US3914568A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-voltage vacuum switch
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1974-08-22
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-08-22
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed vacuum switch has features that give it exceptional high-voltage withstand ability even after its contacts have been roughened by the effects of arcing. Both contacts of the switch are arranged to move during opening and closing operations. When the switch is fully-open, the contacts are located in shielded positions behind the front faces of shielding electrodes which respectively surround the contacts. During closing, each of the two contacts is driven out of its fully-open shielded position into the gap between the two shielding electrodes, engaging the other contact when the contacts are approximately midway between the shielding electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W Crouch
- 👤 Donald R Kurtz
- 👤 Joseph C Sofianek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:01
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/662; H01H33/66261; H01H33/664; H01H33/666; H01H33/02; H01H2033/028; H01H2033/66284; H01H2033/66292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A high-voltage vacuum switch comprising: a. a highly-evacuated envelope comprising spaced-apart conductive ends and electrical insulating means located between said ends for insulating the ends from each other when the interrupter is open and the ends are at different potentials; b. a pair of contact rods respectively extending through said ends and each being movable with respect to its associated end in a direction longitudinal of said rod, c. sealing means providing a seal between each of said rods and its associated end and permitting longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said associated end, d. a pair of contacts respectively fixed to the ends of said rods that are located within said envelope and having contactmaking surfaces facing each other, e. said rods being longitudinally movable toward each other to drive said contacts into a closed position where said contactmaking surfaces engage each other and being longitudinally movable away from each other to effect opening of said switch, f. a generally annular shielding electrode surrounding each of said rods and electrically connected to the rod surrounded thereby, g. and means for mounting said shielding electrodes in fixed positions within said envelope where said shielding electrodes are located longitudinally-spaced from each other on opposite sides of the region where said contact-making surfaces engage when the switch is closed, h. each of said shielding electrodes having a front surface facing the other shielding electrode, I. each of said rods being movable during a switchopening operation into a withdrawn open position wherein the contactmaking surface of its associated contact is located behind said front surface of its associated shielding electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
A high-voltage vacuum switch comprising: a. a highly-evacuated envelope comprising spaced-apart conductive ends and electrical insulating means located between said ends for insulating the ends from each other when the interrupter is open and the ends are at different potentials; b. a pair of contact rods respectively extending through said ends and each being movable with respect to its associated end in a direction longitudinal of said rod, c. sealing means providing a seal between each of said rods and its associated end and permitting longitudinal movement of said rod with respect to said associated end, d. a pair of contacts respectively fixed to the ends of said rods that are located within said envelope and having contactmaking surfaces facing each other, e. said rods being longitudinally movable toward each other to drive said contacts into a closed position where said contactmaking surfaces engage each other and being longitudinally movable away from each other to effect opening of said switch, f. a generally annular shielding electrode surrounding each of said rods and electrically connected to the rod surrounded thereby, g. and means for mounting said shielding electrodes in fixed positions within said envelope where said shielding electrodes are located longitudinally-spaced from each other on opposite sides of the region where said contact-making surfaces engage when the switch is closed, h. each of said shielding electrodes having a front surface facing the other shielding electrode, I. each of said rods being movable during a switchopening operation into a withdrawn open position wherein the contactmaking surface of its associated contact is located behind said front surface of its associated shielding electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The switch of claim 1 in which: a. an arc is established between said contacts when they are separated during an opening operation, and b. when the switch is in closed position, said shielding electrodes are spaced from said contact-making regions by a sufficiently large distance that arcing during opening is normally confined to said contacts and excluded from said shielding electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The switch of claim 1 in which pre-strikes typically occur during a closing operation, said contact-making surfaces both being located well ahead of the front surfaces of said shielding electrodes at the time of said pre-strikes, thereby normally confining the arcs resulting from such pre-strikes to said contacts and excluding said arcs from said shielding electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
Switching equipment comprising the switch of claim 1, means for applying voltages between said ends that normally cause pre-strikes to occur during a closing operation, and means for locating the contact-making surfaces of both of said contacts well ahead of said front surfaces of said shielding electrodes at the time of said pre-stikes, thereby normally confining the arcs resulting from such pre-strikes to said contacts and excluding said arcs from said shielding electrodes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
Switching equipment comprising the switch of claim 1, means for applying voltages between said ends that normally cause pre-strikes to occur during a closing operation, and means for locating the contact-making surfaces of both of said contacts in a region of the gap between said shielding electrodes that is longitudinally spaced from both of said shielding electrodes at the time of said pre-strikes, thereby normally confining the arcs resulting from such pre-strikes to said contacts and excluding said arcs from said shielding electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The switch of claim 1 in which said contacts are of a metal that is principally beryllium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The switch of claim 6 in which said shielding electrodes are of a ferrous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vacuum switch of claim 1 in which said region where said contact-making surfaces engage is located substantially midway between the front faces of said shielding electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vacuum switch of claim 3 in which said region where said contact-making surfaces engage is located substantially midway between the front faces of said shielding electrodes.
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) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |