US3674955A — Circuit breaker with hydraulic operating mechanis…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 244 words

In combination with a vacuum circuit breaker having a pair of contacts one of which is stationary and the other is movable relative to said stationary contact; hydraulic operating means for said pair of contacts including a hydraulic motor housing having a cylinder therein and inlet and exhaust ports communicating with said cylinder and a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a dump valve within said housing operable by fluid from said inlet port to a first position wherein it closes said exhaust port, said dump valve carrying a check valve permitting flow of fluid from said inlet port into said cylinder; a pump connected to said inlet port; a series electric motor for operating said pump; contact pressure means coupled to said movable contact for alternately closing said contacts under high pressure engagement and for disengaging said contacts and including a compression spring and a spring loading member movable in a first direction to load said compression spring and close said contacts and also movable in the opposite direction to open said contacts; and, force transmitting means including a reciprocable operating rod positively connecting said piston and said movable spring loading member, said check valve being adapted to be closed by the fluid pressure exerted within said cylinder by said piston when said contact pressure means open said contacts and said dump valve being actuated by said fluid pressure to a second position wherein it blocks said inlet port and opens said exhaust port.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 244 words

In combination with a vacuum circuit breaker having a pair of contacts one of which is stationary and the other is movable relative to said stationary contact; hydraulic operating means for said pair of contacts including a hydraulic motor housing having a cylinder therein and inlet and exhaust ports communicating with said cylinder and a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a dump valve within said housing operable by fluid from said inlet port to a first position wherein it closes said exhaust port, said dump valve carrying a check valve permitting flow of fluid from said inlet port into said cylinder; a pump connected to said inlet port; a series electric motor for operating said pump; contact pressure means coupled to said movable contact for alternately closing said contacts under high pressure engagement and for disengaging said contacts and including a compression spring and a spring loading member movable in a first direction to load said compression spring and close said contacts and also movable in the opposite direction to open said contacts; and, force transmitting means including a reciprocable operating rod positively connecting said piston and said movable spring loading member, said check valve being adapted to be closed by the fluid pressure exerted within said cylinder by said piston when said contact pressure means open said contacts and said dump valve being actuated by said fluid pressure to a second position wherein it blocks said inlet port and opens said exhaust port.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 128 words

In the combination according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a releasable holding latch operable to engage said force transmitting means to maintain said contacts in closed position; a closing latch; an electric switch operably connected to regulate the operation of said electric motor, said switch being maintained open by said closing latch to thereby maintain said electric motor de-energized; spring means for urging said switch to closed position; means operable to effect the release of said holding latch to permit said contact pressure means to open said contacts; and, means operable to actuate said closing latch to release said switch for energizing said electric motor to drive said pump to supply fluid under pressure to said cylinder for operating said piston in a contact closing operation.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

In the combination according to claim 2 wherein there is provided reset means for moving said holding latch to its initial position in engagement with said force transmitting means, said holding latch being operable when moved to its reset initial position to open said switch, thereby interrupting the delivery of fluid under pressure to said cylinder; and, means operaBle to reset said closing latch for maintaining said switch open.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 88 words

In the combination according to claim 1 wherein there is provided an acceleration spring; a second force transmitting means coupling said acceleration spring to said first force transmitting means in a manner that upon operation of said compression spring to open said contacts said acceleration spring cooperates in said contact opening operation and to move said piston in a second direction, said second force transmitting means being operable to load said acceleration spring when said spring loading member is moved in a direction to load said compression spring.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

In the combination according to claim 4 wherein said second force transmitting means is a lever having one arm operatively coupled to said accelerating spring and having its opposite arm operatively coupled to said first force transmitting means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 176 words

In the combination according to claim 3 wherein said switch is provided with an actuating member and said holding latch is an L-shaped member having one arm thereof in engagement with said force transmitting means and its second arm in engagement with the actuating member of said switch; spring means operably engaged with the second arm of said holding latch and operable to bias said holding latch into engagement with said force transmitting means and the actuating member of said switch; said closing latch is an L-shaped member having one arm thereof in engagement with the actuating member of said switch for maintaining said switch open when said holding latch is moved out of engagement with said force transmitting means; and said means for actuating said closing latch operates on the second arm of said closing latch to move said first arm to release the actuating member of said switch to actuate said switch; and spring means operable to apply a biasing force to said second arm of said closing latch for resetting said closing latch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 62 words

In a combination according to claim 1 wherein there is provided dashpot means carried by said piston and cooperable with said dump valve upon the last increment of the contact opening operation to diminish the cross section of said exhaust port thereby reducing the rate of flow of the exhaust fluid to slow piston travel to prevent contact rebound and eliminate shock.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 269 words

In combination with a vacuum circuit breaker having a pair of contacts one of which is stationary and the other is movable relative to said stationary contact; contact pressure applying means for alternately actuating said movable contact into high pressure engagement with said stationary contact and for disengaging it from said stationary contact and including a compression spring and a spring loading member movable in a first direction to load said compression spring to thus close said contacts and also movable in the opposite direction to unload said spring and open said contacts; hydraulic operating means for said pair of contacts including a hydraulic ram housing having a cylinder therein and inlet and exhaust ports and a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a source of fluid under pressure connected to said inlet port; force transmitting means including a reciprocable operating rod positively connecting said piston and said movable spring loading member; a pivoted lever operatively connected adjacent one end to said operating rod; contact opening accelerating spring means engaging the opposite end of said lever for urging said lever in a direction to open said contacts; releasable latching means engaging said lever for holding said contacts in closed position; and, dump valve means within said housing operable by fluid pressure exerted by said piston when said contacts are being opened to block said inlet port and to open said exhaust port and also operable by fluid under pressure from said inlet port to block said exhaust port and permit flow of said fluid under pressure into said cylinder to actuate said piston in a direction to close said contacts.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 269 words

In combination with a vacuum circuit breaker having a pair of contacts one of which is stationary and the other is movable relative to said stationary contact; contact pressure applying means for alternately actuating said movable contact into high pressure engagement with said stationary contact and for disengaging it from said stationary contact and including a compression spring and a spring loading member movable in a first direction to load said compression spring to thus close said contacts and also movable in the opposite direction to unload said spring and open said contacts; hydraulic operating means for said pair of contacts including a hydraulic ram housing having a cylinder therein and inlet and exhaust ports and a piston reciprocable within said cylinder; a source of fluid under pressure connected to said inlet port; force transmitting means including a reciprocable operating rod positively connecting said piston and said movable spring loading member; a pivoted lever operatively connected adjacent one end to said operating rod; contact opening accelerating spring means engaging the opposite end of said lever for urging said lever in a direction to open said contacts; releasable latching means engaging said lever for holding said contacts in closed position; and, dump valve means within said housing operable by fluid pressure exerted by said piston when said contacts are being opened to block said inlet port and to open said exhaust port and also operable by fluid under pressure from said inlet port to block said exhaust port and permit flow of said fluid under pressure into said cylinder to actuate said piston in a direction to close said contacts.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

In the combination of claim 8 wherein said source of fluid under pressure includes a gear pump connected to said inlet port, a series electric motor for driving said pump, and electric switch means controlled by said lever for controlling the de-energization of said electric motor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-07-04	1976-01-03	1976-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-07-04	1980-01-03	1980-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-07-04	1984-01-03	1984-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Circuit breaker with hydraulic operating mechanism for vacuum interrupter

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