Eaton Corporation

Paul Graham Slade

Michael B Schulman

Erik Dannel Taylor

Graham A Whitlow

Benjamin Alex Rosenkrans

Stephen David Mayo

William R Lovic

Mary Jo Johnson Vander Heiden

Mark Allan Juds

Engelbert Hetzmannseder

Francis Christopher Edrozo

Bradley Eugene Dunham

Dale Lowell Burmingham

Erik D Taylor

A vacuum circuit interrupter includes a line conductor, a vacuum interrupter, a load conductor, a ground conductor and an operating mechanism. The vacuum interrupter includes a fixed conductor and a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact and a movable contact movable between a closed circuit position in electrical connection with the fixed contact and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact. The fixed conductor is outside of the vacuum envelope and is electrically connected to the fixed contact. The load conductor is electrically connected to the movable contact. The operating mechanism is structured to: open and close the fixed and movable contacts, and move the vacuum interrupter and the fixed conductor thereof between a first position wherein the fixed conductor is electrically connected to the line conductor, and a second position wherein the fixed conductor is electrically connected to the ground conductor.

Three-position vacuum interrupter disconnect switch providing current interruption, disconnection and grounding

A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly includes a vacuum chamber and a first conductor which is structured to be coupled to a circuit. The first conductor is disposed within the vacuum chamber. The pressure chamber assembly has a second conductor structured to be coupled to a ground, a pressure chamber, a gas generation device and a bullet assembly. The pressure chamber assembly disposed adjacent to the vacuum chamber assembly. The gas generation device coupled to, and in fluid communication with the pressure chamber. The bullet assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and structured to move between a first position, where the bullet assembly is spaced from the first and second conductors, and a second position, where the bullet assembly contacts, and is in electrical communication with, the first and second conductors.

Vacuum arc eliminator having a bullet assembly actuated by a gas generating device

A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly has a first conductor coupled to a power line, a non-conductive housing and a seal cup. The pressure chamber assembly has a second conductor coupled to a ground, a pressure chamber and a bullet assembly. The pressure chamber assembly is disposed adjacent to the vacuum chamber assembly. The bullet assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and is structured to move between a first position and a second position. The bullet assembly has a metal lance with a blade portion. The blade portion is structured to puncture the seal cup.

Blade tip for puncturing cupro-nickel seal cup

The tubular vapor shield of a vacuum interrupter is secured to the ceramic by a shield mount which includes a split ring seated in a circumferential groove formed in the inner surface of the ceramic. The tubular vapor shield is secured to the split ring by a connection which includes a circumferential flange brazed to the shield and a braze ring which is wedged in an annular gap between the flange and the vapor shield and which melts when heated in a vacuum oven to braze the split ring to the vapor shield and the flange. In another embodiment, the flange has a radial outward rim which seats on the split ring. In an additional embodiment, the connection between the split ring and the vapor shield includes a circumferential shield groove in the outer surface of the vapor shield in which the split ring is also seated and optionally secured by a braze. In yet another embodiment, an additional split ring seated in a circumferential groove in the outer surface of the vapor shield is brazed to the split ring seated in the groove in the ceramic.

Method and apparatus for mounting vapor shield in vacuum interrupter and vacuum interrupter incorporating same

A new class of low chop contact materials based on Ag-chromium carbide and Ag--Cr compositions have an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure. These materials combine the advantageous properties of Ag--WC and Cu--Cr contacts without their disadvantages. A method of making this new class of low chop contact materials includes the steps of cold pressing a mixture of Ag and chromium or chromium carbide to form an unsintered blank and the elevated temperature infiltration of silver into the unsintered blank to obtain an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure.

Electrical contact compositions and novel manufacturing method

A vacuum circuit interrupter has a coil for generating an axially oriented magnetic field to maintain an electric arc in a diffuse rather than columnar mode upon opening of the interrupter. At least one of two electrodes having abuttable disc shaped contacts is movable along an axis relative to the other and can be forced by an external mechanism to open. The electrodes are carried in a housing with an electrical insulator between opposite end mountings that support the electrodes with the contacts in an evacuated enclosure. One of the electrodes is an assembly including a rigid supporting member attached to one of the contacts and extending a length along the axis. A coil is wrapped circumferentially around the supporting member along this length, providing a conductive path to generate the axial magnetic field. The supporting member comprises a less-conductive path (e.g., a stainless steel sleeve) and the coil is more conductive (e.g., copper), providing a durable and inexpensive structure.

Vacuum interrupter with arc diffusing contact design

An axial magnetic field vacuum interrupter includes a field producing structure associated with only one of two opposing electrode assemblies. The field producing structure is characterized in that when the instantaneous peak arc current is I.sub.m, measured in kiloamperes, and the electrode assemblies are in the open circuit position, the instantaneous component of the axial magnetic filed (AMF) B in the axial direction B.sub.a, measured in milliteslas, imposed on the majority of each electrode contact surface is given by the analytical expression. ##EQU1##

Vacuum interrupter with a single internal assembly for generating an

A new class of low chop contact materials based on Ag-chromium carbide and Ag-Cr compositions have an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure. These materials combine the advantageous properties of Ag-WC and Cu-Cr contacts without their disadvantages. A method of making this new class of low chop contact materials includes the steps of cold pressing a mixture of Ag and chromium or chromium carbide to form an unsintered blank and the elevated temperature infiltration of silver into the unsintered blank to obtain an essentially 100% dense, porosity free microstructure.

A multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter that encourages formation of a diffuse arc includes a pair of disk-shaped, confronting electrical contacts that are relatively movable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position and that are enclosed by a vacuum envelope. Each contact has generally spiral-shaped arms defining slots therebetween. The slots gradually widen towards the periphery of the contacts. In addition, the contacts are rotated relative to each other such that the tip of each spiral arm of one contact faces a generally radially extending portion of a spiral arm of the other contact. A generally tubular metal vapor shield surrounds the contacts within the envelope and is electrically isolated from at least one of the contacts in the open circuit position. The design and orientation of the contacts increases the radial component of the self-induced magnetic fields generated by the current in the interrupter. The Lorentz force on a high-current columnar arc between the contacts motivates the arc to attach to the vapor shield and become diffuse.

Multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter

A vacuum interrupter with an enhanced radial magnetic field includes within a vacuum envelope a pair of confronting contacts that are relatively movable between an open circuit and a closed circuit position. The contacts, which can be the spiral-arm type or the slotted-cup type, are surrounded by a tubular metal vapor shield that is electrically isolated from at least one of the contacts in the open circuit position. Each contact is connected in series with a coil energized by the current in the interrupter and positioned proximate the non-confronting face of the contact, and with a current carrying terminal post extending outside the vacuum envelope. The current in the coils produces a radial magnetic field in the intercontact region that encourages a columnar arc between the contacts to move outward and attach to the vapor shield. This helps to promote a transition to a diffuse type of arc and allows for a more compact interrupter with greater interruption capability. The radial magnetic field can also be enhanced by using a contact design having elongated spiral-shaped arms that each extend more than 180.degree. around the contact. The elongated spiral-arm contacts can be used in conjunction with the coil structure or used alone to produce the enhanced radial magnetic field. The vapor shield is fabricated of a thick layer of a Cu--Cr metal mixture, or of a high permeability material.

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Ithaca, NY, United States of America

Paul Graham Slade