US3704354A - Arc igniter circuit closing device and methods of operation thereof - Google Patents

Arc igniter circuit closing device and methods of operation thereof Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3704354A
US3704354A US131929A US3704354DA US3704354A US 3704354 A US3704354 A US 3704354A US 131929 A US131929 A US 131929A US 3704354D A US3704354D A US 3704354DA US 3704354 A US3704354 A US 3704354A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
gap
circuit closing
closing device
explosive
charge
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
US131929A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Guy Jean Theodore Lagofun
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.)
Defense National France
Original Assignee
Defense National France
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 Defense National France filed Critical Defense National France
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3704354A publication Critical patent/US3704354A/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
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
    • H01H39/004—Closing switches
    • 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
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0059—Arc discharge tubes

Definitions

  • an arc igniter including means for striking an arc across a switching gapbetween opposed contacts of the circuit closing device when there is a high voltage across the gap, said means comprising an explosive charge" mounted fordetonation at a selected instant so as to' provide a rapid flow of ionized gas into said gap.
  • a circuit closing deviceembodying the present in-- vention may be used in testing other circuit closing devices at reduced power, while having the same effect as tests at operating power.
  • FIG. I shows a circuit closingdevice I, which is to be tested and which is connected to two circuits simultaneously, one capable of supplying a test voltage at low current, and including a resistor 2, an inductor 3 and two capacitors 4 and 5, serving for the production of oscillation conditions, and a spark gap G, while the other circuit serves for introduction of current under low voltage conditions; the sum of the powers delivered by these two circuits is about one-sixth of the actual test power I 4
  • the current circuit for limiting the current to a certain value achieves this by means of an auxiliary circuit closing device 6.
  • the dispersion of the propagation times between several circuit closing devices may be as little as 3 microseconds, and this permits them to be used in simultaneous operations for the restriking of several circuit closing devices connected in series.
  • n circuit closing devices mounted in this way and each capable of supporting a maximum voltage U would be capable of causing the interruption of a total voltage of nU.
  • the very simplified diagram of FIG. 2 shows the use of four circuit closing devices 7 connected in series.
  • the operational time of the explosive charge proper may be as little as 3 microseconds.
  • the explosive used may be a secondary explosive, for example pentrite, which has the characteristic of having a high detonation volocity (8,000 m/s) and a thin and very conductive jet of ionized gas.
  • secondary explosive is meant an explosive charge whose detonation is produced by another charge (primary charge) detonated by a relatively small electrical or mechanical pulse, as is well known in the art.
  • the graph of FIG. 5 shows the characteristic of the displacement of the ionized medium which accompanies the detonation wave as a function of time outside the explosive.
  • the speed of this wave is constant in the explosive, while it is supported by the exothermal chemical reaction of the detonation. After the departure from the explosive, it is no longer supported.
  • the speed of displacement of the ionized medium first decreases very quickly with a constant deceleration of about 210 m/s', then it remains approximately constant when it reaches a fairly small value of the order of 1,500 m/s).
  • the conduction qualities of this medium are maintained to a distance of about 20 cm from the explosive, in the case of a small charge.
  • the ionized medium travels through the first I00 millimeters of its travel in about 27 microseconds, that is to say, at an average velocity of 3,300 m/s after leaving the explosive.
  • FIG. 3 shows the characteristic of the conductivity as a function of the thickness of the ionized medium inside the secondary explosive mass.
  • FIG. 4 shows the same characteristic, but when the ionized medium has undergone displacement by mm from the position at which the explosive was situated.
  • the resistivity of the front is 29 cm in the first case and about 100 cm in the second.
  • the fact that the front is spread after leaving the explosive increases the switching power in the zone of use.
  • the circuit closing device shown in FIG. 6 comprises a housing 8 carrying an explosive charge in a centering ring 1 l and provided with a guide channel 9 for the ionized medium.
  • This housing is not destroyed by the detonation of the charge 10', only the centering ring 11 must be replaced, because it is deformed by the lateral forces of the detonation.
  • the housing 8 can be recharged at will. It may be regarded as a cartridge supplied ready for use and recharged by the manufacturer. The user should have available a number of such housings.
  • the housing 8 provides a high degree of safety for the operating personnel, since an inopportune. functioning of the explosive charge during manipulation does not pose any danger, provided that the guide channel 9 is not facing the operator.
  • the housing is additionally fluid-tight at .a gas pressure of 18 bars.
  • a guide tube 12 for the flow of ionized medium is directed towards the gap between the contacts and 16 of the circuit closing device.
  • This tube extends through an insulating wall 13 and a screen 14 of the circuit breaker, thus channelling the ionized, and hence conductive, medium over a major portion of the distance 100 mm) which separates the explosive charge 10 and the contacts 15 and 16.
  • the tube 12 threadably receives the charge-carrying housing 8.
  • the internal diameter of tube 12 is enlarged at the discharge end thereof, so as to provide directed expansion of the detonation front towards the contacts 15 and 16 of the circuit closing device.
  • the contacts 15 and 16 are at a mutual spacing of about 3O mm, even under a pressure of 18 bars.
  • a cartridge-carrying belt 17 capable of receiving several charges is provided in alignment with the gap between the contacts of the circuit closing device for the purpose of reproducing the test automatically or improving the reliability of thesystem by simultaneous firing of several charges.
  • the explosive charge 10 is contained in a small cell, which also receives a system for initiating the operation, known as the exploded wire system, causing the detonation of a charge of lead nitride.
  • the charge 10 comprises 200 mg of pentrite to which is added a variable quantity of barium nitrate, the purpose of which is to make the ionized medium more dense while reducing the brisance of the explosive.
  • the firing of the charge 10 is effected by a coaxial connection 18.
  • the connection 18 is protected from backward effects of the detonation by a screen 19.
  • a ring 20 serves to maintain the explosive charge 10 in position.
  • the mutual insulation of the initiating wire and of the initial charge of leadnitride has the effect that the initiator is only able to cause'the detonation of the explosive charge from a certain electrical energy threshold value, which is very high (-of the order of 33-10 Joules). This quality makes the detonator insensitive to any intense electromagnetic fields in the area surrounding the place of use.
  • a circuit closing device comprising opposed contacts with a switching gap therebetween and means for striking an arc across said switching gap between said opposed contacts when there is a high voltage across the gap, said means comprising an explosive charge including a charge of a secondary explosive spaced from and facing said gap, and means for detonating said explosive charge at a selected instant to cause explosion of said secondary explosive and production of a rapid flow of ionized gas into said gap to strike said are.
  • a circuit closing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a tube extending from said explosive charge towards the said gap for guiding said flow of ionized gas to said gap.
  • a circuit closing device as claimed in claim 3, comprising a rechargeable cartridge for said explosive charge detachably mounted on that end of the tube which is remote from said gap.
  • said detonating means comprises an exploded wire detonator operable by the passage of electrical power exceeding a predetermined value through the wire, said detonator not being incorporated in said secondary explosive whereby the detonator is rendered insensitive to intense ambient electromagnetic fields.
  • a combination of a plurality of circuit closing devices as claimed in claim 1 having their respective opposed contacts connected together in series and their respective explosive charges adapted for detonation at substantially the same instant, thereby simultaneously to strike arcs across the respective switching gaps.
  • a method of striking an arc across a switching gap between opposed contacts of a circuit closing device comprising positioning an explosive device containing a secondary explosive charge outside said gap but facing the same, detonating the secondary explosive charge and directing a rapid flow of ionized gas carried by detonation of the charge into the gap between the contacts to strike said are and close the circuit breaker when a high voltage is across the gap.
  • a method as claimed in claim 10 comprising guiding the flow of ionized gases from the detonated material to the gap between the contacts.
  • a method as claimed in claim '10 comprising simultaneously striking arcs across a plurality of circuit closing devices connected in series by simultaneously detonating explosive charges associated with respective circuit closing devices.

Landscapes

  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
US131929A 1970-04-13 1971-04-07 Arc igniter circuit closing device and methods of operation thereof Expired - Lifetime US3704354A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7013195A FR2086882A5 (xx) 1970-04-13 1970-04-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3704354A true US3704354A (en) 1972-11-28

Family

ID=9053840

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US131929A Expired - Lifetime US3704354A (en) 1970-04-13 1971-04-07 Arc igniter circuit closing device and methods of operation thereof

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3704354A (xx)
BE (1) BE764525A (xx)
DE (1) DE2113798A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR2086882A5 (xx)
GB (1) GB1352073A (xx)
NL (1) NL7104662A (xx)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968381A (en) * 1974-11-25 1976-07-06 The Garrett Corporation Arc type switch
US4490594A (en) * 1982-03-18 1984-12-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft High voltage circuit breaker
US6107590A (en) * 1998-04-14 2000-08-22 Abb Research Ltd. Circuit-breaker with an explosive charge ignited during opening operation
FR2925212A1 (fr) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-19 Schneider Electric Ind Sas Court-circuiteur electrique comportant un generateur a plasma ionise et ensemble de protection contre les arcs internes comportant un tel court-cricuiteur

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH634153A5 (de) * 1978-09-29 1983-01-14 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Synthetische pruefanordnung zur pruefung des einschaltvermoegens eines hochspannungs-apparates.
CN110933830B (zh) * 2019-12-06 2020-12-25 西安交通大学 一种基于微腔金属丝电爆炸的等离子体喷射装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2559024A (en) * 1944-07-19 1951-07-03 Electric Service Mfg Company Electrical disconnector
US3179851A (en) * 1959-07-27 1965-04-20 Gen Electric Electrical protective apparatus
US3418510A (en) * 1965-11-30 1968-12-24 Navy Usa Triggered spark gap electric arcing device
US3500009A (en) * 1967-02-24 1970-03-10 Gen Electric High voltage circuit breaker with means for preinserting resistors during closing

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2559024A (en) * 1944-07-19 1951-07-03 Electric Service Mfg Company Electrical disconnector
US3179851A (en) * 1959-07-27 1965-04-20 Gen Electric Electrical protective apparatus
US3418510A (en) * 1965-11-30 1968-12-24 Navy Usa Triggered spark gap electric arcing device
US3500009A (en) * 1967-02-24 1970-03-10 Gen Electric High voltage circuit breaker with means for preinserting resistors during closing

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3968381A (en) * 1974-11-25 1976-07-06 The Garrett Corporation Arc type switch
US4490594A (en) * 1982-03-18 1984-12-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft High voltage circuit breaker
US6107590A (en) * 1998-04-14 2000-08-22 Abb Research Ltd. Circuit-breaker with an explosive charge ignited during opening operation
FR2925212A1 (fr) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-19 Schneider Electric Ind Sas Court-circuiteur electrique comportant un generateur a plasma ionise et ensemble de protection contre les arcs internes comportant un tel court-cricuiteur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE764525A (fr) 1971-08-16
DE2113798A1 (de) 1971-12-23
FR2086882A5 (xx) 1971-12-31
GB1352073A (en) 1974-05-15
NL7104662A (xx) 1971-10-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3873786A (en) Explosive type switch with circuit serving means
US2508954A (en) Electric discharge device with auxiliary electrode
US3277255A (en) Single use circuit breaker
US3704354A (en) Arc igniter circuit closing device and methods of operation thereof
US723183A (en) Circuit-breaker.
US2559024A (en) Electrical disconnector
US2708877A (en) Low tension igniter for explosives
GB2349939A (en) Elecrothermally ignited cartridge
US4224491A (en) Chemically activated switch
US4275431A (en) High-voltage single-shot circuit-protecting device with fuse-like characteristics and having a chemical operating mechanism
US3106161A (en) Detonator arrangement
US3577030A (en) Inductive energizing circuit for arc plasma generator
US2887054A (en) Blasting initiator
US3052185A (en) Electric switch
US3356897A (en) Arc plasma generator with starter
US4250365A (en) Current interrupter for fault current limiter and method
US5252796A (en) Signal tube operated switches
US3688155A (en) Reigniting spark gap device including a flow-through channel
US2880672A (en) Electric fuze
US2486127A (en) Air blast electric circuit breaker
GB923568A (en) High current electric disconnect device
US3435287A (en) Deionization of a gas discharge device by varying the tube parameters
US3041972A (en) Arc resistant electric initiator
US3878790A (en) Seismic blaster circuit
US3314361A (en) Miniature triggered gap in coaxial squib