Patent US3555223A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3555223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum circuit interrupters with co-axial movable main and movable auxillary contacts
Assignee: English Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-12-03
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1988-12-03
Abstract
Abstract The load current carrying contacts of a vacuum circuit interrupter are surrounded by a normally open pair of annular contacts which are closed before, and opened after, the load current carrying contacts are opened, so that arcing between the load current carrying contacts is negligible; substantially all the arcing occurring between the annular contacts. Each annular contact may incorporate a helical conductor, the two helical conductors being wound magnetically in opposition, with the advantage that a magnetic field, which causes spreading and rotation of the arc, is established before the arc is struck.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred Alexander Robinson
- 👤 James William Calvesbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/662; H01H33/66238; H01H33/02; H01H33/04; H01H33/12; H01H33/66261; H01H33/664; H01H2033/66246; H01H2033/66284; H01H2033/66292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope containing one pair of cooperating contacts and another pair of cooperating contacts electrically in parallel with said one pair, at least one contact of each pair being capable of movement relative to its cooperating contact; and contact actuating means for moving the movable contact of each pair into and out of engagement with its cooperating contact, said contact actuating means being operative to separate the contacts of said one pair before separating the contacts of the other pair; the improvement comprises said contact actuating means including: i. stop means which, when said one pair of contacts are engaged for normal operation, cooperates with one of the contacts of the other pair to hold said other pair of contacts apart so that the normal load current is carried solely by said one pair of contacts; ii. biasing means acting on said one of said other pair of contacts so as to bias it towards the other of said other pair of contacts; and iii. means operative during the early stages of a circuit interrupting operation for moving said stop means so as to permit engagement of said other pair of contacts under the influence of said biasing means before said one pair of contacts are separated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope containing one pair of cooperating contacts and another pair of cooperating contacts electrically in parallel with said one pair, at least one contact of each pair being capable of movement relative to its cooperating contact; and contact actuating means for moving the movable contact of each pair into and out of engagement with its cooperating contact, said contact actuating means being operative to separate the contacts of said one pair before separating the contacts of the other pair; the improvement comprises said contact actuating means including: i. stop means which, when said one pair of contacts are engaged for normal operation, cooperates with one of the contacts of the other pair to hold said other pair of contacts apart so that the normal load current is carried solely by said one pair of contacts; ii. biasing means acting on said one of said other pair of contacts so as to bias it towards the other of said other pair of contacts; and iii. means operative during the early stages of a circuit interrupting operation for moving said stop means so as to permit engagement of said other pair of contacts under the influence of said biasing means before said one pair of contacts are separated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises the contacts of said other pair being annular and coaxially surrounding said one pair of contacts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 2, wherein the improvement further comprises each of the annular contacts of said other pair including a substantially helical conductor, the helical conductor of one of the annular contacts being wound in the opposite direction to the helical conductor of the other annular contact so that a radial magnetic field is established in the region of the contact surfaces of the annular contacts when current is carried by said other pair of contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises both the contacts of each pair being movable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 4, wherein the improvement further comprises the contacts of said one pair being each capable of movement relative to each of the contacts of said other pair and vice versa.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 4, wherein the improvement further comprises: i. a terminal plate carried by one of said one pair of contacts outside said evacuated envelope; ii. a conducting plate which is mechanically and electrically coupled to the adjacent contact of said other pair and is located outside said evacuated envelope; iii. a flexible conductor connected between said terminal plate and said conducting plate; and iv. further biasing means and stop means which, in combination with said first mentioned biasing means and stop means control movement of said terminal plate and said conducting plate relative to one another and to said evacuated envelope in the direction of movement of the contacts so as to similarly control movement of the respective contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
In a vacuum circuit interrupter according to claim 1, wherein the improvement further comprises the contacts of said one pair being butt contacts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |