US3814885A - Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas - Google Patents

Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas Download PDF

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Publication number
US3814885A
US3814885A US00378339A US37833973A US3814885A US 3814885 A US3814885 A US 3814885A US 00378339 A US00378339 A US 00378339A US 37833973 A US37833973 A US 37833973A US 3814885 A US3814885 A US 3814885A
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United States
Prior art keywords
operating rod
housing
force
interrupters
circuit breaker
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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
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US00378339A
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English (en)
Inventor
J Sofianek
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US00378339A priority Critical patent/US3814885A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3814885A publication Critical patent/US3814885A/en
Priority to JP49069754A priority patent/JPS5033467A/ja
Priority to GB2775974A priority patent/GB1469146A/en
Priority to DE2430136A priority patent/DE2430136A1/de
Priority to CH878074A priority patent/CH577678A5/xx
Priority to FR7424089A priority patent/FR2237202A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01H33/668—Means for obtaining or monitoring the vacuum

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A method for detecting a leak in any one of the vacuum interrupters of a vacuum-type circuit breaker that comprises a plurality of vacuum interrupters disposed within a housing filled with pressurized insulating gas. The method comprises: (a) opening the circuit breaker and effectively disconnecting the closing mechanism of the breaker from the operating rod of the breaker so as to effectively preclude the closing mechanism from exerting a closing force on the operating rod, (b) measuring the net force on the operating rod after (a) has been performed. and (c) comparing the measured net force to a standard value corresponding to the force on the operating rod when the 'interrupters are intact and the insulating gas is at the same pressure as when the net force was measured.
  • This invention relates to a method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter that is located within a housing containing pressurized insulating gas and is especially applicable to a high voltage vacuum circuit breaker in which the vacuum interrupter is one of a plurality of series-connected interrupters located within the gasfilled housing of thecircuit breaker.
  • One way of checking a vacuum interrupter for a leak is to apply a high potential across its terminals. If the interrupter has a leak which has allowed the pressure therein to rise to a level of 0.01 torr or higher, then the high potential will ordinarily produce a sparkover within the interrupter which can be readily detected.
  • an object of my invention is to provide a method of detecting a leak in an individual vacuum interrupter of such a circuit breaker which does not require dismantling of a large portion of the circuit breaker even though the terminals of the individual interrupters are not readily accessible without such dismantling.
  • Another object is to provide a leak-detecting method that fulfills the immediatelypreceding object and is also usable with a circuit breaker in which the interrupters are disposed within a pressurized insulating gas.
  • a gas can interfere with leak testing by means of a simple high-potential test because if the leak is large, the gas pressure within the interrupter will approach or even equal'that outside the interrupter. The resulting high dielectric strength within the interrupter can prevent any sparkover by the high-potential test voltage.
  • I provide a method for detecting a leak in any one of the interrupters of a vacuum-type circuit breaker comprising: (i) a housing filled with pressurized insulating gas, (ii) a plurality of vacuum interrupters located within said housing and in said pressurized gas, each interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope and a movable contact rod extending in sealed relationship through said envelope so that said pressurized gas biases each of said contact rods toward a contact-closed position with a force dependent upon the pressure of said gas, (iii) an operating rod extending into said housing from a point exterior to the housing, (iv) means for coupling said operating rod to said contact rods, (v) a seal around said operating rod where it enters said housing so that the gas within said housing exerts' on said operating rod'a force dependent upon the pressure of said gas tending to eject said operating rod from said housing, and (vi) a closing mechanism for supplying closing force to said operating rod to effect closing of the interrupt
  • the method comprises: (a) opening the circuit breaker and effectively disconnecting the closing mechanism from the operating rod so as to effectively preclude the closing mechanism from exerting a closing force on the operating rod, (b) measuring the net force on the operating rod when the closing mechanism is effectively disconnected therefrom, and (c) comparing the measured net force to a standard value corresponding to the force on the operating rod when the interrupters are intact and the gas is at the same pressure as when the net force was measured.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of a high voltage vacuum circuit breaker to which my invention can be applied.
  • the circuit breaker is shown in its closed posi- DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • the circuit breaker shown therein comprises a housing 10 defining an internal chamber 16 that is filled with pressurized insulating gas, such as, for example, sulphur hexafluoride at a pressure of about 50 p.s.i. gage.
  • the illustrated housing comprises a tubular casing 12 of insulating material and end caps 13 and I4 sealed to the casing 12 at its opposite ends.
  • the pressure of the gas within the chamber 16 is indicated by a suitable gauge 15.
  • a plurality of series-connected vacuum interrupters 20 Located withinthe chamber 16 of housing 10 are a plurality of series-connected vacuum interrupters 20. Each of these interrupters is of a conventional design and, as such, comprises a highly evacuated envelope 25 and a pair of separable contacts 26 and 27 located within the envelope 25.
  • Envelope 25 comprises a tubular casing 21 of insulating material and end caps22 and 23 sealed to the casing at its opposite ends.
  • the normal pressure within envelope 25 is about 10" torr or lower.
  • the upper contact 26 is a stationary contact mounted on a stationary contact rod 28 extending in sealed relationship through the top end cap 22 of interrupter envelope 25.
  • the lower contact is a movable contact fixed to a movable contact rod 30 extending freely through the lower end cap 23 of interrupter envelope 25.
  • a flexible metal bellows 32 which is joined at its opposite ends to rod 30 and end cap 23, provides a vacuum-tight seal about rod 30 that allows the rod to be moved vertically without impairing the vacuum inside-
