VACUUM SWITCHING DEVICE FOR A CIRCUIT HAVING A MAIN CURRENT PATH AND AN AUXILIARY CURRENT PATH

Abstract

A vacuum switch device has a housing body, a stationary electrical contact and a moving electrical contact, which is arranged within the housing body. With a movement of the moving contact towards the stationary contact, the contacts form an electrical contact. With a movement away the electrical contact is interrupted. A sliding bearing provides sliding support for the moving contact for its movement towards and away from the stationary contact. The sliding bearing has an electrically conductive material and at least partially electrically insulates the housing body. A spring element is supported on a spring support and presses the moving electrical contact in the direction of the stationary electrical contact. There is also provided a circuit with a main current path and a parallel auxiliary current path. The vacuum switch device is arranged in the auxiliary current path.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A vacuum switching device, comprising: a housing body formed with an electrically insulating material; a stationary electrical contact, which is spatially fixed relative to said housing body and within said housing body; a movable electrical contact, which is movably arranged relative to said housing body and within said housing body, wherein, when said movable electrical contact is moved toward said stationary electrical contact, an electrical contact is established between said stationary and movable electrical contacts and, when said movable electrical contact is moved away from said stationary electrical contact, the electrical contact is interrupted; and a sliding bearing connected to said housing body and supporting said movable electrical contact for a sliding movement toward and away from said stationary electrical contact; said sliding bearing having an electrically conductive material and being configured to at least partially electrically shield said housing body; and said sliding bearing having a spring support configured to support a spring element disposed to press said movable electrical contact in a direction toward said stationary electrical contact.

20. The vacuum switching device according to claim 19, wherein said housing body has an axial end with a flange that comprises an electrically conductive material and said sliding bearing at least partially electrically shields said flange.

21. The vacuum switching device according to claim 19, wherein: said movable electrical contact has a contact section, an axial shaft section connected thereto, and a shaft spring support; and said spring element is seated coaxially on said shaft section and is pretensioned between said spring support of said sliding bearing and said shaft spring support of said movable electrical contact.

22. The vacuum switching device according to claim 21, wherein said sliding bearing has a tubular sliding section that is seated so as to slide coaxially on said shaft section of said movable electrical contact, and a shielding section that extends radially externally from said sliding section and at least partially electrically shields said flange of said housing body.

23. The vacuum switching device according to claim 19, wherein said sliding bearing is attached to said housing body by way of a connection selected from the group consisting of a bayonet connection, a snap-in connection, an adhesive bond, and a thread.

24. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said sliding bearing is attached to said housing body by way of a connection selected from the group consisting of a bayonet connection, a snap-in connection, an adhesive bond, and a thread provided on said sliding section of said sliding bearing.

25. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said shielding section of said sliding bearing is formed with at least one slot extending in a spiral shape.

26. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said shielding section of said sliding bearing is inclined axially toward said housing body.

27. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said shielding section is arranged on an axial end of said sliding section.

28. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said shielding section of said sliding bearing has a stop that is configured so as to center said sliding bearing in an installed state thereof.

29. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, wherein said shielding section is elastically deformable in an axial direction thereof.

30. The vacuum switching device according to claim 22, further comprising a bellows arranged coaxially around said spring element and coaxially around said tubular sliding section of said sliding bearing, and wherein said bellows is connected between said movable electrical contact and said housing body.

31. The vacuum switching device according to claim 19 configured as a vacuum switching tube.

32. The vacuum switching device according to claim 19, wherein said movable electrical contact has a shaft section that protrudes axially beyond said sliding bearing and an axial end with a coupling section, and wherein said coupling section is configured for connecting an external actuation element for moving said movable electrical contact toward and away from said stationary electrical contact.

33. A circuit, comprising: a main current path and an auxiliary current path in parallel with said main current path; a vacuum switching device connected in said auxiliary current path and having: a housing body formed with an electrically insulating material; a stationary electrical contact, which is spatially fixed relative to said housing body and within said housing body; a movable electrical contact, which is movably arranged relative to said housing body and within said housing body, wherein, when said movable electrical contact is moved toward said stationary electrical contact, an electrical contact is established between said stationary and movable electrical contacts and, when said movable electrical contact is moved away from said stationary electrical contact, the electrical contact is interrupted; and a spring element disposed to press said movable electrical contact in a direction toward said stationary electrical contact.

