Air-current Blowout Patents (Class 218/43)
  • Publication number: 20020153352
    Abstract: A bus container, its assembling method and a gas-insulated switchgear, in which gas treating working in a factory and at a site is reduced, an operation is made simple, and a process is shortened. In the case of connection of a container (101) and a container (102), a conductor (103) of spherical shape is kept in contact with and fixed to a contact (102f), the container (101) is caused to approach to the container (102), the conductor (103) is joined to a contact (101f).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Kenji Aoyagi, Takashi Omori, Toyokazu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6462295
    Abstract: In a high-voltage power breaker having two rated current contact pieces and two arc contact pieces as well as an insulating nozzle, a filling body is provided, which is mounted on this insulating nozzle, surrounds the insulating nozzle in an annular shape and is composed of an electrically insulating material having a high dielectric constant, in order to influence the electric field in the isolating gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Knobloch, Heinz-Helmut Schramm
  • Patent number: 6444937
    Abstract: An interruption and disconnecting device for high or medium voltage applications including a disconnection chamber and an interruption pole having a casing that delimits a free volume accommodating an interruption chamber. The interruption chamber contains a moving contact and a fixed contact. The interruption pole and the disconnection chamber contain dielectrically insulating fluids. The interruption chamber is sealed with respect to a remaining part of the interruption pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Trasmissione & Distribuzione SpA
    Inventor: Costante Piazza
  • Publication number: 20020117475
    Abstract: The circuit-breaker includes two contacts which are disposed in an interrupting space filled with a dielectric gas under pressure and between which an electric arc strikes during circuit-breaker opening, a thermal blast chamber communicating directly with the interrupting space, and a piston-driven compression chamber communicating with the thermal blast chamber. The piston-driven compression chamber communicates with the interrupting space via a discharge channel that is separate from the thermal blast chamber and that is closed by a discharge valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Denis Dufournet, Wolfgang Grieshaber, Michel Perret
  • Publication number: 20020113040
    Abstract: In order to provide a gas circuit breaker capable of reducing a remarkable degradation of dielectric strength in the vessel caused by hot gas and which can be downsized, the present invention is characterized by a hot gas discharge mechanism of the movable opening/closing mechanism, which is designed to ensure that the hot gas separated and fed to a movable opening/closing mechanism is discharged from an exhaust outlet 19b toward the side opposite to the puffer chamber 26 of the gas discharge chamber 28 formed on the rear of the puffer chamber 26, and gas is discharged toward the inner surface of the vessel 4 through the exhaust outlet 23b after gas temperature and velocity have been interrupted by convection of the gas in the puffer chamber 26. This structure interrupts a remarkable degradation of dielectric strength in the vessel resulting from direct blowing of hot gas onto the inner surface of the vessel 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Masaoki Imamura, Hideo Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 6437274
    Abstract: This hybrid circuit breaker has at least two series-connected arcing chambers which are operated by a common drive or by separate drives and are filled with different arc extinguishing media. Means are provided which ensure a sensible voltage distribution between the first and the second arcing chamber in the course of a switching process. At least one vacuum switching chamber having an insulating housing, is provided as the second arcing chamber. The aim is to provide a hybrid circuit breaker wich can be produced economically and which has high availability. This is achieved, inter alia, in that means are provided which ensure that the movement of the contacting arrangement of the first arcing chamber precedes the movement of the contact arrangement of the second arcing chamber during a disconnection process, and that the movement of the contacting arrangement of the second arcing chamber precedes the movement of the contact arrangement of the first arcing chamber during a connection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Max Claessens, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Leopold Ritzer, Ekkehard Schade
  • Patent number: 6429393
    Abstract: A current transfer arrangement is provided for a circuit interrupter that provides support for the contacts of the circuit interrupter and also provides current transfer between the contacts of the circuit interrupter and the external circuit terminal connection points directly through the end flanges/fittings thereof. The current transfer arrangement includes a first member assembled onto each of the circuit interrupter contacts and clamping members for securing the first member to the end flange. The end flanges include receiving grooves cooperating with the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: S&C Electric Co.
    Inventors: John C. Opfer, Henry W. Kowalyshen
  • Publication number: 20020092828
    Abstract: An air-insulated high-voltage disconnector includes a pivoting arm which pivots at one end about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of the arm and turns about its axis. The free end of the arm carries a contact member referred to as the hammer cooperating, in the closed position of the disconnector, with a jaw including a jaw support to which are fixed two facing rows of contact fingers. The contact fingers are tubular and open at both ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Daniel Demissy, Anh-Dung Huynh, Richard Marchand
  • Publication number: 20020084258
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for distributing dopant gas or vapor in an arc chamber of ion source used as part of an ion implanter. The apparatus includes a plenum, a sub-plenum, and a baffle to distribute the dopant gas or vapor through out the arc chamber. The method allows dopant gas and vapors to be distributed in such a way as to cause efficient reaction of dopant gas or vapor molecules with electrons created by a filament contained in the arc chamber. The reaction of dopant gas or vapor molecules with the electrons in turn produces positively charged ions by the ion implanter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Christopher D. Martinez
  • Patent number: 6399911
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear of the present invention, a plurality of disconnect switches are provided on a line connecting a bus line to a circuit-breaker in such a manner as to be arranged in both a main bus unit, a breaker unit or in both a first and second insulating gas sections. Accordingly, when an inconvenience occurs in the gas insulated switchgear apparatus and the exchange work of a unit is required, it is possible to exchange the inconvenient damaged unit only by turning the circuit including the inconvenient damaged unit into power supply interruption, that is, without turning a normal circuit unit into power supply interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsuzura, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Junzo Kida, Minoru Yabuki, Yasuhito Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6365863
    Abstract: In a high voltage circuit breaker having a contact system comprising a contact driven by a switch mechanism and a counter-contact opposite the contact and driven by an auxiliary gear, the parallel current path leading over the auxiliary gear is interrupted by using an insulation part between the counter-contact and a second terminal of the high voltage circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heiner Marin, Volker Lehmann, Hold Dienemann, Thomas Chyla
  • Publication number: 20020003128
    Abstract: The drive rod for high-voltage switchgear that is insulated with a dielectric gas comprises a segment made of an electrically-insulating material and two metal endpieces fixed to respective ends of the segment, as well as a thermal shield that is made of an electrically-insulating material, that is disposed between the endpieces, and that surrounds the insulating segment while being spaced apart therefrom to define an annular gap serving to be filled with the dielectric gas. In this way, the insulating segment of the rod is protected against thermal attack from electric arcs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Maurice Mahl, Jean-Marc Willieme
  • Patent number: 6337452
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes a bus unit, a breaker unit and a line side unit. An insulating spacer structure attaching at least two of the units together includes an inner flange on a first unit, an outer flange on a second unit, and an insulating spacer positioned between the first and second units. Closed end tapped holes are formed in the inner flange and idle holes are formed in the outer flange, and tapped holes with a larger diameter than that of the tapped holes of the inner flange are formed in the insulating spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsuzura, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Junzo Kida, Minoru Yabuki
  • Publication number: 20020000425
    Abstract: A circuit-breaker including a first tube, and a second tube coaxial to the first tube, the first and second tubes being connected together via a piston provided with perforations and equipped with a valve member, the first tube having an end connecting to said piston, a moving arcing contact support being fixed rigidly to said piston on the other side from the first tube, wherein, with said piston having a bore of diameter D, said piston is provided with a groove, that end of said first tube which is connected to said piston being provided with n gaps allowing n claws to project, the end of at least one of the claws being provided with a rim that is received in said groove in said piston, said piston being provided with one or more passageways angularly in register with each claw provided with a rim, and making it possible for the rim(s) to be inserted axially as far as said groove, and then for the tube to be turned to cause the rim to penetrate into the groove portions that remain, and wherein said arcing c
