Synchronously operating circuit breaker with improved circuit breaker operating mechanism

Claim 2

In a synchronous type circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable main nonsynchronous contacts and relatively movable secondary synchronously actuated contacts, said relatively movable secondary synchronously actuated contacts being open in the closed circuit position of the interrupter when the main contacts are closed, actuating means for operating the movable main nonsynchronous contacts, hydraulic means including a driving piston and a driven piston for operating the movable secondary synchronously actuated contacts, mechanical means interconnecting said actuating means and said driving piston, valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to open the secondary synchronous contacts while the main contacts are closed and only during the existence of high current conditions in the controlled circuit, and synchronous control means for controlling the operation of said valve means.

Claim 3

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein the synchronous control means is energized by the current flowing through the secondary synchronously actuated contacts.

Claim 4

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein the valve means is electrically operated and is controlled by the synchronous control means.

Claim 5

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 1, wherein puffer means are provided for compressing an interrupting gas, and the movable main contact and puffer means and the driving piston are operated simultaneously by the actuating means.

Claim 6

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 4, wherein the synchronous control means is responsive to the current flowing through the secondary synchronously actuated contacts.

Claim 7

The synchronous type Circuit breaker of claim 4, wherein a valve is provided for directing the flow of gas from the puffer, and a synchronous operator energized by the current flowing through the secondary synchronously actuated contacts for operating the valve.

Claim 8

A synchronous type circuit breaker including a pair of cooperable contacts separable to establish an arc, hydraulic means for effecting the synchronous separation of said contacts including means defining a hydraulic operating cylinder having a hydraulic piston reciprocally movable therein; an operating rod mechanically interconnecting the hydraulic piston to one of the separable contacts to effect the opening and closing movements thereof, means defining an inlet port leading into said hydraulic cylinder on one side of the hydraulic piston, means defining an exhaust port leading out of the hydraulic cylinder on the same side of the hydraulic piston, means providing a flow of hydraulic fluid through the inlet port and out of the exhaust port on the same side of the hydraulic piston, a hydraulic valve controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid out of said exhaust port, and a synchronous operator (85) responsive to the current condition of the breaker for controlling the closing of the hydraulic valve a predetermined time prior to a current zero on the alternating circuit wave, whereby the hydraulic piston will be caused to be opened and thereby effect the synchronous opening of the separable contacts.

Claim 9

A synchronous type circuit breaker including a pair of cooperable contacts separable to establish an arc, hydraulic means for effecting the synchronous separation of said contacts including means defining a hydraulic operating cylinder having a hydraulic piston reciprocally movable therein; an operating rod mechanically interconnecting the hydraulic piston to one of the separable contacts to effect the opening and closing movements thereof, means defining an inlet port leading into said hydraulic cylinder on one side of the hydraulic piston, means defining an exhaust port leading out of the hydraulic cylinder on the same side of the hydraulic piston, means providing a flow of hydraulic fluid through the inlet port and out of the exhaust port on the same side of the hydraulic piston, a hydraulic valve controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid out of said exhaust port, and a synchronous operator (85) responsive to the current condition of the breaker for controlling the closing of the hydraulic valve a predetermined time prior to a current zero on the alternating circuit wave, whereby the hydraulic piston will be caused to be opened and thereby effect the synchronous opening of the separable contacts.

Claim 10

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 7, wherein the synchronous operator is of the Kesselring type.

Claim 11

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 7, wherein a pair of main separable contacts are in electrical parallel to said first-mentioned pair of separable contacts.

Claim 12

The synchronous type circuit breaker of claim 7, wherein a second inlet port and a second exhaust port are provided on the other side of the hydraulic piston, and a second hydraulic valve controls the flow of fluid out of the second exhaust port.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10, wherein electrical means responsive to the magnitude of the current passing through the circuit breaker controls the closing of the second hydraulic valve, whereby a closing operation of the contacts occur.

Claim 14

In a circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable main contacts, relatively movable secondary contacts, actuating means for operating the movable main contact, hydraulic means for operating the movable secondary contact, said hydraulic means having a driving piston and a driven piston, mechanical means interconnecting said actuating means and said driving piston, valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to open the secondary contacts, synchronous control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, the synchronous control means being energized by the current flowing through the secondary contacts, and the valve means being actuated by a repulsion coil energized by the synchronous control means.

Claim 15

In a circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable main contacts, relatively movable secondary contacts, actuating means for operating the movable main contact, hydraulic means for operating the movable secondary contact, said hydraulic means having a driving piston and a driven piston, mechanical means interconnecting said actuating means and said driving piston, valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to open the secondary contacts, synchronous control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, the synchronous control means being energized by the current flowing through the secondary contacts, and the valve means being actuated by a repulsion coil energized by the synchronous control means.

Claim 16

In a circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable main contacts, relatively movable secondary contacts, actuating means for operating the movable main contact, hydraulic means for operating the movable secondary contact, said hydraulic means having a driving piston and a driven piston, mechanical means interconnecting said actuating means and said driving piston, valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to open the secondary contacts, synchronous control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, the secondary contacts being normally open when the main contacts are closed, additional valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to close the secondary contacts, and means responsive to the current flowing through the main contacts for controlling the operation of said additional valve means.

Claim 17

In a circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable main contacts, relatively movable secondary contacts, actuating means for operating the movable main contact, hydraulic means for operating the movable secondary contact, said hydraulic means having a driving piston and a driven piston, mechanical means interconnecting said actuating means and said driving piston, valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to open the secondary contacts, synchronous control means for controlling the operation of said valve means, the secondary contacts being normally open when the main contacts are closed, additional valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston to close the secondary contacts, and means responsive to the current flowing through the main contacts for controlling the operation of said additional valve means.

Claim 18

A circuit interrupter comprising main contact means, secondary contact means, actuating means for operating the main contact means, hydraulic means haviNg a driven piston for operating the secondary contact means and a driving piston for operating the driven piston, said driving piston being operated by said actuating means, electrically operated valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston, current-responsive means for controlling the operation of said electrically-operated valve means, and slide valve means actuated by the driven piston and cooperating with said electrically operated valve means to control the operation of the driven piston.

Claim 19

A circuit interrupter comprising main contact means, secondary contact means, actuating means for operating the main contact means, hydraulic means haviNg a driven piston for operating the secondary contact means and a driving piston for operating the driven piston, said driving piston being operated by said actuating means, electrically operated valve means for controlling the operation of the driven piston, current-responsive means for controlling the operation of said electrically-operated valve means, and slide valve means actuated by the driven piston and cooperating with said electrically operated valve means to control the operation of the driven piston.

Claim 20

The circuit interrupter combination of claim 14, wherein additional electrically operated valve means are utilized which cooperate with the slide valve means to change the direction of movement of the driven piston while the driving piston continues to move in one direction.

Claim 21

The circuit interrupter combination of claim 15, wherein a synchronous device is utilized responsive to the current flowing through the secondary contact means for energizing the additional electrically operated valve means.