US2276859A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Circuit interrupter Download PDF

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Publication number
US2276859A
US2276859A US363253A US36325340A US2276859A US 2276859 A US2276859 A US 2276859A US 363253 A US363253 A US 363253A US 36325340 A US36325340 A US 36325340A US 2276859 A US2276859 A US 2276859A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
arc
arcing
passage
plates
extinguishing
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
US363253A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert H Nau
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 US363253A priority Critical patent/US2276859A/en
Priority to GB13580/41A priority patent/GB552774A/en
Priority to DES32236D priority patent/DE919722C/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2276859A publication Critical patent/US2276859A/en
Priority to FR942947D priority patent/FR942947A/fr
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
    • H01H9/34—Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in circuit interrupters and more particularly to arc extinguishing structures for circuit interrupters of the air break type.
  • arc extinction is accomplished by magnetically blowing the arc into aslotted spaced plate structure formed of retractory or non-gas forming material. It has been determined that the principles of arc extinction employed in this form of structure can also be used to advantage in circuit interrupters for higher voltages. Extensive investigation has shown that approximately 100 volts per plate will provide the necessary factor of safety for interrupters rated above 1000 volts. Thus, a breaker applicable to circuits capable of producing fault currents equivalent to 250,000 kva. at 4,000 to 5,000 volts single phase, requires at least 50 insulating plates which, when properly spaced form an arc extinguishing structure of approximately 20 inches in length. In this arrangement, unbalanced gas pressure and inverse looping of the arc may occur so that only a portion of the arc extinguishing structure is effective to extinguish the arc.
  • the main object of my invention is to improve the .interrupting ability of arc extinguishing structures for high Voltage circuit breakers.
  • Another object of my invention is to provide means for more uniformly distributing a high voltage arc in an arc extinguishing structure for circuit breakers so as to effectively utilize the entire structure during the arc extinguishing operation.
  • a more specific object of my invention resides in the provision of a copious venting passage intermediate the ends of an arc extinguishing structure capable of extinguishing a high voltage arc so as to avoid the formation of deleterious backpressure when the breaker contacts part, which would prevent the normal functioning voi the structure.
  • a further object of my invention contemplates improving the circuit interrupting ability of an arc extinguishing device of the aforesaid type by the provision of novel barrier structure which, in addition to preventing flashover across the exterior of the extinguisher, defines an extension of the exhaust passage intermediate the ends of the extinguisher so as to form a more effective arc gas exhaust and deionizing flue.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevation view partially in section illustrating a circuit interrupter embodying my invention
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the arc extinguishing device of the interrupter shown in Fig. l taken along the line II-II of that gllle;
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the arc extinguishing device of my invention taken along the line III- III of Fig. l.
  • the reference numeral 5 designates a frame upon which is mounted in spaced relation a pair of bushings l and 9.
  • the bushings 1 and 9 respectively, support terminal conductors II and I3, the right hand ends of which, respectively, support contact terminals I5 and I1.
  • the contact terminals I5 and Il are normally adapted to be bridged by a main bridging member I9, yieldingly supported upon a movable contact arm 2I, which is pivoted at 23 to the contact terminal I'I.
  • the upper end of contact terminal I5 carries a stationary arcing contact 25 which coacts with a movable arcing contact 21 carried by the contact arm 2l.
  • the conducting circuit therethrough includes the conductor II, contact terminal I5, bridging member I9, contact terminal Il, and the conductor I3.
  • is rocked about its pivot 23 in a clockwise direction by an operating rod 29 coupled to an operating arm 3l.
  • 'I'he operating rod 29 may be actuated by any suitable operating mechanism, not shown, which imparts relatively high speed reciprocatory motion to the rod to effect opening and closing movement of the contact structure.
  • contact 21 is adapted to move during the opening and closing operation of the interrupter.
  • An arcing plate 41 of conducting material is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the end wall 35 of the arc chute 33 and has secured thereto an arcing horn 49 which extends downwardly at an angle therefrom between the spaced walls 43 and 45.
  • the lower end of the arc horn 49 terminates close to the path of movement of the arc contact 21 so that during the opening movement of the latter, arc transfer from the contact 21 to the horn 49 will be assured.
