US2109216A - Arc-extinguishing device - Google Patents
Arc-extinguishing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2109216A US2109216A US483235A US48323530A US2109216A US 2109216 A US2109216 A US 2109216A US 483235 A US483235 A US 483235A US 48323530 A US48323530 A US 48323530A US 2109216 A US2109216 A US 2109216A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- arc
- gas
- plates
- chamber
- 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
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- H01H33/70—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid
- H01H33/76—Switches with separate means for directing, obtaining, or increasing flow of arc-extinguishing fluid wherein arc-extinguishing gas is evolved from stationary parts; Selection of material therefor
Definitions
- a further object of my invention is to provide an arc-extinguishing device of the above-mentioned type with a plurality of fibre members disposed about the arc path, which are biased toward each other to conilne the arc but which are held apart by a distance proportional to the amount of pressure developed in the arc stream.
- a still further object of my invention is to provide an arc-extinguishing structure of the abovementioned type with a substance that liberates a gas, in the presence of an arc, which is turbulently passed through the arc stream and is conned by the substance in such manner that the amount of gas evolved, and the corresponding pressure of that gas, bear a direct relation to the amount of current present in the arc.
- I overcome the above-mentioned diillculties by providing walls of insulating, gas-evolving material that are disposed on opposite sides of an arc path.
- the walls are pressed toward each other by biasing means which may be adjustable and are held apart by the movable contact member which extends between them when the circuit interrupter is in closed-circuit position.
- biasing means which may be adjustable and are held apart by the movable contact member which extends between them when the circuit interrupter is in closed-circuit position.
- the pressure developed in the arc stream thus regulates the width of the slot between the plates, the pressure and slot width being functions of the arc current.
- both the resistance of the arc to lateral expansion and the liberation of un-ionized gas are proportional to the current in the arc, and my circuit interrupter successfully extinguishes arcs having either low or high current values.
- Fig. 1 is a sectional view, in elevationiof a circuit-interrupting structure embodying my invention.
- Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, in side ele- .vation, of the arc-extinguishing device disclosed in Fig. 1.
- Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the arcextinguishing device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
- Fig. 4 is a bottom end view of a fragment of the arc-extinguishing device shown in Fig. 3.
- My invention comprises, in general, an enclosing chamber I for the circuit breaker that is provided with a cover 2 which supports the insulated conductors 3, in a well known manner.
- the chamber I may be constructed of light material that need not be water-proof if the structure is to be employed within doorsbut which is constructed of heavier, weather-resisting material if the structure is to be employed out of doors.
- Stationary contact members 4 are supported on the enclosed ends of the conducting bushings 3 and are bridged by the conducting rods 5 and a conducting bar 6 which are supported on a lift rod 1.
- the lift rod 'I extends through the cover 2 and is actuated to closed and to open positions by a suitable mechanism 8 mounted exterior of the chamber i.
- Arc-extinguishing and deionizing devices 9 are mounted on the ends of the insulated conductors 3, in the path of movement of the conducting rods 5.
- 'Ihe arc-extinguishing device 9 is shown enlarged in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and comprises a rectangular insulating enclosure consisting of a pair of oppositely disposed side members each including an outer side plate il and four inner plates I2, I3, I4 and I5.
- the plates I2, I3, I l and I5 are separated by pairs of vertical end bars I1 and intermediate bars I8 both of insulating material, and are clamped together by through bolts I9 which are embedded in the plates I2.
- Side plates II insulate the embedded portion of the bolts I9 and are fastened to the plates I2 and I3 by the screws I6.
- dowel pins 2I extend through the plates I2, I3, I4 and I5.
- movable plates 24- made of fibrous insulating material, such as fuller board or the like, that decomposes in the presence of an arc and evolves an un-ionized gas which facilitates extinguishment of the arc in a manner to be hereinafter described.
- the plates 24 are spaced on opposite sides of the flat movable contact member 5 and are yieldingly pressed toward one another and into contact with the contact member 5 by springs 25 disposed in recesses 26 in the plates I2, I3 and I4 to press against movable insulating bars 21 slidably mounted in rectangular slots 28 in the plates I5.
- the bars 21 engage the plates 24, for the purpose of moving them toward one another when the contact member 5 is moved downwardly to its open position.
- the plates 24 are loosely supported upon dowel pins 29.
- the springs 25 press the upper ends of the plates 24 inwardly to reduce the volume of the space between the plates. 'I'his movement is opposed by the pressure generated by gases resulting from decomposition of the inner faces of the plates 24 in the presence of the arc.
- the number and strength of the springs may be determined, by methods readily evident to persons skilled in the art, to meet the require Y ments of any particular condition.
- six springs are employed and are distributed to apply pressure over a wide area of the surface of the plates II but it is to be understood that the number and strength of the-springs may be varied and the same pressure obtained.
- Means may be provided for adjusting springs in order to effect a regulation of the pressure on the plates where systems of higher voltage ratings are to be interrupted.
- a circuit interrupter that was successfully operated on a. 13,800 volt system developed a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch upon the plates 24, this pressure being found to be suii'icient to successfully effect interruption of currents ranging from substantially 0 to 3,500 amperes.
- the width of the slot varies in accordance with the amount of current present in the arc, and the arc is, therefore, confined by the members 24 and is permitted to expand in a lateral direction within the slot.
- the slot itself will only increase in width with a substantial increase in arc current which effects an increase in pressure.
- the close proximity of the cool surfaces of the members 24 effects recombination of the ions'of the arc stream, and the arc path becomes deionized.
- the presenceV of the arc in intimate contact with the bre side walls of the members 24 causes decomposition thereof and liberation of un-ionized gases that pass turbulently through the arc stream.
- the rapid passage of the gas through the arc stream causes the arc core to become further deionized and contracted until, upon the occurrence of zero current in the course Owing to the bias of the springs 25, the f ionizing device is employed upon an alternatingcurrent circuit) the arc is ⁇ extinguished.
- My device is effective in extinguishing arc on direct-current circuits as well as on alternating current circuits. In either case, the arc is extinguished in an exceedingly short interval of time because of the employment of both the destanding furnace temperatures without rapidly subliming or gasifying.
- a gas-evolving solid provided adjacent to the arc path, said gas-evolving solid being movable and biased into intimate engagement with the arc.
- An arc-extinguishing device associated with the separable contact members of a circuit interrupter including gas-evolving plates abutting against the contact members when the latter are in closed-circuit position, means for biasing the plates toward each other, the said plates being moved toward each other by the biasing means when the contacts are separated to draw an arc. the distance of the plates from each other during arc establishment depending on the amount of current in the arc.
- the method of extinguishing an arc including the steps of drawing an arc in air, subjecting the arc to a mechanical pressure and envolving a gas and passing it turbulently through the arc stream.
- the method of extinguishing an arc including the steps of drawing an arc in air, subjecting the arc to a mechanical. compressive force and evolving an arc-extinguishing gas in an amount proportional to the current of the arc and passing it laterally into the arc.
- gas-evolving members disposed about the arc stream, said members being biased toward each other but held apart by the gas evolved a distance proportional to the amount of gas pressure developed by the arc.
- an arcing chamber having laterally expanslble walls of gas evolving material.
- an arc-confining chamber for said contacts having walls that collapse inwardly toward each other as one of said contacts is moved to open position and that are expansible outwardly in response to gas pressure generated by the arc within the chamber.
- An a circuit interrupter of the air-brake type a pair of members of material which evolves a gas when acted upon by an arc, conducting means for initiating an arc positioned between said members, said means causing the arc to play between said pair of gas evolving members and longitudinally therealong, and said gas evolving members being movable transversely to the arc in response to the pressure of the gas evolved.
- an expulsion chamber closed on four sides and open to a gaseous atmosphere at one end, means within said chamber for evolving a gas in the precence of an4 arc, conducting means extending longitudinally through said chamber adjacent said gas evolving means for causing an arc, and means for causing the cross-section of said chamber to vary with the pressure developed by the deionizing gas.
- an expulsion chamber closed on four sides and open at one end, a movable member in said chamber constructed of fullerboard, means for causing an arc in said chamber, said movable member being acted upon by the gas due to said arc to vary the size of said chamber to provide a large chamber for heavy current arcs and a small chamber for small current arcs.
- an expulsion chamber closed on four sides and open to a gaseous atmosphere at one end, a pair of relatively movable members in said chamber constructed of material which gives off a gas in the presence of an arc, a conducting member between said pair of relatively movable members for causing an arc and being movable out of said chamber and leaving a space between said relatively movable members in which the arc plays, the Width of said space being greater for heavy current arcs than for small current arcs.
- an extinguishing device for arcs in air a gas-evolving insulating substance about the arc path, and biasing means for forcing said substance into intimate contact with the arc stream.
