Circuit breaker actuated by extra-high speed electrohydraulically operated piston

Claim 2

A high speed electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a pair of separable contacts, b. an electrohydraulic operator for producing extreme-high speed separation of said contacts, c. said electrohydraulic operator comprising a chamber containing liquid, means for developing an electric arc within said liquid to generate a shock wave in said liquid, a piston exposed to said liquid and movable at high-speed in response to said shock wave impacting against said piston, d. linkage means mechanically connecting said piston to one of said contacts for imparting contact-separating force and motion from said piston to said one contact when said piston moves in response to receipt of said shock wave, e. said means for developing an arc within said liquid comprising a normally charged capacitor, a pair of electrodes between which said arc is adapted to be formed, and means comprising a turn-on switch in circuit with said capacitor and said electrodes for initiating said arc and for causing said capacitor to rapidly discharge therethrough, f. only one arc being initiated within said liquid per contactseparating operation, g. a followup operator for continuing separation of said contacts after said shock wave has begun contact-separating motion of said piston, h. restraining means for preventing said followup operator from operating prior to operation of said electrohydraulic operator, i. and releasing means responsive to operation of said electrohydraulic operator for releasing said restraining means to cause said followup operator to continue separation of said contacts after said electrohydraulic operator has lost its initial effectiVeness.

Claim 3

The circuit breaker of claim 1 in which: said restraining means and said releasing means comprise a cam member and a follower member, one of which is coupled to said linkage and the other of which is coupled to said followup operator, said one member normally restraining said followup operator from operating but moving in response to operation of said electrohydraulic operator into a position wherein it is effective to restrain said followup operator from operating, said followup operator acting thereafter through said cam and follower to impart contact-opening motion to said linkage.

Claim 4

The circuit breaker of claim 1 in which: a. said followup operator is a stored energy device, b. said restraining means holds said stored energy device in a charged condition during initial operation of said electrohydraulic operator, c. and said releasing means is coupled to said linkage means for releasing said restraining means in response to operation of said electrohydraulic operator.

Claim 5

The circuit breaker of claim 1 in which: a. said electrodes of the electrohydraulic operator are disposed in substantially coaxial relationship and insulation is provided therebetween, b. said electrodes terminate in exposed portions between which said arc is initiated and which are located closely adjacent a wall of said chamber.

Claim 6

The circuit breaker of claim 1 in which: a. said electrodes have exposed metal portions between which said arc is formed, and b. means is provided for directionally controlling the shock wave produced by said arc comprising a surface immediately adjacent said exposed electrode portions which is a divergent surface of revolution having an axis of revolution immediately adjacent which said exposed electrode portions are located.

Claim 7

The circuit breaker of claim 1 in which said electrodes are spaced apart and insulated from each other prior to the formation of said arc therebetween.

Claim 8

A high-speed electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a pair of separable contacts, b. an electrohydraulic operator for producing extreme high-speed separation of said contacts, c. said electrohydraulic operator comprising a chamber containing liquid, means for developing an electric arc within said liquid to generate a shock wave in said liquid, a piston exposed to said liquid and movable at high-speed in response to said shock wave impacting against said piston, d. linkage means mechanically connecting said piston to one of said contacts for imparting contact-separating force and motion from said piston to said one contact when said piston moves in response to receipt of said shock wave, e. said means for developing an arc within said liquid comprising a normally charged capacitor, a pair of electrodes between which said arc is adapted to be formed, and means comprising a turn-on switch in circuit with said capacitor and said electrodes for initiating said arc and for causing said capacitor to rapidly discharge therethrough, f. a followup operator for continuing separation of said contacts after said shock wave has begun contact-separating motion of said piston, g. restraining means for preventing said followup operator from operating prior to operation of said electrohydraulic operator, h. releasing means responsive to operation of said electrohydraulic operator for releasing said restraining means to cause said followup operator to continue separation of said contacts after said electrohydraulic operator has lost its initial effectiveness, i. said followup operator being a stored energy device, j. said restraining means holding said stored energy device in a charged condition during initial operation of said electrohydraulic operator, k. said releasing means being coupled to said linkage means for releasing said restraining means in response to operation of said electrohydraulic operator, l. and reset means provided for recharging said stored-energy followup operatOr and restoring said restraining means to a reset condition for holding said stored energy followup operator charged, m. said reset means comprising a stored-energy reset operator, means responsive to a condition which initiates circuit breaker opening for causing said reset operator to discharge and supply energy for resetting, and means operated by said reset operator for recharging said stored-energy followup device and restoring said restraining means to said reset condition.

Claim 9

A high-speed electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a pair of separable contacts, b. an electrohydraulic operator for producing extreme high-speed separation of said contacts, c. said electrohydraulic operator comprising a chamber containing liquid, means for developing an electric arc within said liquid to generate a shock wave in said liquid, a piston exposed to said liquid and movable at high-speed in response to said shock wave impacting against said piston, d. linkage means mechanically connecting said piston to one of said contacts for imparting contact-separating force and motion from said piston to said one contact when said piston moves in response to receipt of said shock wave, e. said means for developing an arc within said liquid comprising a normally charged capacitor, a pair of electrodes between which said arc is adapted to be formed, and means comprising a turn-on switch in circuit with said capacitor and said electrodes for initiating said arc and for causing said capacitor to rapidly discharge therethrough, f. a followup operator for continuing separation of said contacts after said shock wave has begun contact-separating motion of said piston, g. restraining means for preventing said followup operator from operating prior to operation of said electrohydraulic operator, h. releasing means responsive to operation of said electrohydraulic operator for releasing said restraining means to cause said followup operator to continue separation of said contacts after said electrohydraulic operator has lost its initial effectiveness, i. said followup operator being a stored energy device, j. said restraining means holding said stored energy device in a charged condition during initial operation of said electrohydraulic operator, k. said releasing means being coupled to said linkage means for releasing said restraining means in response to operation of said electrohydraulic operator, l. and reset means provided for recharging said stored-energy followup operatOr and restoring said restraining means to a reset condition for holding said stored energy followup operator charged, m. said reset means comprising a stored-energy reset operator, means responsive to a condition which initiates circuit breaker opening for causing said reset operator to discharge and supply energy for resetting, and means operated by said reset operator for recharging said stored-energy followup device and restoring said restraining means to said reset condition.

Claim 10

A high-speed electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a pair of separable contacts, b. an electrohydraulic operator for producing extreme-high speed separation of said contacts, c. said electrohydraulic operator comprising a chamber containing liquid, means for developing an electric arc within said liquid to generate a shock wave in said liquid, a piston exposed to said liquid and movable at high-speed in response to said shock wave impacting against said piston, d. linkage means mechanically connecting said piston to one of said contacts for imparting contact-separating force and motion from said piston to said one contact when said piston moves in response to receipt of said shock wave, e. said means for developing an arc within said liquid comprising a normally charged capacitor, a pair of electrodes between which said arc is adapted to be formed, and means comprising a turn-on switch in circuit with said capacitor and said electrodes for initiating said arc and for causing said capacitor to rapidly discharge therethrough, f. followup operating means for continuing separation of said contacts after said shock wave has begun contact-separating motion of said piston, and g. reset means operable in response to a condition which initiates circuit breaker opening for resetting said followup operating means to a state of preparedness for another operation following a first operation by said followup operating means.

Claim 11

A high-speed electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a pair of separable contacts, b. an electrohydraulic operator for producing extreme-high speed separation of said contacts, c. said electrohydraulic operator comprising a chamber containing liquid, means for developing an electric arc within said liquid to generate a shock wave in said liquid, a piston exposed to said liquid and movable at high-speed in response to said shock wave impacting against said piston, d. linkage means mechanically connecting said piston to one of said contacts for imparting contact-separating force and motion from said piston to said one contact when said piston moves in response to receipt of said shock wave, e. said means for developing an arc within said liquid comprising a normally charged capacitor, a pair of electrodes between which said arc is adapted to be formed, and means comprising a turn-on switch in circuit with said capacitor and said electrodes for initiating said arc and for causing said capacitor to rapidly discharge therethrough, f. followup operating means for continuing separation of said contacts after said shock wave has begun contact-separating motion of said piston, and g. reset means operable in response to a condition which initiates circuit breaker opening for resetting said followup operating means to a state of preparedness for another operation following a first operation by said followup operating means.