  • a ilexible shunt I is provided in order to complete the electrical connection from the arcing horn 49 to the moving contact arm 2 l.
  • An arcing plate 53 of conducting material similar to arcing plate 41 is disposed in spaced relation with respect to the end plate 3l' of the arc chute 33.
  • the arcing plate 53 is associated with an inclined arcing horn 55, the lower end of which has an arc receiving surface 56 adjacent to the stationary arcing contact 25.
  • Movement ofthe arcing contact 25 is arrested when its arcing face' is brought into alignment with the arc receiving surface 55 of the arcing hom 55 so that when the contacts 25 and 21 part an arc will be established, the left hand end of which immediately transfers to the arc horn 55, thereby introducing blow-out coil 59 serially into the circuit.
  • the blow-out coil 59 is disposed about a core 53 of magnetic material, the ends of which engage the magnetic pole pieces 65 disposed between the wall members 4I and 45.
  • the arc is bowed upwardly and to the right until an intermediate portion thereof strikes rto the arc horn 49 and is assisted in its movement along the arc horn 49 by the magnetic field set up between the pole pieces 65.
  • the section of arc between the horn 49 and the contact 21 is quickly extinguished since it is shunted by a low resistifi ance conducting path provided by the shunt connection 5i.
  • the terminal ends of the arc travel upwardly along the inclined horns 49 and 55 and 'transfer to the arcing plates 41 and 53.
  • an arc extinguishing structure comprising a plurality of plates 51 pref erably ci non-gas forming insulating material disposed in spaced relation between the arcing plates Iill and 53.
  • the platesl 61 are provided with an elongated tapered slot 69, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2, which slots are slightly offset with respect to the vertical center line of the plates, and assembled so that the slots in alternating plates are out of alignment, thereby provicllng a zig-zag arc path into which the arc is' driven.
  • the plates 61 are also preferably as Sild on a pair of insulating rods 1I and spaced from each other by spacing members 19 also .preferably of non-gas forming material.
  • the zig-zag arrangement of the slots 69 produces a slight progressive elongation of the arc as th'e arc is moved toward the closed ends of .the slots, the elongation is in itself not sufilcient to materially change the arc characteristics.
  • the arc is prevented from moving into the highly restricted portions of the slots and only when the arc is reduced in cross section to a rel ⁇ atively small value just prior to a current zero is it permitted to move into the restricted end por- Deionization of the threadlike arc stream is aided as the result of direct contact of the arc stream with the relatively cool edges of the more restricted portions of the slots which have been shielded from the direct effects of the arc during the high values of instantaneous current.
  • an exhaust or vent passage 19 is provided between adjacent plates 51 intermediate the ends of the arc extinguishing structure and preferably immediately above the point of separation of the contacts-25 and 21.
  • Th'e vent passage 19 in this instance is formed by spacing members 9
  • the exhaust passage 19 assists in bringing yabout arc extinction in that it rapidly vents the ionized gases from the central portion of the arc extinguishing structure and vents these gases exteriorly of the chute.
  • the arc passage 19 is extended above the plates 61 by means of a boxlike barrier, generally indicated at 83 in Fig. l.
  • the barrier 83 comprises a pair of plate members 85 of insulating material disposed on opposite sides of the spacing members 8l.
  • plate members 85 extend laterally of the plates 61 and are preferably of width equalto the width of the end wall members 35 and 31.
  • the sides of the box-like barrier 83 are closed by spacing members 81 secured along the outer edges by suitable means, as shown.
  • the side plates 35 also serve as a barrier to -prevent flash-over across the upper ends of the plate 61 between th'e arcing plates 41 and 53.
  • the partially ionized gases emanating from the normal gas discharge spaces between the plates 61 on either side of the barrier 83 require further control than that afforded by the barrier alone.
  • the deflecting ⁇ members 89 prevent the arc gases emanating from between the plates 61 on either side of the barrier 83 from intermingling with each other and with the gases discharged from the passage 19 until such gases have cooled sulciently to eliminate all danger of flashover and voltage breakdown exteriorly of the arc extinguishing structure.
  • arc extinguishing means adapted to receive and exert an extinguishing action on an arc at at least a large number of points along its length, separable contacts for establishing an arc, means for transferring said arc from said contacts into said arc extinguishing means, and means dening an arc exhaust passage of greater capacity intermediate the ends of said arc extinguishing means than adjacent said points along the length of the arc, said exhaust passage being disposed with its entrance portion adjacent the point of separation of said contacts to cause the arc gases formed upon separation of said contacts to be quickly exhausted through said passage and thereby assist in the transfer of said arc from said contacts to said arc extinguishing means.
  • an arc chute contact means separable Within said chute to establish an arc, arc extinguishing means within said chute disposed above said contact means along a considerable length of the arc path, arc terminal members arranged to'conduct the terminal ends of said arc from said contact means vto the opposite ends of said chute, means dening an exhaust passage through said arc extinguishing means, said exhaust passage being disposed immediately adjacent and above the point of separation of said contact means and having venting capacity allowing more rapid venting of the arc gases formed on separation of said con- ⁇ tact means through said exhaust passage generally along the length of the arc, and means for moving the terminal ends of said arc along said arc terminal members and an intermediate portion of.vthe arc into said exhaust passage, said intermediate arc portion providing a substantiallyv stable arc terminal within said exhaust passage for equalizing the distribution of the arc along said arc extinguishing means.
  • means of insulating material defining an elongated arc chamber, said ineans of insulating material having a plurality of venting passages of relatively small cross sectional area therethrough communicating with at least one side of said arc chamber and at least one venting passage of larger cross sectional area intermediate the ends thereof, means i'or establishing an arc within said arc chamber, andl means for subjecting said arc to a lateral blast oi uri-ionized gas to aid in extinguishing the arc,
  • a pair of spaced arclng members, arc extinguishing means including a plurality of spaced laminations oi' insulating material dispOSed between said members, said laminations having arc receiving slots therein, means for establishing an arc between said arcing members, two adjacent laminations intermediate the ends of said arc extinguishing means being spaced apart a distance greater than said remaining laminations to form an exhaust passage fcr arc gases, and means for moving the arc laterally ⁇ into said arc receiving slots, said exhaust passage relieving the pressure resulting from the formation of the arc to augment rapid movement 0I the arc into said arc receiving slots and an intermediate portion of the arc into said exhaust passage for stabilizing the arc along said arc extinguishing means.
  • arc extinguishing means including a plurality of spaced arc extinguishing plates, said plates being arranged to form two stacks spaced apart to provide a vent passage for the discharge of arc gases therebetween, means for establishing an arc across one edge of said plates, means for moving the arc laterally into engagement with said emesse plates, and tubular means of insulating material forming an extension of sald vent passage. said tubular means providing a barrier to prevent ilashover across the opposite edge of said plates from one stack of plates to the other.
  • an arc chute in a circuit interrupter, an arc chute, con-- tact means separable to establish an are within said chute, an arcing member at each end oi said arc chute, a pair of are Extinguishing strucm tures arranged in tandem relation between said arcing members and having a passage through both structures in which the arc may play in sub.. stantially a continuous line, the inner ends oi said arc extinguishing structures being spaced apart to provide an exhaust passage rising sub stantially above the point of separation oi said contact means, and means for transferring the arc from said contact means to said arcing members and into said arc extinguishing structures.
  • said exhaust passage reducing the back pressure above the arc to assist arc movement into said arc extinguishing structures.
  • an arc extinguisher including means of insulating material having a passage therethrough for the arc, said passage through the insulating material having a relatively wide inner portion for receiving the arc and a relatively nar-- row outer portion for constricting and extinguishing the arc, means for moving the arc from said relatively wide inner portion into said relatively narrow outer portion to be extinguished, relatively restricted venting means from the outer portion of the arc passage along a substantial part of its length, and a larger venting means from the arc passage intermediate its ends.
  • an arc extinguisher including means of insulating material having a passage therethrough for the arc, said passage through the insulating material having a relatively wide inner portion for receiving the arc and o, relatively narrow outer portion for constricting and extinguishing the arc, means for moving the arc from said relatively wide inner portion into said relatively narrow outer portion to be extinguished, relatively restricted venting means from the outer portion of the arc passage along a substantial part of its length, a larger venting means from ⁇ the arc passage intermediate its ends, and barrier means of insulating material extending beyond the means of insulating material forming the arc passage adjacent said larger venting means.

