Patent US4174471A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4174471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Explosively actuated opening switch
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1978-03-27
•
Granted: 1979-11-13
•
Expires: 1998-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A modular opening switch for high currents providing high current-carryingapacity, high voltage hold-off capability and very short opening time. The switch operates on the principle of an explosively generated pressure which ruptures and then drives paraffin radially through a cylindrical current conducting tube, so that the paraffin provides an electrically insulative barrier between the ruptured portions of the conducting tube. Alternate cutting and bending rings, between which insulating rings are placed, are disposed around the periphery of the conductor tube. The insulating rings are tapered at the periphery of the conductor tube to provide void spaces into which the paraffin is driven and firmly packed without voids or cracks which deteriorate the insulating property of the paraffin.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D. Ford
- 👤 Ihor M. Vitkovitsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:52
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H39/00; H01H39/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
264 words
A current-limiting device comprising, in combination: current-conducting means having an empty central core inside a wall; inert pusher material filling said central core; explosive means located within said pusher material; means for actuating said explosive means; and at least one module comprising: insulating means, cutting means, bending means, said latter three means encompassing the current-conducting means, said cutting means having a cutting edge in girdling contact with the wall of said current-conducting means and extending outward from said wall, said bending means having a rounded end in girdling contact with said wall and extending outward from said wall, said insulating means lying between and in contact with said cutting and bending means and encompassing, and extending outward from, said wall and being formed at its inner end so that a void is formed which is bounded by said wall, said insulating means and at least one of said bending and cutting means, and an explosion-proof containing ring in girdling contact with the outside of said tube in the region in which said detonator is located, whereby, when said explosive means is actuated, the explosion forces said wall outward so that it is cut completely by said cutting means and a portion of the wall is forced into contact with said bending means leaving a gap in said wall through which the pusher material is forced, said pusher material filling said void to form an insulating layer between the cut portions of said current-conducting means and between nearby portions of said bending and cutting means so that current flow in said current-conducting means is stopped.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
264 words
A current-limiting device comprising, in combination: current-conducting means having an empty central core inside a wall; inert pusher material filling said central core; explosive means located within said pusher material; means for actuating said explosive means; and at least one module comprising: insulating means, cutting means, bending means, said latter three means encompassing the current-conducting means, said cutting means having a cutting edge in girdling contact with the wall of said current-conducting means and extending outward from said wall, said bending means having a rounded end in girdling contact with said wall and extending outward from said wall, said insulating means lying between and in contact with said cutting and bending means and encompassing, and extending outward from, said wall and being formed at its inner end so that a void is formed which is bounded by said wall, said insulating means and at least one of said bending and cutting means, and an explosion-proof containing ring in girdling contact with the outside of said tube in the region in which said detonator is located, whereby, when said explosive means is actuated, the explosion forces said wall outward so that it is cut completely by said cutting means and a portion of the wall is forced into contact with said bending means leaving a gap in said wall through which the pusher material is forced, said pusher material filling said void to form an insulating layer between the cut portions of said current-conducting means and between nearby portions of said bending and cutting means so that current flow in said current-conducting means is stopped.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A switch as in claim 1, including: a plurality of modules in a stacked array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A switch as in claim 1, wherein: said pusher material is paraffin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A switch as in claim 1, wherein: said cutting means is steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A switch as in claim 1, wherein: said insulating means is polyethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A switch as in claim 1, wherein: said insulating means is beveled at its inner end so that the thin portion lies nearer the current-conducting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch as in claim 1, wherein: said current-conducting means comprises a tube; and said bending, cutting and insulating means comprise substantially flat rings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A switch as in claim 7, wherein: said tube is formed with spaced, parallel, longitudinal grooves therein, the distance between any two successive grooves subtending not more than about a 20-degree central angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A switch as in claim 7, wherein: said explosive means comprises a detonating cord running axially within said tube, and said actuating means comprises a detonator close enough to said cord to initiate detonation in said cord.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch as in claim 9, wherein: said detonator is located substantially at the longitudinal center of said current-conducting tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the radius of the insulating rings is larger than the radius of the cutting rings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the radius of the insulating rings is larger than the radii of the cutting and bending rings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
257 words
A current-limiting switch comprising, in combination: a current-conducting tube; inert pusher material filling said tube; a detonator cord running axially through said tube within said pusher material; means, including a detonator, for actuating said detonator cord; and at least one module comprising: an insulating ring, a cutting ring and a bending ring, said cutting ring having a cutting edge in girdling contact with said tube and extending outward therefrom, said bending ring having a rounded end in girdling contact with said tube and extending outward therefrom, said insulating ring lying between and in contact with said cutting and bending rings and encompassing, and extending outward from, said tube and being formed at its inner end so that a void is formed which is bounded by said tube, said insulating ring and at least one of said bending and cutting rings, and an explosion-proof containing ring in girdling contact with the outside of said tube in the region in which said detonator is located, whereby, when said detonator cord is actuated, the explosion forces the tube outward so that it is cut completely by the cutting ring and a portion of the cut wall is forced into contact with and bent around the rounded portion of the bending ring leaving a gap in the tube through which pusher material is forced, said pusher material filling said void to form an insulating layer between the cut portions of the tube and between nearby portions of the bending and cutting rings, so that current flow in the tube is stopped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
257 words
A current-limiting switch comprising, in combination: a current-conducting tube; inert pusher material filling said tube; a detonator cord running axially through said tube within said pusher material; means, including a detonator, for actuating said detonator cord; and at least one module comprising: an insulating ring, a cutting ring and a bending ring, said cutting ring having a cutting edge in girdling contact with said tube and extending outward therefrom, said bending ring having a rounded end in girdling contact with said tube and extending outward therefrom, said insulating ring lying between and in contact with said cutting and bending rings and encompassing, and extending outward from, said tube and being formed at its inner end so that a void is formed which is bounded by said tube, said insulating ring and at least one of said bending and cutting rings, and an explosion-proof containing ring in girdling contact with the outside of said tube in the region in which said detonator is located, whereby, when said detonator cord is actuated, the explosion forces the tube outward so that it is cut completely by the cutting ring and a portion of the cut wall is forced into contact with and bent around the rounded portion of the bending ring leaving a gap in the tube through which pusher material is forced, said pusher material filling said void to form an insulating layer between the cut portions of the tube and between nearby portions of the bending and cutting rings, so that current flow in the tube is stopped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch as in claim 13, wherein said tube is formed with spaced, parallel grooves lying in the axial direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A switch as in claim 14, wherein the distance between said any two successive grooves subtends no more than about a 20° central angle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
A switch as in claim 13, wherein: said pusher material is paraffin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switch as in claim 13 wherein: said cutting ring is formed from steel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switch as in claim 13, wherein: said insulating ring is formed from polyethylene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A switch as in claim 13, wherein: said bending ring is formed from steel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switch as in claim 13, wherein: said tube is formed from an alloy of aluminum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 13, wherein the radius of the insulating rings is larger than the radius of the cutting rings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 13, wherein, the radius of the insulating rings is larger than the radii of the cutting and bending rings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2892062A
Cited
US3117194A
Cited
DE2103565A1
Cited
US3819890A
Cited
GB1423148A
Cited
US3848100A
Cited
US3932717A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-12 | 1983-05-14 | 1983-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-12 | 1987-05-14 | 1987-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-12 | 1991-05-14 | 1991-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |