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US3646296A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Circuit interrupter grid structure for oil-break circuit interrupter

Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1968-02-06
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1988-02-06
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Abstract

Abstract An oil-type circuit breaker has three poles provided in a unitary tank structure, each pole comprising a pair of serially related grid structures. The grid structures are constructed by nesting a plurality of plate elements, constituting vent passages and oil pockets, within an outer cylindrical glass-filament-wound shell. The stationary contact assembly is so arranged as to have a lengthened finger, which serves as an arcing horn disposed adjacent side lateral vent openings. The vent openings are formed by molded vent elements of particular materials and having a splitter plate interposed therebetween. Additional oil pockets and a lower oil-pocket plug, having an entrance opening, assist in guiding the movable contact rod, and additionally providing considerable turbulence within the oil during the opening operation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert L Hess
  • 👤 Gerald D Summers

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 15:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/70; H01H33/72; H01H33/75

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 113 words
A liquid-break type of circuit interrupter including a tank structure, a grid unit having a relatively stationary contact disposed adjacent its upper end, a terminal bushing extending into said tank structure and supporting said grid unit adjacent its lower end, liquid disposed in said tank structure and submerging said grid unit, plate structure disposed interiorly within said grid structure, a funnel-shaped molded plug member of resinous material located at the lower end of said grid unit and having a reentrant wall portion to define a liquid pocket and a central opening therethrough, and a rod-shaped movable contact movable through said central opening into engagement with said relatively stationary contact during the closinG operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 113 words
A liquid-break type of circuit interrupter including a tank structure, a grid unit having a relatively stationary contact disposed adjacent its upper end, a terminal bushing extending into said tank structure and supporting said grid unit adjacent its lower end, liquid disposed in said tank structure and submerging said grid unit, plate structure disposed interiorly within said grid structure, a funnel-shaped molded plug member of resinous material located at the lower end of said grid unit and having a reentrant wall portion to define a liquid pocket and a central opening therethrough, and a rod-shaped movable contact movable through said central opening into engagement with said relatively stationary contact during the closinG operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein the grid unit comprises a tube having a lower inclined supported shelf portion, and the funnel-shaped molded plug member having a radially outwardly extending beveled portion seating on the aforesaid shelf portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein the funnel-shaped molded plug member is formed of a thermoplastic resinous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein the thermoplastic resinous material is a high molecular weight polyoxymethylene material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 108 words
In a liquid-break type of circuit interrupter, in combination, a tank structure having a terminal bushing having a terminal stud passing therethrough and extending into said tank structure, a contact foot secured to the lower end of the terminal stud, a stationary contact housing secured to the lower side of the contact foot, an insulating interrupter shell secured to the stationary contact housing, a plurality of separate insulating elements nested within the insulating interrupter shell, at least one of the elements providing a lateral venting channel extending laterally out an opening in the sidewall of said shell, and the same cross-sectional venting area existing throughout the venting channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 108 words
In a liquid-break type of circuit interrupter, in combination, a tank structure having a terminal bushing having a terminal stud passing therethrough and extending into said tank structure, a contact foot secured to the lower end of the terminal stud, a stationary contact housing secured to the lower side of the contact foot, an insulating interrupter shell secured to the stationary contact housing, a plurality of separate insulating elements nested within the insulating interrupter shell, at least one of the elements providing a lateral venting channel extending laterally out an opening in the sidewall of said shell, and the same cross-sectional venting area existing throughout the venting channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination according to claim 5, wherein two molded elements provide venting channels extending out of the insulating shell, a splitter plate extending between said elements, and the same cross-sectional venting area existing throughout the venting channels provided by said venting elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein resilient ring-shaped means compresses the plate structure during assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The combination of claim 7, wherein the resilient ring-shaped means comprises one or more washer plates comprising neoprene material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein the plate structure comprises one or more molded members having integrally molded generally U-shaped vent-forming portions which extend out a hole in an enclosing tube structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein two such members are provided with a splitter plate disposed therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional area of the venting channels is constant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
The combination of claim 10, wherein the cross-sectional area of the two venting channels is constant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 73 words
An oil grid unit comprising an outer tube having an opening through the sidewall thereof, spaced vent-forming molded members of thermoplastic material having generally U-shaped venting portions, an intervening splitter plate disposed between said molded members and extending through said hole, means for establishing an arc within said grid unit, whereby the oil and gas is ejected out of the two venting channels, and the cross-sectional area of the venting channels being constant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 73 words
An oil grid unit comprising an outer tube having an opening through the sidewall thereof, spaced vent-forming molded members of thermoplastic material having generally U-shaped venting portions, an intervening splitter plate disposed between said molded members and extending through said hole, means for establishing an arc within said grid unit, whereby the oil and gas is ejected out of the two venting channels, and the cross-sectional area of the venting channels being constant.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2760033A Cited
DE1143891B Cited
US3128360A Cited
US3214550A Cited
US3356811A Cited
US3392248A Cited
US3335245A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-02-28 1975-08-30 1976-02-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-02-28 1979-08-30 1980-02-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-02-28 1983-08-30 1984-02-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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