QUICK-BREAK DISCONNECT SWITCH

Abstract

The present invention relates to a quick circuit breaker, that is, a switch with which an electrical circuit can be disconnected particularly quickly. Such switches are occasionally also referred to as pyrotechnic disconnect devices or as electrical interrupting switching elements. In particular, it is a quick circuit breaker (10) which comprises a current supply contact and a current discharge contact which are connected by a conductor (20) and in which the conductor (20) is guided through a separation chamber (12) and an expansion vessel (18) being provided in the separation chamber (12), the expansion vessel (18) being able to be expanded by an explosive charge. It is further about a method for emergency disconnection of a circuit.

Claims

1. A quick circuit breaker (10), which comprises a current supply contact and a current discharge contact, which are connected by a conductor (20), and in which the conductor (20) is guided through a separation chamber (12), and an expansion vessel (18) being provided in the separation chamber (12), the expansion vessel (18) being able to be extended by an explosive charge, the expansion vessel (18) consisting of an electrically conductive material and being coated or surrounded on the outside with an electrically non-conductive material.

2. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the expansion vessel (18) comprises a bellows (30).

3. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the expansion vessel (18) can expand to up to 500% of its original volume.

4. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the expansion vessel (18) is made of metal or rubber.

5. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the conductor section (32) within the disconnect chamber (12) has a first weight and the expansion vessel (18) has a second weight, the second weight being less than the first weight.

6. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the conductor (20) runs axially through the separation chamber (12) in a first direction and the expansion vessel (18) can exert a force having a substantially radial or predominantly radial component as it expands.

7. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, the conductor (20) of which comprises at least one mechanical weakening element (22; 24; 34).

8. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 7, in which at least one weakening element (22; 24; 34) is provided in the form of a groove (22), a hole (24) or a notch (34).

9. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the conductor (20) comprises a section of increased resistance.

10. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which an extinguishing medium (41) is provided in the separation chamber (12).

11. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, in which the conductor (20) is provided with more than one weakening element to create more than one separation point upon separation.

12. A method for emergency disconnection of a circuit in which current flows through a conductor (20), comprising the following steps: a. conducting the current through a conductor section (32) b. guiding the conductor section (32) through a separation chamber (12) c. providing an expansion vessel (18) in the separation chamber (12), an expansion vessel (18) made of an electrically conductive material being coated or surrounded on the outside with an electrically non-conductive material d. holding an explosive material in the expansion vessel (18) e. igniting the explosive material f. cutting through the conductor section (32)

13. The method according to claim 12, in which the explosive material remains entirely in the expansion vessel (18) after the explosion.

14. The method according to claim 12, in which, after the conductor (20) has been cut through, a first conductor end and a second conductor end are produced, and the expansion vessel (18) mechanically separates the first conductor end and the second conductor end.

15. The method according to claim 12, in which the explosive material is ignited by heating the conductor section (32).

16. The method according to claim 12, in which, after the explosive material has been ignited, at least parts of the walls of the expansion vessel (18) nestle against the inner walls of the separation chamber (12), at least in sections.

17. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 2, in which the expansion vessel (18) can expand to up to 500% of its original volume.

18. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 2, in which the conductor (20) runs axially through the separation chamber (12) in a first direction and the expansion vessel (18) can exert a force having a substantially radial or predominantly radial component as it expands.

19. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 2, the conductor (20) of which comprises at least one mechanical weakening element (22; 24; 34).

20. The quick circuit breaker (10) according to claim 10, in which the conductor (20) is provided with more than one weakening element to create more than one separation point upon separation.

Description

[0049] Further features, but also advantages of the invention, result from the drawings listed below and the associated description. Features of the invention are described in combination in the figures and in the associated descriptions. However, these features can also be comprised in other combinations by a subject matter according to the invention. Each disclosed feature is therefore also to be regarded as being disclosed in technically meaningful combinations with other features. Some of the illustrations are slightly simplified and schematic:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a circuit breaker according to the present invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0051] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative circuit breaker according to the present invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0052] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative circuit breaker according to the present invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0053] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative circuit breaker according to the present invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0054] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative circuit breaker according to the present invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0055] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative circuit breaker according to the invention, shown in view (A) before separation and in view (B) after separation.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of parts of a circuit breaker according to the invention, which can be ignited passively.

