of its disc 17 and 18 substantially tangent to the outer periphery of 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 34. At its innermost end, 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 (such as 40 in FIG. 2) on a finger 33 to follow a path (41) through the finger that extends circumferentially of the disc in' the vicinity of the arc.
  • the 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 rotational movement of the arc enables higher currents to be interrupted.
  • the brazed joint at 60 may weaken or fail. if this should occur, the lip 57 coacting with the shoulder 25b, will prevent the button from becoming detached. in addition, the primary current path will then be through the lip and shoulder. This current path has a much higher resistance than the resistance of an intact brazed joint, and considerably more heating will therefore occur in this region for a given current. Under these circumstances, this heating is quite desirable since it can raise the temperature suffi' ciently to effect a rebraze of the joint at 60.
  • the resulting current path configuration is well suited for producing the desired radially outward force on the arc during interruption.
  • the current path extending through the supplemental joint 25b, 57 to an arc terminal on the contact-making button extends radially outward and therefore provides a pronounced radially outward bowing loop. This is a configuration well suited for producing a radially outward magnetic force on the arc.
  • the current path would have a radially inwardly bowing configuration, which would not be well suited for blowing the arc radially outward.
  • a sleeve 43 of high-resistance material such as stainless steel is provided about each of the contact rods I70 and 18a where it is joined to the contact structure.
  • These sleeves correspond to identically designated sleeves in the aforesaid Crouch application Ser. No. 7l L683.
  • the button 25 is made of a material that has a high resistance to contact welding, e.g.,
  • the remainder of the contact is preferably made of a dissimilar metal which is easy to process, e.g., pure copper.
  • suitable vapor-condensing shields 60 and 64 are provided.
  • the main shield comprises a tubular member 60 surrounding the arcing gap 62 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.
  • one of the contacts being a disc-shaped member having an arcingsurface facing the other contact, having an in tegral central boss, and having an annular groove formed in said arcing surface and surrounding said integral central boss,
  • said groove having a base wall and two spaced -apart sidewalls, one defined by the outer periphery of said boss, an annular contact-making button mounted in said groove,
  • said button comprising a main body portion of annular form and an annular shoulder integral with said body portion and projecting radially inward from said body portion along the base wall of said groove,
  • said contact-making button having an exposed face on the opposite side thereof from said base wall for engaging the other of said contacts, said button carrying current between said base wall and said exposed face when said exposed face engages said other contact.
  • said discshaped member contains arc-motivating slots extending radially inward thereof past the outer periphery of said contactmaking button and being bridged at their radially innermost ends by said contact-making button, said shoulder and lip being spaced radially inward from the radially innermost ends of said slots.

Landscapes

  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Thermally Actuated Switches (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US711759A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Flange fastening means for a contact button for a vacuum-type circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US3576960A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US71175968A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3576960A true US3576960A (en) 1971-05-04

Family

ID=24859396

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US711759A Expired - Lifetime US3576960A (en) 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Flange fastening means for a contact button for a vacuum-type circuit interrupter

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3576960A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4844512B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH492292A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1911071C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2003539A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1251583A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4446346A (en) * 1980-10-21 1984-05-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum interrupter
US4481390A (en) * 1980-07-01 1984-11-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum circuit interrupter
US4760223A (en) * 1986-10-23 1988-07-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Vacuum circuit interrupter
US6674039B1 (en) * 1999-07-21 2004-01-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Contact arrangement for a vacuum interrupter
WO2016081081A1 (en) * 2014-11-17 2016-05-26 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus, and contact assembly and method of securing an electrical contact to an electrode therefor
US20220172915A1 (en) * 2020-11-30 2022-06-02 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Medium voltage vacuum interrupter contact with improved arc breaking performance and associated vacuum interrupter

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6129151Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-10-09 1986-08-28

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3158719A (en) * 1962-04-03 1964-11-24 Gen Electric Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3263050A (en) * 1964-11-25 1966-07-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electrical contact comprising a plurality of flexible curved wires
US3366762A (en) * 1965-04-16 1968-01-30 Gen Electric Arc controlling electrodes for switches and gaps
US3368049A (en) * 1965-05-07 1968-02-06 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp High current radio frequency switch
US3430015A (en) * 1966-03-28 1969-02-25 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having brazed joints protected from weld-inhibiting constitutent in contact structure