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US363253A 1940-10-29 1940-10-29 Circuit interrupter Expired - Lifetime US2276859A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US363253A US2276859A (en) 1940-10-29 1940-10-29 Circuit interrupter
GB13580/41A GB552774A (en) 1940-10-29 1941-10-22 Improvements in or relating to electric circuit interrupters and arc-extinguishing structures therefor
DES32236D DE919722C (de) 1940-10-29 1941-10-30 Elektrischer Stromunterbrecher
FR942947D FR942947A (fr) 1940-10-29 1947-02-05 Interrupteurs de circuits

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US363253A US2276859A (en) 1940-10-29 1940-10-29 Circuit interrupter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2276859A true US2276859A (en) 1942-03-17

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US363253A Expired - Lifetime US2276859A (en) 1940-10-29 1940-10-29 Circuit interrupter

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US2276859A (fr)
DE (1) DE919722C (fr)
FR (1) FR942947A (fr)
GB (1) GB552774A (fr)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2442199A (en) * 1943-12-15 1948-05-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2454121A (en) * 1945-04-03 1948-11-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2477189A (en) * 1946-12-05 1949-07-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electric arc extinguishing means
US2548220A (en) * 1945-04-16 1951-04-10 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc transferring means for switchgears
US2616007A (en) * 1947-01-04 1952-10-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2622173A (en) * 1947-03-03 1952-12-16 Canadian Controllers Ltd Magnetic blowout system for high-voltage contactors
US2623140A (en) * 1950-10-07 1952-12-23 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc runner with trap for products of arcing
US2632075A (en) * 1947-01-04 1953-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2646481A (en) * 1947-01-11 1953-07-21 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High-voltage circuit breaker
US2648743A (en) * 1950-12-28 1953-08-11 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Exhaust passage and trap means coextensive with arc runners
US2652469A (en) * 1950-09-20 1953-09-15 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with slotted and perforated barrier plates
US2668892A (en) * 1950-12-30 1954-02-09 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Contact and arc runner structure for circuit interrupting devices
US2692319A (en) * 1951-05-26 1954-10-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2707218A (en) * 1951-05-31 1955-04-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Air-break circuit interrupters
US2734970A (en) * 1951-09-28 1956-02-14 Circuit interrupters
US2749410A (en) * 1952-08-12 1956-06-05 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with perforated barrier plates having staggered slots
US2759073A (en) * 1947-01-11 1956-08-14 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High voltage magnetic arc extinguishing means
US2861152A (en) * 1954-12-13 1958-11-18 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter
US2889433A (en) * 1956-11-26 1959-06-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2933574A (en) * 1954-04-26 1960-04-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US3081389A (en) * 1960-12-19 1963-03-12 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Uninterrupted arc chute venteng path for jump gap and runner
US3177324A (en) * 1961-12-01 1965-04-06 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit breaker employing perforated arc runners

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1030422B (de) * 1956-02-27 1958-05-22 Siemens Ag Elektrisches Schaltgeraet, insbesondere Luftschuetz
BE560671A (fr) * 1956-09-10
US2900477A (en) * 1956-09-21 1959-08-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2942083A (en) * 1956-12-24 1960-06-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2942084A (en) * 1957-08-30 1960-06-21 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit breaker employing perforated flue means adjacent arc runners
DE1063695B (de) * 1957-09-20 1959-08-20 Licentia Gmbh Elektrischer, mehrpoliger, gekapselter Selbstschalter mit in Fukenkammern hineinragenden Kontakthebeln
DE1144364B (de) * 1957-10-31 1963-02-28 Wickmann Werke Ag Niederspannungsschaltgeraet fuer Wechselstrom
DE1087217B (de) * 1958-09-10 1960-08-18 Licentia Gmbh Magnetblasschalter
FR1224133A (fr) * 1959-01-20 1960-06-22 Merlin Gerin Perfectionnements à des dispositifs d'extinction d'arc
FR1269360A (fr) * 1960-07-01 1961-08-11 Merlin Gerin Perfectionnements à un dispositif d'extinction d'arc
BE629702A (fr) * 1963-03-18 Merlin Gerin
FR2204866B2 (fr) * 1972-10-31 1976-01-30 Merlin Gerin

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2442199A (en) * 1943-12-15 1948-05-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2454121A (en) * 1945-04-03 1948-11-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2548220A (en) * 1945-04-16 1951-04-10 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc transferring means for switchgears
US2477189A (en) * 1946-12-05 1949-07-26 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electric arc extinguishing means
US2616007A (en) * 1947-01-04 1952-10-28 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2632075A (en) * 1947-01-04 1953-03-17 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2759073A (en) * 1947-01-11 1956-08-14 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High voltage magnetic arc extinguishing means
US2646481A (en) * 1947-01-11 1953-07-21 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd High-voltage circuit breaker
US2622173A (en) * 1947-03-03 1952-12-16 Canadian Controllers Ltd Magnetic blowout system for high-voltage contactors
US2652469A (en) * 1950-09-20 1953-09-15 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with slotted and perforated barrier plates
US2623140A (en) * 1950-10-07 1952-12-23 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc runner with trap for products of arcing
US2648743A (en) * 1950-12-28 1953-08-11 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Exhaust passage and trap means coextensive with arc runners
US2668892A (en) * 1950-12-30 1954-02-09 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Contact and arc runner structure for circuit interrupting devices
US2692319A (en) * 1951-05-26 1954-10-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupter
US2707218A (en) * 1951-05-31 1955-04-26 Westinghouse Electric Corp Air-break circuit interrupters
US2734970A (en) * 1951-09-28 1956-02-14 Circuit interrupters
US2749410A (en) * 1952-08-12 1956-06-05 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Arc chute with perforated barrier plates having staggered slots
US2933574A (en) * 1954-04-26 1960-04-19 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US2861152A (en) * 1954-12-13 1958-11-18 Gen Electric Electric circuit interrupter
US2889433A (en) * 1956-11-26 1959-06-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Circuit interrupters
US3081389A (en) * 1960-12-19 1963-03-12 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Uninterrupted arc chute venteng path for jump gap and runner
US3177324A (en) * 1961-12-01 1965-04-06 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Circuit breaker employing perforated arc runners

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR942947A (fr) 1949-02-22
DE919722C (de) 1954-11-02
GB552774A (en) 1943-04-23

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