  • each interrupter 20 is mounted on a bracket 35 that is, in turn, suitably secured to the circuit breaker housing 10.
  • bracket 35 is, in turn, suitably secured to the circuit breaker housing 10.
  • contact rod 28 of the uppermost interrupter 20 has an extension that extends in sealed relationship through the upper end cap 13 and is suitably electrically connected thereto.
  • the interrupters 20 are electrically connected in series between the terminals 13 and 14 by suitable flexible conductors shown schematically at 37.
  • FIG. 3 One of the wipe devices 55 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3 in a circuit breaker-closed position.
  • this wipe device comprises a cylindrical driving part 56 coupled through a rod 56a to the cross bar 43 and a piston-like driven part 57 coupled to the contact rod 30.
  • a compression spring 58 urges driven part 57 upwardly toward engagement with an annular stop 59 on the cylindrical driving part 56.
  • driving part 56 is driven in a downward opening direction from its position of FIG. 3, a limited amount of initial downward movement of part 56 occurs independently of piston 57, after which stop 59 strikes piston 57 and carries the contact rod 30 through its downward opening stroke.
  • the parts of the wipe device 55 occupy the positions depicted in FIG. 4.
  • the lower cross bar 43 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is connected to a vertically-extending operating rod 45 that extends freely through the lower end cap 14 of the circuit breaker housing 10.
  • a seal in the form of a flexible bellows 47 surrounds the operating rod 45. This bellows is joined at its upper end to the end cap 14 and at its lower end to the operating rod 45. It will be apparent that the pressurized gas within housing exerts a force on the operating rod 45 tending to eject the operating rod from the housing 10. This force is directly dependent upon the gas pressure within the circuit breaker housing 10 and the effective area of the seal 47.
  • Opening of the circuit breaker is effected by driving the operating rod downwardly, thus driving the linkage 42, 43 and the movable contact rods 30 of the interrupters downwardly so as to produce separationof the contacts 26, 27 of all the interrupters.
  • the force for driving operating rod 45 downwardly through its opening stroke is derived from an opening spring 50 shown at the bottom of the circuit breaker housing 10.
  • Spring 50 is a compression spring, the upper end of which bears on the end plate 14 and the lower end of which bears against a thrust plate 52, which in turn bears against a shoulder 54 on the operating rod 45.
  • a latch 60 holds the operating rod 45 in its elevated position, thus maintaining opening spring 50 compressed.
  • opening spring 50 is free to expand and drive operating rod 45 downwardly through an opening stroke into the position of FIG. 2.
  • the opening stroke is terminated when a shoulder 61 fixed to operating rod 45 strikes a suitable buffer 62, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Closing of the circuit breaker is effected by driving the operating rod 45 upwardly through a closing stroke from its position of FIG. 2 into its position of FIG. 1. This drives the linkage 42, 43 upwardly, carrying contact rods through an upward closing stroke.
  • the wipe devices 55 allow the linkage 42, 43 to continue upwardly through a small amount of overtravel, or wipe, after the contacts 27, 26 engage.
  • the force for driving the operating rod through its closing stroke is derived from a suitable closing mechanism 65 (FIG. 1).
  • the circuit breaker When it is desired to check the interrupters 20 for leakage, the circuit breaker is operated to its open position of FIG. 2, if it is not already open, and it is electrically disconnected from its power circuit by opening suitable disconnect switches (not shown). Then, the closing mechanism 65 is disconnected from the operating rod 45 so that the closing mechanism exerts no effective force on the operating rod. Such mechanism disconnection can be effected by removing a connecting pin 67 from the coupling 69 that interconnects the operating rod and the closing mechanism. Next, the opening spring 50 is effectively disconnected from the operating rod 45 by operating a plurality of jack screws (such as shown at 68 in FIGS. 1 and 2) in a direction to drive the thrust plate 52 upwardly out of engagement with shoulder 54. When the jack screws have been thus operated, all force developed by the compression spring 50 is transmitted through the jack screws to the stationary housing 70 for the spring and none is transmitted to the operating rod 45.
  • a plurality of jack screws such as shown at 68 in FIGS. 1 and 2
  • the next step in the leak test is to measure the net vertically-acting force on the operating rod.
  • the magnitude of this force is indicative of whether a leak is present in any of the interrupters.
  • pressurized gas within circuit breaker housing 10 acting on the contact rod and bellows 32 of each vacuum interrupter exerts an upward force on the contact rod, assuming that the interrupter is in its normal lowpressure condition.
  • the total upward force is the sum of the upward forces thus developed at the four interrupters.
  • Opposing this upward force is the weight of the linkage 42, 43 and operating rod 45 plus the downward force that the pressurized gas exerts on the operating rod 45 at the seal 47, as described hereinabove.
  • the net force on the operating rod is the sum of these upward and downard components, considering the forces in one direction as positive and those in the opposite direction as negative.
  • any value of gas pressure within the circuit breaker housing 10 (assuming the opening means 50 and the closing means 65 are effectively disconnected), there will be a predetermined standard value of net force acting vertically on the operating rod if the interrupters are intact, i.e., in their normal low-pressure condition.
  • the technician can determine whether there is a major leak in anyone of the interrupters. If the measured net force differs substantially from the standard value, a leak is indicated.
  • a vacuum-type circuit breaker comprising: (i) a housing filled with pressurized insulating gas, (ii) a plurality of vacuum interrupters located within said housing and in said pressurized gas, each interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope and a movable contact rod extending in sealed relationship through said envelope so that said pressurized gas biases each of said contact rods toward a'contact-closed position with a force dependent upon the pressure of said gas, (iii) an operating rod extending into said housing from a point exterior to the housing, (iv) means for coupling said operating rod to said contact rods, (v) a seal around said operating rod where it enters said housing so'that the gas within said housing exerts on said operating rod a force dependent upon the pressure of said gas tending to eject said operating rod from said housing, and (vi) a closing mechanism for supplying closing force to said operating rod to effect closing of said interrupters and circuit breaker; a method of detecting a leak in one of said interrupters comprising

