ELECTRICAL SWITCHING SYSTEM

Abstract

An electrical switching device including: a main contact arrangement including a fixed contact and a movable contact, a plurality of splitter plates, each having a loop structure, the splitter plates being coaxially stacked with respect to their loop structure to form a stack of splitter plates, wherein one of the splitter plates of the stack of splitter plates is a first outermost splitter plate and another one of the splitter plates of the stack of splitter plates is a second outermost splitter plate, a first arc runner electrically connected to the second outermost splitter plate and a second arc runner electrically connected to the first outermost splitter plate, the first arc runner and the second arc runner being configured to direct a main arc from the main contact arrangement to the stack of splitter plates to thereby split the main arc into a plurality of secondary arcs between the splitter plates, and a first drive coil electrically connected to the second arc runner and to the movable contact or to the first arc runner and to the fixed contact, wherein the first drive coil has a first force increasing coil portion extending in parallel with the first arc runner in a direction towards the splitter plates such that the first force increasing coil portion is able to carry current in the same direction as and in parallel with a main current flow in the first arc runner to increase the magnetic field to thereby increase the Lorenz force applied to the main arc between the first arc runner and the second arc runner, when energised, is configured to create a blowing magnetic field in the stack of splitter plates, causing the secondary arcs to move circumferentially along the loops structures of the splitter plates.

Claims

1. An electrical switching device comprising: a main contact arrangement including a fixed contact and a movable contact, a plurality of splitter plates, each having a loop structure, the splitter plates being coaxially stacked with respect to their loop structure to form a stack of splitter plates, wherein one of the splitter plates of the stack of splitter plates is a first outermost splitter plate and another one of the splitter plates of the stack of splitter plates is a second outermost splitter plate, a first arc runner electrically connected to the second outermost splitter plate and a second arc runner electrically connected to the first outermost splitter plate, the first arc runner and the second arc runner being configured to direct a main arc from the main contact arrangement to the stack of splitter to thereby split the main arc into a plurality of secondary arcs between the splitter plates, and a first drive coil electrically connected to the second arc runner and to the movable contact or to the first arc runner and to the fixed contact, wherein the first drive coil has a first force increasing coil portion extending in parallel with the first arc runner in a direction towards the splitter plates such that the first force increasing coil portion is able to carry current in the same direction as and in parallel with a main current flow in the first arc runner to increase the magnetic field to thereby increase the Lorenz force applied to the main arc between the first arc runner and the second arc runner, wherein the first drive coil, when energised, is configured to create a blowing magnetic field in the stack of splitter plates, causing the secondary arcs to move circumferentially along the loop's structures of the splitter plates.

2. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive coil is electrically connected to the first arc runner and the fixed contact.

3. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an outer surface of the second arc runner and an outer surface of the first outermost splitter plate are provided with a layer of ferrous material, and an outer surface of the first arc runner and an outer surface of the second outermost splitter plate are provided with a layer of ferrous material.

4. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second drive coil electrically connected to the second arc runner and to the movable contact, wherein the second drive coil has a second force increasing coil portion extending in parallel with the second arc runner in a direction towards the splitter plates such that the second force increasing portion is able to carry current in the same direction as and in parallel with a main current flow in the second arc runner to increase the magnetic field to thereby increase the Lorenz force applied to the main arc between the first arc runner and the second arc runner.

5. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second drive coil, when energised, is configured to create a blowing magnetic field in the stack of splitter plates, causing the secondary arcs to move circumferentially along the loop structures of the splitter plates.

6. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the splitter plates are made of a non-ferrous material.

7. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the non-ferrous material is copper or brass.

8. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first drive coil is a first plate which has a spiral coil structure.

9. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plate has a first stem portion having a first stem portion axis, wherein the first stem portion transitions into the spiral coil structure in a first transition region, wherein the first transition region has a first inner coil surface which intersects the first stem portion axis with an angle of at most 80 degrees, such as at most 70 degrees.

10. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second drive coil is a second plate which has a spiral coil structure.

11. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second plate has a second stem portion having a second stem portion axis, wherein the second stem portion transitions into the spiral coil structure in a second transition region, wherein the second transition region has a second inner coil surface which intersects the second stem portion axis with an angle of at most 80 degrees, such as at most 70 degrees.

12. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 1, comprising an arc chamber, wherein the stack of splitter plates forms part of the arc chamber, and wherein the arc chamber includes cooling ducts.

13. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the arc chamber comprises outer distancing elements and inner distancing elements, each inner distancing element being arranged concentrically with a corresponding outer distancing element, the outer distancing elements and the inner distancing elements being configured to distance adjacent splitter plates from each other, wherein the outer distancing elements and inner distancing elements are provided with the cooling ducts.

14. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the arc chamber comprises an external housing provided with a plurality of openings forming the cooling ducts.

15. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, comprising a second drive coil electrically connected to the second arc runner and to the movable contact, wherein the second drive coil has a second force increasing coil portion extending in parallel with the second arc runner in a direction towards the splitter plates such that the second force increasing portion is able to carry current in the same direction as and in parallel with a main current flow in the second arc runner to increase the magnetic field to thereby increase the Lorenz force applied to the main arc between the first arc runner and the second arc runner.

16. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the splitter plates are made of a non-ferrous material.

17. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first drive coil is a first plate which has a spiral coil structure.

18. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 2, comprising an arc chamber, wherein the stack of splitter plates forms part of the arc chamber, and wherein the arc chamber includes cooling ducts.

19. The electrical switching device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the arc chamber comprises an external housing provided with a plurality of openings forming the cooling ducts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The specific embodiments of the inventive concept will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of an example of an electrical switching device;

[0034] FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of another example of an electrical switching device;

[0035] FIG. 3 schematically shows a side view of yet another example of an electrical switching device;

[0036] FIG. 4 schematically shows a side view of yet another example of an electrical switching device;

[0037] FIG. 5 schematically shows a top view of an example of a splitter plate; and

[0038] FIG. 6 schematically shows a side view of an example of an arc chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The inventive concept will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplifying embodiments are shown. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an example of an electrical switching device 1-1. The electrical switching device 1-1 comprises a main contact arrangement 3 including a movable contact 3a and a fixed contact 3b.

[0041] The movable contact 3a is configured to be actuated between a closed position in which the movable contact 3a and the fixed contact 3b are in mechanical contact and an open position in which the movable contact 3a and the fixed contact are separated from each other. The open position is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0042] The electrical switching device 1-1 furthermore comprises a plurality of splitter plates 5, 5b, 5c. Each splitter plate 5, 5b, 5c has a loop structure 5a. The splitter plates 5, 5b, 5c may hence have through-openings formed by the loop structure 5a. Alternatively, the splitter plates are solid, i.e. without through-openings. In this case an inner distancing element and an outer distancing element arranged concentrically with the inner distancing element may be provided between each pair of adjacent splitter plates, forming the loop structure.

[0043] The splitter plates 5 are stacked to form a stack of splitter plates 7. The stack of splitter plates 7 has a splitter plate which is a first outermost splitter plate 5b and a splitter plate which is a second outermost splitter plate 5c. The first outermost splitter plate 5b is the outermost splitter plate on one side of the stack of splitter plates 7. The second splitter plate 5c is the outermost splitter plate on the other side of the stack of splitter plates 7.

[0044] The splitter plates 5, 5b, 5c are stacked such that the loop structures 5a are arranged coaxially along an axis A. The splitter plates 5, 5b, 5c are stacked with an axial gap between each pair of adjacent splitter plate 5, 5b, 5c.

[0045] The splitter plates 5 may be made of a non-ferrous material such as copper or brass.

[0046] The electrical switching device 1-1 also comprises a first arc runner 9a and a second arc runner 9b. The first arc runners 9a and the second arc runner 9b are configured to direct a main arc 11 initially generated between the movable contact 3a and the fixed contact 3b when the movable contact 3a is set in the open position, to the stack of splitter plates 7.

[0047] The first arc runner 9a may be in direct mechanical contact with the second outermost splitter plate 5c. The first arc runner 9a may be integral with the second outermost splitter plate 5c. This may apply to any example disclosed herein. The second arc runner 9b may be in direct mechanical contact with the first outermost splitter plate 5b. The second arc runner 9b may be integral with the first outermost splitter plate 5b. This may apply to any example disclosed herein.

[0048] The electrical switching device 1-1 comprises a first drive coil 13. In this example, the first drive coil 13 is electrically connected to the first arc runner 9a. One end of the first drive coil 13 may be mechanically connected to the first arc runner 9a, which may form part of the second outermost splitter plate 5c. The drive coil 13 is electrically connected to the fixed contact 3b. The other end of the first drive coil 13 may be mechanically connected to the fixed contact 3b.

