Mcgraw-edison Company

Cooper Power Systems, Inc.

Cooper Industries, Inc.

Rte Corporation

Donald R Martin

Nils V Holmgren

Edward F Veverka

Hinhsomchay Gnao Phouybanhdyt

A switch apparatus comprising a switch mechanism including a first contact, and a second contact movable into and out of engagement with the first contact for respectively closing and opening the switch mechanism, an operating rod assembly connected to the second contact for moving the second contact into and out of engagement with the first contact in response to movement of the operating rod assembly, the operating rod assembly including an operating rod having an outer surface, a first end adapted to be connected to a prime mover, and an opposite second end, and a conductive member connected to the second end of the operating rod and to the second contact, the conductive member having a construction for reducing the magnitude of electrical stress adjacent the outer surface and for positioning electrical stress away from the outer surface, and a pressure vessel for enclosing the switch mechanism and the operating rod assembly and surrounding the switch mechanism and the assembly with dielectric gas.

Switch mechanism operating rod

Apparatus for opening and closing a switch, which apparatus comprises a lever mounted on a frame for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position, a first spring biasing the lever from the second position to the first position, a cam and follower for effecting pivotal movement of the lever from the first position to the second position against the influence of the first spring, a step on the cam for permitting movement of the lever from the second position to the first position under the influence of the first spring after the lever has moved from the first position to the second position, a member adapted to be connected to the switch and movable between a switch opening position and a switch closing position, which member is movable to the switch closing position in response to movement of the lever from the second position to the first position, a second spring displaceable between extended and contracted conditions, which second spring is extended to the extended condition in response to movement of the member to the switch closing position, a latch for releasably retaining the second spring in the extended condition, and mechanism for releasing the latch and thereby also releasing the second spring from the extended condition for movement to the retracted condition so as thereby to displace the member to the switch opening position.

Interrupter operating mechanism

A switchgear apparatus comprising a row of pressure vessels, a frame including first and second generally horizontal, elongated members rigidified by the row of pressure vessels, an outer housing including a generally horizontal top portion supported by the frame, generally vertical, spaced apart side portions connected to the top portion, and a door which is movable between a lowered, closed position in which the door prevents access to the interior of the housing and a raised, open position in which the door affords access to the interior of the housing, the door including a generally planar first portion connected to the top portion for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, the first portion being angularly spaced from the top portion when the door is in the raised position, a mechanism for assisting manual movement of the door from the lowered position to the raised position, and a mechanism for releasably retaining the door in the raised position.

Switchgear enclosure with improved supporting frame and improved access

A switch apparatus comprising a fixed tubular contact having an inner end, a movable tubular contact having an inner end and being movable between a closed position wherein the inner ends of the contacts overlap and an open position wherein the inner ends of the contacts are spaced apart, a piston fixed to the movable contact for movement thereiwth, a cylinder slideably receiving the piston and cooperating with the piston to define a variable volume pressure chamber which decreases in volume as the movable contact moves from the closed position to the open position, and a housing fixed to the piston and having an inner surface which cooperates with the piston to define an arc chamber containing the inner end of the movable contact, the housing having therein an aperture through which the fixed contact extends when the movable contact is in the closed position, and the arc chamber communicating with the pressure chamber so that gas is forced from the pressure chamber into the arc chamber when the movable contact moves from the closed position to the open position.

Suicide switch/interrupter with variable volume chamber and puffer action

An load interrupter is disclosed having the characteristics of an ordinary puffer interrupter and a self-extinguishing gas flow interrupter. The load interrupter comprises a generally hollow cylinder which is adapted to be filled with an arc extinguishing fluid and which has an electrically insulated nozzle at one end. A piston is sealingly and slidingly disposed within the cylinder so as to be movable between a first and second position to change the internal volume of the cylinder that is in flow communication with the nozzled end. A stop limits the relative motion between the piston and the nozzled end of the cylinder. A spring biases the piston against the stop. One of the two contacts across which the arc is formed is carried by the piston. The other contact is operated by a prime mover to move into and out of the chamber formed by the piston, cylinder and nozzle. Thus, under low current conditions, the piston follows the movement of the other contact. Under high current carrying or fault conditions, the spring designed to be overcome by the energy released from the arc so as to control the temperature and pressure rise adequately enough to extinguish the arc by the self-extinguishing principle. The moving contact has a tip formed from an electrical insulating material to constrict the arc at the throat of the nozzle thereby increasing the arc extinguishing efficiency of the interrupter.

Load interrupter

A unique self-flow generating gas interrupter of the type wherein arc-extinction is performed by the creation of a negative pressure region brought about by the separation of the interrupter contacts. The interrupter incorporates a novel arrangement of valves so as to optimize the performance of the interrupter over the broad range of interrupting currents. In one embodiment a check valve is used to supply gas from the exterior of the interrupter casing and into the arcing chamber in response to the pressure within the arcing chamber decreasing or falling below a pre-selected value. In this manner, less force is required to operate the interrupter when low-currents are encountered. In another embdiment a relief valve is used to release the pressure developed in the arcing chamber in the event that a large interrupting current is encountered. Still another embodiment incorporates both the check valve and the relief valve.

Self-flow generating gas interrupter

An interrupter is provided having: an outer enclosure or tank adapted to contain an arc-extinguishing fluid; a fixed tubular electrical current carrying member disposed at one end of the tank; a movable tubular current carrying member disposed in the tank in an end-to-end relationship with the fixed electrical current member; a prime mover for stroking the movable current carrying member between an open position and a closed position; an electrically conductive piston means, carried by the movable electrical current carrying member, for supplying pressurized fluid into the gap formed between two current carrying members when the interrupter is opened and for purging the vicinity of the gap when the interrupter is closed; a non-electrically conductive base means, carried by the outer enclosure, for housing the piston means and for guiding the movement or the stroking of the movable current carrying member; and an insulated plenum means, carried by the piston means and disposed around the contacting ends of the two current carrying members, for confining the flow of pressurized arc-extinguishing fluid into the gap formed between the two current carrying members when the interrupter is opened so as to direct ionized fluid and arc by-products away from the interior surfaces of the outer enclosure and to shield the operating components within the interrupter from direct blast of arc by-products released by the arc.

Distribution class puffer interrupter

An electrical circuit interrupter is disclosed having the characteristic of a puffer interrupter and a self-extinguishing gas flow interrupter. The interrupter comprises a generally hollow movable cylinder which is adapted to be filled with an arc extinguishing fluid and which has an opening at one end. A piston is sealingly and coaxially disposed within the cylinder so as to be movable between a first and second position to change the internal volume of the cylinder in flow communication with its opening. A fixed guide is provided to direct the motion of the piston within the cylinder. A stop is carried by the guide to limit the relative motion between the piston and the cylinder. A spring biases the piston against the stop. Disposed at the open end of the cylinder is an arc site such that the pressure within the cylinder increases as the energy released from the arc increases. One of the two contacts across which the arc is formed is carried by the cylinder. Thus, under low or no arc conditions, the piston is held by the biasing means against the stop as the cylinder moves relative to it. This forces arc extinguishing fluid in the vicinity of the arc. Under high current carrying or fault conditions, the biasing means is overcome by the energy released from the arc to control the temperature and pressure rise adequately enough to extinguish the arc by the self extinguishing principle.

Growing community of inventors

Racine, WI, United States of America

Donald R Martin