Circuit-breakers for high voltages

Claim 2

A circuit-breaker for high voltages comprising a metal casing, at least one monophase switching unit which is insulatedly accommodated in the casing, said switching unit comprising at least one pair of electrically conductive fixed connecting members, at least one insulator to keep said connecting members spaced apart and electrically separated, at least one pair of relatively movable cooperating contacts to make and break electrical connection between said members; at least two terminal bushings extending through the wall of the casing, each one of said bushings being adapted to connect a connecting member with an end of the electric circuit to be controlled, each connecting member being in the form of a cap in the shape of a hollow segment of a sphere and the two connecting members being disposed in spaced opposition with said insulator interposed therebetween.

Claim 3

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer surfaces of the two connecting members of said monophase switching unit form portions of one and the same spherical surface.

Claim 4

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second pair of relatively movable cooperating contacts is connected in series with the first pair and in which the two connecting members of said monophase switching unit together surround a space containing said series connected pairs of cooperating contacts and each enclose, as a potential controlling shield, the point of break of the contacts of at least one such pair.

Claim 5

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which the two connecting members of said monophase switching unit together surround a space containing said pair of cooperating contacts and wherein the contacts of said pair are arcing contacts provided with cooperating arcing contact surfaces only, and in which two fixed contacts and a movable bridging contact cooperating therewith are provided, said fixed contacts and movable bridging contact constituting together a bridge switch, of which the fixed contacts are each electrically conductively attached to an individual one of said connecting members and the movable bridging contact is operatively so coupled with the arcing contacts as to ensure that the bridge switch is opened before the arcing contacts are separated and is closed after the arcing contacts have been brought into contact with one another.

Claim 6

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 4, in which the fixed contacts of the bridge switch are mounted in the edges of the two connecting members.

Claim 7

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 4, in which the movable switching contact of the bridge switch is situated and moves within the spherical space defined by the outer surfaces of the two connecting members of such a monophase switching unit.

Claim 8

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which accommodated in the casing are at least two monophase switching units which are connected in series between the respective terminal bushings through their cap-shaped connecting members and their pairs of cooperating contacts.

Claim 9

A monophase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing has the shape of a sphere and contains one single monophase switching unit, the two cap-shaped connecting members of said switching unit being concentrically disposed in the casing.

Claim 10

A polyphase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing has a substantially cylindrical shape and contains the monophase switching units of all phases of the circuit-breaker, the cap-shaped connecting members of all monophase switching units lying with the centers of their curved outer surfaces on a common line which is at least parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing.

Claim 11

A polyphase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 9, in which the casing consists of two separable parts adjoining each other in a plane of division which is at least parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing, one part of the casing being stationary and supporting all terminal bushings and the other part thereof being removable and carrying all monophase switching units, and in which at least one mechanism for driving the movable contacts of the switching units is provided, said driving mechanism being also supported by the movable part of the casing.

Claim 12

A polyphase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 10, in which the plane of division between the parts of the casing is a horizontal plane and the upper part of the casing is stationary and supports the terminal bushings.

Claim 13

A polyphase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 9, in which the centers of the outer surfaces of the connecting members of the monophase switching units lie in the plane of division of the casing.

Claim 14

A polyphase circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 10, in which a common mechanism for driving the movable contacts of all monophase switching units is provided and said driving mechanism is mounted on an end wall of the removable part of the casing.

Claim 15

A circuit-breaker as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one fixed contact and one axially movable switching rod cooperating therewith are provided in the casing, said fixed contact and said switching rod constituting together an isolator switch, of which the fixed contact forms part of one of the cap-shaped connecting members and the switching rod forms part of the conductor of one of the terminal bushings.

Claim 16

In a circuit breaker for high voltages, the combination of: a metal casing adapted to contain a dielectric gas; a switching assembly comprising a pair of electrically conductive, cup-like members disposed in opposed relation to present spaced, registered peripherally extending edges, and an insulator interposed between said members whereby said assembly is of hollow form and said members are electrically separated from each other, said assembly being disposed within the confines of said casing with said members being spaced therefrom; first conductor means passing through said casing and electrically connected to one member of said pair; second conductor means passing through said casing and electrically connected to the other member of said pair; and switching means within the interior of said assembly for making and breaking electrical connection between said members.

Claim 17

In a circuit breaker for high voltages, the combination of: a metal casing adapted to contain a dielectric gas; a switching assembly comprising a pair of electrically conductive, cup-like members disposed in opposed relation to present spaced, registered peripherally extending edges, and an insulator interposed between said members whereby said assembly is of hollow form and said members are electrically separated from each other, said assembly being disposed within the confines of said casing with said members being spaced therefrom; first conductor means passing through said casing and electrically connected to one member of said pair; second conductor means passing through said casing and electrically connected to the other member of said pair; and switching means within the interior of said assembly for making and breaking electrical connection between said members.

Claim 18

In a circuit breaker as defined in claim 15 wherein each of said members is of semi-spherical shape.

Claim 19

In a circuit breaker as defined in claim 15 wherein said assembly is adapted to contain a dielectric gas and including filter means communicating the interior of said switching assembly with the interior of said casing for allowing dielectric gas heated by arcing produced by breaking of the electrical connection by said switching means to escape into the interior of said casing without significant contamination of the dielectric gas in the latter, and check valve means in said assembly for allowing substantially uncontaminated dielectric gas to flow into the interior of said assembly from the interior of the casing.

Claim 20

In a circuit breaker as defined in claim 15 wherein said insulator presents a recess extending inwardly from said peripheral edges of said members, and including a bridging contact movable within the confines of said recess between an operative position electrically connecting said peripheral edges and an inoperative position spaced from said peripheral edges but disposed within the confines of said recess.

Claim 21

In a circuit breaker as defined in claim 18 including actuator means connected to said switching means and to said bridging contact for moving said bridging contact to its inoperative position prior to opening said switching means and for moving said bridging contact to its operative position subsequent to closing said switching means.

Claim 22

An electrical circuit breaker for high voltages, comprising in combination: a metal casing containing a dielectric gas and having at least a pair of insulator bushings, a first terminal member projecting into the interior of said casing through one of said insulator bushings and a second terminal member projecting into the interior of said casing through the other of said insulator bushings, said terminal members forming part of an electrical circuit which is to be controlled by the circuit breaker; a generally spherical switching unit disposed within said casing and comprising a first semi-spherical connecting member connected with said first terminal member, a second semi-spherical connecting member connected with said second terminal member, an annular insulator interposed between said connecting members whereby electrically to separate them, switching means within the confines of said connecting members and said annular insulator for making and breaking electrical connection between said connecting members whereby to confine arcing during such making and breaking to the interior of the switching unit; and actuator means for selectively actuating said switching means to make and break electrical connection between said connecting members.

Claim 23

An electrical circuit breaker for high voltages, comprising in combination: a metal casing containing a dielectric gas and having at least a pair of insulator bushings, a first terminal member projecting into the interior of said casing through one of said insulator bushings and a second terminal member projecting into the interior of said casing through the other of said insulator bushings, said terminal members forming part of an electrical circuit which is to be controlled by the circuit breaker; a generally spherical switching unit disposed within said casing and comprising a first semi-spherical connecting member connected with said first terminal member, a second semi-spherical connecting member connected with said second terminal member, an annular insulator interposed between said connecting members whereby electrically to separate them, switching means within the confines of said connecting members and said annular insulator for making and breaking electrical connection between said connecting members whereby to confine arcing during such making and breaking to the interior of the switching unit; and actuator means for selectively actuating said switching means to make and break electrical connection between said connecting members.

Claim 24

An electrical circuit breaker as defined in claim 20 wherein said annular insulator presents an annular recess between said connecting members, a bridging contact movable within the confines of said recess between an operative position electrically connecting said connecting members and an inoperative position spaced from said connecting members.

Claim 25

An electrical circuit breaker as defined in claim 21 wherein said actuator means is connected to said bridging contact for moving same to its inoperative position prior to breaking said switching means and for moving the bridging contact to its operative position subsequent to making said switching means.

Claim 26

A circuit breaker as defined in claim 20 wherein said switching means comprises a contact holder fixed substantially centrally within said switching unit, and axially movable contact means carried by said contact holder providing axially separated arcing regions within said switching unit.

Claim 27

A circuit breaker as defined in claim 23 wherein said actuating means comprises a source of pressurized gas for shifting said axially movable contact means.

Claim 28

A circuit breaker as defined in claim 23 wherein said actuating means comprises mechanical mechanism for shifting said axially movable contact means.