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JP-2026075606-A - Circuit breaker

JP2026075606AJP 2026075606 AJP2026075606 AJP 2026075606AJP-2026075606-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a circuit breaker, particularly a high-voltage circuit breaker, that offers improved arc cooling and/or arc extinguishing. [Solution] The present invention relates to a circuit breaker (10) comprising a first electrical contact (11) and a second electrical contact (12) arranged to be movable relative to each other in a direction of movement (D). Within the first electrical contact (11) is provided an internal hollow space (27) which is fluidly connected to at least one gas flow opening (24) provided in the distal end region of the first electrical contact (11). While the first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (12) move relative to each other in the direction of movement (D), a gas flow may be generated through the internal hollow space (27) and at least one gas flow opening (24) for the purpose of cooling at least the distal end of the first electrical contact (11) in order to avoid the generation of an electric arc between the two electrical contacts (11, 12). [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • ルドヴィック・ダーレス
  • シリル・グレゴワー
  • ダン・ルシウス・ペナッシュ
  • マルソー・シャバス

Assignees

  • ジーイー・ベルノバ・テクノロジー・ゲーエムベーハー

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20251010
Priority Date
20241022

Claims (20)

  1. A circuit breaker (10) comprising a first electrical contact (11) having an outer contact surface (14), a second electrical contact (12) having an inner contact surface (15), and a gas flow generator (30), The first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (12) are supported so as to be movable relative to each other in a direction (D) between a contact position (CP) and a blocking position (BP), At the aforementioned contact position (CP), the inner contact surface (15) of the second electrical contact (12) is in contact with the outer contact surface (14) of the first electrical contact (11). In the blocking position (BP), the inner contact surface (15) of the second electrical contact (12) and the outer contact surface (14) of the first electrical contact (11) are arranged at a distance from each other. The first electrical contact (11) comprises an internal hollow space (27) and at least one gas flow opening (24) provided at the distal end (16) of the first electrical contact (11) and opening into the internal hollow space (27), and the gas flow generating device (30) is fluidly connected to the at least one gas flow opening (24) via the internal hollow space (27). Circuit breaker (10).
  2. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 1, wherein the gas flow generating device (30) comprises at least one gas compartment (28, 29).
  3. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 2, wherein one gas compartment (28) is fluidically connected to or part of the hollow space (27), and the gas compartment (29) is preferably exclusively fluidly connected to the at least one gas flow opening (24).
  4. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the gas compartments (28, 29) limits a certain volume and preferably does not have a movable volume-changing component.
  5. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first electrical contact (11) is a pin (20).
  6. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second electrical contact (12) is a socket (21).
  7. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first electrical contact (11) extends along a first central axis (C1), the second electrical contact (12) extends along a second central axis (C2), and the first central axis (C1) and the second central axis (C2) are oriented parallel to the direction of movement (D).
  8. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 7, wherein the at least one gas flow opening (24) comprises a central opening (25) through which the first central axis (C1) passes.
  9. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one gas flow opening (24) comprises at least one offset opening (26) positioned at a distance from the first central axis (C1).
  10. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 9, wherein the orientation of the opening axis (OA) of at least one offset opening (26) is inclined with respect to the first central axis (C1).
  11. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the gas flow generating device (30) is configured to generate a gas flow from the internal hollow space (27) to the outside of the at least one gas flow opening (24), and/or the gas flow generating device (30) is configured to generate a gas flow entering the internal hollow space (27) through the at least one gas flow opening (24).
  12. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the gas flow generating device (30) comprises a cylinder chamber (32) in which a piston (31) is arranged, and the cylinder chamber (32) and the piston (31) are movable relative to each other.
  13. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 12, wherein at least one section of the internal hollow space (27) forms the cylinder chamber (32).
  14. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 12, wherein the cylinder chamber (32) is located in the cylinder housing (34) outside the internal hollow space (27) and is fluidly connected to the internal hollow space (27).
  15. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a coupling arrangement (39) that couples at least two movable components together, such that the movement of one of the movable components generates the movement of at least one other movable component, wherein the at least two movable components are selected from the following components: the first electrical contact (11), the second electrical contact (12), and the movable components of the gas flow generator (30).
  16. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 15 and any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the coupling arrangement (39) couples at least two of the following components: the first electrical contact (11), the second electrical contact (12), and the piston (31).
  17. The circuit breaker (10) according to claim 15, wherein the coupling arrangement (39) is configured such that the first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (12) move in opposite directions.
  18. The aforementioned coupling configuration (39) is, (i) the piston (31) is stationary relative to the circuit breaker housing (13), or (ii) the piston (31) and the first electrical contact (11) move in the same direction with different path lengths, or (iii) the piston (31) and the first electrical contact (11) move in opposite directions, according to claim 16 or 17.
  19. A circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a pressure limiting device (35), preferably a spring-loaded pressure limiting valve (36).
  20. The circuit breaker (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a nozzle (45) in the gas flow path between the first electrical contact (11) and the second electrical contact (12).

Description

This invention relates to circuit breakers, particularly high-voltage circuit breakers, that provide improved arc cooling and/or arc extinguishing. In the field of circuit breaker technology, means and apparatus are known for providing means and devices for cooling or interrupting an electric arc when two electrical contacts of a circuit breaker are moved apart to interrupt the current flowing between them in a contact position (conductive state). Such arc generation is undesirable because the current flowing between the electrical contacts continues until the electric arc is extinguished. Furthermore, such electric arcs can stress the electrical contacts and shorten the lifespan of the circuit breaker. To cool and extinguish an electric arc, it is known that gases, particularly sulfur hexafluoride, are used to cool and shut off the arc. While the gas cooling methods used so far are adequate, it is desirable to improve arc cooling in order to cancel out arc generation and/or shorten the arc's lifespan, i.e., the duration from arc generation to extinguishment. Starting from there, the objective of the present invention is to improve the cooling and/or interruption of the electric arc formed in a circuit breaker during the interruption of the current flowing between the two electrical contacts of the circuit breaker. This objective is achieved by the circuit breaker described in claim 1. The circuit breaker according to the present invention compresses a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The first electrical contact has an outer contact surface, particularly in the region of its outer circumferential surface. The outer contact surface may be ring-shaped and/or have a cylindrical circumferential surface. The second electrical contact has an inner contact surface configured to abut the outer contact surface when the two electrical contacts are in contact position. The first contact can be a male contact, and the second contact can be a female contact. The first and second electrical contacts can move relative to each other in the direction of movement. They can move relative to each other between a contact position and a blocking position. In the blocking position, the two electrical contacts are positioned at a distance from each other, which is sufficient to avoid the formation of an electrical arc between the two contacts. At the contact position, the outer contact surface of the first electrical contact and the inner contact surface of the second electrical contact come into contact with each other, thereby establishing a reliable electrical connection. As a result, current can flow between the two electrical contacts. When the two electrical contacts move away from each other from the contact position, an electric arc may occur between the first and second electrical contacts, provided that the distance between the two electrical contacts is insufficient to avoid an electrical breakthrough. To cool and/or interrupt such an electric arc, the circuit breaker is configured to generate a gas flow in the region where two electrical contacts mechanically contact and/or are located in close proximity to each other. The circuit breaker may also be referred to as an arc-blast circuit breaker. To transport the gas to a location where an arc can be generated, the first electrical contact is provided with an internal hollow space, which can be formed by at least one chamber and/or at least one channel within the first electrical contact. This internal hollow space is fluidly connected to at least one gas flow opening of the first electrical contact. The gas flow opening is located at the distal end or tip of the first electrical contact. The distal end of the first electrical contact is the end that is closer to the second electrical contact when the two contacts are in the blocking position. The gas flow generator is fluidically connected to and/or may comprise at least partially the internal hollow space. Therefore, the gas flow generated by the gas flow generator can flow out of the first electrical contact through at least one gas flow opening, or into the internal hollow space of the first electrical contact, depending on whether the gas flow generator is configured to blow gas out of at least one gas flow opening or to draw gas into at least one gas flow opening. In particular, the gas flow generator can be configured to generate a gas flow as soon as the two electrical contacts move from their contact positions, or at least at the stage when mechanical contact between the first and second electrical contacts ends. In one embodiment, a gas flow is generated exclusively or at least partially by a pressure increase within the circuit breaker housing of a circuit breaker when an electric arc occurs. Specifically, the electric arc causes a temperature increase, which in turn increases the pressure of the gas supplied within the circuit breaker housing. Preferably, the gas flow generator compr