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Michel Nauche, Bruno Luscan
  • Publication number: 20010035395
    Abstract: An a electric switch comprising a first arcing contact surrounded by a puffer break chamber in which the gas is pressurized by the thermal effect, and a second arcing contact movable along an axial direction relative to the first arcing contact. The break chamber includes an inner partition separating a first compartment of fixed volume from a second compartment of smaller volume, both compartments being filled with said gas under pressure and each possessing an orifice to blast the arc, said orifices being separate and placed in series along said axial direction. Each compartment is connected to its own orifice via a respective blast channel, the first compartment with its blast channel and its orifice being placed adjacent to said first arcing contact. The second compartment is placed mainly between the ends of the first arcing contact and a permanent-current contact corresponding thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Denis Dufournet
  • Patent number: 6307172
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is provided having a particle trap within an interior gas-insulation cavity containing a contact mechanism. The interior cavity is defined within a tank. In an embodiment, the tank has a generally cylindrical tank wall, and the trap is a recessed channel formed by the tank wall along a bottom of the interior cavity. The trap is effective to collect foreign particles present within the tank, thereby reducing breakdown. In an embodiment, portions of the tank wall adjacent to the channel curve or slope downwardly toward the channel to guide particles moving under the influence of gravity, mechanical vibration and gas flow into the trap where they are immobilized in operation due to the low electrical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Clarence Bolin, Harley Wayne Wilson, Dennis J. Matuszak
  • Patent number: 6300585
    Abstract: An operation counter arrangement is provided for a circuit interrupter for opening a high-voltage circuit-isolating device. The operation counter arrangement responds to actual operations via response to a moving contact arrangement of the circuit interrupter. The operation counter arrangement is capable of retrofit to existing circuit interrupters via replacement of an exhaust control device of the circuit interrupter. In a preferred arrangement, a count of both the total number of operations and the number of operations since the most recent maintenance is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Theodore J. Nicolai, Bruce A. Biller, Glenn R. Borchardt
  • Publication number: 20010025827
    Abstract: The power breaker is provided with at least one arcing chamber (2) which is filled with SF6 gas, is rotationally symmetrical, and extends along a longitudinal axis (3). The arcing chamber (2) has a power current path with a central contact pin (14), and has a separate rated current path provided with rated current contacts (11). The arcing chamber (2) is operated by a drive linkage (4) which moves the contact pin (14) and the rated current contacts (11). The drive linkage (4) is designed such that, at the start of the disconnection process, the contact pin (14) remains in a first dead point position until the rated current path is interrupted. The contact pin (14) can then be moved in the disconnection direction at a considerably higher speed than the rated current contacts (11). Toward the end of their disconnection travel, the rated current contacts (11) run into a second dead point position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Olaf Hunger, Lukas Zehnder, Luc Rieffel
  • Patent number: 6278073
    Abstract: A gas insulated switching apparatus has lightning arrestors in a line side unit. Each lightning arrestor is mounted to be moved linearly into and out of connection with a corresponding conductor. Specifically, the cover which supports the lightning arrestor is disposed beneath the bottom plate of the vessel of the line side unit. The lightning arrestors are connected to a monitor of an operating device beneath the line side unit. Since the lower portion of the lightning arrestors are connected to the monitor, the length of the connection lines is made sufficiently short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsuzura, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Junzo Kida, Minoru Yabuki, Yasuhito Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6252190
    Abstract: A simple high-speed circuit breaker which is cheap to produce is specified for alternating currents which have to be switched off, which switches such currents off within one half-cycle at the current zero crossing, by means of a gas-generating explosive charge (4). In this case, a switching piston (2) which makes a sliding contact with a consumable contact pin (K1) of a first electrode (E1) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, moves in the direction of a hollow electrode (E2). The switching piston (2) has a contact tube (2′) with an exhaust opening (3) which is closed by the hollow electrode (E2) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, and is open to an exhaust chamber (8) when the high-speed circuit breaker is open (left-hand half of the figure). The contact tube (2′) moves in a sliding manner in a cutout in the hollow electrode (E2). A plurality of explosive charges (4) may be accommodated in the first electrode (E1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 6239399
    Abstract: In an interrupter with a resistor insertion system, the resistor insertion system comprises two auxiliary contacts, a first of which is electrically connected to a semi-mobile permanent current contact and the second of which is electrically connected to a fixed arc contact. The two auxiliary contacts are mounted to be mobile relative to each other along a longitudinal axis so as to be able to move toward each other when the interrupter closes to make a connection that short-circuits the resistor and so as to be constrained to move together along the longitudinal axis when the interrupter closes before making the connection which short-circuits the resistor, to increase the resistor insertion time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Alstom France S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Perret
  • Patent number: 6236562
    Abstract: The section of an electrical high-voltage system has a gas-filled housing of predominantly symmetrical design. Provided in the housing are a conductor extending along a plane of symmetry of the housing, and cooling means for producing a circulation flow which dissipates heat loss from the conductor. The cooling means contains two blowers. The blowers are arranged in the interior of the housing and designed in such a way that, during the operation of the system, two mirror-symmetrical circulation part flows are formed which are bounded by the plane of symmetry. These circulation part flows are in each case guided without recirculation along a housing side wall from the top of the housing or the bottom of the housing. By this means, the heat loss is given up particularly effectively to the housing side walls, and the conductor can be loaded with very high operating currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Günter Wilfert, Günter Kübler, Sacha Parneix, Enrico Malfa
  • Patent number: 6229109
    Abstract: A contact pin is operationally connected through racks and pinions to a movable mating contact arrangement in such a way that it executes a movement counter thereto. Through two spokes through which the racks are guided, it bears a contact ring which surrounds it coaxially at a distance and preferably has a radius which is four to eight times as large. In a groove on its outer side, the contact ring bears a circumferential spiral contact which forms with the inner side of a contact tube, which finishes in a fixed nominal-current contact, a sliding contact arrangement having good current transfer in conjunction with a short length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Harald Kretz, Markus Vestner
  • Patent number: 6207917
    Abstract: A compressed gas-blast is described having a first, actuatable arcing contact, a second, stationary arcing contact, a rated current path running concentrically to the contacts, as well as having a compression device, at least the first, actuatable arcing contact being supported by a switching tube. A discharge volume provided at the outlet of the switching tube is separated from an intake area by a separating wall, the discharge volume is connected to the low-pressure chamber via discharge openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Volker Lehmann, Friedrich Löbner
  • Patent number: 6188034
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes a bus unit, a breaker unit and a line side unit. An insulating spacer structure attaching at least two of the units together includes an inner flange on a first unit, an outer flange on a second unit, and an insulating spacer positioned between the first and second units. Closed end tapped holes are formed in the inner flange and idle holes are formed in the outer flange, and tapped holes with a larger diameter than that of the tapped holes of the inner flange are formed in the insulating spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Tsuzura, Kazuhiko Takahashi, Junzo Kida, Minoru Yabuki
  • Patent number: 6175486
    Abstract: The invention relates to switch gear comprising at least one group of n power switches (4), which extend substantially in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the front of the switch gear, at least one busbar compartment (13,13′) containing n busbars (14,14′) for each group of n power switches (4), which busbars (14,14′) are positioned parallel to the front, wherein each busbar compartment (13,13′) is enclosed by at least four walls, two of which are perpendicular to the front, at least one group of n busbar disconnecters (3,3′), for making and breaking contact between busbars (14,14′) and respective output terminals (21) of the power switches (4), wherein the output terminals of the power switches (4) are constructed as coupling elements (21), to each of which a linkage (24) is connected and a further linkage (24′) can be connected in an opposing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the n busbars (14,14′) extend along one of the w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Elin Holec High Voltage B.V.
    Inventor: Ijsbrand Paulos Johannes Maria Ponsioen
  • Patent number: 6127641
    Abstract: An attachment of high-voltage lead-in insulators (1, 1') on enclosure housings (1, 1') using elbow-shaped additional housings which have rotary joints to allow the insulators to rotate in order to maintain a connection distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Manfred Meinherz
  • Patent number: 6107591
    Abstract: A gas-insulated power breaker (1) has encapsulation (2) which is filled with an inert gas. Live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) are arranged in the encapsulation (2). In order to prevent damage to the live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) during transportation, a transport support (17) is provided. In a secured position, the transport support (17) supports the live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) with respect to the encapsulation (2). It can be partially withdrawn and moved to an operating position, through a gastight aperture (22), without the inert gas having to be evacuated or the encapsulation (2) opened in this event. This allows the switch to be transported safely, prevents contamination of the interior (3) of the encapsulation (2), and avoids the need for costly emptying and refilling with inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Markus Vestner, Andreas Nohl
  • Patent number: 6107590
    Abstract: Extending between a fixed tulip contact (1) and a slide tulip (4) is an arcing chamber (5) which is occupied in the closed position by a movable contact pin (3) which fills up both an exhaust (9) surrounded by the slide tulip (4) and a blowout opening (7) which is surrounded by the tulip contact (1) and connects the arcing chamber (5) to a pressure chamber (6). The arcing chamber (5) is surrounded by an annular heating volume (13) open toward the same. Arranged in the pressure chamber (6) is a charge (10) of explosive which is for the most part converted within approximately 10-30 ms after ignition to extinguishing gas, preferably predominantly nitrogen, the gas pressure moving the contact pin (3) toward the open position. After clearance of the blowout opening (7) and the exhaust (9), the arc drawn between the contact pin (3) and tulip contact (1) is blown out, something which is supported by the pressure buildup, to which the arc contributes, in the heating volume (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jorgen Skindhoj, Bodo Bruhl, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lorenz Muller, Lutz Niemeyer, Thomas Schoenemann, Lukas Zehnder
  • Patent number: 6091039
    Abstract: The gas-insulated line comprises a conductor (1A) disposed inside a case (3A) filled with a dielectric gas under pressure. A power capacitor (5) is electrically connected to the conductor while being disposed inside a compartment (3P) secured to the case (3A) and filled with a dielectric gas under pressure. The dielectric gas present in the compartment (3P) provides electrical insulation for the compartment relative to the power capacitor (5). In this way, electrical insulation of the gas-insulated line between the conductor (1A) and the case (3A) is maintained inside the compartment (3P) in which the power capacitor (5) and the conductor (1A) are electrically interconnected. This results in the gas-insulated line of the invention retaining small bulk and the ability to be used on the ground or buried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventors: Van Doan Pham, Marcel Guillen, Michel Collet
  • Patent number: 6018133
    Abstract: A circuit-breaker of the puffer type, comprising two arcing contacts, at least one of the arcing contacts being part of a moving contact assembly made up of a first tube co-operating with a second tube to define a blast chamber, and a compression chamber closed by a semi-moving piston, the circuit-breaker being provided with first means for holding the piston stationary during a first portion of the displacement stroke of the moving contact assembly between the closed position and the open position, and with second means for displacing the piston axially with the moving contact assembly during a second portion of the same displacement stroke. The first means for holding the piston stationary comprise a stationary retaining member for locking an abutment arrangement associated with the piston, and the second means for axially displacing the piston comprise an unlocking member for unlocking said abutment arrangement, which member is associated with the moving contact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Edmond Thuries
  • Patent number: 6015960
    Abstract: A compressed gas interrupter having a first contact piece having a hollow wear contact into which, during closure, there is inserted a rod-shaped wear contact provided on a second contact piece, an insulating nozzle on the same axis as the two contact pieces and fixed to the first contact piece with the throat of the nozzle having the wear contact of the second contact piece passing therethrough on closure, the nozzle connecting a gas compression chamber to an exhaust chamber, the wear contact of the second contact piece being movable along an axis and being displaced in the opposite direction to the wear contact of the first contact piece by a rack mechanism organized to transmit movement in opposite directions from the first contact piece to the second contact piece. The rack mechanism is disposed upstream from the throat of the nozzle so as to be situated off the path of the hot gases leaving the nozzle on interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T&D SA
    Inventors: Alain Girodet, Marc Vittoz
  • Patent number: 5977502
    Abstract: The gas circuit breaker has a configuration such that a stationary contact section and a movable contact section are arranged in an arc-extinguishing gas sealed container, to face each other, and the movable contact section includes a hollow operating rod having an exhaust hole at its rear portion, a movable cylinder arranged around the rod, a hollow movable arc contact provided on the movable cylinder and an insulating nozzle surrounding the movable arc contact. The movable contact section further includes a stationary piston portion insertable/removable inside the movable cylinder, and the space formed by the movable cylinder and the current collecting cylinder fixed to the stationary piston portion is partitioned by a parting plate into a thermal pressure elevation room space at front side and a compression room space at rear side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mizoguchi, Tadashi Mori, Hiromichi Kawano, Katsumi Suzuki, Mitsuru Toyoda
  • Patent number: 5955715
    Abstract: A circuit breaker which includes first arcing and permanent contacts that are mounted stationary inside an enclosure, second arcing and permanent contacts that are mounted to move inside the enclosure along a longitudinal direction and designed to co-operate with the first contacts, and a system for inserting a closure resistance, the second contacts forming a portion of equipment carrying a blast nozzle. The resistance insertion system comprises a semi-moving block which is disposed to be displaced in the longitudinal direction by the blast nozzle during a closure operation. The block carries a first switching contact designed to co-operate with a stationary second switching contact connected to the first stationary permanent contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Michel Perret
  • Patent number: 5952635
    Abstract: The generator circuit breaker includes synchronization means for separating its main contacts before its arcing contacts are separated. It has a lever which is hinged at one of its ends to a fixed contact piece and which is constrained to move firstly with the moving main contact and secondly with the moving arcing contact by means of a spring, and with a ramp having two horizontal levels interconnected by a sloping intermediate portion, the ramp serving as a sliding support for a trigger member which prevents or authorizes movement of the moving arcing contact. This organization makes it possible for the moving contacts to be synchronized mechanically in simple and single manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Plat, Jean-Marc Willieme
  • Patent number: 5939692
    Abstract: A compressed gas interrupter comprises two contact assemblies each including at least one wear contact and one of which is mobile along an axis relative to the other, which is fixed. The mobile contact assembly is moved along the axis by an insulative maneuvering rod and has a gas compression chamber which, in the open position, communicates via an insulative nozzle with an expansion chamber. The compression chamber includes a piston attached to the hollow wear contact of the mobile contact assembly and which slides in a cylinder attached to the maneuvering rod, the cylinder delimiting the compression chamber with the piston and the nozzle. The hollow wear contact is mobile relative to the maneuvering rod. A system using balls immobilizes the hollow wear contact during initial travel of the maneuvering rod to open the interrupter and constrains the hollow wear contact to move with the maneuvering rod at the end of its travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SA
    Inventor: Michel Perret
  • Patent number: 5920051
    Abstract: A drive rod (15) connects a moveable contact element (10) of a compressed-gas cutout (1) with a drive (20). A disconnecting braking structure (22) is provided for braking the drive rod (15) and the switch parts moved with the latter in the final phase of a disconnecting action. The disconnecting braking structure (22) comprises a track (48, 49, 50) assigned to the drive rod (15) and an adjustable guided roller (42 or 43) cooperating with the track (48, 49, 50) against the force of a spring (47). The track (48, 49, 50) has two track sections (48, 49), that are arranged parallel to a switch axis (y) and in tandem, whereas the top track section (49) has a greater distance to the switch axis (y) than the bottom track section (48), and a connecting section (50). The rollers (42 or 43) are pressed back at the disconnecting movement of the drive rod (15) against the force of the spring (47) while simultaneously exerting braking force on the drive rod (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: GEC Alstom T & D SA
    Inventor: Jurg Burri
  • Patent number: 5902980
    Abstract: An insulating component for use in high-voltage switching equipment, especially gas-insulated switching gear. A nozzle made of an insulating material is used in a power switch. Portions of the surface of the nozzle subject to high dielectric stresses in use are provided with increased surface roughness in the form of grooves. These grooves may be cut by a lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Reincke, Norbert Trapp
  • Patent number: 5850065
    Abstract: A dielectric gas produced at the time of current interruption is exhausted into an exhaust structure 1 through an opening 8 formed on a fixed-side support member 6 combined with a fixed arcing contact 4. The exhaust structure 1 has an enlarged portion with a gas flow cross section formed at least before a position at 1/2 of the overall length of the exhaust structure 1 that is uniformly enlarged toward the rear of the exhaust structure 1 with respect to the joint between the exhaust tube 1 and the fixed-side support member 6. As a result, the gas is immediately exhausted into the exhaust structure 1 and the interelectrode insulation recovery performance is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Yaginuma, Masanori Tsukushi, Makoto Yano, Katsuhiko Shiraishi, Youichi Ohshita
  • Patent number: 5844189
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a cylindrical arcing chamber filled with an insulating medium. The arcing chamber has a power current path and an insulating housing. The insulating housing has a longitudinal axis and the power current path extends along the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing. The power current path includes a fixed contact arrangement and a contact arrangement. The fixed contact arrangement is attached to an electrically insulating guide part. The contact arrangement has a moving contact cage. The fixed contact arrangement and the contact arrangement have a first and second fixed erosion-resistant covering, respectively. The insulating housing has a blast volume for accumulating an increased pressure of the insulating medium which occurs when the moving contact cage breaks contact with the fixed contact arrangement. When the circuit breaker is in an on position, the contact cage contacts the fixed contact arrangement above the guide part and surrounds the guide part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 5818004
    Abstract: In a gas-insulated transmission line for transmitting electric power between the substations, a bus change-over disconnecting switch for connection to a reserve circuit is provided at a portion where the gas-insulated transmission line is connected to a gas-insulated switchgear in order to improve reliability, and a first circuit and a second circuit are connected to the reserve circuit by using the change-over disconnecting switch. Therefore, even if grounding fault occurs on the two circuits at worst, transmission of electric power is reliably maintained without causing power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshimoto, Masatomo Ohno, Tetsuo Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 5750949
    Abstract: A metal-encapsulated, gas-insulated high-voltage circuit-breaker includes a fixed contact configuration which is accommodated in its own fixed contact housing, and a moving contact piece configuration which is driven by a first drive and is accommodated in a contact housing that is connected to the moving contact piece configuration or can move with said contact piece configuration during a switching operation. The contact configurations may have contact pieces for a rated current and for guiding and extinguishing an arc. At the same time, a device is provided for producing a gas flow. The device includes a dielectric nozzle in which the arc burns and is blown and which is guided in a sealed manner in the fixed contact housing throughout an entire switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Rees, Martin Schumacher, Horst Plettner
  • Patent number: 5723839
    Abstract: A gas circuit breaker having a single supporting structure easy to be inspected. The gas circuit breaker includes: a grounded tank in which a gas is enclosed; a fixed contact contained in the tank; a moving contact contained in the tank and electrically connected to the fixed contact; an insulating grounded support for supporting the moving contact in a state that the moving contact is insulated from the tank; an inter-contact insulating tube for supporting the fixed contact in such a manner that the fixed contact is insulated from the moving contact; an in-bushing conductor connected to the side of the fixed contact; an in-bushing conductor connected to the side of the moving contact; and a maintenance cover removably provided on a side end portion of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kozawa
  • Patent number: 5721412
    Abstract: A disconnector for a metal encapsulated, gas insulated high voltage switchgear includes a housing with at least a first and a second axis which intersect at a first angle. The disconnector also includes two contact carriers that are arranged on the first axis and are positioned between to contact carriers at an isolating distance by securing elements. The first axis and the second axis each form an axis of symmetry of the housing. The housing has four openings which are provided with flanges and which have the same diameter and centers located on one of the first and second axes, and are arranged at the same distance from the intersection point of the first and second axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Herbert Schifko, Sven Forss, Jadran Kostovic, Piero Tecchio
  • Patent number: 5670767
    Abstract: A gas-insulated switchgear in which a washer 5 is electrically connected with a tank 1 by a conductive material 12 having a high resistivity at a position where the tank 1 and a tank 2 are joined through an insulator 13 of the gas-insulated switchgear. In view of the structure of the switchgear, the reliability is improved, the structure is simplified, the number of parts is decreased, and the profitability is improved because a steep surge is not theoretically induced for a steep surge induced when turning on/off each unit at an electrically insulated position of a joint between tanks through an insulator of a gas-insulated switchgear for an SF.sub.6 gas-insulated closed-type station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatomo Kobayashi, Hiromichi Hokuto, Yoichi Ohshita, Minoru Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 5661280
    Abstract: A gas-insulated switch for a distribution transformer and its associated electrical connections are located within a tank containing insulating and cooling oil for the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur P. Kuss, William J. Book, Daniel H. Hickman
  • Patent number: 5629506
    Abstract: An AC contactor having a high recovery voltage strength includes a contact assembly and a high recovery voltage gas system coupled to the contact assembly. The contact assembly includes two contact pads per electrical phase, with one of the contact pads being attached to a positioning device that selectively disposes the contact pad between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position. The high recovery voltage gas system includes a thermal gas evolving medium for introducing a high recovery voltage strength gas into the gap between the contact pads, which gas has a high glow discharge cathode voltage fall value, as determined for silver-based contacts, of not less than about 300 volts, and typically greater than about 500 volts. The high recovery voltage strength gas typically comprises carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, or the like. The thermal gas evolving medium typically is as a Group IA carbonate (e.g., sodium bicarbonate), and is disposed in the contact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawson P. Harris, Herman L. Finkbeiner, Minyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 5578804
    Abstract: A metal-enclosed, gas-insulated switching installation includes at least two busbar systems and a circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker is in the form of a pole having a pole axis and at least one extinction chamber, installed in a pole housing. The pole axes are arranged perpendicularly to a foundation and are located in a first plane. The switching installation includes an electrically conductive connection, extending along a connecting axis, of the voltage-carrying extinction chamber of the circuit breaker to each of the busbar systems and an isolator arranged in the connection between the busbar and the circuit breaker pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Management AG
    Inventors: Ernst Berger, Franz Heil, Herbert Schifko, Piero Tecchio
  • Patent number: 5578805
    Abstract: A metal-enclosed, gas-filled switchgear unit has at least two busbar systems and a circuit breaker which respectively has per pole a pole axis and at least one arcing chamber built into a pole housing constructed as a metal enclosure. The pole axes are arranged perpendicular to a foundation and lie in a first plane. Furthermore, the switchgear unit respectively has an electrically conductive connection, extending along a connecting axis, between the live arcing chamber of the respective pole and each of the busbar systems. A metal-enclosed, gas-filled switchgear unit is provided in which the insulation and the fastening of the arcing chambers of the circuit breaker poles are substantially simplified and reduced in cost. The arcing chamber is connected in a force-closed fashion to the at least two current terminals and the arcing chamber is positioned by these alone in the metal enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Management AG
    Inventors: Ernst Berger, Franz Heil
  • Patent number: 5521569
    Abstract: A hyper-rapid circuit breaker is described which is assisted by a semiconductor control circuit, including a repulsion coil, a repulsion disk (37) associated with a contact bridge (39) carrying the movable contacts (41), the repulsion disk (37) collaborating with the repulsion coil (35), a maintaining spring for retaining the contacts in the closed state acting on a tail piece integrally connected to the repulsion disk (37), and a damping assembly which includes a plunger rod (95) integrally connected to the repulsion disk (37), and a reservoir (99) containing fluid intended to absorb the kinetic energy of the repulsion disk (37)/tail piece (43)/plunger rod (95) assembly upon repulsion by the repulsion coil (35), by adaptation of the shapes of the plunger rod (95) and of the reservoir (99) with respect to each other so as to have available fluid-removal sections which can vary as a function of the travel of the plunger rod (95), the travel taking place in two stages, acceleration with a large passage section
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventor: Roland Blochouse