US3909676A

US3909676A - Self-operating fault current limiter switch

Info

Publication number: US3909676A
Application number: US462987A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorne D Mcconnell
Original assignee: ITE Imperial Corp
Current assignee: ABB Inc USA
Priority date: 1974-04-22
Filing date: 1974-04-22
Publication date: 1975-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-30
Also published as: CA1013402A

Abstract

A parallel-connected inductance and capacitor are connected in parallel with a normally closed switching device and in series with an electric power distribution system. The capacitive reactance of the capacitor is substantially higher than the inductive reactance of the inductor at the power line frequency. The normally closed switching device is opened in response to a predetermined level of fault current in the system so that the reactor is inserted into the power distribution system to effect limitation of current level. The switching device is springbiased to a closed position and the current path through the switch contacts forms a blow-open magnetic circuit, whereby the contacts are blown open against the closing force of the biasing springs when the predetermined current magnitude is reached. Means are provided to produce a high arcing voltage in a pressurized liquid medium.

Description

[ 1 Sept. 30, 1975 SELF-OPERATING FAULT CURRENT LlMlTER SWITCH Primary l;.\'uminerG. Harris Attorney, Agenl. or Firm-Ostrolenk. Faber, Gerb & Soffen [75] Inventor: Lorne D. McConnell. Chalfont. Pa.

[57} ABSTRACT A parallel-connected inductance and capacitor are [73] Assignee: l-T-E Imperial Corporation, Spring House, Pa.

connected in parallel with a normally closed switching device and in series with an electric power distribution system. The capacitive reactance of the capacitor is Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 462,987.

substantially higher than the inductive reactance of the inductor at the power line frequency. The n0r mally closed switching device is opened in response to a predetermined level of fault current in the system so that the reactor is inserted into the power distribution system to effect limitation of current level. The

switching device is spring-biased to a closed position References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 200/144 AP X 200/144 AP X HUFPCF contacts are blown open against the closing force of the biasing springs when the predetermined current a. n M e S S e K D 913 1067 90/9 HHH 5 04 82:. 170 5 101.3 452 333 McConnell magnitude is reached. Means are provided to produce a high arcing voltage in a pressurized liquid medium.

10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of5 3,909,676

SELF-OPERATING FAULT CURRENT LIMITER SWITCH RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a circuit interrupting device,

and more particularly relates to a circuit interrupting device which is biased closed and which is opened by the magnetic forces due to a blow-open current path through the movable contact or contacts when the cur- .rent in the current path exceeds a given value.

Switches made in accordance with the invention are applicable in any desired system, and have particular application in fault current limiting systems of the type shown in above-noted copending application Ser. No. 462,781. In the fault current limiting circuit described therein, a parallel-connected inductor and capacitor are connected in series with a power system line and a normally closed switch is in parallel with the capacitor and inductor and is opened at some predetermined multiple of load current. This opens the normal low impedance current path, and inserts the relatively high inductive impedance element in series with the source impedance, to limit the fault current to a desired level. These actions, requiring sensing of the fault current operation of the switch and cut-in of the high impedance element, must all take place in a time period of the order of 2 milliseconds in order that the first crest of a-c current may be limited in its magnitude.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A self-operating fault current interrupting switch is provided which is formed of a pair of cooperating contacts which are biased into engagement with one another with a given force which could be obtained from a biasing spring. The current path through the closed contacts is arranged to apply a magnetic blowoff force to the cooperating contacts which tends to oppose the biasing force which biases the contacts closed. The blow-off force of the magnetic loop is then designed relative to the closing bias force such that the blowoff force will exceed the closing force at some given multiple of rated line current, for example, at 2 to times ratcd load current. A time delay means keeps the contacts from reclosing for a short time after they open to ensure that the system circuit breakers have opened before the interrupting switch contacts reclose.

In order to provide a high are voltage across the separating contacts, the contacts may be immersed in a liquified gas, such as SF under pressure. Other dielectric fluids and gases and various combinations thereof can be selected. Thus, when the contacts open and an arc .is drawn between them, a resultant pressure bubble is developed in the liquid to result in a high voltage arc and strong opening force on the movable contact, supplementing the magnetic opening force.

The magnetic loop forming the blow-open path is such that the arc between the separating contacts is rapidly lengthened and blown outwardly and off the ends of the contacts. A pair of arc runners for accepting the magnetically blown arc are disposed to lengthen the arc and to expose it continuously to new liquid to maintain a high are voltage level.

The cooperating contacts of the switch can take several forms. For example, they can consist of butt contacts formed at the centers of confronting pistons; and they can be single break or double break bridging contacts. The are runners, if such are used, may be of carbon or graphite to minimize development of solid are products. Moreover, the runners may be composed of material having linear or non-linear resistive characteristic material, and can be suitably proportioned so that a significant resistive drop occurs in the are runners as the arc traverses the runners. This added resistive voltage drop supplements the arc drop to provide greater voltage to force the current to commutate into the parallel impedance circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a parallel-connected capacitor and inductor and switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the fault current interrupter constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken across section line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a first embodiment of an interrupter switch of the invention in which the contacts are butt contacts formed on confronting pistons.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 taken across the section line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a single break interrupter switch made in accordance with the invention and is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7 taken across the section line 66 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken across section line 7-7 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a double break interrupter switch made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken across section line 99 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an end view of a further two-break embodiment of the interrupter switch of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 taken across section line I111 in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring first to FIG. I, the novel invention is shown in diagram fashion and contains

terminals

21 and 22 which are connected in series with a conventional power circuit breaker 20 and a conventional electric power transmission circuit. The fault current limiter, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, consists of parallel-connected inductor 23, capacitor 24 and switch device 25.

Switch device 25 will be described later in connection with FIGS. 3 to 1 1 and operates normally to shortcircuit inductor 23 and capacitor 24. Thus, the switching device 25 has a schematically illustrated movable contact member 26 which engages fixed contact 27 under normal circuit conditions. When a fault current flows in the circuit being protected and as will be later described, the contact arm 26 moves toward contact 28 and an arc current flows from contact 27, through arccurrent-limiting impedances 29 and 30 (which are connected to one another through the arc) and to movable contact member 26. The are voltage which appears across contacts 26 and 27 causes current from the main circuit to commutate into capacitor 24 which initially acts as a low impedance to current change and thence into inductor 23, which will then exert a current limiting action on the main circuit current. The main current is ultimately interrupted by the relatively slow main circuit breaker 2'0.

In one embodiment of the invention, the inductor 23 is an air core inductor having an inductive reactance at 60 hertz of the order of 1 ohm. The capacitor 24 facilitates the commutation of current into the inductor 23 and also serves as a transient voltage damper in the system. Preferably, the capacitor 24 will have a capacitive reactance of ohms or more at 60 hertz.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show one embodiment of the fault current limiter of FIG. l. The

terminals

21 and 22 may have any configuration to allow easy connection of the component into an existing power system. The device of FIGS. 2 and 3 is contained within a weatherproof glass filament-wound and epoxy impregnated cylindrical housing which has molded or cast

insulation end closures

41 and 42 sealed thereto. The inductor 23 is then wound on an insulation cylinder or bobbin 43 which is suitably fixed within housing 40. The

end terminals

45 and 46 are then suitably connected to

terminals

21 and 22. A plurality of parallel-connected capac' itors, including

capacitors

48 and 49, are also connected by their leads 5tl51 and 52-53 respectively to

terminals

21 and 22 as shown.

Capacitors

48 and 49 in FIG. 3 constitute the capacitor 24 of FIG. 1.

Switching device 25 is then connected as shown between

terminals

21 and 22 and in parallel with inductor coil 23 and capacitors 38 and 49. The interior of tube 40 may then be filled with air, or may be filled with a gas such as sulfur hexafluoride, if desired, to improve the insulation of the inductor 23, switch 25 and

capacitors

48 and 49. Mounting legs 55 and 56 may also be provided to allow the easy mounting of the device in the power system.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a first embodiment of the selfoperating switch 25 of FIGS. l and 3. Switch 25 has

terminals

60 and 61 which are connected to or might be

terminals

21 and 22, respectively, in FIG. 3.