- an arc-confining chamber for said contacts having walls that collapse inwardly toward each other as one of said contacts is moved to open position, and means for causing a flow of iiuid through the arc and out of said chamber to aid in extinguishing the arc.
- a chamber surrounding the arc said chamber having members adjacent the arc of a material which gives oiI a gas under action of the arc, and means for causing the cross-section of said chamber in a direction transverse to the arc to be smaller during the extinguishing of arcs carrying low currents than during the extinguishing of arcs carrying heavy currents.
- an expulsion chamber closed on four sides and open to a gaseous atmosphere at one end, means within said chamber for evolving a gas in the presence of an arc, conducting means extending longitudinally through said chamber adjacent said gas envolving means for causing an arc, and means for causing the cross-section of said chamber to be smaller during the extinguishing of arcs carrying low currents than during the extinguishing of arcs carrying heavy currents.
Landscapes
- Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
- Circuit Breakers (AREA)
Priority Applications (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US483235A US2109216A (en) | 1930-09-20 | 1930-09-20 | Arc-extinguishing device |
| GB24530/31A GB379105A (en) | 1930-09-20 | 1931-09-01 | Improvements in or relating to electric circuit interrupters |
| FR722896D FR722896A (fr) | 1930-09-20 | 1931-09-14 | Dispositif d'extinction d'arcs |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US483235A US2109216A (en) | 1930-09-20 | 1930-09-20 | Arc-extinguishing device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2109216A true US2109216A (en) | 1938-02-22 |
Family
ID=23919252
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US483235A Expired - Lifetime US2109216A (en) | 1930-09-20 | 1930-09-20 | Arc-extinguishing device |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2109216A (fr) |
| FR (1) | FR722896A (fr) |
| GB (1) | GB379105A (fr) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2429846A (en) * | 1944-03-24 | 1947-10-28 | Gen Electric | Electric circuit interrupter |
| US3136875A (en) * | 1961-05-09 | 1964-06-09 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupters |
| FR2030351A1 (fr) * | 1969-02-07 | 1970-11-13 | Pfisterer Elektrotech Karl |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE767713C (de) * | 1938-02-05 | 1953-04-09 | Aeg | Elektrischer Gasschalter |
-
1930
- 1930-09-20 US US483235A patent/US2109216A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1931
- 1931-09-01 GB GB24530/31A patent/GB379105A/en not_active Expired
- 1931-09-14 FR FR722896D patent/FR722896A/fr not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2429846A (en) * | 1944-03-24 | 1947-10-28 | Gen Electric | Electric circuit interrupter |
| US3136875A (en) * | 1961-05-09 | 1964-06-09 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupters |
| FR2030351A1 (fr) * | 1969-02-07 | 1970-11-13 | Pfisterer Elektrotech Karl |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB379105A (en) | 1932-08-25 |
| FR722896A (fr) | 1932-03-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US3815059A (en) | Circuit interrupter comprising electromagnetic opening means | |
| US2276859A (en) | Circuit interrupter | |
| GB278764A (en) | Improvements in or relating to electric circuit-breakers | |
| US2215797A (en) | Circuit interrupter | |
| US2769066A (en) | Circuit interrupters | |
| US2109216A (en) | Arc-extinguishing device | |
| US3978300A (en) | Low-voltage circuit-breaker having small contact separation and small gap between cooperating parallel-arranged arcing-rails | |
| US2353729A (en) | Air blast arc chute | |
| US2249499A (en) | Electric circuit interrupter | |
| US2032149A (en) | Circuit interrupter | |
| US2443017A (en) | Electric arc extinguishing apparatus | |
| US2294801A (en) | Circuit interrupter | |
| US2632826A (en) | Arc quenching circuit interrupter | |
| US2343323A (en) | Electric switch | |
| US2180147A (en) | Electric circuit interrupter | |
| US3113195A (en) | Fuse structures for elevated circuit voltages | |
| US2643314A (en) | Arc chute | |
| US2015561A (en) | Switch mechanism | |
| US1947224A (en) | Circuit interrupting apparatus | |
| US2352984A (en) | Circuit breaker | |
| US1991884A (en) | Circuit breaker | |
| US2084979A (en) | Circuit interrupter | |
| US1971836A (en) | High power fuse | |
| US1849875A (en) | Oil circuit breaker | |
| US3452172A (en) | Current limiting circuit breaker |