Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a circuit interrupting chamber enclosing an elastically compressible and partially compressed dielectric liquid body; a fixed contact member disposed in said liquid body; a cylindrical contact member which is axially movable relative to the fixed contact member between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position and having a portion thereof entering said liquid body so as to additionally compress the same during movement of the movable contact member from said open circuit position to said closed circuit position; releasable actuating means operable to move the movable contact member from its open circuit position towards and maintain it in its closed circuit position against the sole action of the increased counterpressure created in said liquid body by said additional compression thereof, and means for releasing said actuating means and thereby allow said increased counterpressure to move the movable contact member from its closed circuit position to its open circuit position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A circuit breaker comprising: a circuit interrupting chamber enclosing an elastically compressible and partially compressed dielectric liquid body; a fixed contact member disposed in said liquid body; a cylindrical contact member which is axially movable relative to the fixed contact member between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position and having a portion thereof entering said liquid body so as to additionally compress the same during movement of the movable contact member from said open circuit position to said closed circuit position; releasable actuating means operable to move the movable contact member from its open circuit position towards and maintain it in its closed circuit position against the sole action of the increased counterpressure created in said liquid body by said additional compression thereof, and means for releasing said actuating means and thereby allow said increased counterpressure to move the movable contact member from its closed circuit position to its open circuit position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 1, in which the dielectric in the liquid state is a compressible liquid having a compressibility at least ten times greater than that of oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 2, in which the dielectric in the liquid state is a liquified gas dielectric.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 3, in which the dielectric under pressure is sulphur hexafluoride SF 6 under pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 1 and including means for compensating for variations in volume of the dielectric liquid caused by variations in temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 5, in which the compensating means comprise a fluid-tight enclosure containing dielectric in the liquid state, pneumatic or mechanical elastic means acting on said dielectric liquid to maintain the dielectric liquid under pressure, and a conduit of small cross-section communicating between said enclosure and the cutoff chamber of the circuit-breaker, said conduit permitting only small flows of liquid caused by variations in the volume of liquid due to variations in temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 6, in which said compensating means comprise a hydropneumatic accumulator inflated by helium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 1, in which the movable contact is connected to a disconnecting piston which slides in a cylinder the working chamber of which communicates with the cutoff chamber filled with dielectric liquid under pressure, such communication being by way of an opening pierced at least in part axially in the movable contact and thanks to which a movement of dielectric across the movable contact is established when the latter is displaced, said movement producing a flow of dielectric liquid in the zone where the cutoff arc is formed at the instant when the circuit-breaker is opened.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 8, in which, in the engaged position of the circuit-breaker, the movable contact is supported against the fixed contact without engagement of one contact within the other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A circuit-breaker according to claim 9, in which the releasable engaging means to bring and selectively maintain the movable contact against the fixed contact in opposition to the elastic pressure of the dielectric liquid under pressure comprises at least one hydraulic engaging jack moving the movable contact, and control means for supplying and draining said hydraulic jack.