Electrical interruption switching element with a tubular separating element with varying wall thickness

Abstract

An example electrical interruption switch includes a casing, surrounding a contact unit defining current path therethrough. The contact unit has a first and second connection contact and a separation region. A current supplied to the contact unit via the first connection contact can be discharged therefrom via the second connection contact, or vice versa. The separation region includes a tubular element, an axial direction of which runs along an axis X, wherein the tubular element is separable into two parts along a plane perpendicular to the axis X, whereby the current is interrupted between the first and the second connection contact, wherein the tubular element has two opposite end regions along the direction of extent of the axis X, characterized in that the tubular element has a minimum wall thickness, which increases in each case in the direction of the end regions, in a region between the end regions.

Claims

1. An electrical interruption switch for interrupting high currents at high voltages, the electrical interruption switch comprising: a casing surrounding a contact unit defining a current path through the interruption switch, the contact unit having a first connection contact and a second connection contact and a separation region, the contact unit configured to receive a current supplied to the contact unit via the first connection contact and discharge the current therefrom via the second connection contact, or vice versa, the separation region comprising a tubular element, an axial direction of extent of which runs along an axis X, wherein the tubular element is separable into two parts along a plane perpendicular to the axis X, whereby the current is interrupted between the first connection contact and the second connection contact, the tubular element having two opposite end regions along a direction of extent of the axis X, the tubular element having a minimum wall thickness, which increases, in respective directions of the two opposite end regions, in a region between the two opposite end regions.

2. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the wall thickness increases conically in the respective directions of the two opposite end regions.

3. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 2, wherein an increase in the wall thickness runs mirror-symmetrically in the respective directions of the two opposite end regions, wherein a mirror plane is arranged in the region of the minimum wall thickness perpendicular to the axis X.

4. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein at least one chamber in the interruption switch, which is at least partially delimited by the separation region, is filled with an extinguishing agent, such that the separation region is in contact with the extinguishing agent.

5. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the interruption switch has a sabot movable from a starting position into an end position, wherein in the end position of the sabot an insulation spacing between the first and the second connection contact is achieved.

6. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 5, wherein the contact unit has an upsetting region, which is formed such that the contact unit is upset during movement of the sabot from the starting position into the end position, wherein the upsetting region is designed as a tubular or rod-shaped element, the axial direction of extent of which runs along the axis X, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the tubular or rod-shaped element has one or more tapers, wherein the cross-sectional diameter is in a plane perpendicular to the axis X.

7. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the interruption switch comprises an activatable material, which is arranged such that, when the activatable material is ignited, the separation region is exposed to a gas pressure or shock wave generated by the activatable material, such that the separation region is torn open, caved in or separated.

8. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the interruption switch has a sabot movable from a starting position into an end position, and the interruption switch comprises an activatable material, wherein the sabot is designed such that, when the activatable material is ignited, the sabot is exposed to a gas pressure or shock wave generated by the activatable material such that the sabot in the casing is moved in a movement direction from the starting position into the end position and the separation region is torn open, caved in or separated.

9. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the interruption switch has a sabot movable from a starting position into an end position, and at least one chamber in the interruption switch, which is at least partially delimited by the separation region, is filled with an extinguishing agent, such that the separation region is in contact with the extinguishing agent, wherein the separation region, the sabot and the extinguishing agent are formed such that the separation region is separable into at least two parts through the supplied current when a threshold amperage is exceeded, wherein an electric arc forming between the two parts of the separation region vaporizes the extinguishing agent, such that a gas pressure to which the sabot is exposed forms, wherein the sabot in the casing is moved in a movement direction from the starting position into the end position.

10. The electrical interruption switch according to claim 1, wherein the separation region has a predetermined breaking point comprising a hole through the wall of the tubular element.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments represented in the drawings. All individual features described in the figures can—provided this is technically possible—also be used independently of each other in an interruption switch according to the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an interruption switch according to the invention before the separation region is separated (conducting position), which is present in the form of a tubular element with varying wall thickness.

(3) FIGS. 2a and 2b show sections of a contact unit of an interruption switch according to the invention in the region of the separation regions.

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b show sections of a contact unit of an interruption switch according to the invention in the region of the upsetting regions.