Terminals

60 and 61 are in turn connected to conductive end caps 62 and 63, respectively, which are threaded onto the opposite ends of insulation tube 64. Terminal 61 has an elongated thread which enters threaded opening 65 and end cap 63 and has an enlarged head 66 which threadably receives conductive cylinder 67. A nut 68 secures terminal 61 and its head 66 to the cap 63 and the entire terminal 61 can be secured in a higher or lower position for spring load adjustment, as will be later described. An O-ring seal 69 seals the outer surface of cylinder 67 to the inner surface of tube 64.

Cylinder 67, which is fixed in position, has a plurality of openings in its top, including

openings

70 and 71,

and has a butt-contact member 72 secured to and eX- tending from its axial center as shown in FIG. 5. Contact member 72 cooperates with butt contact 75 which is carried on conductive movable piston 76. Piston 76 is axially movable along its axis and along the axis of tube 64. A compressed spring 77 biases piston 76 downwardly to press

contact

72 and 75 toward engagement with one another with a given force. A conductive ring 78 is electrically and mechanically secured to cap 62, and a conductive and flexible shunt, sche matically shown

shunt elements

79 and 80, electrically connect piston 76 to ring 78 and thus to cap 62 and terminal 60.

The cap 62 has an opening 81 therein and a conductive tube 82 is secured to cap 62. The tube 82 is then filled with brass or copper screening and is capped with a conductive end cap 91 which is threaded onto the threaded end of tube 82. Cap 91 has a central plug 92 therein which permits easy access through the cap 91 to the interior of tube 82. The tube 82 serves both as a terminal conductor and as a filling spout for filling the interiorof insulation tube 64 with liquid SF 6 to the level indicated in FIG. 5. The system is then charged with SF gas at a pressure of about 300 p.s.i.g. The liquid sulfur hexafluoride then operates in such a manner as to generate SF gas at higher pressure when a high voltage are is drawn between

contacts

72 and 75. Note that SP liquid and charging SF gas could be replaced by other liquids and gases, and by'combinations of diverse liquids and gases so long as the liquid is one which will produce a high are voltage. The tube 82 and the portion of ring 78 above the liquid level serve as an expansion space for exapnding gas developed during arcing, while screening 90 serves as a cooling means to rapidly cool and recondense SF gas generated by the liquid during arcing.

The operation of the interrupter of FIGS. 4 and 5 is as follows:

A normal current path is established through the normally closed butt contacts 7275 which extends from terminal 61, head member 66, cylinder 67, butt contact 72, butt contact 75, movable piston 76,

shunt members

79 and 80, conductive ring 78, cap 62 and tube portion 82 of terminal 60. It will be noted that the current flow through piston 76 and then into butt contact 72 makes an approximately 90 turn as it comes from the upper surface of piston 76 into butt contact 72. Similarly, current through butt contact 75 makes an approximate right-angle turn when flowing through the lower surface of piston 76 and then outwardly and up the piston walls. These turns then define a blow-off path in which magnetic forces tend to move

contacts

72 and 75 away from one another. Thus, when the current becomes sufficiently high, the blow-off force becomes sufficient to move piston 76 upwardly toward a stop position against the bottom of ring 78 and against the downward biasing force of compression spring 77. The piston 76 further serves as a dashpot to delay the reclosing of

contacts

72 and 75 when the blow-open force decreases.

The point at which contact separation between

contacts

72 and 75 takes place can be controlled by adjusting the compression of spring 77 through the adjustment of conductive member 61 and after loosening the nut 68. Once the contacts separate because of a given.

instantaneous current flowing in the blow-off path, an arc will be drawn between

contacts

72 and 75 which can heat the liquid SF sufficiently high to produce sul-.

' fur hexafluoride gas. This gas bubble of expanding hot gas will provide a pressure level for expelling piston 76% away from piston 67, further lengthening the arc, and developing high are voltage. Note that the arc voltage will cause current to commutate into the parallel capacitor and thence into the current limiting inductance 23 so that the network fault current will be limited in magnitude. The current is ultimately interrupted by the conventional circuit breaker 20 which responds relatively slowly to the appearance of the fault current in the circuit.

Once the fault current is extinguished by the circuit breaker 20, the

butt contacts

72 and 75 of FIG. 5 are reclosed under the influence of spring 77. Both cylinder 67 and piston 76 in FIG. 5 have openings such as

openings

70 and 71 to permit the flow of fluidand of gas therethrough, while'the openings in piston 76 control its dashpot character.

The petcock 92 in FIG. 5 provides means for filling the interior of tube 64 with SF liquid and the copper or bronze screen 90 serves as an effective cooling chamber for recondensation of gaseous SF into liquid.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the selfswitching device of the invention. Referring to these figures, the self-switching device (FIG. 1) consists of a glass-epoxy reinforcing tube 100 which has a bottom closure 101 and a top'closure 102 threadably se cured to its upper and lower ends. A molded epoxy housing 103 is then positioned within tube 100 and is sealed at its bottom to the bottom cap 101 by the seal ring 104. A catch basin 105, which serves to trap solid are products, is also positioned at the bottom of housing 103.

The conductive terminals of the device consist of

terminals

106 and 107 which correspond to

terminals

21 and 22, respectively, in FIG. 3. Terminal 107 has an upwardly extending contact end 108 which is fixed in position while terminal 106 has a rotatable contact member 109 pivotally connected thereto on the fixed pivot 110. Pivot 110 can be current carrying but, preferably, flexible conductive shunts (not shown) carry current around pivot 110.

A biasing spring 111 is then secured within housing 103 and presses against contact finger 109 so that the contact finger 109 is normally pressed into engagement with fixed contact member 108. Damping means may also be connected to the spring 111 to delay reclosing of the contact 109 after it opens. A conductive are runner 112 is physically connected to terminal 106 and thus to movable contact 109 while a second arc runner 113 is connected to stationary Contact 108 and terminal 107. Each of are

runners

112 and 113 are further coated with appropriate carbon or out-gased activated

carbon arc runners

114 and 115, where these are

runners

114 and 115 may be of either linear or nonlinear v resistive material.

shaped bend when going from terminal 106 into movable contact 109 and then down through contact 108 and out the terminal 107. This U-shaped path then deivelops a blow-off force which tends to rotate rotatable contact 109 in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation. however, is opposed by the biasing force of spring 111. However, once the instantaneous'current magnitude through the device is sufficiently high, the contact 109 will rotate counterclockwise against spring 111,

and an arc will be drawn between the separating

contacts

109 and 108. Upon establishment of the'arc,

contacts

108 and 109, providing further opening force to contact 109. This are will be transferred to the are runners 114 and in the conventional fashion and, as the arc progresses upwardly along the runners, increased resistance is inserted in the arcing circuit, thereby to increase the voltage between

terminals

106 and 107. If desired, a nonlinear resistance material can be used for the

arc runners

114 and 115, such as pure iron or pure tungsten, or the like, which exhibits a dramatic increase of resistivity with heating due to the are current.

It is to be noted that a suitable retarding force (not shown) should be applied to the contact 109 to prevent it from reclosing once the arc current is transferred to the

arc runners

114 and 115. To this end, a suitable dashpot or the like can be connected to contact 109 so that it recloses only after the main circuit has been cleared of the fault current. This can be accomplished by a relatively small damping bellows or the like since the delay time needed is extremely short, for example, 3050 milliseconds. Note further that the dielectric medium liquid level is above the level of the are

runners

114 and 115.

If desired, arc splitter plates may extend downwardly from closure 102 and between the

arc runners

114 and 115 to ensure further elongation of the arc as it traverses upwardly between the

runners

114 and 115.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a still further embodiment of the self-switching fault current limiter switch of the invention which uses a double break configuration. The device of FIGS. 8 and 9 consists of a tubular housing which contains a stack of insulation plates shown as

plates

131 and 138 which are spaced from one another and from end plugs 139 and 140 by spacer rings 141 to 148. Each of the plates 131 to 138 are contoured to define completely cutaway side sections which are aligned with one another along with increased radial thickness sections which are also aligned with one another above the center line of tube 130 in FIG. 9. The

central plates

134 and 135 may be joined at a portion of their opposing surfaces by a bridging section 150, whereby the various plates define staggered and tortuous flow channels through the plates for gas which is produced upon the operation of the contacts as will be later described.

The device terminals and 161 enter through end plugs 139 and 140, respectively, and terminate with upraised fixed

contact portions

162 and 163, respectively. The bridging contact 164, which is carried on operating rod 165, is then movable into and out of engagement with stationary contact ends 162 and 163.

The operating rod 165 extends downwardly into a damping assembly 166 carried within cup 167. A biasing spring 168 then presses the damping assembly piston 166 downwardly, thereby to bias movable bridging contact 164 into engagement with

contacts

162 and 163. The

contacts

162 and 163 are then provided with conductive arc runners 170 and 171, respectively, which have carbon arc runner material on their upper surfaces to define

carbon arc runners

172 and 173, respectively. The entire tube 130 is then filled with liquid SF to the level indicated in the upper cup 179 in FIG. 9 which communicates with the interior of tube 130 through opening 130av In operation, the current through the device 25 of FIG. 9 travels a U-shaped path in going from stationary contact 162 through the bridging contact 164 and into the stationary contact 163. Thus, a blow-off path is defined, such that when the current magnitude in the path is sufficiently high, say 2 to 3 orders of magnitude greater than rated current, the blow-off force exceeds the biasing force of spring 168 so that contact 164 moves upwardly and an arc is drawn to the

stationary contacts

162 and 163.

Note that the contact 164 will tend to remain open for a time depending upon the damping action provided by damping piston 166 after the opening force diminishes or disappears. Note further that the contact 164 can be flexibly connected to the operating rod 165 to ensure good contact engagement with the

stationary contacts

162 and 163.

The are plates or are

splitters

131 and 138 and the bridging section 150 are selectively provided with openings therethrough to permit the flow of gas produced from sulfur hexafluoride liquid into the expansion region above the SF liquid level in cup 179. Thus, during operation, when the current between

terminals

160 and 161 becomes sufficiently high, contact 164 moves upwardly and arcs are drawn from contact 164 to

stationary contacts

162 and 163. These arcs then transfer to the

arc runners

172 and 173, respectively, and run outwardly along

arc runners

172 and 173, thereby to be elongated and cooled by the arc splitters. Note that the arc splitters 131 to 138 can be formed of a suitable ceramic or carbon composition of any desired type. The are voltages produced are then relatively high and cause commutation of current into the inductor coil 23 in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thus, the main current fault is limited in magnitude until the circuit breaker 20 is operated. Note that the damping applied to the contact 164 is such that the contact does not re close on the

contacts

162 and 163 until after the main current is cleared by circuit breaker 20 (FIG. 1).

FIGS. and 11 show a still further embodiment of the invention with a double break arrangement. Thus, in FIG. 11 a glass epoxy tube 180, having a top closure 181 and a molded epoxy bottom insert cup 182, receives two extending

terminals

183 and 184 which correspond to

terminals

21 and 22, respectively, in FIG. 3. Each of

terminals

183 and 184 terminate in

stationary contacts

185 and 186, respectively, which are bridged by a movable bridging contact 187. The movable bridging contact 187 is then carried in a slot 188 in insulation rod 189 and a leaf spring 190 presses contact 187 downwardly in slot 188. The rod 189 then has a pistonshaped end 191 which is received in a cup 192 which is secured to the bottom of insulation cup 182.

A compression spring 192a then biases the rod 189 downwardly, thereby to cause the bridging contact 187 to engage

stationary contacts

185 and 186 with a given contact pressure. Note that piston 191 serves the function of a damping assembly to delay the reclosing of contact 187 after the contact is opened.

Each of

terminals

183 and 184 are then provided with

respective arc runners

193 and 194 which extend upwardly and which extend on either side of a central arc runner 195. The central arc runner 195 is supported by a threadably adjustable support rod 196 which is carried in the closure 181 so that the height of the central arc runner 195 can be adjusted without opening closure 181.

In operation, the current flow through

terminals

183 and 184 takes a U-shaped bend through bridging contact 187. Thus, a blow-off force is applied to the contact 187 which is opposed by the biasing force of spring 192a. Once this biasing force is exceeded, however, contact 187 moves upwardly and the entire rod 189 will move upwardly with the contact 187 and arcs are drawn from contacts and 186 to the movable contact 187. These arcs will then be transferred in the usual manner to

arc runners

193 and 194 and the arc ultimately, as it expands upwardly, will move off contact 187 and seat on either side of arc runner 195.

Two arcs will then continue to move upwardly, one extending from runner 193 to runner and the other extending from runner 195 to runner 194. A relatively high voltage drop then appears across

terminals

183 and 184, thereby to cause current flow into the current limiting inductance 23 of FIGS. 1 and 3.

Although this invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of this invention be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A self-operating switching device comprising, in combination: first and second cooperable contact means; first and second terminals for said first and sec- 1 ond contact means respectively; first and second conductors connecting said first and second terminals to said first and second contact means respectively; housing means for enclosing said first and second contact means and at least portions of said first and second conductors; said first and second terminals extending through the wall of said housing means; the interior volume of said housing means being filled with a dielectric fluid at least to a level which encloses said first and second cooperable contact means; at least one of said first and second cooperable contact means being movable relative to the other; biasing means connected to said one of said first and second contact means for biasing said first and second contact means to an engaged con dition; said first and second contact means and said first and second conductors defining a bent currentcarrying path which produces a blow-off force between said first and second cooperable contact means which tends to oppose the force of said biasing means, whereby said first and second contact means are opened when the current in said current-carrying p ath exceeds a given value; and delay means connected to at least said one of said contact means for delaying the reclosing of said contact means after the opening thereof.

2. The self-operating switch of claim 1 wherein said dielectric fluid is sulfur hexafluoride liquid.

3.. The self-operating switch of claim 1 which ,includes arc runner means connected to said first and second contact means respectively and extending in generally parallel lines away from said contact means; said are runner means being at least partly immersed in said dielectric fluid.

4. The self-operating switch of claim 1 wherein said first and second conductors are generally pistonshaped first and second members aligned and facing one another; said first and second contact means being respectively secured to the central face of said first and second piston-shaped members; said first piston-shaped member being axially movable under the magnetic blow-off force produced by the U-shaped current paths produced by said piston member to disengage said first and second contact means when said blow-off force exceeds the force of said biasing means.

5. The self-operating switch of claim 4 wherein said dielectric fluid is sulfur hexafluoride liquid.

6. The self-operating switch of claim 1 wherein said first contact means comprises a movable bridging contact and wherein said second contact means comprises a fixed pair of spaced contacts which are bridged by said bridging contact.

7. The self-operating switch of claim 6 wherein said dielectric fluid is sulfur hexafluoride liquid.

Claims

1. A self-operating switching device comprising, in combination: first and second cooperable contact means; first and second terminals for said first and second contact means respectively; first and second conductors connecting said first and second terminals to said first and second contact means respectively; housing means for enclosing said first and second contact means and at least portions of said first and second conductors; said first and second terminals extending through the wall of said housing means; the interior volume of said housing means being filled with a dielectric fluid at least to a level which encloses said first and second cooperable contact means; at least one of said first and second cooperable contact means being movable relative to the other; biasing means connected to said one of said first and second contact means for biasing said first and second contact means to an engaged condition; said first and second contact means and said first and second conductors defining a bent current-carrying path which produces a blow-off force between said first and second cooperable contact means which tends to oppose the force of said biasing means, whereby said first and second contact means are opened when the current in said current-carrying path exceeds a given value; and delay means connected to at least saiD one of said contact means for delaying the reclosing of said contact means after the opening thereof.

3. The self-operating switch of claim 1 which includes arc runner means connected to said first and second contact means respectively and extending in generally parallel lines away from said contact means; said arc runner means being at least partly immersed in said dielectric fluid.

4. The self-operating switch of claim 1 wherein said first and second conductors are generally piston-shaped first and second members aligned and facing one another; said first and second contact means being respectively secured to the central face of said first and second piston-shaped members; said first piston-shaped member being axially movable under the magnetic blow-off force produced by the U-shaped current paths produced by said piston member to disengage said first and second contact means when said blow-off force exceeds the force of said biasing means.

8. The self-operating switch of claim 7 which includes arc runner means connected to said first and second contact means respectively and extending in generally parallel lines away from said contact means; said arc runner means being at least partly immersed in said dielectric fluid.

9. The self-operating switch of claim 6 wherein said bridging contact is pivotally mounted on one of said fixed pair of spaced contacts.

10. The self-operating switch of claim 6 wherein said delay means includes a dashpot piston connected to said bridging contact.