Switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9502195-B2
Application number	US-201314647929-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2013
Priority date	Dec 5, 2012
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A switching device includes a contact system having a movable contact to be moved along a movement direction, a stationary contact and an improved arc quenching device with a configuration for generating a magnetic field formed in a plane perpendicular to the movement direction and an electrode configuration having a first electrode conductively connected to the movable contact and a second electrode conductively connected to the stationary contact. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in such a way that an electric field can be generated between the first electrode and the second electrode perpendicularly to the direction of movement and perpendicularly to the magnetic field.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switching device, comprising:
a contact system having a movable contact being movable along a movement direction and a stationary contact;
an arc quenching device having a configuration for generating a magnetic field in a plane perpendicular to said movement direction and an electrode configuration having a first electrode being conductively connected to said movable contact and a second electrode being conductively connected to said stationary contact;
said first electrode and said second electrode being disposed for forming an electric field between said first electrode and said second electrode perpendicular to said movement direction and perpendicular to said magnetic field;
said contacts of said contact system being separated in an event of a short-circuit current and forming an arc having electrically conductive charged plasma particles;
the magnetic field generating the electric field and causing a movement of the plasma particles of the arc toward said electrodes; and
the movement of the plasma particles in the magnetic field creating an electric field generating a countercurrent formed counter to an externally applied voltage and counteracting an arc voltage and causing or supporting arc quenching.

2. The switching device according to claim 1 , wherein:
said stationary contact has an electrical connection line forming a current loop; and
said configuration for generating said magnetic field includes a U-shaped iron core having a base disposed between said stationary contact and said electrical connection line and two limbs extending along said contact system and around said core.

3. The switching device according to claim 2 , wherein:
said first electrode extends laterally from said movable contact in a direction towards said stationary contact;
said second electrode extends laterally from said stationary contact in a direction towards said movable contact; and
said first electrode and said second electrode extend along and around an intermediate space formed between said movable contact and said stationary contact when said contact system is interrupted.

4. The switching device according to claim 1 , which further comprises:
a first electrical connection of the switching device;
a first sliding contact or flexible conductor; and
a drive;
said movable contact being mechanically coupled to said drive in an electrically insulated manner and conductively connected to said first electrical connection of the switching device by said first sliding contact or flexible conductor.

5. The switching device according to claim 4 , which further comprises:
a second sliding contact or second flexible conductor;
said first electrode being conductively connected to said first electrical connection of the switching device by said second sliding contact or second flexible conductor.

6. The switching device according to claim 1 , which further comprises a vacuum-tight housing in which said contact system and said arc quenching device are disposed, and a movable contact connection bolt being vacuum-tightly and movably led out of said vacuum-tight housing.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Freundt Karsten

Classifications

• H01H9/44 Primary

  using blow-out magnet · CPC title

• H01H2009/365

  using U-shaped plates · CPC title

• H01H33/6641

  making use of a separate coil · CPC title

• H01H33/18 Primary

  using blow-out magnet {(for vacuum switches H01H33/664)} · CPC title