[0049] The first drive coil 13 has a first force increasing coil portion 13a which extends along and parallel with the first arc runner 9a, towards the fixed contact 3b. As an example, the main current 15a flowing through the first arc runner 9a during an arc extinguishing operation, may have a current path from the second outermost splitter plate 5c to the fixed contact 3b via the first arc runner 9a. The first force increasing coil portion 13a is arranged parallel with the first arc runner 9a in a manner such that the current 17 flowing through the first force increasing coil portion 13a flows parallel with and in the same direction as the main current 17 in the first arc runner 9a, i.e. towards the fixed contact 3b. The magnetic field is hence amplified, causing an increase in the blowing magnetic field for attracting the secondary arcs 19 into the stack of splitter plates 7.

[0050] The first drive coil 13 furthermore has a first rotating force coil portion 13b arranged adjacent to the second outermost splitter plate 5c. The first rotating force coil portion 13b is arranged along the loop or arranged to follow the loop of the second outermost splitter plate 5c. The first rotating force coil portion 13b is hence configured to create a blowing magnetic field in the stack of splitter plates 7, when energised. This causes the secondary arcs 19 to move circumferentially along the loop's structures 5a of the splitter plates 5.

[0051] The first drive coil 13 may be connected to an end portion of the first arc runner 9a in a region adjacent to the fixed contact 3b. The first drive coil 13 may be led back from its connection point with the first arc runner 9a towards the second outermost splitter plate 5c where it forms the first rotating force coil portion 13b. The first drive coil 13 may then be led adjacent to and in parallel with the first arc runner 9a, and connected electrically to the fixed contact 3b. The portion of the first drive coil 13 which is led back to the second outermost splitter plates 5c is preferably led further away from the first arc runner 9a than the first force increasing portion 13a and may for example be arranged to cross the first force increasing portion 13a only once in order to minimise its magnetic field effect in the gap between the first arc runner 9a and the second arc runner 9b.

[0052] The operation of the electrical switching device 1-1 will now be explained in more detail. As previously noted, in FIG. 1 the movable contact 3a have been set in the open position in a circuit breaking operation. The main arc 11 is hence created between the movable contact 3a and the fixed contact 3b. The main arc 11 subsequently jumps to the first arc runner 9a and the second arc runner 9b. Once between the first arc runners 9a and the second arc runner 9b, the main arc 11 travels towards the stack of splitter plates 7. The current will in the open position of the movable contact 3a instead of flowing through the main contact arrangement 3 from the movable contact 3a to the fixed contact 3b flow though the movable contact 3a to the second arc runner 9b and further to the first outermost splitter plate 5b, and through the stack of splitter plates 7 to the second outermost splitter plate 5c. The main current 15a will then flow through the first arc runner 9a and back through the portion of the first drive coil 13 back to the first rotating force increasing portion 13band then finally to the fixed contact 3b via first force increasing portion 13a. The first drive coil 13 is hence energised and the current 17 through the first rotating force coil portion 13b creates a rotating blowing magnetic field B in the stack of splitter plates 7 due to a tangential Lorenz force. The current 17 through the first force increasing coil portion 13a increases the magnetic field as it flows parallel with and in the same direction as the main current 15a in the first arc runner 9a. The main arc 11 is therefore attracted by Lorenz force to the stack of splitter plates 7, causing it to divide into the secondary arcs 19 which are rotated in the loop structures 5a.

[0053] As an alternative to the configuration described above, the first drive coil could instead be electrically connected to the first outermost splitter plate and to the movable contact.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows another example of an electrical switching device. The electrical switching device 1-2 is similar to the electrical switching device 1-1. An outer surface of the second arc runner 9b of the electrical switching device 1-2 is however provided with a ferrous material 21, such as iron, steel or a steel alloy. The ferrous material may be a layer of ferrous material. The outer surface of the first outermost splitter plate 5b is also provided with a ferrous material 21, such as iron, steel or a steel alloy. An outer surface of the first arc runner 9a and an outer surface of the second outermost splitter plate 5c may also be provided with a ferrous material 22. The ferrous material may be a layer of ferrous material. In this manner, the magnetic field will be “warped” towards the interior of the stack of splitter plates 7, since the non-magnetic material will essentially act as a magnetic screen or shield in a direction away from the stack of splitter plates 7. Therefore, the magnetic field strength along the axis A may be increased, especially in the region far from the first drive coil 13.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows yet another example of an electrical switching device. The electrical switching device 1-3 is similar to electrical switching device 1-1. Electrical switching device 1-3 however also comprises a second drive coil 23.

[0056] The second drive coil 23 is electrically connected to the second arc runner 9b and hence to the first outermost splitter plate 5b and to the movable contact 3a. The second drive coil 23 has a second force increasing coil portion 23a extending along and in parallel with the second arc runner 9b in a direction towards the splitter plates 5, in particular towards the first outermost splitter plate 5b. The second force increasing coil portion 23a is configured such that a current flowing through it is parallel with and in the same direction as the direction of the main current 15b flowing through the second arc runner 9b towards the stack of splitter plates 7.

[0057] The second drive coil 23 furthermore has a second rotating force coil portion 23b arranged adjacent to the first outermost splitter plate 5b. The second rotating force coil portion 23b is arranged along the loop structure 5a of the first outermost splitter plate 5b. The second rotating force coil portion 23b is hence configured to create a blowing magnetic field in the stack of splitter plates 7, when energised. This causes the secondary arcs 19 to move circumferentially along the loop structures 5a of the splitter plates 5.

[0058] The second drive coil 23 may be led back from stack of splitter plates 7 where it forms the second rotating force coil portion 23b towards the movable contact 3a to an end portion of the second arc runner 9b in a region adjacent to the movable contact 3a where it is connected to the second arc runner 9b. The second drive coil 23 may be led back towards the movable contact 3a such that it crosses the second force increasing portion 23a for example once, and in a non-parallel manner relative to the second force increasing portion 23a and the second arc runner 9b in order to minimise its magnetic field effect in the gap between the first arc runner 9a and the second arc runner 9b.

[0059] The operation of the electrical switching device 1-3 is similar to that described above with regards to electrical switching device 1-1. A difference with electrical switching device 1-3 is that the main current 15b will flow first through the second force increasing portion 23a, then through the second rotating force coil portion 23b, and then backwards to the second arc runner 9b via a portion of the second drive coil 23 which is arranged at a distance from the second force increasing portion 23a, and onwards to the first outermost splitter plate 5b and the stack of splitter plates 7. The magnetic field and hence the Lorenz force is thereby increased. Additionally, as the current 19 flows through the second rotating force coil portion 23b of the second drive coil 23, a rotating blowing magnetic field is generated in the stack of splitter plates 7 due to a tangential Lorenz force.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows yet another example of an electrical switching device. The electrical switching device 1-4 shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the electrical switching device 1-1 shown in FIG. 1. The first drive coil 13 is a first plate which has a spiral coil structure 13c. The first drive coil 13 may for example be made of a plate or sheet of metal. The first plate has a first stem portion 25. The first stem portion 25 may for example form part of the first arc runner 9a. The first force increasing coil portion 13a may be electrically and mechanically connected to the spiral coil structure 13 and to the fixed contact 3b. The spiral coil structure 13 may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to the first arc runner 9a.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a top view of an example of the first drive coil 13 in the form of the first plate shown schematically in Fig. 4. The first stem portion 25 may have an essentially straight extension from the spiral coil structure 13c towards the fixed contact 3a. The first stem portion 25 may define a first stem portion axis 27. The first stem portion 25 transitions into the spiral coil structure 13c in a first transition region 29. The first transition region 29 has a first inner coil surface 31 in the coiling direction, which intersects the first stem portion axis 27 with an angle α of at most 80 degrees, such as at most 70 degrees, such as at most 60 degrees.

[0062] According to one example which includes two drive coils, the second drive coil may be similar to the first drive coil described above, but instead the second force increasing coil portion is electrically connected to the movable contact and to the second arc runner, similarly as in the example shown in FIG. 3.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a stack of splitter plates 7. The stack of splitter plates 7 may form part of an arc chamber. The arc chamber may be utilised in any of the electrical switching devices 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 described herein. The arc chamber comprises cooling ducts 33 configured to provide pressure relief inside the arc chamber. In the present example, the arc chamber comprises outer distancing elements 35 and inner distancing elements (not shown). The outer distancing elements 35 and the inner distancing elements may be made of a dielectric material. Each outer distancing element 35 and each inner distancing element is configured to act as a spacer between adjacent splitter plates 5, 5b-c. Each outer distancing element 35 is arranged concentrically with an inner distancing element, thereby forming, or forming part of a loop structure. The outer distancing elements 35 and the inner distancing elements are provided with a plurality of openings extending parallel with a plane defined by any of the stacked splitter plates 5, 5b-c. The openings form the cooling ducts 33.

[0064] As one alternative to the above-described configuration, the arc chamber could comprise an external housing, for example a dielectric housing, provided with a plurality of openings forming the cooling ducts.

[0065] The splitter plates may generally have any structure, preferably with rounded corners. The splitter plates may hence for example be circular or polygonal with rounded corners.

[0066] The inventive concept has mainly been described above with reference to a few examples. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept, as defined by the appended claims.