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  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Measuring Fluid Pressure (AREA)
  • Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)
  • Driving Mechanisms And Operating Circuits Of Arc-Extinguishing High-Tension Switches (AREA)
  • Gas-Insulated Switchgears (AREA)
US00378339A 1973-07-11 1973-07-11 Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas Expired - Lifetime US3814885A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00378339A US3814885A (en) 1973-07-11 1973-07-11 Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas
JP49069754A JPS5033467A (fr) 1973-07-11 1974-06-20
GB2775974A GB1469146A (en) 1973-07-11 1974-06-21 Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter
DE2430136A DE2430136A1 (de) 1973-07-11 1974-06-24 Verfahren zur feststellung einer leckstelle in einem vakuumschalter
CH878074A CH577678A5 (fr) 1973-07-11 1974-06-26
FR7424089A FR2237202A1 (fr) 1973-07-11 1974-07-11

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00378339A US3814885A (en) 1973-07-11 1973-07-11 Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas

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US3814885A true US3814885A (en) 1974-06-04

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US00378339A Expired - Lifetime US3814885A (en) 1973-07-11 1973-07-11 Method of detecting a leak in a vacuum interrupter located inside a housing containing pressurized gas

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US (1) US3814885A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5033467A (fr)
CH (1) CH577678A5 (fr)
DE (1) DE2430136A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2237202A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1469146A (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3983345A (en) * 1975-01-30 1976-09-28 General Electric Company Method of detecting a leak in any one of the vacuum interrupters of a high voltage circuit breaker
US4034264A (en) * 1974-04-02 1977-07-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for detecting a deficient operational capability of a vacuum switching vessel
US4972055A (en) * 1989-12-29 1990-11-20 Abb Power T&D Company Inc. Multiple vacuum interrupter fluid insulated circuit breaker with isolation gap
US5321221A (en) * 1991-11-20 1994-06-14 Gec Alsthom Sa Self-disconnecting circuit-breaker for medium tension, and use thereof in a medium-tension station or bay
US20060181267A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-17 Eaton Corporation Vacuum circuit interrupter including circuit monitoring leakage or loss of vacuum and method of monitoring a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum
CN102683100A (zh) * 2012-05-18 2012-09-19 沈阳华德海泰电器有限公司 高压真空灭弧室串联结构
US20140224771A1 (en) * 2013-02-08 2014-08-14 David A. Rhein Current Interrupter for High Voltage Switches
US20140339195A1 (en) * 2012-02-03 2014-11-20 Abb Technology Ag Vacuum interrupter with transition areas between metal housing parts and ceramic housing parts covered by insulating material
US20150170856A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-18 Power Products, Llc Single bottle interrupter
US11302499B1 (en) * 2020-10-07 2022-04-12 Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. Vacuum circuit breaker
US11545321B2 (en) 2020-03-31 2023-01-03 Hubbell Incorporated System and method for operating an electrical switch

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5144405U (fr) * 1974-09-25 1976-04-01
JPS5744587Y2 (fr) * 1976-10-21 1982-10-01
JPS60501033A (ja) * 1983-04-11 1985-07-04 レイケム・コーポレイション 負荷しゃ断スイッチ
WO2018146739A1 (fr) * 2017-02-08 2018-08-16 三菱電機株式会社 Dispositif de surveillance de détérioration sous vide pour soupape à vide, et dispositif d'ouverture/fermeture équipé de celui-ci
CN112614735B (zh) * 2020-12-17 2021-10-15 浙江法拉迪电力科技有限公司 一种户外高压真空断路器

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3404247A (en) * 1966-03-08 1968-10-01 Gen Electric Pressure responsive protective means for vacuum type circuit interrupters
US3472981A (en) * 1966-08-05 1969-10-14 Gen Electric Pressure responsive protective means for vacuum type circuit interrupters immersed in liquid
US3493952A (en) * 1966-08-05 1970-02-03 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker with contact condition indicator
US3626125A (en) * 1968-11-22 1971-12-07 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Leak detecting means for vacuum switches

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3404247A (en) * 1966-03-08 1968-10-01 Gen Electric Pressure responsive protective means for vacuum type circuit interrupters
US3472981A (en) * 1966-08-05 1969-10-14 Gen Electric Pressure responsive protective means for vacuum type circuit interrupters immersed in liquid
US3493952A (en) * 1966-08-05 1970-02-03 Gen Electric Electric circuit breaker with contact condition indicator
US3626125A (en) * 1968-11-22 1971-12-07 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Leak detecting means for vacuum switches

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4034264A (en) * 1974-04-02 1977-07-05 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for detecting a deficient operational capability of a vacuum switching vessel
US3983345A (en) * 1975-01-30 1976-09-28 General Electric Company Method of detecting a leak in any one of the vacuum interrupters of a high voltage circuit breaker
US4972055A (en) * 1989-12-29 1990-11-20 Abb Power T&D Company Inc. Multiple vacuum interrupter fluid insulated circuit breaker with isolation gap
US5321221A (en) * 1991-11-20 1994-06-14 Gec Alsthom Sa Self-disconnecting circuit-breaker for medium tension, and use thereof in a medium-tension station or bay
US20060181267A1 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-08-17 Eaton Corporation Vacuum circuit interrupter including circuit monitoring leakage or loss of vacuum and method of monitoring a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum
US7148677B2 (en) * 2005-02-15 2006-12-12 Eaton Corporation Vacuum circuit interrupter including circuit monitoring leakage or loss of vacuum and method of monitoring a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum
US9425005B2 (en) * 2012-02-03 2016-08-23 Abb Technology Ag Vacuum interrupter with transition areas between metal housing parts and ceramic housing parts covered by insulating material
US20140339195A1 (en) * 2012-02-03 2014-11-20 Abb Technology Ag Vacuum interrupter with transition areas between metal housing parts and ceramic housing parts covered by insulating material
CN102683100A (zh) * 2012-05-18 2012-09-19 沈阳华德海泰电器有限公司 高压真空灭弧室串联结构
CN102683100B (zh) * 2012-05-18 2014-08-13 沈阳华德海泰电器有限公司 高压真空灭弧室串联结构
US11024477B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2021-06-01 Hubbell Incorporated Current interrupter for high voltage switches
US9761394B2 (en) * 2013-02-08 2017-09-12 Hubbell Incorporated Current interrupter for high voltage switches
US10672575B2 (en) 2013-02-08 2020-06-02 Hubbell Incorporated Current interrupter for high voltage switches
US20140224771A1 (en) * 2013-02-08 2014-08-14 David A. Rhein Current Interrupter for High Voltage Switches
US20150170856A1 (en) * 2013-12-18 2015-06-18 Power Products, Llc Single bottle interrupter
US10600592B2 (en) * 2013-12-18 2020-03-24 Hubbell Incorporated Single bottle interrupter
US11037746B2 (en) 2013-12-18 2021-06-15 Hubbell Incorporated Single bottle interrupter
US11600459B2 (en) 2013-12-18 2023-03-07 Hubbell Incorporated Single bottle interrupter
US11545321B2 (en) 2020-03-31 2023-01-03 Hubbell Incorporated System and method for operating an electrical switch
US11302499B1 (en) * 2020-10-07 2022-04-12 Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. Vacuum circuit breaker

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5033467A (fr) 1975-03-31
FR2237202A1 (fr) 1975-02-07
CH577678A5 (fr) 1976-07-15
DE2430136A1 (de) 1975-01-30
GB1469146A (en) 1977-03-30

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