(5) The embodiment represented in FIG. 1 of an interruption switch 1 according to the invention comprises a casing 2, in which a contact unit 3 is arranged. The casing 2 is formed such that it withstands a pressure, generated inside the casing 2, which is generated for example in the case of a pyrotechnic tripping of the interruption switch 1, without there being the danger of damage or even bursting. The casing 2 can consist in particular of a suitable material, preferably steel. In the embodiment example represented, the contact unit 3 is formed as a switch tube that can be depressed by the sabot 9 in the upsetting region 12, with the result that it is formed as a tube in the separation 6 and upsetting 12 regions. In the embodiment example represented, the contact unit 3 has a first connection contact 4. Adjoining the first connection contact 4 is a flange extending radially outwards, which is braced on an annular insulator element, which consists of an insulating material, for example a plastic, such that the contact unit 3 cannot be moved out of the casing 2 in the axial direction. The contact unit 3 has an upsetting region 12 adjoining the flange in the axis of the contact unit 3. In the upsetting region 12, which has a predetermined axial extent, the wall thickness of the contact unit is chosen and matched to the material such that, when the interruption switch 1 is tripped as a result of a plastic deformation of the contact unit 3 in the upsetting region 12, the upsetting region 12 is shortened in the axial direction by a predetermined distance.

(6) Adjoining the upsetting region 12 in the axial direction of the contact unit 3 is a flange 13, on which a sabot 9 sits in the embodiment example represented. The sabot 9 is formed as an electrically insulating element, for example a suitable plastic, preferably made of ceramic. This surrounds the contact unit 3 such that an insulating region of the sabot 9 engages between the outer circumference of the flange 13 and the inner wall of the casing 2. If a pressure acts on the surface of the sabot 9, a force is generated which compresses the upsetting region 12 of the contact unit 3 via the flange 13. This force is chosen such that, during the tripping operation of the interruption switch 1, an upsetting of the upsetting region 12 occurs, wherein the sabot 9 is moved from its starting position (status before the interruption switch 1 is tripped=conducting position) into an end position (after the switching operation has been completed=separating position).

(7) As can be seen from FIG. 1, the sabot 9 can be chosen such that its external diameter substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the casing 2, with the result that an axial guidance of the flange 13 and thus also an axially guided upsetting movement during the switching operation is achieved.

(8) After the pressing operation the lugs of the insulator element and of the sabot 9 located close to the casing 2 overlap completely, with the result that the upsetting region 12 pushed together in a meandering fashion after the tripping and the upsetting operation is completely surrounded by electrically insulating materials.

(9) Adjoining the sabot 9 or the flange 13 of the contact unit 3 is a separation region 6. The second connection contact 5 then adjoins this side of the contact unit 3.

(10) In the embodiment example represented, the sabot 9 is pushed onto the contact unit 3 from the side of the connection contact 5 during the assembly of the interruption switch 1. For this purpose it is split (not drawn). If the second connection contact 5 is not split or if it is in one piece like the contact unit 3, as drawn, the sabot 9 must either be injection-molded or be designed in several parts, in order to be able to install it.

(11) In the axial end of the contact unit 3 in the region of the second connection contact 5 an activatable material 10 can be provided, here often also housed in a mini detonator or a priming screw (drive). Electrical connection lines for the drive can be guided outwards through an opening in the interior of the contact unit 3. The drive is preferably provided in a chamber 7 inside the tubular element of the separation region 6. A further chamber 8 is located between the outer wall of a separation region 6 and the casing 2.

(12) The separation region 6 is dimensioned such that it tears open at least partially, but preferably tears open completely, through the gas pressure generated or the shock wave generated by a drive, with the result that the pressure or the shock wave can also propagate out of the chamber 7 into the outer chamber 8 preferably designed as a surrounding annular space. In this way the chambers 7 and 8 are connected to each other to form one volume. The internal pressure required for upsetting the contact unit 3 can also be generated such that in the case of a particular threshold amperage the separation region 6 melts open and an electric arc forms in between, which vaporizes an extinguishing agent located in the chambers 7 and/or 8. To facilitate the tearing open, the wall of the contact unit 3 in the separation region 6 can also have one or more openings or holes and/or grooves (not shown in FIG. 1). It is to be ensured here that the material of the separation region 6 disconnects the operating current well, thus does not become too hot taking into account heat dissipation, in order that the material cannot be aged too quickly or too much.

(13) When the interruption switch 1 is activated, a pressure or even a shock wave is thus generated on the side of the sabot 9 facing away from the upsetting region 12, whereby the sabot 9 is exposed to a corresponding axial force. This force is chosen through a suitable dimensioning of the activatable material 10 such that in the upsetting region 12 the contact unit 3 is plastically deformed or caved in, but not torn open, and the sabot 9 is then moved in the direction of the first connection contact 4. The activatable material 10 is dimensioned such that, after the separation region 6 has been broken open or caved in, the movement of the sabot 9 moves the two separation halves sufficiently far away from each other, in cooperation with the vaporization of an extinguishing agent then even into an end position.

(14) Directly after the activatable material 10 has been activated, the separation region 6 is thus at least partially torn open or caved in, preferably completely torn open. If the tearing open or caving in has not already been effected before the start of the axial movement of the sabot 9 over the entire circumference of the separation region 6, a residual remainder of the separation region 6, which causes another electrical contact, is completely torn open by the axial movement of the sabot 9, intensified by the very rapid heating then occurring here of the residual cross section of the conductor, which is then only small here, due to the high electric current flowing here.

(15) The interruption switch 1 according to FIG. 1 is in principle constructed exactly like the interruption switch of DE 10 2017 123 021 A1 shown in FIG. 1, with the difference according to the invention that the separation region 6 does not represent a tubular element with a continuously identical wall thickness, but the tubular element has a minimum wall thickness, which increases in each case in the direction of the flange-side end regions, in a region between the flange-side end regions. In FIG. 1 the wall thickness increases substantially linearly, and both regions in which the wall thickness increases are formed mirror-symmetrical to each other, as is for example also shown in FIG. 2b.

(16) FIGS. 2a and 2b show the partial region of a contact unit 3, in which the separation region and the flanges 14 and 15 adjoining it are present. The length L is the extent of the separation region in the direction of the axis X. The separation region has a region with minimum wall thickness, which increases in each case in the direction of the flange-side end regions, i.e. towards the flanges 14 and 15. The radii R1 and R2 represent the radii of the cross-section transitions between the separation region and the adjoining flanges 14 and 15. The radius R3 in FIG. 2b represents the radius of the cross-section transition in the region of the minimum wall thickness to the regions of the increasing wall thicknesses. The same applies to the radii R4 and R5 in FIG. 2a. As shown in FIG. 2a, the region of the minimum wall thickness can also be cylindrical in a length z and only then merge into the regions of the increase in the wall thickness. FIG. 2b, by contrast, shows an embodiment in which such a cylindrical region is not present. The thickness s in FIG. 2a indicates the minimum wall thickness in the cylindrical region. As shown in FIG. 2a, the angles w3 and w4 can be different, i.e. the increase in the wall thickness in the direction of the two flange-side ends of the separation region need not be identical on both sides. The increase in the wall thickness can also be effected uniformly in the direction of both flange-side ends of the separation region, as shown in FIG. 2b. The angles w1 and w2 here are therefore equally large. FIG. 2a shows a hole as predetermined breaking point 11 in the separation region with the diameter d.

(17) FIGS. 3a and 3b show the partial region of a contact unit 3, in which the upsetting region 12 and the flanges 13 and 17 adjoining it are present. The length L2 is the extent of the upsetting region in the direction of the axis X. The upsetting region has a region with minimum wall thickness, which increases in each case in the direction of the flange-side end regions, i.e. towards the flanges 13 and 17. The radii R1 and R2 represent the radii of the cross-section transitions between the upsetting region and the adjoining flanges. The radii R3 in FIG. 3 represent the radii of the cross-section transitions in the region of the minimum wall thickness to the regions of the increasing wall thicknesses. As shown in FIG. 3b, the region of the minimum wall thickness can also be cylindrical in a length t and only then merge into the regions of the increase or decrease in the wall thickness. FIG. 3a, by contrast, shows an embodiment in which such a cylindrical region is not present. The thickness s again indicates the minimum wall thickness in the cylindrical region. As shown in FIG. 3, the angles w3 and w4 can again be different (not drawn here), i.e. the increase in the wall thickness in the direction of the two flange-side ends of the upsetting region need not be identical on both sides. The increase in the wall thickness can also be effected uniformly in the direction of both flange-side ends of the upsetting region, as shown in FIG. 3. The angles w1 and w2 here are therefore equally large.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(18) 1 interruption switch 2 casing 3 contact unit 4 first connection contact 5 second connection contact 6 separation region 7 chamber 8 further chamber 9 sabot 10 activatable material 11 predetermined breaking point 12 upsetting region 13 flange on the upsetting region for exposure to pressure by sabot 14 flange on the separation region 15 flange on the separation region 17 flange on the upsetting region d diameter of a hole L length of the extent of the separation region in the direction of the axis X L2 length of the extent of the upsetting region in the direction of the axis X R1-R5 radii of the cross-section transitions s thickness of the region of the minimum wall thickness t length of the cylindrical regions with minimum wall thickness in the upsetting region w1-w4 angles of the linear increase in the wall thickness X axis X z length of the cylindrical region with minimum wall thickness in the separation region