Moeller Gmbh

Frank Berger

Wolfgang Kremers

Andreas Kraetzschmar

Klaus-Jochen Froehlich

Matthias Fenner

Thomas Freyermuth

Bernd Koehler

Eckhardt Pridoehl

Michael Anheuser

A self-recovering current-limiting device with a liquid metal includes a first and a second electrode for connection to an electric circuit to be protected. Each of the first and second electrodes are made of a solid metal. A plurality of pressure-resistant insulating bodies is provided, as well as a plurality of insulating intermediate walls supported by the insulating bodies. The plurality of insulating intermediate walls and the plurality of pressure-resistant insulating bodies define a plurality of compression spaces, and the plurality of insulating intermediate walls define a plurality of connecting channels. The plurality of compression spaces are disposed one behind the other between the first and second electrodes and are at least partially filled with the liquid metal. A first connecting conductor connected to the first electrode and disposed below the plurality of compression spaces and having an inverse current direction is provided, as well as a ferromagnetic body disposed above the plurality of compression spaces.

Self-recovering current-limiting device with liquid metal

The invention relates to a self-recovering current-limiting device with liquid metal. The device contains two solid metal electrodes ( ) which are rotationally symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal axis ( ) of the current limiting device ( ) and several compression chambers ( ) which are partially filled with liquid metal ( ) and arranged in a series between the electrodes ( ). The compression chambers are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies ( ) and insulating intermediate walls ( ) which are supported by the same ( ) and which have several connecting channels ( ), distributed in a circular form. The aim of the invention is to extend the positions of use. To this end, the electrodes ( ) have cavities ( ) which are connected to the adjacent compression chambers ( ) by openings ( ) and which are adequately wetted to completely filled with the liquid metal ( ), according to the position of use.

A self-recovering device current limiting device with liquid metal includes two solid metal electrodes for connecting to an electric circuit to be protected. Several compression chambers partially filled with liquid metal are arranged one after the other between the electrodes. The compression chambers are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies and insulating intermediate walls supported by the insulating bodies. The insulating bodies include several connecting channels. To adjust the current limiting device to a desired nominal current factor, the level of the liquid metal above the connecting channels can be modified using an adjusting device. A reservoir is connected to the adjusting device, which can be adjusted and fixed in place externally.

Self-recovering current limiting device with liquid metal

A self-recovering current-limiting device with a liquid metal includes two T-shaped electrodes for connection to an electric circuit to be protected. Each of the electrodes are made of a solid metal. Several compressor cavities which are partially filled with the liquid metal are situated one behind the other between the electrodes. The compressor cavities are formed by pressure-proof insulating bodies and by insulating intermediate walls which are provided with connecting channels and which are held by the insulating bodies. The insulating bodies and the intermediate walls form a uniform upper and lower half shell with opposite-lying joining surfaces. The half shells are connected in a sealed manner along joining surfaces in the area of a common middle plane of the connecting channels. Up to half of each of the electrodes is accommodated in corresponding recesses of the half shells, the electrodes extending with their respective middle limb out of the half shells.

Self-recovering current limiting device having liquid metal

A self-recovering current-limiting device having liquid metal includes solid metal electrodes for connecting to an external electric circuit to be protected. A plurality of compression spaces which are partially filled with liquid metal are arranged one behind the other between the electrodes and are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies and by insulating partitioning walls having connecting channels. An enclosing insulating shaped housing is provided having a trough-like bottom part and a cover that tightly closes the bottom part via a non-positive and/or positive connecting device. The partitioning walls and the bottom part are interconnected as one piece. The connecting channels are configured as longitudinal holes which are open at the top. The electrodes are mounted in the bottom part. The nominal current range of the device may be easily adjusted.

Self-recovering current-limiting device having liquid metal

A self-regenerating current limiter with liquid metal includes solid metal electrodes for connection of the current limiter to an electric circuit to be protected. A plurality of compression chambers that are partially filled with liquid metal are located one behind the other between the electrodes. The compression chambers are formed by compression-proof insulating bodies and insulating partition walls that have communicating channels and that are supported by the insulating bodies. Non-conductive ceramic disks are mounted on the inner surfaces of the electrodes. The disks are located opposite the communicating channels of the adjacent partition walls.

Self-regenerating current limter with liquid metal

A self-regenerating liquid metal current limiter including solid metal electrodes for connection to an electric circuit to be protected and several compression chambers which are partially filled with liquid metal. The compression chambers are located one behind the other between the electrodes and are formed by pressure-resistant insulating bodies and by partition walls with connecting channels that are supported by the insulating bodies. The partition walls are provided with a plurality of connecting channels that are not arranged in a generally concent arrangement with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the current limiter, the axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the partition walls. The current limiter provides for various positions of use corresponding to a position of rotation of the current limiter about its longitudinal axis.

Self-regenerating liquid metal current limiter

A method for determining a remaining service life of switching contacts in an electric switching device. The method includes operating the switching contacts so as to produce structure-borne sound signals, capturing the structure-borne sound signals, performing a Fourier transform on the structure-borne sound signals in a plurality of discrete time windows so as to produce a sonogram, determining a plurality of function values using the sonogram, and evaluating the plurality of function values using an evaluation device. Also a electrical switching device including first and second switching contacts, a sound sensor configured to capture structure-borne sound signals produced by an operation of the first and second switching contacts, and an evaluation device configured to evaluate the first structure-borne signals so as to determine a remaining service life of the first and second switching contacts.

Method for determining the remaining service life of the switch contacts in an electric switching device and electric switching device with an evaluation unit for carrying out said method

A system includes a switching device, a sound device and an evaluation device. The switching device includes a housing and a contact system disposed in the housing, the contact system including a contact piece carrier and a contact piece disposed on the contact piece carrier. The sound device produces and captures structure-borne sound waves so as to determine an equivalent criterion for determining the remaining service life of the contact piece. The evaluation device evaluates the equivalent criterion.

Growing community of inventors

Swistal-Miel, Germany

Frank Berger