US3896282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High voltage circuit interrupting device
Assignee: S&C Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-05-25
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Granted: 1975-07-22
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Expires: 1993-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A high voltage circuit interrupting device has two movable contacts mounted within a sealed arc quenching gas containing housing. The contacts are operably connected by lever linkage which causes the contacts to move in opposite directions to break contact and interrupt the circuit thus increasing the relative contact separation speed. An arc quenching gas pump arrangement is connected to the contacts to cause the arc quenching gas to flow through a nozzle surrounding the contacts to suppress the arc formed when the contacts separate under electrical load conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Valentine Chabala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/53; H01H33/56; H01H33/70; H01H33/88; H01H33/90; H01H33/904; H01H33/91; H01H2033/028; H01H2033/568
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
A high voltage electrical circuit interrupting device interrupting current flow between a first portion of the circuit and a second portion of the circuit comprising: a hollow sealed gas tight housing; an arc quenching gas contained in said housing; a first movable electrical contact connected to the first portion of the circuit mounted within the housing; a second movable electrical contact connected to the second portion of the circuit within the housing normally engaging said first contact to complete the electrical circuit; operating means including: an operating rod extending through a wall of said housing; a first pull rod connected to said first contact; a second pull rod connected to said second contact; a first mechanical linkage connecting said first pull rod and said operating rod so that movement of said operating rod causes movement of said first pull rod; and second mechanical linkage connecting said first and said second pull rods so that movement of said first pull rod in one direction causes movement of said second pull rod in an opposite direction; whereby movement of said operating rod produces movement of said first and second pull rods in opposite directions thereby causing said first and second coNtacts to move in opposite directions to interrupt the electrical circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
A high voltage electrical circuit interrupting device interrupting current flow between a first portion of the circuit and a second portion of the circuit comprising: a hollow sealed gas tight housing; an arc quenching gas contained in said housing; a first movable electrical contact connected to the first portion of the circuit mounted within the housing; a second movable electrical contact connected to the second portion of the circuit within the housing normally engaging said first contact to complete the electrical circuit; operating means including: an operating rod extending through a wall of said housing; a first pull rod connected to said first contact; a second pull rod connected to said second contact; a first mechanical linkage connecting said first pull rod and said operating rod so that movement of said operating rod causes movement of said first pull rod; and second mechanical linkage connecting said first and said second pull rods so that movement of said first pull rod in one direction causes movement of said second pull rod in an opposite direction; whereby movement of said operating rod produces movement of said first and second pull rods in opposite directions thereby causing said first and second coNtacts to move in opposite directions to interrupt the electrical circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: gas pump means for causing movement of the arc quenching gas past said first and said second contacts as said first and said second contacts move in opposite directions to electrically disengage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gas pump means comprises: a first piston means operably connected to said first contact so that movement of said first contact causes arc quenching gas to flow past said first contact and said second contact; a second piston means operably connected to said second contact so that movement of said second contact facilitates the flow of arc quenching gas past said first and second contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first piston means includes a nozzle means positioned around said first and said second contacts for confining the moving arc quenching gas to the area immediately adjacent said first and second contacts as said first and second contacts are moved in opposite directions to be disconnected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sealing means positioned around said operating rod for preventing escape of the arc quenching gas at the point where said operating rod extends through the wall of said housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A high voltage circuit interruptor, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sealing means comprises an expandable and contractable metal bellows sealably connected to said operating rod and to the wall of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A high voltage circuit interruptor, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressure indicating means mounted on said housing for indicating the pressure of arc quenching gas contained in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pressure relief means for releasing arc quenching gas from said housing when the pressure of said gas exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A high voltage interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: first electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said first contact to the first portion of the circuit; second electrical conductor means for electrically connecting said second contact to the second portion of the circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first electrical conductor means comprises a flexible cable and said second electrical conductor means comprises a flexible cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first contact includes spring loaded contact fingers and said second contact is positioned between said contact fingers when said second contact engages said first contact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arc quenching gas is sulfur hexafluoride, SF6.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device comprising: a cylindrical hollow housing formed of an electrical insulating material having first and second open ends; first and second end plates sealably covering the first and second open ends of said housing respectively; an arc quenching gas confined within the space formed by said housing and said first and second end plates; a first electrical contact slidably mounted within said housing; a second electrical contact slidably mounted within said housing, said first and second contacts normally engaging one another to complete an electrical circuit; a first flexible conductor electrically connecting said first contact and said first end plate; a second flexible conductor electrically connecting said second contact and said second end plate; operating means connected to said first and second contacts fOr causing said first and second contacts to move in opposite relative directions to electrically disconnect said first and second contacts; gas pump means for causing movement of the arc quenching gas past said first and second contacts in response to movement of said first and second contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
176 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device comprising: a cylindrical hollow housing formed of an electrical insulating material having first and second open ends; first and second end plates sealably covering the first and second open ends of said housing respectively; an arc quenching gas confined within the space formed by said housing and said first and second end plates; a first electrical contact slidably mounted within said housing; a second electrical contact slidably mounted within said housing, said first and second contacts normally engaging one another to complete an electrical circuit; a first flexible conductor electrically connecting said first contact and said first end plate; a second flexible conductor electrically connecting said second contact and said second end plate; operating means connected to said first and second contacts fOr causing said first and second contacts to move in opposite relative directions to electrically disconnect said first and second contacts; gas pump means for causing movement of the arc quenching gas past said first and second contacts in response to movement of said first and second contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said operating means comprises: an operating rod extending through the first end plate; a first pull rod connected to said first contact; a second pull rod connected to said second contact; a linkage member connecting said first pull rod and said operating rod so that movement of said operating rod causes corresponding movement of the first pull rod; a lever linkage member pivotably mounted at about its middle and connected at one end to said first pull rod and connected at its other end to said second pull rod so that movement of said operating rod causes said first and said second pull rods to move in opposite directions thereby causing said first and second contacts to move in opposite directions so that said first and second contacts disconnect.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said gas pump means comprises: a hollow cylinder; a nozzle member attached to said first pull rod and positioned at one end of said hollow cylinder; said nozzle member having a channel formed therein positioned around said first and second contacts; a stationary piston positioned within said cylinder so that movement of said first pull rod moves said cylinder and said nozzle member relative to said stationary piston thereby forcing arc quenching gas through said channel in said nozzle member past said first and second contacts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a flexible sealing means connected around said operating rod and said first end plate for preventing the escape of arc quenching gas from the space formed by said housing and said first and said second end plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a pressure indicating means for indicating the pressure of the arc quenching gas contained within the space formed by said housing and said first and said second end plates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising pressure relief means for releasing arc quenching gas from the space formed by said housing and said first and second end plates when the pressure exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first contact includes spring loaded segmented contact fingers and said second contact is positioned between the contact fingers when said first and second contacts are electrically engaging.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 16, wherein said flexible sealing means comprises an expandable and contractable metal bellows.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A high voltage circuit interrupting device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said arc quenching gas is sulfur hexafluoride, SF6.
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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) | 1978-07-21 | 1979-01-20 | 1979-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-21 | 1983-01-20 | 1983-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-21 | 1987-01-20 | 1987-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |