Arrangement for double break contact with electro-magnetic arc-blow

Abstract

A high voltage switch system including a circuit interrupter having a first set of contacts in series with a first coil, which are in series with a second coil and a second set of contacts, the first coil wound around a first core and the second coil wound around a second coil such that upon an arc forming between the contacts of the first and second contacts, the arcs are motivated in opposite directions to be extinguished.

Claims

1. A high voltage circuit interrupter comprising: a first stationary contact electrically connected to a line terminal; a first moveable contact adapted to be moved into contact with said first stationary contact, said first stationary and moveable contacts forming a first set of contacts; a first core; a first winding having a first end and a second end, said first winding wrapped around said first core; said first end of said first winding electrically connected to said first moveable contact; a second stationary contact; a second moveable contact adapted to be moved into contact with said second stationary contact, said second stationary and moveable contacts forming a second set of contacts; a second core; a second winding having a first end and a second end, said second winding wrapped around said second core; said second end of said first winding electrically connected to said second end of said second winding; said first end of said second winding electrically connected to said second moveable contact; said second stationary contact electrically connected to a load terminal; wherein said first moveable contact is mechanically connected to said second moveable contact such that said first and second sets of contacts open and close simultaneously.

2. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 1 wherein said first core comprises a first end and a second end and said second core comprises a first and second end, said circuit interrupter further comprising: a first pole piece positioned at the first end of said first core; a second pole piece positioned at the second end of said first core; a third pole piece positioned at the first end of said second core; and a fourth pole piece positioned at the second end of said second core.

3. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 2 wherein said first, second, third and fourth pole pieces comprise an L-shaped device.

4. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 3 wherein said first pole piece and said second pole piece extends on a lateral side of said first core and said third pole piece and said fourth pole piece extends on a lateral side of said second core.

5. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 4 wherein said circuit interrupter is adapted to be used with DC voltage.

6. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 5 wherein when the first and second sets of contacts are in a closed position, said first pole piece is configured with a south pole magnetization and said second pole piece is configured with a north pole magnetization; and said third pole piece is configured with a south pole magnetization and said fourth pole piece is configured with a north pole magnetization.

7. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 6, wherein when an arc develops between the first set of contacts, the arc is urged in a direction that is parallel to surfaces of said first and second pole pieces; and wherein when an arc develops between the second set of contacts, the arc is urged in a direction that is parallel to surfaces of said third and fourth pole pieces.

8. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 1 further comprising a housing within which the first and second sets of contacts are contained.

9. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 1 wherein said first and second cores comprise magnetically permeable material.

10. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling switching of said first and second set of contacts.

11. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 10 further comprising a network connection adapted to allow a remote computer to monitor a status and control switching of said first and second set of contacts.

12. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 1 further comprising an arc suppressor adapted to receive and quench an arc that develops between the first moveable contact and the first stationary contact.

13. The high voltage circuit interrupter according to claim 12 wherein said arc suppressor is adapted to receive and quench an arc that develops between the second moveable contact and the second stationary contact.

14. A method for suppressing an arc in a high voltage circuit interrupter comprising the steps of: connecting a first moveable contact to a line terminal; connecting a first stationary contact to a first end of a first winding; connecting a second end of the first winding to a second end of a second winding; connecting a second end of the second winding to a second moveable contact; connecting a second stationary to a load terminal; positioning the first winding around a first core; positioning the second winding around a second core; mechanically connecting the first and second moveable contacts such that the first and second moveable contacts move simultaneously.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the first core includes a first end and a second end and the second core includes a first and second end, the method further comprising the steps of: positioning a first pole piece at the first end of the first core; positioning a second pole piece at the second end of the first core; positioning a third pole piece at the first end of the second core; and positioning a fourth pole piece at the second end of the second core.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said first, second, third and fourth pole pieces are provided as L-shaped devices.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the steps of: positioning the first pole piece and the second pole piece to extend along a lateral side of the first core; and positioning the third pole piece and the fourth pole piece to extend along lateral side of the second core.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the circuit interrupter is adapted to be used with DC voltage.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of: urging an arc that develops between the first moveable and stationary contacts in a first direction that is parallel to surfaces of the first and second pole pieces; and urging an arc that develops between the second moveable and stationary contacts in a second direction that is parallel to surfaces of the third and fourth pole pieces.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction.

21. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of: connecting a controller to the circuit interrupter; and switching the first and second set of contacts between an open and a closed state with the controller.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the steps of: connecting the controller to a network connection; monitoring a status of the first and second set of contacts; and transmitting control signals to the controller via the network connection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an illustration of a high voltage switching system including a top view of one configuration of the high voltage circuit interrupter.

(2) FIG. 2 is side view of certain elements of the circuit interrupter according to FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is top view illustration of the first sets of contacts according to FIG. 2 and the generation of an electric and a magnetic field that surrounds the first set of contacts when electrical power is passing through the first set of contacts.

(4) FIG. 4 is top view illustration of the second sets of contacts according to FIG. 2 and the generation of an electric and a magnetic field that surrounds the second set of contacts when electrical power is passing through the second set of contacts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views.

(6) Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2 where FIG. 1 is provides a view of high voltage switching system 200 including a top view of circuit interrupter 100. FIG. 2 provides a side view of certain elements of circuit interrupter 100.

(7) The circuit interrupter 100 includes a housing 102 within which the working elements are maintained. The circuit interrupter 100 includes a line terminal 104, which is adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power (not shown). Line terminal 104 is electrically connected to a first moveable contact 106. Also provided is a first stationary contact 108, which together with the first moveable contact 106 form a first set of contacts.

(8) The first stationary contact 108 is electrically connected to a second end 110 of a first winding 112, which is wrapped around a first core 114. A second end 116 of the first winding 112 is electrically connected to a second end 118 of a second winding 120 that is wrapped around a second core 122. A first end 124 of the second winding 120 is electrically connected to a second moveable contact 126. A second stationary contact 128 is electrically connected to a load terminal 130, which is adapted to be connected to a load (not shown). The second moveable contact 126 together with the second stationary contact 128 form a second set of contacts.

(9) It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the line terminal 104 could be electrically connected to either of the first moveable contact 106 or the first stationary contact 108. Likewise, the load terminal 130 could be electrically connected to either of the second moveable contact 126 or the second stationary contact 128.

(10) The first and second moveable contacts 106, 126 are mechanically interlocked such that they move simultaneously. In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, the first and second moveable contacts 106, 126 are connected by a bridge 132. The bridge 132 may be connected to an actuation mechanism (not shown), which would function to move the bridge 132 in a linear manner to open and close the first and second sets of contacts.

(11) While not illustrated in the figures, it is contemplated that circuit interrupter 100 could be provided with an overcurrent measurement system that would function to automatically open the contacts in the event of an overcurrent situation as is known in the art.

(12) In particular, however, it will be noted that the transmission of electrical power through the circuit interrupter 100 travels in a serial manner through the first and second sets of contacts. This is advantageous for high voltage applications because the voltage that will develop across each of the sets of contacts is half the total system voltage. This lower voltage development across each of the sets of contacts will result in smaller arcs developing between the contacts. As the first moveable contact 106 will move simultaneously with second moveable contact 126, the breaking of the first and second sets of contacts will occur simultaneously.

(13) In addition to circuit interrupter 100 high voltage switching system 200 includes a controller 190, which is depicted in FIG. 1 connected to circuit interrupter 100 via a communication line 192. Controller 190 can comprise any type of controller used for controlling the switching of circuit interrupter 100. Controller 190 is further connected to a remote computer 196 via a network connection 194. This allows for remote monitoring of a status of the circuit interrupter 100 as well as for transmission of control signals for controlling the circuit interrupter 100.

(14) Also depicted in FIG. 2 is first plate 134 and second plate 136 that are coupled to a lateral side of first core 114 at the first and second ends respectively. Also shown are first plate 140 and second plate 138 that are coupled to a lateral side of second core 122. As depicted in FIG. 2, the first plate 134 forms a magnetized south pole whereas second plate 136 forms a magnetized north pole. Likewise, the second plate 138 forms a magnetized south pole whereas second plate 140 forms a magnetized north pole.

(15) Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4 the function of the magnetized poles can be seen acting on an arc that may develop between the first and second sets of contacts.

(16) FIG. 3 depicts second plate 136 and second plate 138, which produce a magnetic field 152 therebetween and illustrated with arrows moving from the north pole towards the south pole. The set of contacts is situated in the middle of the magnetic field where an electric field 150 is formed based on the flow of electricity through the set of contacts. The electric field 150 interacts with the magnetic field 152 such that an arc that may be formed is urged toward direction 154.

(17) FIG. 4 depicts first plate 134 and first plate 140, which produce a magnetic field 156 therebetween and illustrated with arrows moving from the north pole towards the south pole. The set of contacts is situated in the middle of the magnetic field 156 where an electric field 158 is formed based on the flow of electricity through the set of contacts. The electric field 158 interacts with the magnetic field 156 such that an arc that may be formed is urged toward direction 160, which is opposite direction 154.

(18) Also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is arc suppression 162, which may comprise any type of arc suppression system as known in the art. For example, arc suppression 162 may comprise a series of vertically stacked plates that are provided adjacent to the sets of contacts. In certain configurations, multiple arc suppression devices may be provided where the plates are U-shaped having legs extending toward the set of contacts they are provided to protect from arcing.

(19) Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.