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3158719A (en) * 1962-04-03 1964-11-24 Gen Electric Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3263050A (en) * 1964-11-25 1966-07-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electrical contact comprising a plurality of flexible curved wires
US3366762A (en) * 1965-04-16 1968-01-30 Gen Electric Arc controlling electrodes for switches and gaps
US3368049A (en) * 1965-05-07 1968-02-06 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp High current radio frequency switch
US3430015A (en) * 1966-03-28 1969-02-25 Gen Electric Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having brazed joints protected from weld-inhibiting constitutent in contact structure

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4481390A (en) * 1980-07-01 1984-11-06 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum circuit interrupter
US4446346A (en) * 1980-10-21 1984-05-01 Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha Vacuum interrupter
US4760223A (en) * 1986-10-23 1988-07-26 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Vacuum circuit interrupter
US6674039B1 (en) * 1999-07-21 2004-01-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Contact arrangement for a vacuum interrupter
KR20170082551A (ko) * 2014-11-17 2017-07-14 이턴 코포레이션 진공 스위칭 장치, 및 그를 위해 전기 접점을 전극에 고정시키는 접점 어셈블리 및 방법
US9704658B2 (en) 2014-11-17 2017-07-11 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus, and contact assembly and method of securing an electrical contact to an electrode therefor
WO2016081081A1 (en) * 2014-11-17 2016-05-26 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus, and contact assembly and method of securing an electrical contact to an electrode therefor
CN107004535A (zh) * 2014-11-17 2017-08-01 伊顿公司 真空开关设备、和触头组件以及将电触头固定至其电极的方法
US20170221651A1 (en) * 2014-11-17 2017-08-03 Eaton Corporation Vacuum switching apparatus, and contact assembly and method of securing an electrical contact to an electrode therefor
US10283288B2 (en) * 2014-11-17 2019-05-07 Eaton Intelligent Power Limited Vacuum switching apparatus, and contact assembly and method of securing an electrical contact to an electrode therefor
CN107004535B (zh) * 2014-11-17 2020-06-23 伊顿智能动力有限公司 真空开关设备、和触头组件以及将电触头固定至其电极的方法
KR20220120720A (ko) * 2014-11-17 2022-08-30 이턴 코포레이션 진공 스위칭 장치, 및 그를 위해 전기 접점을 전극에 고정시키는 접점 어셈블리 및 방법
US20220172915A1 (en) * 2020-11-30 2022-06-02 Schneider Electric Industries Sas Medium voltage vacuum interrupter contact with improved arc breaking performance and associated vacuum interrupter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1911071B2 (de) 1977-12-29
DE1911071C3 (de) 1978-08-31
DE1911071A1 (de) 1969-10-30
CH492292A (de) 1970-06-15
FR2003539A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-11-07
GB1251583A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-10-27
JPS4844512B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-12-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3622724A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter having contacts with improved arc-revolving means
US3809836A (en) Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter
US3462572A (en) Vacuum type circuit interrupter having contacts provided with improved arcpropelling means
US3522399A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with contacts having particularly shaped circumferentially spaced slots
US2976382A (en) Arc extinguishing structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3038980A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3727018A (en) Disk vacuum power interrupter
US3163734A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved vapor-condensing shielding
US2949520A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3089936A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3210505A (en) Electrode structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3327081A (en) Contact with high resistance material insert
US3182156A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter
EP0138478B1 (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupters
US3576960A (en) Flange fastening means for a contact button for a vacuum-type circuit interrupter
US3889080A (en) Vacuum interrupter shield protector
US3158719A (en) Contact structure for an electric circuit interrupter
US3225167A (en) Vacuum circuit breaker with arc rotation contact means
US3321598A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with arc-voltage limiting means
US3185797A (en) Vacuum-type circuit interrupter with improved arc splitting means
US4149050A (en) Cup-shaped contacts for vacuum interrupters having a continuous annular contact surface
US2892912A (en) Vacuum type circuit interrupter
US3185799A (en) Vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter in which a main arc is divided into series-related arcs
US3185798A (en) Electric circuit interrupter of the vacuum type with series-related arcing gaps
US4665287A (en) Shield assembly of a vacuum interrupter