34. The circuit according to claim 33, further comprising a bellows that is arranged coaxially around said spring element or that is formed by said spring element.

35. The circuit according to claim 33, configured to achieve at least one of the following features: a stroke of said movable electrical contact lies in a range of 4 to 20 mm; a load deactivation current in said auxiliary current path is less than 1250 A; a current flow duration during a deactivation process of said vacuum switching device lies in a range of 1 to 20 ms; rendering the circuit for use in a voltage range that is greater than or equal to 1 kV; a takeover current in a case of a load circuit breaker/fuse combination in said auxiliary current path is less than 2500 A; and/or a spring constant of said spring element lies in a range between 1 and 15 N/mm inclusive.

36. The circuit according to claim 35, wherein: the lift of said movable electrical contact lies between 6 and 10 mm; the load deactivation current in said auxiliary current path is approximately 630 A?30 A; and/or the circuit is configured for use in a voltage range between 1 kV and 52 kV inclusive.

37. The circuit according to claim 33, wherein said vacuum switching device further comprises: a sliding bearing connected to said housing body and supporting said movable electrical contact for a sliding movement toward and away from said stationary electrical contact; said sliding bearing having an electrically conductive material and being configured to at least partially electrically shield said housing body; and said sliding bearing having a spring support configured to support said spring element for pressing said movable electrical contact toward said stationary electrical contact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below. In order to be able to be implemented, the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments, but the invention is not restricted to these:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a vacuum switching device according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of a sliding bearing and a spring element according to the exemplary embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the sliding bearing, the spring element, a movable electrical contact and a shield according to the exemplary embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of a ceramic tube, a flange and the movable electrical contact;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the flange, the movable electrical contact and the sliding bearing;

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a perspective longitudinal section through the vacuum switching device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through the vacuum switching device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 8 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a circuit having a main current path and an auxiliary current path in parallel therewith, wherein a vacuum switching device is arranged in the auxiliary current path; and

[0033] FIG. 9 shows a conventional vacuum switching device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] The drawings are illustrated schematically. It is pointed out that similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs in various figures.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a vacuum switching device 1 according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum switching device 1 is a vacuum switching tube and has a cylindrical housing body 2 that comprises an electrically insulating material or is formed from an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material may be a ceramic. The electrically insulating material may be formed by a tube, in particular by a cylindrical ceramic tube 19 as in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. Arranged within the housing body 2 are a spatially fixed electrical contact 3, which is arranged in a spatially fixed manner in relation to the housing body 2, and a movable electrical contact 4, which is arranged in a movable manner in relation to the housing body such that, when it is moved toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3, it establishes electrical contact therewith and, when it is moved away from the spatially fixed electrical contact 3, it interrupts the electrical contact.

[0036] The vacuum switching device 1 furthermore has a sliding bearing 5 that is connected to the housing body 2 and supports the movable electrical contact 4 in a sliding manner for the movement thereof toward and away from the spatially fixed electrical contact 3. The sliding bearing 5 comprises an electrically conductive material or it is formed from an electrically conductive material, and it at least partially electrically shields the housing body 2. A spring support 6 is provided on the sliding bearing 5 and supports a spring element 7 in the form of a compression spring that presses the movable electrical contact 4 in the direction toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3. The spring element 7 is seated coaxially on the shaft section 10 and pretensioned between the spring support 6 of the sliding bearing 5 and a further spring support 11 of the movable electrical contact 4.

[0037] The movable electrical contact 4 has a contact section 9 and an axial shaft section 10 connected thereto.

[0038] The housing body 2, on one of its axial ends (on the right-hand end in FIG. 1), has a flange 8 that comprises an electrically conductive material or that is formed from an electrically conductive material, wherein the sliding bearing at least partially electrically shields the flange 8. The housing body 2 furthermore has, on its other axial end (on the left-hand end in FIG. 1), a further flange 18 that comprises an electrically conductive material or that is formed from an electrically conductive material. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the housing body 2 is accordingly formed by the cylindrical ceramic tube 19, the flange 8 and the further flange 18.

[0039] The shaft section 10 of the movable electrical contact 4 protrudes axially beyond the sliding bearing 5 and, on its axial end, has a coupling section 16 to which an external actuation element, such as for example a rocker, is able to be coupled in order to move the movable electrical contact 4 toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3 or away therefrom.

[0040] The sliding bearing 5 has a tubular sliding section 12 that is seated so as to slide coaxially on the shaft section 10 of the movable electrical contact 4, and a shielding section 13 that extends radially externally from the sliding section 12 and at least partially electrically shields the flange 8 of the housing body 2.

[0041] A weld edge or a metallization edge of the housing body 2 is present in the interface between the ceramic tube 19 and the flange 8 and is usually a weak spot in relation to the dielectric strength or the external dielectric strength. The sliding bearing 5 and in particular its shielding section 13 however in the present invention ensure dielectric de-energization or smoothing of the electric field in the region of the metallization edge, meaning that the dielectric strength is able to be improved significantly there.

[0042] The vacuum switching device 1 furthermore has a bellows 15 that is arranged coaxially above the spring element 7 and coaxially above the tubular sliding section 12 of the sliding bearing 5 and is connected to the movable electrical contact 4, on the one hand, and the housing body 2 (that is to say the flange 8), on the other hand. This achieves a particularly compact structural form. The bellows 15 is protected by a pot-shaped shield 17 arranged on the movable electrical contact 4.

[0043] The spring element 7 does not necessarily have to be designed as a separate compression spring. In one embodiment, the bellows 15 may additionally take on the function and property of the spring element 7. In another embodiment, the spring element 7 and the sliding bearing 5 may be formed in one piece, wherein the spring support 6 may be implemented for example by a materially bonded, form-fitting or frictional coupling between the spring element 7 and the sliding bearing 5.

[0044] The shielding section 13 of the sliding bearing 5 is arranged on an axial end of the sliding section 12, and it is inclined axially toward the housing body 2. A multiplicity of slots 14 extending in a spiral shape are formed in the shielding section 13 of the sliding bearing 5, meaning that the shielding section 13 is able to be elastically deformed in the axial and radial direction.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the sliding bearing 5 and the spring element 7 according to the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 in particular shows the spring support 6 for the spring element 7, the sliding section 12, the shielding section 13 and the multiplicity of slots 14 in the shielding section 13 of the sliding bearing 5. FIG. 2 furthermore shows a bayonet connection 20 by way of which the sliding bearing 5 is attached to the housing body 2. The bayonet connection 20 is formed on an outer side surface of the sliding section 12 and engages with an internal contour of the flange 8 of complementary design. In this case, the sliding section 12 of the sliding bearing 5 is introduced into a central passage opening in the flange 8, and the bayonet connection 20 engages or the bayonet connection 20 locks by virtue of the sliding bearing 5 being rotated.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the sliding bearing 5, the spring element 7, the movable electrical contact 4, which comprises the contact section 9 and the shaft section 10, and the shield 17 according to the exemplary embodiment. The slots 14 in the shielding section 13 of the sliding bearing 5 are likewise shown.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the ceramic tube 19, the flange 8 and the movable electrical contact 4. The shaft section 10 of the movable electrical contact 4 protrudes axially beyond the sliding bearing 5 (not shown in FIG. 4), which is located behind the flange 8, and, on its axial end, comprises the coupling section 16, to which the external actuation element, such as for example the rocker, is able to be coupled in order to move the movable electrical contact 4 toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3 or away therefrom.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an assembly consisting of the flange 8 located behind the sliding bearing 5, the movable electrical contact 4 and the sliding bearing 5. In comparison with FIG. 4, FIG. 5 shows the state in which the sliding bearing 5 is arranged above the flange 8.

[0049] FIGS. 6 and 7 each show perspective longitudinal sections through the vacuum switching device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The various components and functions of the sliding bearing 5 are indicated once again. The reference sign A denotes the bearing function for the sliding mounting of the movable electrical contact 4 by the sliding section 12 of the sliding bearing 5. The reference sign B denotes the function of the sliding bearing 5 for the dielectric de-energization or smoothing of the electric field by way of the shielding section 13 that shields the metallization edge or weld edge of the housing body 2.

[0050] The reference sign C denotes the function, already addressed above, of centering the sliding bearing 5. The centering is achieved by a stop 22. The stop 22 is formed by a raised, ring-shaped contour of the shielding section 13 and engages in a complementary recess of an external receiving body 21 in accordance with the tongue-and-groove principle.

[0051] FIG. 7 furthermore illustrates force flows. The arrow denoted by the reference sign D indicates the force flow of the spring force of the spring element 7 between the stop 22 and the further spring support 11 formed on the movable electrical contact 4. The arrow denoted by the reference sign E indicates the force flow of a force between the flange 8 and the contact section 9. This force consists of a bellows force applied by the bellows 15 and an externally applied gas pressure differential force.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a circuit 100 having a main current path 30 and an auxiliary current path 40 in parallel therewith, wherein a vacuum switching device 1 is arranged in the auxiliary current path 40. The main current path 30 and the auxiliary current path 40 each have, at one end, a common node point P that is connected to a first line 60. The respective other ends of the main current path 30 and of the auxiliary current path 40 are able to be connected selectively to a second line 70 via a switching device 50.

[0053] The vacuum switching device 1 shown in FIG. 1 may preferably, but not necessarily, be arranged in the auxiliary current path. Such a vacuum switching device 1 has a housing body 2 that comprises an electrically insulating material, a spatially fixed electrical contact 3, which is arranged in a spatially fixed manner in relation to the housing body 2 and within the housing body 2, a movable electrical contact 4, which is arranged in a movable manner in relation to the housing body 2 and within the housing body 2 such that, when it is moved toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3, it establishes electrical contact therewith and, when it is moved away from the spatially fixed electrical contact 3, it interrupts the electrical contact, and a spring element 7 that presses the movable electrical contact 4 in the direction toward the spatially fixed electrical contact 3.

[0054] The spring element 7 is preferably embodied as a compression spring. The vacuum switching device 1 may have a bellows 15 that is arranged coaxially around the spring element 7. As an alternative, the bellows may be formed by the spring element 7 itself.

[0055] At least one of the following features is preferably achieved: a lift of the movable electrical contact 4 is 4 to 20 mm, preferably 6 to 10 mm; a load deactivation current in the auxiliary current path 40 is less than 1250 A, preferably 630 A?30 A; a current flow duration during a deactivation process of the vacuum switching device 1 is 1 to 20 ms; the circuit 100 is used in a voltage range that is greater than or equal to 1 kV, preferably in a range between 1 kV and 52 kV inclusive; a spring constant of the spring element is in a range between 1 and 15 N/mm inclusive; a takeover current in the case of a load circuit breaker/fuse combination in the auxiliary current path 40 is less than 2500 A. A fuse (not shown), such as for example a thermal fuse, may be arranged 29 in series with the vacuum switching device 1 in the second line 70 in the case of the load circuit breaker/fuse combination. The fuse may be arranged at the output of the vacuum switching device 1. The fuse may in turn for example be connected to a transformer that is connected at the output of the second line 70.

[0056] It should be borne in mind that the term comprise or have does not rule out other elements or steps. Elements that are described in connection with various embodiments may also be combined. It is also pointed out that reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted to mean that they reflect the scope of the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 1 vacuum switching device [0058] 2 housing body [0059] 3 spatially fixed electrical contact [0060] 4 movable electrical contact [0061] 5 sliding bearing [0062] 6 spring support [0063] 7 spring element [0064] 8 flange [0065] 9 contact section [0066] 10 shaft section [0067] 11 further spring support [0068] 12 sliding section [0069] 13 shielding section [0070] 14 slot [0071] 15 bellows [0072] 16 coupling section [0073] 17 shield [0074] 18 further flange [0075] 19 ceramic tube [0076] 20 bayonet connection [0077] 21 external receiving body [0078] 22 stop [0079] 30 main current path [0080] 40 auxiliary current path [0081] 50 switching device [0082] 60 first line [0083] 70 second line [0084] 100 circuit