Bbc Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited

Stanislas Ruffieux

Ekkehard Schade

A gas-pressurized electrical switch includes a casing provided with a transverse wall dividing the interior into two quenching chambers filled with a pressurized arc-quenching gas. A longitudinally movable contact member is supported within a first one of the chambers and includes a nozzle pipe projecting through the transverse wall into the other chamber for entry into an annular stationary contact member which is surrounded by a magnetic-field producing coil having one end connected to one terminal of the switch. The nozzle pipe is provided with apertures through the wall thereof in the first chamber which place the two chambers in communication with each other. A pin member is located centrally within the stationary contact member and is entered into the nozzle pipe in the contact-closed position, and this pin is surrounded by an annular electrode. When the contacts disengage, an arc is drawn and thereafter one portion of the arc burns between the annular electrode and the pin and is rotated by the magnetic field, and the other portion of the arc burns between the pin and the nozzle pipe of the movable contact member. Burning of the arc generates heat which causes an increase in gas pressure in the chamber containing the stationary contact member assembly which then acts to start flow of arc extinguishing gas through the nozzle pipe which results in arc extinction.

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Baden, Switzerland

Stanislas Ruffieux