Modular vacuum interruption apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9396896-B2
Application number	US-201414299080-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

An improved modular vacuum interruption apparatus includes a vacuum interrupter, a first connection module, and a second connection module, with the first and second connection modules each being connectable and disconnectable with a pair of electrodes of the vacuum interrupter. The first connection module is selected from among a plurality of connection modules that are similar yet different and can be used interchangeably to form various permutations of the improved modular vacuum interruption apparatus. The second connection module is likewise selected from among a plurality of connection modules that are similar yet different and that are interchangeably usable with the vacuum interrupter to form different permutations of the modular vacuum interruption apparatus. Similarly, the vacuum interrupter is among a plurality of vacuum interrupters having different specifications but that are usable interchangeably with all of the first and second connection modules to form different permutations of the modular vacuum interruption apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum interruption apparatus that is structured to be electrically connected with an electrical circuit and that is movable between an OPEN condition and a CLOSED condition, the vacuum interruption apparatus comprising:
a vacuum interrupter having a first electrode and a second electrode;
a first connection module having a first insulator, a first connector, and a first terminal, the first connector and the first terminal being electrically connected together and being disposed on the first insulator, the first connector being electrically connected with the first electrode, the first terminal being structured to be electrically connected with one of a line side conductor and a load side conductor of the circuit;
a second connection module having a second insulator, a second connector, and a second terminal, the second connector and the second terminal being electrically connected together and being disposed on the second insulator, the second connector being electrically connected with the second electrode, the second terminal being structured to be electrically connected with the other of a line side conductor and a load side conductor of the circuit; and
the first and second insulators being mechanically unconnected with one another;
wherein the vacuum interruption apparatus has a terminal spacing between the first and second terminals that is of a first distance; and
wherein at least one of the first connection module and the second connection module is replaceable with a different connection module to cause the vacuum interruption apparatus to have a terminal spacing that is of a second distance different than the first distance.

2. The vacuum interruption apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first connection module and the second connection module is among a plurality of different connection modules that are interchangeably electrically connectable with the vacuum interrupter and that enable the vacuum interrupter to be electrically connected with different electrical circuits.

3. A vacuum interruption apparatus that is structured to be electrically connected with an electrical circuit and that is movable between an OPEN condition and a CLOSED condition, the vacuum interruption apparatus comprising:
a vacuum interrupter having a first electrode and a second electrode;
a first connection module having a first insulator, a first connector, and a first terminal, the first connector and the first terminal being electrically connected together and being disposed on the first insulator, the first connector being electrically connected with the first electrode, the first terminal being structured to be electrically connected with one of a line side conductor and a load side conductor of the circuit;
a second connection module having a second insulator, a second connector, and a second terminal, the second connector and the second terminal being electrically connected together and being disposed on the second insulator, the second connector being electrically connected with the second electrode, the second terminal being structured to be electrically connected with the other of a line side conductor and a load side conductor of the circuit;
the first and second insulators being mechanically unconnected with one another; and
wherein the second connection module further comprises a drive mechanism that is operable to move the vacuum interrupter between its OPEN and CLOSED conditions.

4. The vacuum interruption apparatus of claim 3 wherein the vacuum interruption apparatus has a terminal spacing between the first and second terminals that is measured along an axis, and wherein the second insulator has a physical dimension as measured along the axis between the second terminal and an external surface of the second insulator, the second connection module being among a plurality of different second connection modules having different physical dimensions as measured along the axis that are interchangeably electrically connectable with the second electrode.

5. The vacuum interruption apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second insulators are spaced apart.

6. The vacuum interruption apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the vacuum interrupter is disposed between the first and second connection modules.

7. The vacuum interruption apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first connector and the first terminal are each at least partially encapsulated in the first insulator, and wherein the second connector and the second terminal are each at least partially encapsulated in the second insulator.

8. A connection module structured to be electrically connected with an electrode of a vacuum interrupter that is movable between an OPEN condition and a CLOSED condition and that is structured to be electrically connected with an electrical circuit, the connection module comprising:
an insulator;
a connector;
a terminal;
the connector and the terminal being electrically connected together and being disposed on the insulator;
the connector being electrically connectable with the electrode and being electrically disconnectable from the electrode;
the terminal being structured to be electrically connected with one of a line side conductor and a load side conductor of the electrical circuit; and
wherein the second connection module further comprises a drive mechanism that is operable to move the vacuum interrupter between its OPEN and CLOSED conditions.

9. The connection module of claim 8 wherein the connection module is among a plurality of different connection modules that are interchangeably electrically connectable with the electrode and that are electrically disconnectable from the electrode and that enable the vacuum interrupter to be electrically connected with different electrical circuits via the terminal.

10. The connection module of claim 8 wherein the insulator has a physical dimension as measured along an axis between the terminal and an external surface of the insulator, the connection module being among a plurality of different connection modules having different physical dimensions as measured along the axis that are interchangeably electrically connectable with the electrode and electrically disconnectable from the electrode.

11. The connection module of claim 8 wherein the connector and the terminal are each at least partially encapsulated in the insulator.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Chen Steven Zhenghong
• Ricciuti Anthony Thomas
• Ye Liping
• Leccia Brad Robert

Classifications

• H01H33/6606

  Terminal arrangements · CPC title

• H01H33/664 Primary

  Contacts; Arc-extinguishing means, e.g. arcing rings · CPC title

• H01H9/08 Primary

  Arrangements to facilitate replacement of a switch, e.g. cartridge housing · CPC title

• H01H33/666

  Operating arrangements · CPC title

• H01H2033/6665

  Details concerning the mounting or supporting of the individual vacuum bottles · CPC title