Hybrid circuit interrupter

Claim 2

A circuit interrupter comprising: a vacuum chamber being vacuum tight and having a high vacuum formed therein; a First set of contacts disposed within said vacuum chamber and being movable between an open position and a closed position; an insulating fluid chamber containing an insulating fluid having a high dielelctric strength; a second set of contacts disposed in said insulating fluid chamber and being movable between an open position and a closed position; said first set of contacts being connected in series with said second set of contacts so that said first set of contacts and said second set of contacts both must be closed to close said circuit interrupter; and, operating means for closing and opening said circuit interrupter whereby during a closing operation of said circuit interrupter said first set of contacts close and then after a time delay said second set of contacts close and during an opening operation of said circuit interrupter said first set of contacts opens and then after a time delay said second set of contacts opens.

Claim 3

A circuit interrupter comprising: a vacuum chamber; a first movable contact disposed within said vacuum chamber; a second movable contact disposed within said vacuum chamber; said first movable contact and said second movable contact being relatively movable between a closed position in which said first movable contact and said second movable contact are in engagement and an open position in which said first movable contact is separated from said second movable contact to establish a gap therebetween; an insulating fluid chamber containing an insulating fluid having a high dielectric strength; a stationary contact disposed within said insulating fluid chamber; a third movable contact disposed within said insulating fluid chamber and being movable between a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and an open position spaced from said stationary contacts to establish a gap therebetween; electrical conductor means connecting said second movable contact to said third movable contact; said first movable contact, said second movable contacts, said third movable contact, and said stationary contact being connected in series; operating means for moving the contacts of said circuit interrupter between an open position, in which said first movable contact is spaced from said second movable contact and said third movable contact is spaced from stationary contact, and a closed position, in which said first movable contact engages said second movable contact and said third movable contact engages said stationary contact, providing a continuous current path through said circuit interrupter; and wherein, said operating means during a closing operation of said circuit interrupter initially causes said first movable contact to engage said second movable contact and later causes said third movable contact to engage said stationary contact, and during an opening operation of said circuit interrupter initially causes said first movable contact to separate from said second movable contact and later causes said third movable contact to separate from said stationary contact to provide two serially related gaps in said circuit interrupter.

Claim 4

A circuit interrupter comprising: a vacuum chamber; a first movable contact disposed within said vacuum chamber; a second movable contact disposed within said vacuum chamber; said first movable contact and said second movable contact being relatively movable between a closed position in which said first movable contact and said second movable contact are in engagement and an open position in which said first movable contact is separated from said second movable contact to establish a gap therebetween; an insulating fluid chamber containing an insulating fluid having a high dielectric strength; a stationary contact disposed within said insulating fluid chamber; a third movable contact disposed within said insulating fluid chamber and being movable between a closed position in engagement with said stationary contacts and an open position spaced from said stationary contacts to establish a gap therebetween; electrical conductor means connecting said second movable contact to said third movable contact; said first movable contact, said second movable contacts, said third movable contact, and said stationary contact being connected in series; operating means for moving the contacts of said circuit interrupter between an open position, in which said first movable contact is spaced from said second movable contact and said third movable contact is spaced from stationary contact, and a closed position, in which said first movable contact engages said second movable contact and said third movable contact engages said stationary contact, providing a continuous current path through said circuit interrupter; and wherein, said operating means during a closing operation of said circuit interrupter initially causes said first movable contact to engage said second movable contact and later causes said third movable contact to engage said stationary contact, and during an opening operation of said circuit interrupter initially causes said first movable contact to separate from said second movable contact and later causes said third movable contact to separate from said stationary contact to provide two serially related gaps in said circuit interrupter.

Claim 5

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2 comprising; an insulating housing; said insulating housing forming a portion of said vacuum chamber and a portion of said insulating fluid chamber.

Claim 6

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said insulating housing comprises a generally tubular shaped portion formed from an insulating material; and partition means disposed in said insulating tubular portion of said insulating housing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said insulating housing to divide said housing into a first portion which forms part of said vacuum chamber and a second portion which forms part of said insulating fluid chamber.

Claim 7

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical conductor means comprises a rigid electrical conductor.

Claim 8

A circuit interrupTer as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rigid electrical conductor is formed as a generally rod-shaped member having said second movable contact attached rigidly to one end and said third movable contact attached rigidly to said respective opposite ends so as to rigidly position said second movable contact with respect to said third movable contact.

Claim 9

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second movable contacts and said third movable contacts and said rigid electrical conducting means are formed as an integral part.

Claim 10

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first movable contact and said movable contact are formed from a material having good non-chopping characteristics and said third movable contact and said stationary contacts are formed from a material having good non-welding characteristics.

Claim 11

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said insulating fluid chamber contains an insulating fluid comprising a gas.

Claim 12

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first movable contact and said second movable contact are formed from copper.

Claim 13

A circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said insulating fluid chamber comprises an access cover and removable fastening means to hold said access cover in position so that access cover can be easily removed to provide access to sadi stationary contact and said third contact.