ARRANGEMENT AND A METHOD FOR SWITCHING AN OPEN CONTACT GAP BY A SWITCHING DEVICE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an arrangement and a method for switching an open contact gap by a switching device, wherein a galvanically isolated energy transmission of high-frequency energy provides an actuator energy for at least one switching device, in particular a vacuum interrupter. For the purpose of energy transmission, the switching device is connected to the high-frequency source via a dielectric resonator, the switching device being designed such as to be configured for converting the transmitted energy into actuator energy.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. An arrangement for switching an open contact gap, the arrangement comprising: a switching device having a switching lever; a radio-frequency source; and a dielectric resonator in form of a disk, wherein the dielectric resonator is positioned on a side of the switching lever of the switching device such that the dielectric resonator stabilizes movement of the switching lever in a guiding manner, wherein the switching device is connected to the radio-frequency source via the dielectric resonator for energy transmission, wherein the switching device is configured to convert a DC-isolated energy transmission of radio-frequency energy into actuator energy.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the switching device is a vacuum interrupter.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the dielectric resonator is positioned on the side of the switching lever via bolts.

14. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the dielectric resonator is a high-quality dielectric resonator on account of a high dielectric constant.

15. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the switching lever is a metal or a dielectric material.

16. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the switching device comprises at least one rectifier arrangement configured to convert the transmitted energy into the actuator energy.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the at least one rectifier arrangement comprises at least two parallel rectifier arrangements.

18. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising: electrically operated switches are connected downstream of the energy transmission as actuators.

19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein the electrically operated switches are relay switches.

20. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the resonator comprises a solid dielectric aluminum oxide material or another dielectric material with a high dielectric constant (cr).

21. The arrangement of claim 20, wherein the another dielectric material is titanium dioxide, zirconium, or silicon carbide.

22. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein one or more of the switching device, the radio-frequency source, or the dielectric resonator comprise sensors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The disclosure and further advantages are explained in more detail below proceeding from the arrangements according to the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 2 and on the basis of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a switching device formed by vacuum interrupters.

[0032] FIG. 2 depicts an example of a use of the vacuum tube switching device as a circuit breaker.

[0033] FIG. 3 depicts a first exemplary embodiment in a side view with a dielectric switching bolt.

[0034] FIG. 4 depicts a second exemplary embodiment in a side view with metal switching bolts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a switching device formed by a vacuum interrupter. It is possible to see the typical structure starting with a drive and connecting bolt, a guide for the latter, a movable contact piece that is mounted, in a manner surrounded by folding bellows, in a switching chamber encased by an insulator and in which a stationary contact piece is also mounted opposite the movable contact piece and is terminated in a connection disk.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a plurality of the switching devices illustrated in the previous figure in a manner installed in a circuit breaker arrangement. In this case, it is possible to also see, in the left-hand part of the illustration, the lever moving the drive and connecting bolt during a switching operation and brings together or separates the two contact pieces and therefore closes or opens the circuit.

[0037] One of the elements of the circuit breaker, modified according to one exemplary embodiment, is depicted in a side illustration in FIG. 3. It is possible to see how the vacuum interrupter VACUUM TUBE in the circuit breaker arrangement is fixed between an upper carrier PORT 1 and a lower interrupter carrier PORT 2.

[0038] Proceeding from the arrangement shown, the exemplary embodiment now stands out from the prior art, in particular, by virtue of the fact that the lower insulator INSULATOR is dispensed with and the insulation is effected instead by a dielectric resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR in the form of a disk and comes to rest below the vacuum interrupter VACUUM TUBE and provides the entire arrangement with additional stability.

[0039] The improvement produced, inter alfa, by the dielectric resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR, is based in this case on the use of radio-frequency energy as actuator energy for actuating the switch of the vacuum interrupter VACUUM TUBE, because this is transmitted to the switch for this purpose, (that is to say the wave is guided to the switch).

[0040] In contrast to the use of a dielectric waveguide, it is therefore possible to change to lower frequencies in the MHz range and therefore achieve higher energy efficiency.

[0041] The mechanical actuator may be in the form of an electromagnet.

[0042] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the actuator is a bolt DIELECTRIC CRANK produced from dielectric material, the vacuum interrupter VACUUM TUBE is switched electrically, for example is illustrated, with the aid of a relay RELAY.

[0043] In this case, the bolt is advantageously guided in the dielectric resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR having a recess such as a hole, for example, in the center, for this purpose in the exemplary embodiment.

[0044] FIG. 4 depicts another exemplary embodiment differing from the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 only in that it has a metal bolt METALLIC CRANK.

[0045] The advantages discussed below and the parts of the exemplary embodiment that are disjoint with respect to the bolt therefore relate not only to this example but also apply to the example depicted in FIG. 3.

[0046] Another advantage of the exemplary embodiment shown is that the resonator simultaneously insulates, stabilizes and enables the transmission of the power needed for the switching operation. Furthermore, any possible heat produced may be dissipated via this resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR.

[0047] It is also possible to see a signal generator MICROWAVE SIGNAL GENERATOR that uses a power amplifier MICROWAVE POWER AMPLIFIER to generate the required RF power signal (for example, in the microwave or MHz range) rectified at the other end of the dielectric waveguide HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR by a rectifier device MICROWAVE RECTIFIER and is supplied to the relay RELAY.

[0048] In this case, a plurality of rectifiers may be operated in a parallel manner as alternative developments for higher RF powers. The rectifier may include one or more diodes. The diodes may be Schottky diodes or other diodes or else modified transistors. The semiconductors may be based on a GaAs or GaN technology or another technology.

[0049] The rectifier may also be advantageously developed by being buffered or stabilized by corresponding circuitry measures. For example, the DC power may be buffered in a capacitance and may then be made available to the actuator, that is to say the relay RELAY here, for actuating the vacuum switch VACUUM TUBE.

[0050] The dielectric resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR is a high-quality resonator (e.g., high dielectric constant “high-dc”), whereas a metal plate LOW-DC BASE has a low dielectric constant (“low-dc”).

[0051] The same applies to the holder LOW-DC SUSPENSION opposite the metal plate LOW-DC BASE. This is likewise produced from a metal having low permittivity.

[0052] The entire assembly may be cast, which may be an advantage over switching linkages. Further advantages of this may be the avoidance of sparkovers, climatic encapsulation or improved cooling.

[0053] One or more tubes may be operated in a parallel manner inside the assembly, which may result in economic advantages, for example. Parallel or serial operation is facilitated by the possibility of achieving a high degree of switching synchronicity using simple electromechanical measures. This switching synchronicity may be achieved by being able to superimpose a suitable trigger signal on the radio-frequency signal transmitting the energy.

[0054] The mechanical actuator or other parts on the interrupter or the entire arrangement may be equipped with sensors that measure relevant operating information. The information may be simultaneously transmitted back via the resonator HIGH-DC DIELECTRIC RESONATOR during the power transmission.

[0055] Other forms of energy conversion without rectifiers for actuating the switch are likewise conceivable. For example, operation during which the RF energy is used to heat a gas volume is conceivable. This gas volume expands on account of the heating and therefore drives a piston connected to the tube. This enables a slow switching operation. Instead of the gas, the use of water is also conceivable, which is heated by the RF energy, is evaporated and therefore drives a piston.

[0056] Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the disclosed examples and the person skilled in the art may derive other variations from this without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0057] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.