Fluid-flow circuit interrupter with arc-assisted piston action

Claim 2

A fluid-blast circuit interrupter including a longitudinal insulating casing having an intermediate inwardly extending flange portion, a tubular orifice member secured to said flange portion and accommodating motion of a movable tubular exhausting contact, stationary contact means including a tubular contact cooperable with the aforementioned movable hollow contact to establish a main current arc within said orifice means, piston means including a movable driving piston mechanically connected to the movable hollow contact, and said piston means carrying a movable pressure-generating contact to establish a serially related pressure-generating arc disposed on the rear side of the piston means to assist in the fluid-driving motion of the piston means.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, wherein the stationary hollow exhausting contact exhausts to the rear side of the piston means.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1, wherein the piston means is annular and slides over the stationary hollow contact, and carries a pair of bridging contacts to establish a pair of electrically parallel arcs in series with the main current arc to assist in the fluid-driving motion of the piston means.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1, wherein at least one piston rod extends through the inwardly extending flange portion of the casing to mechanically interconnect the piston means and the hollow movable contact.

Claim 6

A fluid-blast circuit interrupter including means defining an elongated insulating casing having an intermediate inwardly extending supporting flange portion, a tubular orifice member secured to said flange portion, terminal closure means closing one end of said casing and supporting a pair of stationary contacts, a hollow stationary contact supported by said flange portion and carrying a pair of stationary cooperating contacts, an annular piston slidable over said stationary hollow contact and carrying a pair of bridging contacts therewith, a movable tubular contact always remaining within said orifice member and mechanically operated by an operating mechanism disposed adjacent the other end of said insulating casing, and the arrangement operating to provide arc assisted piston movement during the opening operation to force gas to flow through said orifice member and in opposite directions through the separable hollow main contacts.

Claim 7

A fluid-blast circuit interrupter including means defining an elongated insulating casing having an intermediate inwardly extending supporting flange portion, a tubular orifice member secured to said flange portion, terminal closure means closing one end of said casing and supporting a pair of stationary contacts, a hollow stationary contact supported by said flange portion and carrying a pair of stationary cooperating contacts, an annular piston slidable over said stationary hollow contact and carrying a pair of bridging contacts therewith, a movable tubular contact always remaining within said orifice member and mechanically operated by an operating mechanism disposed adjacent the other end of said insulating casing, and the arrangement operating to provide arc assisted piston movement during the opening operation to force gas to flow through said orifice member and in opposite directions through the separable hollow main contacts.

Claim 8

A fluid blast circuit interrupter including a relatively stationary contact and a cooperable movable contact separable to establish a main current arc, orifice means for guiding fluid flow into engagement with said main current arc, means defining a pressure-generating chamber, pressure-generating contact means disposed within said pressure-generating chamber including a relatively stationary Pressure-generating contact and a relatively movable pressure-generating contact separable to establish a pressure-generating arc within said pressure-generating chamber, means defining an operating cylinder and a movable piston member movable therein to force fluid under pressure through said orifice means and into engagement with the main current arc to effect its extinction, means positively mechanically connecting the movable piston member to the movable contact, said piston member carrying the movable pressure-generating contact therewith, the pressure-generating chamber being disposed on the rear side of the movable piston member, the pressure-generating arc being established on the rear side of the movable piston member within the pressure-generating chamber to thereby assist its fluid-driving motion.

Claim 9

A fluid blast circuit interrupter including a relatively stationary contact and a cooperable movable contact separable to establish a main current arc, orifice means for guiding fluid flow into engagement with said main current arc, means defining a pressure-generating chamber, pressure-generating contact means disposed within said pressure-generating chamber including a relatively stationary Pressure-generating contact and a relatively movable pressure-generating contact separable to establish a pressure-generating arc within said pressure-generating chamber, means defining an operating cylinder and a movable piston member movable therein to force fluid under pressure through said orifice means and into engagement with the main current arc to effect its extinction, means positively mechanically connecting the movable piston member to the movable contact, said piston member carrying the movable pressure-generating contact therewith, the pressure-generating chamber being disposed on the rear side of the movable piston member, the pressure-generating arc being established on the rear side of the movable piston member within the pressure-generating chamber to thereby assist its fluid-driving motion.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 6, wherein the movable pressure-generating contact structure comprises a pair of bridging contacts which establish in parallel two arcs to assist in the fluid-driving motion of the piston means.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 6, wherein an insulating longitudinal casing is provided having an inwardly extending supporting flange portion for supporting said orifice means.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 6, wherein the movable main contact does not withdraw out of the orifice means.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 9, wherein the movable main contact is tubular.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 6, wherein both the relatively stationary and the movable main contacts are both tubular.

Claim 15

The combination according to claim 6, wherein the relatively stationary main contact is tubular and vents to the rear side of the fluid driving piston.