Vacuum circuit interrupter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9842713-B2
Application number	US-201615084871-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 30, 2016
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

A vacuum interrupter assembly is provided. The vacuum interrupter assembly includes an operating mechanism, a vacuum chamber including a number of bellows assemblies, a conductor assembly including a first contact assembly and a second contact assembly, the first contact assembly including a stem and a contact member, the first contact assembly stem including an elongated body with a proximal first end, a medial portion, and a distal second end. The first contact assembly stem body has a reduced length. The first contact assembly stem body having a reduced length generates less heat and electrical resistance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum interrupter assembly comprising:
an operating mechanism;
a vacuum chamber including a number of bellows assemblies;
a conductor assembly including a first contact assembly and a second contact assembly;
said first contact assembly including a stem and a contact member;
said first contact assembly stem including an elongated body with a proximal first end, a medial portion, and a distal second end;
said first contact assembly contact member coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first contact assembly stem body second end;
said first contact assembly contact member disposed in said vacuum chamber;
said second contact assembly including a stem and a contact member;
said second contact assembly stem including an elongated body with a proximal first end, a medial portion, and a distal second end;
said second contact assembly contact member coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said second contact assembly stem body second end;
said second contact assembly contact member disposed in said vacuum chamber;
said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said first contact assembly stem body first end, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is structured to move between a first position, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is not directly coupled to said second contact assembly contact member, and a second position, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is coupled to, and in electrical communication with said second contact assembly contact member;
wherein said first contact assembly stem body has a reduced length;
said number of bellows assemblies includes a first bellows assembly;
wherein said first bellows assembly is a metal weld bellows;
wherein said first bellows assembly is configured as a pressurized bellows;
wherein said first bellows assembly includes an anti-twist bushing assembly;
said bushing assembly including a collar portion and a sheath portion;
said bushing assembly collar portion including a generally planar body defining a central opening, said bushing assembly collar portion body central opening generally corresponding to said first contact assembly stem body first end; and
said bushing assembly sheath portion including a generally cylindrical body defining a central passage, said bushing assembly sheath portion body central passage generally corresponding to said first contact assembly stem body first end and said first contact assembly stem body medial portion.

2. The vacuum interrupter assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first contact assembly stem body generally extends through said first bellows assembly defining an interior bellows space;
said bushing assembly collar portion body includes a first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface;
said bushing assembly collar portion body includes a number of fluid passages extending from said bushing assembly collar portion body first planar surface to said bushing assembly collar portion body second planar surface; and
said bushing assembly collar portion body fluid passages are in fluid communication with said interior bellows space.

3. A vacuum interrupter assembly comprising:
an operating mechanism;
a vacuum chamber including a number of bellows assemblies;
a conductor assembly including a first contact assembly and a second contact assembly;
said first contact assembly including a stem and a contact member;
said first contact assembly stem including an elongated body with a proximal first end, a medial portion, and a distal second end;
said first contact assembly contact member coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first contact assembly stem body second end;
said first contact assembly contact member disposed in said vacuum chamber;
said second contact assembly including a stem and a contact member;
said second contact assembly stem including an elongated body with a proximal first end, a medial portion, and a distal second end;
said second contact assembly contact member coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said second contact assembly stem body second end;
said second contact assembly contact member disposed in said vacuum chamber;
said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said first contact assembly stem body first end, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is structured to move between a first position, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is not directly coupled to said second contact assembly contact member, and a second position, wherein said first contact assembly contact member is coupled to, and in electrical communication with said second contact assembly contact member;
wherein said first contact assembly stem body has a reduced length;
said vacuum chamber includes a first seal cup;
said first seal cup disposed in an inverted orientation and defining a cavity in said vacuum chamber;
said conductor assembly including a first flex connection assembly, said first flex connection assembly including a fixed coupling and a movable coupling, wherein said first flex connection assembly fixed coupling and said first flex connection assembly movable coupling are coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each other;
said first flex connection assembly disposed in said first seal cup cavity; and
wherein said first flex connection assembly movable coupling is temporarily coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first contact assembly stem body first end.

4. The vacuum interrupter assembly of claim 3 wherein:
said first flex connection assembly includes a number of flexible conductors:
each said first flex connection assembly flexible conductor including a first end and a second end;
each said first flex connection assembly flexible conductor first end coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first flex connection assembly fixed coupling;
each said first flex connection assembly flexible conductor second end coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said first flex connection assembly movable coupling;
said first contact assembly stem body first end including a center; and
said number of first flex connection assembly flexible conductors disposed about said first contact assembly stem body first end center.

5. The vacuum interrupter assembly of claim 4 wherein:
said operating mechanism includes an elongated actuator link member;
said actuator link member temporarily coupled to said first flex connection assembly movable coupling;
said actuator link member including a body; and
wherein said actuator link member body has a reduced mass.

6. The vacuum interrupter assembly of claim 3 wherein:
said vacuum chamber includes a second seal cup;
said second seal cup disposed in an inverted orientation and defining a cavity in said vacuum chamber;
said conductor assembly including a second flex connection assembly, said second flex connection assembly including a fixed coupling and a movable coupling, wherein said second flex connection assembly fixed coupling and said second flex connection assembly movable coupling are coupled to, and in electrical communication with, each other;
said second flex connection assembly disposed in said second seal cup cavity; and
wherein said second flex connection assembly movable coupling is temporarily coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said second contact assembly stem body first end.

7. A vacuum circuit interrupter comprising:
a low voltage portion, and high voltage portion;
said low voltage portion operatively coupled to said high voltage portion;
said high voltage portion including a line terminal, a load terminal, and a vacuum interrupter assembly;
said load termin

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Yu Li
• Leusenkamp Martin Bernardus Johannes
• Yang He
• Hou Wenjie
• Li Yucheng
• Yan Jun

Classifications

• H01H2033/66253

  Details relating to the prevention of unwanted rotation of the contact rod in vacuum switch bellows · CPC title

• H01H33/88

  the flow of arc-extinguishing fluid being produced or increased by movement of pistons or other pressure-producing parts · CPC title

• H01H33/666 Primary

  Operating arrangements · CPC title

• H01H1/62

  Heating or cooling of contacts · CPC title

• H01H33/664

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