US3792214A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum interrupter for high voltage application
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-28
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved shielding arrangement in a vacuum-type circuit interrupter for increasing the basic insulation level (BIL) and preventing the accumulation of a metallic coating on the internal insulating surfaces which can cause failure of the interrupter.
Inventors
- 👤 R Voshall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/662; H01H33/66261; H01H33/66207; H01H2033/66215; H01H2033/66276; H01H2033/66292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
A vacuum type circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated tubular insulating housing; a stationary electric contact rigidly positioned with respect to the insulating housing, said stationary contact being radially centered in said housing; a movable electric contact, movable along the longitudinal axis of said insulating housing between a closed position in contact with said stationary contact and an open position displaced from said stationary contact to establish an arcing gap therebetween; a central circular hollow metallic shield, disposed internally of said tubular housing, surrounding the arcing gap and said stationary contact and said movable contact, said central circular hollow metallic shield is spaced radially outward from the outer periphery of the arcing gap and is electrically isolated from said stationary contact and from said movable contact; a first end circular metallic shield disposed within the end of said tubular insulating housing and surrounding one end of said central circular hollow shield, said first end shield being electrically isolated from said stationary contact from said movable contact and from said central shield; a second end metallic shield disposed within the end of said tubular insulating housing opposite the end within which said first end metallic shield is disposed and surroundng one end of said central circular shield, said second end metallic shield being electrically isolated from said stationary contact from said movable contact from said central circular shield, and from said first end metallic shield; and including, a third end shield which is electrically connected to said stationary contact and surrounds the ends of said first end shield which faces the end of said insulating housing in which the first stationary end shield is disposed; a fourth end shield which is electrically connected to said movable contact and surrounding the end of said second end shield which faces the end of said insulating housing in which the second end shield is disposed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
310 words
A vacuum type circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated tubular insulating housing; a stationary electric contact rigidly positioned with respect to the insulating housing, said stationary contact being radially centered in said housing; a movable electric contact, movable along the longitudinal axis of said insulating housing between a closed position in contact with said stationary contact and an open position displaced from said stationary contact to establish an arcing gap therebetween; a central circular hollow metallic shield, disposed internally of said tubular housing, surrounding the arcing gap and said stationary contact and said movable contact, said central circular hollow metallic shield is spaced radially outward from the outer periphery of the arcing gap and is electrically isolated from said stationary contact and from said movable contact; a first end circular metallic shield disposed within the end of said tubular insulating housing and surrounding one end of said central circular hollow shield, said first end shield being electrically isolated from said stationary contact from said movable contact and from said central shield; a second end metallic shield disposed within the end of said tubular insulating housing opposite the end within which said first end metallic shield is disposed and surroundng one end of said central circular shield, said second end metallic shield being electrically isolated from said stationary contact from said movable contact from said central circular shield, and from said first end metallic shield; and including, a third end shield which is electrically connected to said stationary contact and surrounds the ends of said first end shield which faces the end of said insulating housing in which the first stationary end shield is disposed; a fourth end shield which is electrically connected to said movable contact and surrounding the end of said second end shield which faces the end of said insulating housing in which the second end shield is disposed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central circular shield is shaped like two frustums of right circular hollow cones joined base to base, said central circular shield being spaced a greater distance from the arcing gap than said movable contact is separated from said stationary contact when in the open position so that an arc formed during circuit interruption does not normally intereact with said central circular shield, and said central shield being positioned so that its longitudinal axis coincides wiTh the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing and the center of gravity of said central shield is located within the annular arcing gap formed between said stationary contact and said movable contact, when said movable contact is in the open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end circular metallic shield and said second end metallic shield are identical in shape and construction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first end circular metallic shield and said second end metallic shield comprise frustums of a right circular hollow metallic conical portion which have joined to their bases tubular portions, said tubular portion of said first end shield surrounds one end of said circular central shield and the smaller diameter opening in the frustum of the right circular conical portion of said first stationary end shield faces the end of said insulating housing nearest said stationary contact, said tubular portion of said second end metallic shield surrounds another end of said circular central shield and the smaller diameter opening in the frustum of the right circular conical portion faces the end of said insulating housing nearest said movable contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
129 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said insulating housing coincides with the longitudinal axis of said central circular shield, the longitudinal axis of said first end shield coincides with the longitudinal axis of said insulating housing, the longitudinal axis of said second end shield coincides with the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing, and said central circular hollow shield and said first end shield and said second end shield all being symmetrical about a plane through the arcing gap and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing whereby a uniform voltage distribution over the outer surface of said insulating housing is present when a potential is applied to the vacuum interrupter and the movable contact is in the open circuit position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |