US3740507A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum switch with magnetically controllable arc
Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 1971-10-01
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1991-10-01
Abstract
Abstract A vacuum switch has at least two electrodes situated in an evacuable insulating housing hermetically sealed by end plates. The electrodes are coaxially positioned and are movable relative to one another. At the ends of their shafts facing each other, the electrodes comprise annular or cylindrically shaped main contact parts and spiral helically shaped spark contact parts which enclose the contact parts and consist of material of good electrical conductivity. The spark contact parts are affixed to a carrier comprising an outer annular disc of material of poor electrical conductivity. An inner annular disc of material of good electrical conductivity is fitted tightly into the outer disc. The distance and thickness of the turns of the spirals or helices of the spark contact parts are dimensioned so that the ratio of distance to thickness is 1:2 to 1:10.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kuhl
- 👤 L Klug
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/662; H01H33/66261; H01H33/664; H01H33/6644; H01H33/6645; H01H33/6646
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A vacuum switch comprising an evacuable insulated housing hermetically sealed by end plates, at least two electrodes coaxially positioned in the housing in movable relation to each other, each of the electrodes having an electrode shaft having an end facing the end of the other in the housing, a pair of annularly shaped main contact parts each affixed to the end of a corresponding one of the electrode shafts in the housing, a pair of helically shaped spark contact parts each enclosing a corresponding one of the main contact parts, each of the spark contact parts comprising material having good electrical conductivity, magnetic means including the main contact parts for shifting a high current light arc from the main contact parts to the spark contact parts at travelling speed, and a pair of carriers comprising a material of poor electrical conductivity each affixed to a corresponding one of the electrode shafts and each supporting a corresponding one of the spark contact parts, and each of the helices of the spark contact parts having turns of a thickness along a line parallel to the axis of the electrode shaft and a distance between adjacent turns dimensioned to provide a distance to thickness ratio of 1:2 to 1:10.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A vacuum switch comprising an evacuable insulated housing hermetically sealed by end plates, at least two electrodes coaxially positioned in the housing in movable relation to each other, each of the electrodes having an electrode shaft having an end facing the end of the other in the housing, a pair of annularly shaped main contact parts each affixed to the end of a corresponding one of the electrode shafts in the housing, a pair of helically shaped spark contact parts each enclosing a corresponding one of the main contact parts, each of the spark contact parts comprising material having good electrical conductivity, magnetic means including the main contact parts for shifting a high current light arc from the main contact parts to the spark contact parts at travelling speed, and a pair of carriers comprising a material of poor electrical conductivity each affixed to a corresponding one of the electrode shafts and each supporting a corresponding one of the spark contact parts, and each of the helices of the spark contact parts having turns of a thickness along a line parallel to the axis of the electrode shaft and a distance between adjacent turns dimensioned to provide a distance to thickness ratio of 1:2 to 1:10.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the carriers comprises an outer annular disc of material of poor electrical conductivity and an inner annular disc of good electrical conductivity tightly coaxially fitted into the outer annular disc, the inner annular disc having dimensions which position it in electrical contact with the inner area of the spark contact part which extends from the inside toward the outside.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of each turn of the helix of the spark contact part is of trapezoidal configuration and the cross-sectional area of each turn decreases from turn to turn from inside to outside.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-section of each turn of the helix of the spark contact part is of ellipsoidal configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means mounting the electrode shaft of one of the electrodes stationarily in the housing, wherein one of the carriers comprises a hollow cylindrical member of poor electrical conductivity coaxially affixed to the outer circumference of the main contact part corresponding to the one of the electrodes, and further comprising means mounting the spark contact part corresponding to the one of the electrodes to the inner wall of the one of the carriers whereby the main contact part of the other electrode and the main contact part of the one of the electrodes are concentrically enclosed by the spark contact part of the one of the electrodeS.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a tube of good electrically conductive material extending through and affixed to one of the end plates of the housing, means for movably mounting the electrode shaft of the other of the electrodes in the tube, means for electrically connecting the electrode shaft of the other of the electrodes to the tube at at least one area, and means affixing the inner annular disc of one of the carriers to the end of the tube in the housing whereby the corresponding one of the spark contact parts encloses the corresponding one of the main contact parts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A vacuum switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein the other of the carriers comprises a hollow cylindrical member affixed to the main contact part of the electrode shaft of the other of the electrodes, and further comprising means mounting one of the spark contact parts corresponding to the other of the electrodes to the outer wall of the other of the carriers whereby the spark contact parts of both electrodes are concentrically positioned facing each other with the spirals thereof having the same turn direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |