Vacuum switch and method of manufacturing the same

Claim 2

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton containing cobalt as its principal component and having air gaps into which an alloy containing copper, silver, and a low melting point and high vapor pressure element having substantially no or very low solid-solubility with respect to the copper at room temperature is impregnated.

Claim 3

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, in which said alloy is impregnated in an amount of 10˜60 weight % of the total weight of said at least one contact electrode.

Claim 4

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, in which said low melting point and high vapor pressure element contains at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurium, selenium, and thallium.

Claim 5

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, in which said low melting point and high vapor pressure element is bismuth.

Claim 6

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, in which said contact electrodes are respectively connected to electrically conductive auxiliary electrode members which are in turn connected respectively to electrode holders supported by said container.

Claim 7

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton made of cobalt powder, to provide a porous skeleton, into which a copper alloy is impregnated, and each of said contact electrodes contains silver of 2˜20 weight %, a low melting point and high vapor pressure element of 0.05˜1 weight %, cobalt of 30˜60 weight % and copper occupying substantially the remainder part, said cobalt powder having a particle diameter of 10˜50 μm.

Claim 8

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton made of cobalt powder, to provide a porous skeleton, into which a copper alloy is impregnated, and each of said contact electrodes contains silver of 2˜20 weight %, a low melting point and high vapor pressure element of 0.05˜1 weight %, cobalt of 30˜60 weight % and copper occupying substantially the remainder part, said cobalt powder having a particle diameter of 10˜50 μm.

Claim 9

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skelton made substantially of cobalt, said skeleton having pores, and an alloy impregnated in said pores in an amount of 10˜60 weight % of the entire weight of the contact electrode, said alloy containing silver of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurium and selenium by 0.1˜3 weight %, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part.

Claim 10

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skelton made substantially of cobalt, said skeleton having pores, and an alloy impregnated in said pores in an amount of 10˜60 weight % of the entire weight of the contact electrode, said alloy containing silver of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurium and selenium by 0.1˜3 weight %, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part.

Claim 11

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton made substantially of cobalt and having pores, with an impregnant of an alloy impregnated in said pores in an amount of 10˜50 weight % of the entire weight of said electrode contact, said copper alloy containing silver of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurim and selenium by 0.1˜3 weight % cobalt of 5 weight % or less, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part.

Claim 12

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton made substantially of cobalt and having pores, with an impregnant of an alloy impregnated in said pores in an amount of 10˜50 weight % of the entire weight of said electrode contact, said copper alloy containing silver of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurim and selenium by 0.1˜3 weight % cobalt of 5 weight % or less, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part.

Claim 13

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of electrode structures, in which said electrode structures respectively includes contact electrodes, arc drive electrodes respectively supporting said contact electrodes, and coil electrodes respectively supporting said arc drive electrodes, said arc drive electrodes and said coil electrodes being arranged such that a parallel magnetic field is induced at an air gap between said contact electrodes, and in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton containing cobalt as its principal component and having pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant containing Ag in an amount of 10˜50 weight % based on the total weight of the impregnant, a low melting point and high vapor pressure element having substantially no or very low solid-solubility with respect to copper at room temperature, in an amount of 0.1˜3 weight % based on the total weight of the impregnant, and a remainder part substantially composed of Cu.

Claim 14

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of electrode structures, in which said electrode structures respectively includes contact electrodes, arc drive electrodes respectively supporting said contact electrodes, and coil electrodes respectively supporting said arc drive electrodes, said arc drive electrodes and said coil electrodes being arranged such that a parallel magnetic field is induced at an air gap between said contact electrodes, and in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton containing cobalt as its principal component and having pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant containing Ag in an amount of 10˜50 weight % based on the total weight of the impregnant, a low melting point and high vapor pressure element having substantially no or very low solid-solubility with respect to copper at room temperature, in an amount of 0.1˜3 weight % based on the total weight of the impregnant, and a remainder part substantially composed of Cu.

Claim 15

A vacuum circuit breaker according to claim 9, in which each of said arc drive electrodes is made of a solidified molten alloy containing cobalt of 10˜30 weight %, silver of 10 weight % or less, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part.

Claim 16

A vacuum switch according to claim 9, in which each of said coil electrodes is made of copper.

Claim 17

A vacuum switch according to claim 9, in which each of said arc drive electrodes is provided with a plurality of bisymmetrically and equidistantly formed grooves for suppressing eddy currents.

Claim 18

A vacuum switch according to claim 9, in which each of said coil electrodes is constituted by an annular ring portion, an arm portion passing through the axis center of circle of said ring portion, and a connecting portion including protrusion portions for connecting said coil electrode to corresponding one of said arc drive electrodes.

Claim 19

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of electrode structures: in which said electrode structures respectively include contact electrodes, arc drive electrodes respectively supporting said contact electrodes, coil electrodes respectively supporting said arc drive electrodes, and holders respectively supporting said coil electrodes; in which each of said arc drive electrodes is provided with a plurality of equidistantly formed grooves, formed into a bisymmetrical shape, and consituted by an alloy containing cobalt of 10˜30 weight %, silver of 10 weight % or less, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part; in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton, made substantially of cobalt, with pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant in an amount of 10˜60 weight % of the entire weight of said contact electrode, said impregnant containing silver in an amount of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurium and selenium in an amount of 0.1˜3 weight %, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part; in which each of said coil electrodes is made of copper and constituted by an annular ring portion, an arm portion passing through the axis center of circle of said ring portion, and a connecting portion including protrusion portions for connecting said coil electrode to corresponding one of said arc drive electrodes; and in which the extending directions of said grooves in one of said arc drive electrodes and that of said grooves in the other arc drive electrode perpendicularly cross each other and the extending directions of said arms of said respective coil electrodes also perpendicularly cross each other so that a parallel magnetic field is induced at an air gap between said contact electrodes.

Claim 20

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of electrode structures: in which said electrode structures respectively include contact electrodes, arc drive electrodes respectively supporting said contact electrodes, coil electrodes respectively supporting said arc drive electrodes, and holders respectively supporting said coil electrodes; in which each of said arc drive electrodes is provided with a plurality of equidistantly formed grooves, formed into a bisymmetrical shape, and consituted by an alloy containing cobalt of 10˜30 weight %, silver of 10 weight % or less, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part; in which each of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton, made substantially of cobalt, with pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant in an amount of 10˜60 weight % of the entire weight of said contact electrode, said impregnant containing silver in an amount of 10˜50 weight %, at least one selected from the group of bismuth, lead, tellurium and selenium in an amount of 0.1˜3 weight %, and copper occupying substantially the remainder part; in which each of said coil electrodes is made of copper and constituted by an annular ring portion, an arm portion passing through the axis center of circle of said ring portion, and a connecting portion including protrusion portions for connecting said coil electrode to corresponding one of said arc drive electrodes; and in which the extending directions of said grooves in one of said arc drive electrodes and that of said grooves in the other arc drive electrode perpendicularly cross each other and the extending directions of said arms of said respective coil electrodes also perpendicularly cross each other so that a parallel magnetic field is induced at an air gap between said contact electrodes.

Claim 21

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton containing cobalt as its principal component and having pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant of a Cu-Ag alloy.

Claim 22

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a skeleton containing cobalt as its principal component and having pores, said pores being impregnated with an impregnant of a Cu-Ag alloy.

Claim 23

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a metal material which has properties that a chopping current is 6 A at maximum and 4.5 A or less in average with a current of 10 A, an average withstand-voltage is 55 kV or more at a 2.5 mm air gap, and a break-off current by a spherical surface having a diameter of 20 mm and a radius of 10 mm of 9 kA or more.

Claim 24

A vacuum switch comprising a vacuum container and a pair of contact electrodes, in which at least one of said contact electrodes is constituted by a metal material which has properties that a chopping current is 6 A at maximum and 4.5 A or less in average with a current of 10 A, an average withstand-voltage is 55 kV or more at a 2.5 mm air gap, and a break-off current by a spherical surface having a diameter of 20 mm and a radius of 10 mm of 9 kA or more.

Claim 29

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, wherein said skeleton consists essentially of Co.

Claim 30

A vacuum switch according to claim 19, wherein said alloy is impregnated in said skeleton in amount of 10˜60 weight % of the total weight of the at least one electrode.

Claim 31

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, wherein the skeleton is impregnated with the alloy in an amount of 30˜60 weight % of the total weight of said at least one contact electrode.

Claim 32

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, wherein the alloy contains silver in a sufficient amount such that the quantity of silver in the at least one contact electrode is 2˜20 weight % based on the total weight of said at least one contact electrode.

Claim 33

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, wherein the alloy contains said low melting point and high vapor pressure element in such an amount that the at least one contact electrode contains said element in an amount of 0.05˜1.0 weight % based on the total weight of the at least one contact electrode.

Claim 34

A vacuum switch according to claim 1, wherein said alloy is a copper alloy, containing copper as its principal component.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 17, wherein the cobalt powder each have a particle diameter of 30˜70 μm.