The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 10, 1981
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1978
Lorne D McConnell, Chalfont, PA (US);
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A current interrupter is provided for use in controlling currents associated with power line faults. The interrupter is of the type having a housing filled with a dielectric fluid such as pressurized sulfur hexafluoride liquid and having electrodes extending through the walls of the housing. Associated with the electrodes is a movable contact member which when closed provides a path for current flow and which is movable to break a circuit. The housing includes a fluid chamber having a passage for fluid communication with the remaining interior of the housing. The movable contact member closes the passage when in its closed position. The method of the invention includes rapidly increasing the pressure in the chamber to move the contact from its closed position. A chemical propellant drives a piston against the fluid in the chamber. The fluid drives the movable contact member to open the passage and to break the current path, causing an arc. The fluid escaping from the chamber flows transverse to the arc thereby increasing the voltage drop of the interrupter.