US3590187A - Separable contact and blast-valve structure for a compressed-gas circuit breaker - Google Patents

Separable contact and blast-valve structure for a compressed-gas circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US3590187A
US3590187A US4485A US3590187DA US3590187A US 3590187 A US3590187 A US 3590187A US 4485 A US4485 A US 4485A US 3590187D A US3590187D A US 3590187DA US 3590187 A US3590187 A US 3590187A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
blast valve
movable
follower
movable contact
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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
US4485A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard E Kane
Robert L Hess
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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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3590187A publication Critical patent/US3590187A/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
    • H01H33/02—Details
    • H01H33/04—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
    • H01H33/12—Auxiliary contacts on to which the arc is transferred from the main contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/32—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts
    • H01H3/52—Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts with means to ensure stopping at intermediate operative positions
    • 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
    • H01H33/70—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
    • H01H33/80—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid flow of arc-extinguishing fluid from a pressure source being controlled by a valve
    • H01H33/82—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid flow of arc-extinguishing fluid from a pressure source being controlled by a valve the fluid being air or gas
    • H01H33/83—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid flow of arc-extinguishing fluid from a pressure source being controlled by a valve the fluid being air or gas wherein the contacts are opened by the flow of air or gas

Definitions

  • a simplified type of blast valve construction which may, desirably, be relatively independent in operation, and actuated by opening movement ofthe mova- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • a blast valve and contact housing which encloses a high-pressure gas.
  • an orifice structure Preferably attached to one end of the aforesaid blast valve and contact housing is an orifice structure, or interrupting chamber, which directs the gas flow into the are.
  • a movable contact which may be tubular, enters through the orifice opening and into abutting engagement with a contact follower, which during the opening operation, is spring-biased into following engagement with the movable contact.
  • a differentially acting blast valve which may be initially opened by a latching device initiated by opening movement of the movable contact structure, until the pressure conditions are such that the blast valve is fully opened by the high-pressure gas flowing out of the orifice chamber.
  • the opening operation of the differentially acting blast valve picks up the contact follower, and reverses its initial opening movement, so that both the blast valve and the contact follower are retracted as a unit during the time of full gas flow.
  • Another object of ⁇ be present invention is to provide an improved differentially acting blast valve, which is independent of mechanical levers and links, and may have its initial opening movement dependent upon the initial opening movement of the movable contact.
  • Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel latching arrangement interconnecting a contact follower and a differentially acting blast valve.
  • Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved compressed gas circuit interrupter in which the opening of the blast valve may be accurately timed.
  • Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved separable contact structure for a compressed-gas circuit interrupter in which contact erosion is eliminated on the main stationary contact fingers.
  • An ancillary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved separable contact structure for a compressedgas circuit interrupter of compact dimensions, and acting independently of linkages, being initiated at the proper time by the initial opening movement of the movable contact.
  • FIG. I is a vertical sectional view, partially in side elevation, of an improved compressed gas circuit interrupter embodying the principles of the present invention, and illustrated in the closed circuit position;
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the blast valve and contact housing of the device, the contact structure being illustrated in the closed circuit position;
  • FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but illustrating the disposition of the several parts in an intermediate portion of the opening operation, before arcing has taken place;
  • FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating the blast valve open, the arc drawn, and the gas blast in the process of extinguishing the arc;
  • FIG. 5 shows the fully open circuit position of the contact structure with the blast valve closed
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate two positions of the control valve spool
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the latching construction utilized in the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line IXIX of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 10 is a fragmentary bottom view of the latching arrangement of FIG. 8;
  • FIG. 11 is a sectional detail view taken through the bifurcated latch support used in the latching arrangement of the present invention.
  • FIG. I2 is a top plan view of the bifurcated latch support of FIG. I];
  • FIG. 13 is an end elevational view of the bifurcated latch support
  • FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the latch.
  • FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the latch illustrated in FIG. 14.
  • the reference numeral 1 generally designates a highvoltage high-power compressed gas circuit interrupter of the dual-pressure type.
  • a grounded metallic tank structure 2 supported upon a foundation 3 and containing interiorly thereof a relatively low-pressure gas 4, such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF gas, at a relatively low pressure, say, for example, 45 p.s.i.
  • SF gas sulfur hexafluoride
  • the terminal bushings 5, 6 Extending upwardly from the metallic tank structure 2 is a pair of terminal bushings 5, 6 having line conductors 5a, 6a disposed therein, and making separable stud and finger engagement, as at 8, with a pair of stationary contacts 9. This permits the terminal bushings 5, 6 to be unbolted at the mounting bolts 11, and the entire terminal bushing structure removed upwardly from the mounting flanges 13 for the tank 2.
  • the terminal bushings 5, 6 comprise upper caps 15, 16 and interiorly extending conductor studs 5a, 6a, which provide line current to a pair of serially related arc-extinguishing units, generally designated by the reference numeral 17, and supported laterally from a hollow conduit or high-pressure feed tube assembly, generally designated by the reference numeral 20.
  • the lower ends of the terminal bushings 5, 6 have metallic mounting flanges such as secured thereto, as by cement, and the mounting bolts 11 extend through these mounting flanges, such as 5b, and into the cooperating tank flanges 13, the latter being secured, as by welding at 21, to entrance holes 22 provided in the upper end of the tank structure 2.
  • a high-pressure gas reservoir 24 which may contain a suitable high-pressure gas 4, such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF,,) gas, at a pressure, say, for example, 220 p.s.i, Thermal insulation 25 may be provided about the high-pressure reservoir 24 to prevent liquefaction of the high-pressure gas 4 therein at low ambient temperatures.
  • a suitable high-pressure gas 4 such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF,,) gas
  • a supporting metallic tube 26 Extending downwardly from the high-pressure tank structure 24 is a supporting metallic tube 26, which may be secured to a flange 27, itself secured, as by bolts 28, to a supporting flange, designated by the reference numeral 29, and secured, as by welding 30, in an upper central opening 31 provided at the upper end of the tank 2.
  • a hollow insulating conduit or feed tube 32 Disposed below the supporting flange 29, and secured thereto, is a hollow insulating conduit or feed tube 32, which has its lower end secured, as by a cemented attachment 33, within a casting 34 having four openings therein.
  • the lateral openings, such as openings 34a are interconnected by laterally extending insulating supports 35, which secure fixedly into position blast valve and contact housings 36, illustrated more in detail in FIGS. 2-5 of the drawings.
  • the conduit casting 34 may have a downwardly extending insulating feed tube 37, which supports a control valve, generally designated by the reference numeral 39, which serves to control the entrance of high-pressure gas, or an exhausting therefrom, from the bottom of a piston 41, whichreciproeates within an operating cylinder 42, and providing movement of a movable tubular vented contact, designated by the reference numeral 44.
  • the movable contact 44 makes separable contacting engagement with a relatively stationary contact structure 46, and, during the opening operation of the interrupter 1, draws an are 48 therebetwecn.
  • This are 48 is extinguished by a flow of high-pressure gas 4 past a dif' ferentlally acting blast valve 50 and issuing through an orifice, or an arcing chamber, designated by the reference numeral 52, and directing the flow of high-pressure gas 4 intcriorly within the movable tubular vented contact 44.
  • FlGS. 6 and 7 illustrate structurally the pneumatic operation f th control p ol 23 f c ntrol valve structure 3.9.
  • This chamber 36 is fitted with a blast valve seat 38 and provides a mounting for the orifice chamber 52.
  • a spring-biased cylindrical contact follower 45 Within the central cavity 36a of the chamber 36', at relatively low pressure, are positioned a spring-biased cylindrical contact follower 45 and the spring-biased cylindrical blast valve 50.
  • Fixed to the blast 50 at 47a is the finger contact assembly 47.' Between the blast valve 50 and contact follower 45 are mounted two latch assemblies 49 approximately 180 apart, and shown in more detail in FlGS. 8-15 of the drawings.
  • FIGS. 8-10 illustrate more clearly the detailed construction of the latch assemblies 49. It will be noted that there is provided a pair of stationary spaced supports 71 extending downwardly from an integral guide plate 72.
  • the guide plate 72 has a small hole 72a therethrough, through which extends the wire spring 51 tending to maintain the latch 68 in a neutral position.
  • a stationary pivot pin 73 Pivotally mounted through apertures 71a of the support 71 is a stationary pivot pin 73, which rotatably supports a bifurcated latch support member, more clearly shown in FIGS. ll-- 13, and generally designated by the reference number 75.
  • the bifurcated latch support member 75 has a hole 75c therethrough, through which extends a lateral portion 51a of the wire spring 51. Additionally, the bifurcated latch support 75 has end plate portion 75!) providing holes 77 therethrough accommodating a floating pivot pin 80, which rotatably supports the latch 68, the latter being biased in a counterclockwise direction about the floating pivot pin 80 by asmall compression spring 83.
  • the details of the latchmember 68 are set forth in FIGS. 14 and 15 of the drawings.
  • the latch 68 has a nose portion 68a, which engages the teeth 53 provided on the side of the arc-horn contact follower member 45.
  • the bifurcated latch support member 75 has a cam portion 90, which engages the bight portion 91 of a slotted portion 93 of the contact finger assembly 47.
  • FIG. 2 shows the general arrangement of the parts of the operator with the breaker 1 in the closed position.
  • the moving contact 44 is engaged within the finger contacts 47, and the spring-biased follower 45 is in abutting contact with the tip 440 of the moving tubular contact 44.
  • the blast valve 50 is closed,
  • the latches 49 are in their neutral position, and held in this position by the wire spring rods 51.
  • FIGS. 35 shows the sequence of the opening operation of the various parts.
  • the highrpressure gas behind or below it causes the blast valve 50 to move rapidly upwardly to its fully open position, as shown in H0. 4,
  • the areas exposed to high-pressure are arranged such as to have a total force applied to them greater than that i the low-pressure side plus the spring loads 40, 50a of the contact follower 45 and blast valve 50 respectively.
  • the latches 68 are so designed as to allow the teeth 53, on the follower 45, to ratchet over them in the opposite direction.
  • FIG. 4 shows the blast valve 50 in its fully open position.
  • the insulating operating rod 54 effects operation of the control valve 39 to place high-pressure gas below the piston 41. This will force the movable tubular contact 44 upwardly into contacting engagement with the relatively stationary contact structure 46, thereby completing the electrical circuit through the circuit breaker l.
  • the closed circuit position of the device is illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.
  • blast valve means controlling the flow of high-pressure gas out of said high pressure gas reservoir chamber; said blast valve means including a differential-pressuremovable blast valve and a stationary blast valve seat;
  • first biasing means biasing the conducting movable contact follower in the direction of opening movement of the movable contact
  • latching means mechanically interconnecting the movable contact follower with the movable blast valve, whereby initial opening movement of the movable contact follower initiates opening movement of the differential-acting movable blast valve;
  • second biasing means biasing the movable blast valve to gas circuit interrupter including, in comthe valve-closed position
  • a compressed gas circuit interrupter including in combination:
  • a contact and blast valve chamber supporting an insulating orifice member
  • blast valve means controlling the flow of high-pressure gas out of said high-pressure gas reservoir chamber and out through said orifice member
  • said blast valve means including a differential-acting pressure-responsive movable blast valve and a stationary blast valve seat disposed at the entrance to said insulating orifree member;
  • stationary contact means disposed externally of said conducting movable contact follower; movable contact movable through said orifice member and into contact engagement with said stationary contact means to complete the electrical circuit through the circuit interrupter;
  • first biasing means biasing the conducting movable contact follower in the direction of opening movement of the movable contact
  • latching means mechanically interconnecting the movable contact follower with the movable blast valve, whereby initial opening movement of the movable contact follower initiates movement of the differential-acting movable blast valve;
  • second biasing means biasing the movable blast valve to the valve-closed position

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  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
US4485A 1970-01-21 1970-01-21 Separable contact and blast-valve structure for a compressed-gas circuit breaker Expired - Lifetime US3590187A (en)

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US448570A 1970-01-21 1970-01-21

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US (1) US3590187A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5115223B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3674957A (en) * 1970-05-22 1972-07-04 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas blast switch
US3686453A (en) * 1970-08-07 1972-08-22 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas-blast circuit breaker
US3745282A (en) * 1970-08-01 1973-07-10 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas-blast circuit breaker
US4027126A (en) * 1973-12-14 1977-05-31 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Shorting and grounding arrangement for gas-insulated bus bars
US20190074669A1 (en) * 2017-09-01 2019-03-07 Eaton Corporation Cooling system for tanks

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS60191980U (ja) * 1984-05-31 1985-12-19 株式会社トキメック レ−ダ装置

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1123717A (fr) * 1955-03-15 1956-09-26 Comp Generale Electricite Disjoncteur à air comprimé
GB821069A (en) * 1956-10-25 1959-09-30 British Thomson Houston Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to air or gas blast electric circuit-breakers
FR1371514A (fr) * 1962-10-03 1964-09-04 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Accouplement électrique formé de deux têtes d'accouplement
US3226513A (en) * 1962-10-19 1965-12-28 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Compressed gas actuated circuit breaker having a dwell phase in the opening stroke of the movable contact
FR1427982A (fr) * 1964-12-30 1966-02-11 Alsthom Cgee Dispositif de verrouillage de contacts pour disjoncteurs

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1123717A (fr) * 1955-03-15 1956-09-26 Comp Generale Electricite Disjoncteur à air comprimé
GB821069A (en) * 1956-10-25 1959-09-30 British Thomson Houston Co Ltd Improvements in and relating to air or gas blast electric circuit-breakers
FR1371514A (fr) * 1962-10-03 1964-09-04 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Accouplement électrique formé de deux têtes d'accouplement
US3226513A (en) * 1962-10-19 1965-12-28 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Compressed gas actuated circuit breaker having a dwell phase in the opening stroke of the movable contact
FR1427982A (fr) * 1964-12-30 1966-02-11 Alsthom Cgee Dispositif de verrouillage de contacts pour disjoncteurs

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3674957A (en) * 1970-05-22 1972-07-04 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas blast switch
US3745282A (en) * 1970-08-01 1973-07-10 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas-blast circuit breaker
US3686453A (en) * 1970-08-07 1972-08-22 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Gas-blast circuit breaker
US4027126A (en) * 1973-12-14 1977-05-31 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Shorting and grounding arrangement for gas-insulated bus bars
US20190074669A1 (en) * 2017-09-01 2019-03-07 Eaton Corporation Cooling system for tanks

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Publication number Publication date
JPS46225A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-08-20
JPS5115223B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-05-15

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