US1914143A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US1914143A
US1914143A US251064A US25106428A US1914143A US 1914143 A US1914143 A US 1914143A US 251064 A US251064 A US 251064A US 25106428 A US25106428 A US 25106428A US 1914143 A US1914143 A US 1914143A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
arc
walls
deionizing
slot
members
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
US251064A
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English (en)
Inventor
Ruric C Mason
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
Original Assignee
Westinghouse Electric Corp
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 Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US251064A priority Critical patent/US1914143A/en
Priority to GB1911/29A priority patent/GB305165A/en
Priority to FR668708D priority patent/FR668708A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US1914143A publication Critical patent/US1914143A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • H01H9/44—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet
    • H01H9/446—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts using blow-out magnet using magnetisable elements associated with the contacts

Definitions

  • My invention relates to interrupting means for electric circuits and particularly to means for interrupting circuits of high voltages while supplying heavy loads.
  • the general principles of my invention are applicable in connection with devices for inter-
  • Another object of my invention is the provision of means for interrupting electrical circuits by means of a pair of separable contacts operating. in air or other gaseous media without the need of resorting to the use of oil or similar means for quenching the arcs incident to separation of the contacts.
  • Figure l is a View, in front elevation, of a deionizing structure embodying my invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l;
  • Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of one of the elements embodied in the structure aforesaid, and
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.
  • Patent No. 1,836,994 issued Dec. 15. 1931, for Circuit interrupters, on an application tiled by Joseph Slepian and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, it is shown that, where electric arcs are compelled to operate in narrow channels or slots between walls of refractory insulating material, such walls have the property of strongl deionizing the arc path, and, therefore, of ultilling much the same. arcquenching function as the liquids of the prior art.
  • Such a deionizing means is particularly effective in aiding the interruption of alternating currents by reason of the fact that, when the current in the arc passes through zero, in the course of the alternating current cycle, the contiguity of the refractory walls results in rapid destruction of all thel free ions which gave conductivity to the previously existing arc.
  • the conductivity of the are path has fallen to such degree that the voltage is insufficient to re-establish current flow along the path, and the arc, therefore, remains extinct.
  • the arc to be interrupted may be impelled to operate within the narrow portion of a slot having refractory insulating walls, positioned immediately above a pair of separable contacts, and formed by suitably shaped blocks of laminated magnetic material having their opposing faces coated with layers of a suitable refractory insulating material.
  • the magnetic reaction of this system is such as to draw the arc upward into theV narrow space between the insulated walls without the necessity of using a blowout magnet, such as is commonly used in many types of openair circuit breakers. In consequence, a very cheap, rugged and simple deionizing structure is provided.
  • the deionizing structure embodying my invention comprises a pair of side plates 4 which may be of any suitable refractory insulating material, such as asbestos, and which are positioned on each side of the path of movement of the contact 3. The path of the arc incident to the separation of such contacts is, therefore, enclosed between the side walls 4 4.
  • the deionizing structure l consists of two units composed ofsuitable laminations of iron or other magnetic material having what may be termed a curved bevel at their upper and lower edges.
  • the plane of the laminations is perpendicular to said edges and the laminations are separated into groups of l0 or so by sheets of insulating material.
  • the surfaces of the'individual laminations are provided with insulating coatings such as are familiar in connection with transformer-core laminations.
  • F ig. 3 is a View, partly in section, of one bundle of such laminations.
  • the curved bevels on the laminations thus form a slot having a side mouth opening downwardly, between which the movable Contact 3 travels and draws an arc when the circuit interrupter opens.
  • the adjacent faces of the laminations are covered by layers of some suitable refractory insulating material.
  • One such material is a mixture of soapstone with adequate water-glass to form a binder.
  • the edges of the laminations may be coated with this mixture and the same allowed to dry; and, if desired, baked to harden it.
  • the tapering groove in which the arc is first formed narrows to a narrow slot having parallel sides over almost the entire faces of the laminations.
  • the arc is moved into the slot until it reaches a point adjacent the center of the space between the magnetic plates, and there is then no force on the arc due to the flux surrounding the arc seeking a path of lower reluctance. If the arc should move past this point and toward the top of the magnetic plates, there will then be a force on the arc acting to move it back toward the center of the space between the magnetic plates.
  • the laminations of magnetic material are shaped the same at the top and bottom and the groups are spaced apart uniformly with no connecting portions of magnetic material providing a low reluctance path so that the path of the are where the reluctance to its flux is a minimum is adjacent the center of the slot and the magnetic forces on the arc are in equilibrium.
  • the iron laminations are of such width as to exten-d the whole length of the arc between the parallel arc horns 9.
  • the arc is hence acted upon by uniform forces along its whole length and is moved to a central position in the slot where the magnetic forces on the are are in equilibrium duc to the symmetry of the magnetic members about an axis parallel to the arc path, until it is extinguished.
  • T he arc is thus delinitely controlled within the slot where it may be effectively deionized and is prevented from being blown out of the slot and damaging adjacent apparatus.
  • the deionizing structure 1, of the form above described, may be supported on the stationary Contact 2 by an extension of the end plate 9, or it may beheld in the desired position by other means which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the circuit-breaker art.
  • the end plates 9 should he extended downwardly and inwardly to form arcing horns to which the arcs drawn between- For example, it has been found that, with a slot $6 of an inch wide, and a distance 1 inch between the plates 9, about 1000 volts r. m. s. of 60 cycle alternating Voltage may be successfully interrupted.
  • the slot width and height should be proportioned in view of the current to be interrupted, and the distance between the end plates 9 should then be so related to the slot width as to suflice to interrupt voltage of the line in which the circuit interrupter is to be used.
  • a slot agg wide and 2 high has operated successfully with an arc current of 1000 amperes r. 1n. s.
  • a sufficient number' and thickness of insulated sheets should be used between the iron laminations to withstand the stress of the line voltage if impressed between the end plates 9.
  • the throughbolts 8 should, of course, be insulated from the laminations and from the end plates 9 by insulating tubes and collars capable of withstanding the stress of the line potential.
  • the upper ends of the laminations are shown outwardly tapered to provide a structure in which the arc has a position of equilibrium at the narrow middle part of the slot, this is unnecessary in certain classes of service, and, therefore, the iron work may be arranged to close the slot completely at its upper end. In any ease, the insulating lining should cover the slot completely so that no iron is left exposed.
  • deionizing means comprising closely spaced walls of insulating material backed by a pair of members of magnetic material, having no connecting portions of magnetic material therebetween.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by a pair of members of magnetic material, conducting means forming arc terminal members to close in the separable contacts between said walls, except in the region adjacent to said first means, said magnetic members having an axis of symmetry substantially parallel to the arc path between said terminal members.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by members of magnetic material which diverge in the region of said first means to embrace it, and the space between said walls being closed by a pair of arc terminal members on two sides, except in the vicinity of said first' means.
  • deionizing means comprising closely spaced walls of insulating material backed by a pair of magnetically isolated members of ma netic material.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by members of magnetic material diverging in the vicinity of said contact members to embrace them, said magnetic members being substantially symmetrical about an axis substantially parallel to the arc path.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by members of magnetic material completely s aced from each other by a gap of high re uctance, and conducting means forming arc horns to close in the space between said walls except near said contact members.
  • eionizing means comprising a pair of spaced walls of insulating material backed by magnetic material which diverges in the region of said Contact members to embrace them, and are horns to close in the space between said Walls, except in the region of said contact members.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by members of magnetic material diverging in the vicinity of said contact members and having a gap of high reluctance between the entire areas thereof, and means comprising the said arcing horns to close in the space between said walls except in the region of said contact members.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by members of magnetic material completely spaced from each other by a gap of high reluctance, electrodes adapted to receive the termini of said arc disposed to close each end of the space between said walls, the r. m. s. value of the voltage of said source being not substantially greater than times the distance between said electrodes divided by the distance between said walls.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by a magnetic material, so shaped as to provide a. position of equilibrium for the arc between said walls.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by magnetic material diverging on the side adjacent to said contact members and on the side opposite thereto, and means comprising the said arcing horns to close in the space between said walls except in the region of said contact members.
  • deionizing means comprising spaced walls of insulating material backed by a magnetic material, so shaped as to provide a position of equilibrium for the arc between said walls at a point such that the length of the arc is at least one sixtieth of the product of the distance in inches between said walls by the r. In. s. value of the voltage of the source supplying current to said arc.

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US251064A 1928-02-01 1928-02-01 Circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US1914143A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US251064A US1914143A (en) 1928-02-01 1928-02-01 Circuit interrupter
GB1911/29A GB305165A (en) 1928-02-01 1929-01-19 Improvements in or relating to electric circuit interrupters
FR668708D FR668708A (fr) 1928-02-01 1929-01-30 Perfectionnements aux interrupteurs de circuits électriques

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US251064A US1914143A (en) 1928-02-01 1928-02-01 Circuit interrupter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US1914143A true US1914143A (en) 1933-06-13

Family

ID=22950319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US251064A Expired - Lifetime US1914143A (en) 1928-02-01 1928-02-01 Circuit interrupter

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US1914143A (fr)
FR (1) FR668708A (fr)
GB (1) GB305165A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2646481A (en) * 1947-01-11 1953-07-21 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High-voltage circuit breaker
US2761933A (en) * 1952-12-22 1956-09-04 Merlin Gerin Device for breaking electric circuits

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2646481A (en) * 1947-01-11 1953-07-21 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High-voltage circuit breaker
US2761933A (en) * 1952-12-22 1956-09-04 Merlin Gerin Device for breaking electric circuits

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB305165A (en) 1930-03-27
FR668708A (fr) 1929-11-06

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