This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง119 to European Patent Application No. 08021977.7 filed in Europe on Dec. 18, 2008, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a short-circuit device for medium and high-voltage switching devices, in which at least one moving contact is moved onto a fixed contact by means of a propelling charge.
A short-circuit device has been disclosed in DE 102 54 497 B3 in which a propelling charge is provided for moving the moving contact. An effective and mechanically fast contact closure can be achieved in this way.
An exemplary embodiment provides a short-circuit device comprising a first contact arrangement, which includes a first moving contact, a first fixed contact, and a mechanical ignition device configured to provide a propelling charge when the first moving contact comes into contact with the first fixed contact. The exemplary short-circuit device also comprises a second contact arrangement arranged in series with the first contact arrangement, the second contact arrangement including a second moving contact and a second fixed contact. When the first moving contact comes into contact with the first fixed contact, the mechanical ignition device of the first contact arrangement is configured to mechanically ignite the propelling charge and cause the second moving contact to be propelled toward the second fixed contact.
Additional refinements, advantages and features of the present disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a short-circuit device having a high dielectric strength.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a short-circuit device comprises two contact arrangements connected in series, wherein a fixed contact and a moving contact are respectively provided in each one of the contact arrangements, such that a first contact arrangement includes a first moving contact and a first fixed contact, and a second contact arrangement includes a second moving contact and a second fixed contact. The first moving contact is caused to come into contact with the first fixed contact. The first fixed contact contains a mechanical ignition device that provides a propelling charge for the second moving contact of the second contact arrangement such that when the first moving contact reaches the first fixed contact of the first contact arrangement, a propelling charge is mechanically ignited for the second moving contact. This mechanically forces a successive sequence of firing of the propelling charges that is achieved in a reliable manner.
According to this exemplary embodiment, a high dielectric strength is achieved by spreading the short-circuit device across two contacts in series.
An exemplary embodiment provides that each moving contact is connected to a piston-cylinder unit in which one or more propelling charges are arranged. This feature provides a reliable operational implementation of the stated functional requirement.
An exemplary embodiment provides that a gas-tight membrane, which is punctured by the piston at intended breakpoints when the propelling charge is ignited, is provided between piston and contact piece. This feature makes it possible to design the remaining part of the contact area in the form of a vacuum chamber, for example.
An exemplary embodiment provides that at least the chambers in which the switching path lies can be vacuum chambers, for example.
An exemplary embodiment provides that in each contact arrangement, a plurality of metallic screen elements, which are each separated from one another by a gap, are provided around each moving contact along a switching path.
An exemplary embodiment provides that the moving contacts can be designed with a conical shape and that the respective fixed contacts can be provided with an inner cone in a complimentary manner. This feature provides a large-area contact for the contact surfaces.
An exemplary embodiment provides that the series-connected switches can be arranged in a common insulation-encapsulated housing.
An exemplary embodiment of a short-circuit device is shown in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Similar to the first contact arrangement, a piston 45 is activated and propelled in the direction of the second fixed contact 150 when the second propelling charge 110 is ignited. The piston 45, upon being activated, penetrates the intended break line and/or break points of a membrane 55 and causes the second moving contact 170 to be propelled and move toward the opposing second fixed contact 150 until the second moving contact also closes at the second fixed contact 150. In both cases of the first and second contact arrangements, current can be transmitted by means of conductor lines 140 and/or sliding contacts 30 on the respective pistons 40, 45 and the respective moving contacts 60, 170. The pistons 40, 45 are configured to move within a respective cylinder 120, as shown in
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Alternatively, all contact pairs can be arranged in a common vacuum chamber, and the common vacuum chamber can be divided into different sub-chambers separated by membranes 50, 55, for example.
A plurality of screens 70, each separated from one another by an air gap, can be arranged in a substantially linear arrangement along both switching paths.
Overall, this results in a design of short-circuit device in which a high dielectric strength is achieved, because the voltage is divided between two switching sub-sections, i.e., the first and second contact arrangements. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In the exemplary embodiment of
Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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08021977 | Dec 2008 | EP | regional |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4224491 | Kroon | Sep 1980 | A |
4527025 | Patrichi et al. | Jul 1985 | A |
7772958 | Schlotzer | Aug 2010 | B2 |
20100219162 | Gentsch | Sep 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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94 19 141 | May 1996 | DE |
102 54 497 | Jun 2004 | DE |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100155371 A1 | Jun 2010 | US |