[0057] FIG. 8 provides cross-sectional views of various conductors, each having different weakening elements.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a quick circuit breaker 10 according to the invention in cross section. View (A) shows the quick circuit breaker 10 prior to its tripping, that is, prior to the separation of the conductor.

[0059] The quick circuit breaker 10 comprises the separation chamber 12 which is surrounded by the separation chamber housing 14. An ignition element 16 is mounted in the separation chamber 12. The expansion vessel 18 is provided following the ignition element 16. The conductor 20 runs through the separation chamber. The conductor 20 is equipped with various weakening elements, namely with the groove 22 and with holes 24.

[0060] The separation chamber 12 has a first volume Vi, which in this cross section is delimited at the bottom by the conductor 20 and is otherwise delimited by the walls of the separation chamber 12. The expansion vessel 18 takes up only a small space of said first volume Vi, significantly less than 50%.

[0061] Triggered by an ignition, a significant (explosive) increase in volume of the expansion vessel can occur. For this purpose, the expansion vessel 18 or the chamber around the ignition element 16 contains an explosive material that is not shown in detail. The circuit breaker 10 is brought into the state shown in view (B) by said explosion. (Elements that have not changed are no longer described and explained.) The expansion vessel 18 now occupies a much larger volume. The conductor 20 is cut through. The bend 26 occurs here. This completely separates the conductor 20 at the surfaces of separation 28a and 28b and creates a spacing between the surfaces of separation that prevents electrical flashover.

[0062] It should be borne in mind that the circuit breaker according to the invention can comprise further elements. It is shown here only schematically and in a slightly simplified manner. For example, terminals could be provided at the conductor ends, and the ignition element itself can have a plurality of parts. However, the circuit breaker 12 shown already implements all the essential elements of the invention.

[0063] Furthermore, the free volume of the assembly above and/or below the conductor 20 can be filled with a gaseous, liquid, powdery or gel-like extinguishing fluid (not shown here), or mixtures thereof.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows another circuit breaker 10 according to the invention in a corresponding view. In this case, the conductor 20 has been provided two grooves 22A and 22B. A conductor section is formed between the grooves 22A and 22B. As can be seen in view (B), said conductor section 32 can be displaced transversely as a whole by the explosion. The advantage here is that the circuit is opened at 2 points during the separation process, so that the voltage applied to the circuit breaker is virtually halved for each opening point and thus only half the energy is converted per opening point, the energy having been stored as magnetic energy in the circuit inductance at the moment of separation, as is the case with only one separation point. Circuits can thus still be opened at slightly higher voltages without an arc remaining at the separation points after opening or separation, as would happen in particular when DC circuits are separated.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention in an analogous sectional representation. The conductor is designed essentially as shown in FIG. 1. However, the expansion vessel is larger here. Before the explosion, the expansion vessel essentially occupies the entire first volume Vi, which the separation chamber 12 above the conductor 20 makes available.

[0066] View (B) shows the situation after the explosion. The expansion vessel 18 has expanded; as it expands, it nestles against the inner walls of the separation chamber and presses against the conductor 20. This leads analogously to the formation of a bend 26 in the conductor. The expanded expansion vessel suppresses spark flashover particularly efficiently.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in an analogous representation. An expansion vessel, which occupies a large volume, namely the entire first volume Vi above the conductor 20, has again been used here. This in turn is equipped with grooves, namely the grooves 22A and 22B. After the explosion, the large expansion vessel also causes the conductor piece 32 to break out on the conductor.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a further alternative embodiment of the invention. An expansion vessel 18 which comprises a bellows 30 is used in this case. As shown in view (B), the expansion of the expansion vessel 18 due to the explosion in turn creates a bend 26 in the conductor 20. The expansion is allowed by the bellows 30 so that the corresponding folds disappear after the explosion as shown in view (B). Even after the explosion, the expansion vessel remains intact so that explosive material does not penetrate into the interior space of the separation chamber.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of the invention. Here, an expansion vessel 18 having a bellows is combined with a conductor 20, which in turn has two grooves, the grooves 22A and 22B. Due to the expansion of the expansion vessel, which in turn causes the folds of the bellows to disappear due to expansion, there is a complete transverse displacement of the conductor piece 32.

[0070] In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, the free volume of the assembly above and/or below the conductor 20 can again be filled with a gaseous, liquid, powdery or gel-like extinguishing fluid (not shown here), also from mixtures thereof.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of parts of a circuit breaker according to the invention, which can be ignited passively.

[0072] The representation of the quick circuit breaker 10 as a whole is dispensed with here. Depicted is the conductor 20 and its interaction with the expansion vessel 18. The expansion vessel 18 shown in turn comprises a bellows 30. This is useful if the expansion vessel is made of metal. There is often no need to provide such a bellows in an expansion vessel made of rubber. The expansion vessel 18 is filled with the explosive charge 36 in its lower region. Said explosive charge rests against the conductor via a contact track. The contact track 38 can be manufactured in one piece with the expansion vessel or applied to the outside of the expansion vessel as an additional track. A blind hole 40, which can partially accommodate the expansion vessel, is provided in the conductor 20. In addition, grooves 22A and 22B are provided in the conductor 20. On the one hand, this mechanical situation leads to a mechanical weakening of the conductor. Furthermore, a region of increased electrical resistance is generated by the blind hole 40 and by the grooves 22A and 22B. The conductor heats up quickly with a correspondingly high current flow in said region.

[0073] The geometry also has the advantageous effect in that the heat is quickly transferred to the expansion vessel 18 and the explosive charge 36 can be ignited there.

[0074] As already explained, but not shown here, it can also be useful to provide a second explosive charge outside of the expansion vessel 18 in the region of the blind hole and possibly also in the grooves 22A and 22B. The rapid ignition of such an explosive material outside of the expansion vessel 18 is particularly possible by mere heat transfer. An optional additional second explosive material that is also provided inside the expansion vessel is then particularly easily ignited by the first explosive material that is provided outside the expansion vessel 18.

[0075] If the bellows or the material of the expansion vessel is an electrically conductive material, it must be coated on the outside with an electrically non-conductive material, at least thinly, in order to not again electrically short-circuit the conductor that was initially separated after the circuit breaker has tripped. Essentially all available plastics, plastics and rubber types are suitable therefor.

[0076] FIG. 8 provides schematic cross-sectional views of further advantageous conductor shapes as may be used in conjunction with a speed circuit breaker within the scope of the present invention. Said conductors are particularly suitable for circuit breakers that can be passively ignited, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0077] View (A) shows a conductor which is equipped with a blind hole 40 and in which additional grooves 22A and 22B are provided. This view corresponds to the embodiment which has already been shown in FIG. 7.

[0078] View (B) shows an alternative design of the conductor in which four grooves are symmetrically provided, grooves 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D. A conductor piece which can be easily moved transversely is also defined by these grooves.

[0079] View (C) shows a conductor having a deep blind hole 40. Said blind hole can easily accommodate an expansion vessel. There are no additional grooves.

[0080] View (D) shows a conductor 20 in which two notches 34A and 34B are provided. Unlike grooves, which are of constant depth, the notches widen upwards. Notches thus have the advantage that the conductor piece 32 delimited by them can be moved transversely more easily. Tilting or possible jamming of the conductor piece 32 is thus efficiently avoided, even with a very rapid movement, as is typical for an explosion.

[0081] Overall, it can be seen how an efficiently operating speed circuit breaker which is suitable for both active and passive ignition can be produced according to the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0082] 10 speed circuit breaker [0083] 12 separation chamber [0084] 14 separation chamber housing [0085] 16 ignition element [0086] 18 expansion vessel [0087] 20 conductor [0088] 22 groove [0089] 24 holes [0090] 26 bend [0091] 28 surfaces of separation [0092] 30 bellows [0093] 32 conductor piece [0094] 34 notch [0095] 36 explosive charge (in expansion vessel) [0096] 38 contact track [0097] 40 blind hole