Energy efficient floating head puffer interrupter

Abstract

A unique, energy efficient puffer interrupter having a puffer piston and an opposed floating piston or head is described in detail. In one embodiment, the puffer interrupter is formed from a pair of electrical contacts which are disposed within a chamber filled with an arc extinguishing fluid. A prime mover or switching means is used to open and close the switch by moving one of the contacts with respect to the other. A puffer piston is disposed at one end of a cylinder surrounding the fixed contact. A floating piston is disposed at the opposite end of the cylinder and biased towards the moving contact assembly and away from the puffer piston. The puffer piston and the floating piston and the cylinder define a pressurization chamber, which is in fluid communication with the gap defined by the switch contacts. A pressurizing valve means controls the flow of gas from between the two pistons and into the gap thereformed when the switch is opened. A time sequencing means opens the switch contacts after sufficient pressure has been developed to extinguish the arc formed between the contacts. Another sequencing means controls the movement of the floating piston so as to minimize the peak pressure formed in the volume between the two pistons as the contacts are opened and the arc is extinguished. By minimizing the pressure overshoot and by moderating the pressure to a more constant value, the power required to operate the device is consumed more uniformly over that of one having only one moving piston.