Patent DE441992C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3633069A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alternating current circuit-interrupting system comprising a rectifier shunt path
Assignee: Merlin Gerin SA
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Filing: 1970-12-24
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1990-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A medium- or high-voltage switching system for AC current comprising two series-connected switches substantially simultaneously opened by random operated opening means. The first switch is shunted by a series arrangement of rectifiers and of a thyristor having together a reverse voltage rated to withstand the restriking voltage across said first switch. Electronic trigger means feeded by the arcing voltage across the first switch and responsive to the current to be interrupted trigger said thyristor shortly before current zero in the appropriate half-cycle to commutate said current from the switch to the shunt path. The arcing interval of the first switch subsequentially deionizes and the opened second switch prevents application of the recovery voltage to the rectifiers.
Inventors
- 👤 Georges Bernard
- 👤 Adrien Scole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/54; H01H9/541; H01H9/542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A switching system adapted for use in a line carrying an alternating current, comprising a first current path including first separable contact means adapted to draw an arc, a shunt path connected in parallel with said first path and having a plurality of similarly poled series connected rectifiers connected in series with normally OFF state thyristor means having control gate means and rated to withstand the arcing voltage of said first contact means; second separable contact means adapted to draw an arc and connected in series with the parallel combination of said first and shunt path; random opening means to substantially simultaneously separate said first and second contact means regardless of the phase of the current flowing therethrough; the series connection of said rectifiers and thyristor means having a peak reverse voltage rated to withstand the restriking voltage across said first contact means; and trigger means responsive to said alternating current and connected to said control gate means to switch ON said thyristor means after opening of said first contact means shortly before the end of the current half-cycle during which said rectifiers are conductive for said current to divert from said first path to said shunt path a current consistent with the current rating of said series connected rectifiers and thyristor means, the opening of said second contact means preventing the application of the consecutive forward half-cycle of the restriking voltage to said shunt path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A switching system adapted for use in a line carrying an alternating current, comprising a first current path including first separable contact means adapted to draw an arc, a shunt path connected in parallel with said first path and having a plurality of similarly poled series connected rectifiers connected in series with normally OFF state thyristor means having control gate means and rated to withstand the arcing voltage of said first contact means; second separable contact means adapted to draw an arc and connected in series with the parallel combination of said first and shunt path; random opening means to substantially simultaneously separate said first and second contact means regardless of the phase of the current flowing therethrough; the series connection of said rectifiers and thyristor means having a peak reverse voltage rated to withstand the restriking voltage across said first contact means; and trigger means responsive to said alternating current and connected to said control gate means to switch ON said thyristor means after opening of said first contact means shortly before the end of the current half-cycle during which said rectifiers are conductive for said current to divert from said first path to said shunt path a current consistent with the current rating of said series connected rectifiers and thyristor means, the opening of said second contact means preventing the application of the consecutive forward half-cycle of the restriking voltage to said shunt path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 1, said random opening means being adapted to operate the opening of said second contact means not later than 30 percent of the means opening time of said first and second contact means after operation of the opening of said first contact means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 1, said random opening means being adapted to substantially open said second contact means not later than 3 milliseconds after substantially opening of said first contact means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1, said thyrisTor means comprising solid-state reverse blocking thyristor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1, said first and second contact means being of substantially identical rating and design.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 5, said random opening means being adapted so that the time shift of the opening movements of said first and second contact means, respectively is not greater than 30 percent of the duration of the means opening movement of said first and second contact means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1, said random opening means being adapted to open said first and second contact means in unison.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, said first and second contact means being incorporated in a movable bridge-type contact circuit interrupter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, said random opening means comprising mechanical linkage means between said first and second contact means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system according to claim 1, said trigger means being adapted to switch ON said thyristor means at a time interval 0 before zero current according to the relation ( Theta - Theta o) dI/dt K, where Theta ois the minimum ON state time interval of said thyristor means securing complete arc extinguishing for the highest expected line currents of said first contact means; dI/dt the time derivative of the current flowing through said first contact means at the end of said half cycle; and K a constant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 1, said trigger means comprising current supply means connected in feeding relation to the terminals of said first contact means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 11, said current supply means comprising rectifier means connected to render ineffective said current supply means during the time said rectifiers are in the reverse-blocking mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 12, said rectifier means comprising a Zener diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 11, said current supply means being connected in feeding relation across said thyristor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1, said trigger means comprising current supply means adapted to be energized by the arcing voltage across said first contact means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 11, said current supply means feeding said trigger means through a time delay circuit proportioned to prevent triggering of said thyristor means at the starting end of said half cycle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 16, said time delay circuit introducing a time delay of about 2 milliseconds.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system according to claim 1, said trigger means comprising a frequency generator adapted to deliver triggering pulses to said gate; blocking means to selectively block said frequency generator; and current-sensing means to sense the current flowing in said line; said blocking means comprising threshold means connected to said current-sensing means to control the triggering point of time of said thyristor means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system according to claim 11, said trigger means further comprising a frequency generator adapted to deliver triggering pulses to said gate; and means responsive to the waveform of said current flowing in said line to control the triggering point of time of said thyristor means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 18, said trigger means further comprising phase shift means to deliver an output signal in leading phase relationship with the waveform of said current to drive said threshold means through clipper means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 18, said current-sensing means comprising an inductive shunt incorporated in said line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3395316A
Cited
US3543047A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |