Draw out type vacuum circuit breaker assembly with hinged barrier

Claim 2

A horizontal draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising: a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship wherein each of said vacuum type circuit interrupters comprises, an insulating envelope being highly evacuated and having a tubular shape, a first end cap sealing one end of said insulating envelope, a second end cap sealing the other end of said insulating envelope, a stationary contact disposed within said insulating envelope, a movable contact disposed within said insulating envelope movable between a first position in engagement with said stationary contact and a second position spaced from said stationary contact to establish an arcing gap therebetween, a movable conducting rod connected to said movable contact and passing through said first end cap, a stationary conducting rod connected to said stationary contact and passing through and connected to said second end cap; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member, each of said resilient terminal connectors being electrically connected at one end to said stationary conducting rod of said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said upper terminal member; a rigid lower terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member, each rigid terminal connector being connected at one end to said first end cap of said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said rigid lower terminal member; conducting means electrically connecting said movable conducting rod to said rigid terminal connector; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operation of all the vertically disposed vacuum-type circuit interrupters.

Claim 3

A horizontal draw-out type circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising: a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship wherein each of said vacuum circuit interrupters comprises, a stationary contact, a movable contact movable between a first position in engagement with said stationary contact and a second position spaced from said stationary contact to establish an arcing gap therebetween, a highly evacuated tubular insulating envelope having said stationary contact and said movable contact disposed therein, a conducting movable rod connected to said movable contact, a stationary conducting rod connected to said stationary contact; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member, each of said resilient terminal connectors being electrically connected at one end to said stationary conducting rod of said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member, each of said rigid terminal connectors being rigidly connected at one end to said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said lower terminal member; roller contact means for electrically connecting said movable conducting rod to said rigid terminal connector; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operation of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters.

Claim 4

A horizontal draw-out type circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising: a plurality of vacuum-type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship wherein each of said vacuum circuit interrupters comprises, a stationary contact, a movable contact movable between a first position in engagement with said stationary contact and a second position spaced from said stationary contact to establish an arcing gap therebetween, a highly evacuated tubular insulating envelope having said stationary contact and said movable contact disposed therein, a conducting movable rod connected to said movable contact, a stationary conducting rod connected to said stationary contact; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member, each of said resilient terminal connectors being electrically connected at one end to said stationary conducting rod of said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member, each of said rigid terminal connectors being rigidly connected at one end to said vacuum interrupter and at the respective opposite end to said lower terminal member; roller contact means for electrically connecting said movable conducting rod to said rigid terminal connector; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operation of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters.

Claim 5

A vacuum-type draw-out circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, including: an insulating operating rod mechanically connected between said conducting movable rod and said operating mechanism to electrically insulate all parts of said mechanical operating mechanism from said vacuum interrupter.

Claim 6

The combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein said insulating operating rod comprises porcelain, and said insulating operating rod is directly connected to said movable operating rod.

Claim 7

A vacuum-type circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, including: a stationary end cap for said vacuum interrupter, said stationary end cap attached in vacuum tight relationship with said stationary conducting rod and said highly evacuated insulating envelope, stiffening means to provide stiffness for said stationary end cap and allowing said stationary end cap to flex substantially in one direction only.

Claim 8

The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said stiffening means comprises: a cross beam extending to the outer perimeter of said highly evacuated insulating envelope, said cross beam positioned in close proximity to said stationary conducting rod and said cross beam lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of said plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters.

Claim 9

The combination as claimed in claim 5, wherein said stiffening means comprises: a formed portion on the end of said resilient terminal connector, said formed portion extending to the outer diameter of said highly evacuated insulating envelope and said formed portion Associated with each of said vacuum interrupters lying in a common plane defined by the formed portions associated with said plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters.

Claim 10

The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said formed portion is C-shaped; said resilient terminal connector is slotted and has an opening there-through located on the slot through which said stationary conducting rod passes; including, a clamping bolt, disposed in the C-shaped formed portion of said resilient terminal connector, extending to the outer diameter of said highly evacuated insulating envelope; and said clamping bolt retained in the C-shaped portion so that as said clamping bolt is tightened the slotted portion of said resilient terminal connector is forced into high pressure engagement with said stationary conducting rod.

Claim 11

A horizontal draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising; a plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each of said vacuum type circuit interrupters comprises an evacuated housing, a pair of relatively separable contacts disposed within said evacuated housing, a first vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to one of said pair of contacts and having a first terminal outside of said evacuated housing, and a second vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to the other of said pair of contacts and having a second terminal outside of said evacuated housing; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said first vacuum interrupter terminal and at the opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said second vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said lower terminal member; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operating of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters; and including, a truck for said draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter, a housing for said operating mechanism mounted on said truck, insulating support means connected between said housing and said lower terminal member to rigidly support said lower terminal member with respect to said housing.

Claim 12

A horizontal draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising; a plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each of said vacuum type circuit interrupters comprises an evacuated housing, a pair of relatively separable contacts disposed within said evacuated housing, a first vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to one of said pair of contacts and having a first terminal outside of said evacuated housing, and a second vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to the other of said pair of contacts and having a second terminal outside of said evacuated housing; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said first vacuum interrupter terminal and at the opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said second vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said lower terminal member; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operating of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters; and including, a truck for said draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter, a housing for said operating mechanism mounted on said truck, insulating support means connected between said housing and said lower terminal member to rigidly support said lower terminal member with respect to said housing.

Claim 13

The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein said insulating support means comprises a porcelain rod.

Claim 14

A horizontal draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising; a plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each of said vacuum type circuit interrupters comprises an evacuated housing, a pair of relatively separable contacts disposed within said evacuated housing, a first vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to one of said pair of contacts and having a first terminal outside of said evacuated housing, and a second vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to the other of said pair of contacts and having a second terminal outside of said evacuated housing; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said first vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with eAch vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said second vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said lower terminal member; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operation of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters; and including, an insulating barrier means being manually movable between a raised position and an operating position said insulating barrier means being pivotable around an axis fixed with respect to said vacuum interrupters, a portion of said insulating barrier being disposed between said vacuum interrupters when said insulating barrier means is in the operating position during operation of said circuit breaker to increase the insulating characteristics between different potential parts within said circuit interrupter.

Claim 15

A horizontal draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter for metal clad switchgear comprising; a plurality of vacuum type circuit interrupters mounted in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each of said vacuum type circuit interrupters comprises an evacuated housing, a pair of relatively separable contacts disposed within said evacuated housing, a first vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to one of said pair of contacts and having a first terminal outside of said evacuated housing, and a second vacuum interrupter terminal means electrically connected to the other of said pair of contacts and having a second terminal outside of said evacuated housing; an upper terminal member associated with each vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a resilient terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated upper terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said first vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said upper terminal member; a lower terminal member associated with eAch vacuum interrupter and horizontally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum interrupter; a rigid terminal connector disposed between each vacuum interrupter and associated lower terminal member and being electrically connected at one end to said second vacuum interrupter terminal means and at the opposite end to said lower terminal member; an operating mechanism for the simultaneous operation of all the vertically disposed vacuum type circuit interrupters; and including, an insulating barrier means being manually movable between a raised position and an operating position said insulating barrier means being pivotable around an axis fixed with respect to said vacuum interrupters, a portion of said insulating barrier being disposed between said vacuum interrupters when said insulating barrier means is in the operating position during operation of said circuit breaker to increase the insulating characteristics between different potential parts within said circuit interrupter.

Claim 16

The combination as claimed in claim 11, including: a truck for said draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter; said insulating barrier means being pivotally mounted to said truck; a switchgear cell into which said truck is inserted for operation of said draw-out type vacuum circuit interrupter; stopping means rigidly connected to said insulating barrier means and being disposed in close proximity to said switchgear cell when said truck is inserted in said switchgear cell to substantially prevent said insulating barrier means from being manually pivoted to a raised position.