WO1995020237A1 - A circuit breaker - Google Patents
A circuit breaker Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1995020237A1 WO1995020237A1 PCT/IE1995/000007 IE9500007W WO9520237A1 WO 1995020237 A1 WO1995020237 A1 WO 1995020237A1 IE 9500007 W IE9500007 W IE 9500007W WO 9520237 A1 WO9520237 A1 WO 9520237A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- circuit breaker
- chamber
- arc
- wall
- dividing wall
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H73/00—Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
- H01H73/02—Details
- H01H73/18—Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H9/34—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate
- H01H9/342—Venting arrangements for arc chutes
Definitions
- the invention relates to a circuit breaker. More particularly, the invention relates to a circuit breaker of the type having an arc chamber means into which arc gases generated on tripping of the breaker under load arc delivered.
- Circuit breakers are used to break an electrical circuit between a source of electricity and an electrical load in response to a fault condition.
- the circuit breaker includes a stationary contact coupled to the electrical load and a movable contact coupled to the electrical source. In the event of a fault the circuit breaker opens the contacts .
- An arc is generated which is generally directed by an arc arrester plate and an arc deionisation stack to exhaust from the rear of the circuit breaker.
- a number of circuit breakers are arranged in a load centre having a number of bus bars to which the circuit breakers are mounted. The bus bars require to be protected against contact with the arc gases as the gases are ionised and can lead to short circuits between phases (known as cross- phasing) if the gases contact with the unprotected busbars .
- the invention is directed towards providing an improved circuit breaker which will overcome this difficulty.
- arc chamber means comprises :-
- the arc gases are substantially retained within the second chamber and are not exhausted from the circuit breaker.
- the breaker includes a housing defined by a base, a cover, a rear wall, a front wall, and upper and lower side walls extending between the front and rear walls, the arc chambers being defined within the housing.
- the gas outlet is defined by a single opening between the first and second chambers.
- the second arc chamber is provided adjacent the rear wall of the housing.
- the second arc chamber includes a longitudinally extending dividing wall spaced-apart from the rear wall and separating the second arc chamber from components of a circuit breaking device, the longitudinal dividing wall having an aperture defining an arc gas outlet for delivery of arc gases from the first chamber into the second arc chamber.
- the aperture is provided remote from the generation of the arc within the housing.
- the second chamber is defined by a transversely extending dividing wall which extends between the rear wall of the housing and the longitudinally extending dividing wall.
- each dividing wall comprises a cover portion extending from the cover and a base portion extending from the base to engage with the cover portion.
- the cover portion and base portion of the dividing wall interengage to define the second chamber on assembly of the cover to the base.
- the length of the second chamber is at least 40% of the length of the rear wall.
- the circuit breaker includes a baffle wall having a plurality of spaced- apart apertures through which arc gases which have passed through the arc stack are delivered into the first arc chamber.
- the first arc chamber is defined at least partially between the baffle wall and portion of a longitudinally extending dividing wall spaced-apart from the rear wall of the circuit breaker housing.
- the first arc chamber is also defined by a generally Z-shaped dividing wall in-board of the longitudinally extending dividing wall, the Z- shaped dividing wall extending between the baffle wall and the longitudinally extending dividing wall.
- a lower leg of the Z-shaped dividing wall is spaced-apart from the baffle wall and an upper leg of the Z-shaped dividing wall extends generally parallel to the upper side wall to direct the arc gases to the aperture in the longitudinal dividing wall.
- the circuit breaker includes an additional choking baffle in the first arc chamber.
- the additional choking baffle comprises an additional choking baffle which comprises an additional baffle wall extending into the first arc chamber from the Z-shaped dividing wall.
- the or each dividing wall and the or each baffle wall comprise a cover portion extending from the cover and a base portion extending from the base to engage with the cover portion.
- the cover portion and base portion of the dividing wall and/or baffle wall interengage to define the first chamber, an assembly of the cover to the base.
- Fig. 1 is a view of a circuit breaker according to the invention
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a base of the circuit breaker
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cover of the circuit breaker
- Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the circuit breaker
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail of part of the cover of the circuit breaker housing
- Fig. 6 is a perspective of a detail similar to Fig. 5 of part of the base of the circuit breaker housing;
- Fig. 7 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of the parts of the base and cover of Figs. 5 and 6, assembled;
- Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6, assembled.
- a circuit breaker 1 including a line terminal 2 for coupling to a source of electricity and a load terminal 3 for coupling to a load.
- the current path includes a coil 4 and an arc runner 6.
- An arc stack 5 assists in breaking any arc formed when contacts 7 are separated under load.
- the coil 4 causes separation of the contacts 7 in the event of a current surge.
- the contacts 7 may also be separated in response to operation of a bimetal 10.
- the bimetal 10 is adjusted by means of a calibration screw 12.
- the circuit breaker 1 comprises a base 20 and a cover 21.
- the base 20 and cover 21 both have rear wall portions 22a, 22b respectively, front wall portions 23a, 23b, upper sidewall portions 24a, 24b and lower sidewall portions 25a, 25b respectively which cooperate on assembly of the base 20 and cover 21 to form an enclosure for the various components of the circuit breaker.
- Upper and lower rail mounting devices 26,27 extend from the rear of the housing.
- the upper rail mounting device 26 is defined by the line terminal 2 and includes a pair of spaced-apart jaws 31,32.
- the circuit breaker 1 includes a first baffle wall 40 having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures 41 through which arc gases which have passed through the arc stack 5 are driven. The arc gases are then led through a first arc gas chamber 44 defined between a generally Z- shaped dividing wall 45, the baffle wall 40 and portion 46 of a longitudinal dividing wall 51.
- the portion 46 of the longitudinal dividing wall 51 has an inlet aperture 52 through which the arc gases are led into a second arc gas chamber 50.
- the generally Z-shaped dividing wall 45 has a lower leg 47 which is spaced-apart from the baffle wall 40 and includes an end in-turned lip 48.
- An upper leg 49 of the Z-shaped dividing wall 45 extends generally parallel to the upper side wall 25 to direct the arc gases to the aperture 52 in the longitudinal dividing wall 51.
- An additional choking baffle provided by an additional baffle wall 42 extends into the first arc chamber 44 from the dividing wall 45.
- This choke/baffle wall 42 acts to increase the upstream pressure thus increasing the blow off force which increases the speed of contact opening and thus the interrupting ability.
- the explosive nature of the exhaust gases are controlled by reduction in the volume of the first chamber 44.
- the chamber 50 is defined by the longitudinal dividing wall 51, the rear walls 22a, 22b of the housing and a transverse diving wall 53.
- the transverse dividing wall 53 extends between the longitudinal dividing wall 51 and the rear wall 22a,22b of the housing, approximately half-way along the rear wall 22a,22b.
- the length of the second chamber 50 is at least 40% and most preferably at least 50% of the length of the rear wall 22a,22b. This maximises the effective volume into which the neutralised arc gases finally exhaust, thus reducing the pressure on the retaining walls .
- the second arc chamber 50 is closed and does not have an exhaust outlet. This avoids a surge of hot and conductive gases passing out from the circuit breaker reducing the impact and potential destructive effect on parts outside the enclosure.
- the longitudinal dividing wall 51 comprises a base portion 51a and a cover portion 51b which have interengaging portions 60a,60b which interengage as illustrated in Fig. 5 on assembly of the base 20 and cover 21.
- the transverse dividing wall 53 comprises a base portion 53a and a cover portion 53b which have angled mating surfaces 61a, 61b for interengagement as illustrated in Fig. 5 on assembly of the base 20 and cover 21.
- the baffle wall 40 also has a base portion 40a and a cover portion 40b which have interengaging portions for interengagement, on assembly.
- first and second arc gas chambers 44,50 are formed.
- the gases are confined within the second chamber 50 and are thus prevented from exiting the breaker.
- the second arc chamber 50 is created within the boundaries of the circuit breaker housing which results in exhaust gases which can carry considerable debris from contact erosion being retained within the chamber 50. Because an external outlet for the gases is not required the housing may also be effectively sealed to prevent dust ingress .
Landscapes
- Breakers (AREA)
- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
- Circuit Breakers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP95907135A EP0745264A1 (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1995-01-23 | A circuit breaker |
AU15452/95A AU1545295A (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1995-01-23 | A circuit breaker |
MXPA/A/1996/002929A MXPA96002929A (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1996-07-19 | A circu circuit breaker |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IE940047 | 1994-01-21 | ||
IE940047 | 1994-01-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1995020237A1 true WO1995020237A1 (en) | 1995-07-27 |
Family
ID=11040259
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/IE1995/000007 WO1995020237A1 (en) | 1994-01-21 | 1995-01-23 | A circuit breaker |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0745264A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU1545295A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2181726A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2285889A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1995020237A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8592709B2 (en) | 2008-04-15 | 2013-11-26 | General Electric Company | Current path arrangement for a circuit breaker |
DE102017101728A1 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2018-08-02 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Installation switching device with an exhaust air duct and an adjusting screw |
DE102017101723A1 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2018-08-02 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Electrical service switching device with an exhaust opening |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19803925A1 (en) * | 1998-02-02 | 1999-08-05 | Maier & Cie C | Electrical installation switch for fitting to current rail in LV distribution network |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0269530A1 (en) * | 1986-11-06 | 1988-06-01 | Merlin Gerin | Arc chamber for an electrical switch |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2863969A (en) * | 1956-11-19 | 1958-12-09 | Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd | Barriers for isolation of circuit breaker phases |
-
1994
- 1994-10-04 GB GB9419930A patent/GB2285889A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1995
- 1995-01-23 AU AU15452/95A patent/AU1545295A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-01-23 EP EP95907135A patent/EP0745264A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1995-01-23 WO PCT/IE1995/000007 patent/WO1995020237A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1995-01-23 CA CA 2181726 patent/CA2181726A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0269530A1 (en) * | 1986-11-06 | 1988-06-01 | Merlin Gerin | Arc chamber for an electrical switch |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8592709B2 (en) | 2008-04-15 | 2013-11-26 | General Electric Company | Current path arrangement for a circuit breaker |
DE102017101728A1 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2018-08-02 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Installation switching device with an exhaust air duct and an adjusting screw |
DE102017101723A1 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2018-08-02 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Electrical service switching device with an exhaust opening |
US10319543B2 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2019-06-11 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Installation switching apparatus having an exhaust air duct and a set screw |
DE102017101728B4 (en) | 2017-01-30 | 2023-08-10 | Abb Schweiz Ag | Installation switching device with an exhaust air duct and an adjusting screw |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2181726A1 (en) | 1995-07-27 |
AU1545295A (en) | 1995-08-08 |
GB2285889A (en) | 1995-07-26 |
GB9419930D0 (en) | 1994-11-16 |
MX9602929A (en) | 1997-12-31 |
EP0745264A1 (en) | 1996-12-04 |
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