Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a vacuum valve.
A movable side electrode 606 is disposed to face the fixed side electrode 605. The movable side electrode 606 is fixed to one end of a movable side conductor 607 which passes though an opening of the movable side sealing metal fitting 603, and can move along the opening. A magnetic field (vertical magnetic field) is axially generated by the fixed side electrode 605 and the movable side electrode 606.
One end of elastic bellows 608 is fixed to the intermediate part of the movable side conductor 607. The other end of the bellows 608 is fixed to the movable side sealing metal fitting 603. A cylindrical shield 609 is disposed to surround the electrodes 605, 606 and is fixed to the inside of the insulation vessel 601.
The vacuum valve configured as mentioned above is molded by insulating material, for example a resin, and an insulating part 610 is formed. A conductive part 611 is formed on the outer circumference of the insulating part 610 by application of conductive paint. The conductive paint is, for example, silver paint.
In the above-mentioned vacuum valve, when an operating mechanism not shown is driven, the movable side conductor 607 which is connected to the operating mechanism moves axially. Then, the fixed electrode 605 and the movable electrode 606 can be electrically brought into contact or out of contact with each other. When the fixed electrode 605 and the movable electrode 606 are separated from each other, an arc occurs. However, the arc is diffused throughout contact points of the electrodes 605,606 by the effect of the vertical magnetic field.
On the other hand, if the distance between the electrodes 605,606 is large, intensity of the vertical magnetic field is lower. It may be difficult for the vertical magnetic field to diffuse the arc throughout the contact points of the electrodes 605,606. If the curvature radius at the ends of the contact points of the electrodes 605,606 is enlarged for electric field relief, the thickness of the contact points becomes thick, and the distance between the electrodes 605,606 and the arc also becomes large. Therefore, the intensity of the vertical magnetic field lowers, and it may be necessary to enlarge the electrodes 605,606 in order to interrupt high electric current.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum valve capable of improving intensity of a vertical magnetic field which is generated between electrodes of the vacuum valve.
A vacuum valve according to embodiments of the present disclosure, comprising: an electrode having a first surface which a hollow part is formed on, which electrode spiral slits slantingly cross an axial direction are formed on outer circumference of, a conductor fixed on a second surface of the electrode, which second surface is opposite the first surface, a contact point having a first concavity which opens to the conductor side, which contact point is fixed on the first surface of the electrode, and a connecting plate whose resistivity is lower than one of the contact point, which connecting plate is disposed inside the first concavity, and connecting plate slits which extend inward from circumference as a starting point are formed on, wherein central axes of the connecting plate slits incline in a rotatory direction of the spiral of the electrode slits against a line which connects a center point of the connecting plate and a center point of a radial direction on the starting point of the connecting plate slits, as viewed from the contact point side.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Since the configuration of the whole vacuum valve is similar to one of a conventional vacuum valve illustrated in
Since the configuration of a fixed side electrode part and one of a movable side electrode part are same, only one electrode part 100 will be described in
The electrode part 100 of the vacuum valve according to the first embodiment includes an electrode 101, a contact point 102, a conductor 103, a reinforcing member 104 and a connecting plate 105.
The electrode 101 is cup-shape. That is, the electrode 101 has a first surface which a hollow part 101b is formed on. The electrode 101 is made of material with high electric conductivity, for example copper. Two or more spiral electrode slits 101a which slantingly cross an axial direction of the electrode 101 are formed on the outer circumference of the electrode 101. A first surface of the contact point 102 is fixed on the first surface of the electrode 101. The contact point 102 is made of material which is excellent in the interruption performance, for example an alloy of copper and chromium. A second surface of the contact point 102 can be brought into contact or out of contact with a contact point (not shown) which is disposed to face the contact point 102.
The conductor 103 is fixed on a second surface of the electrode 101, which second surface is opposite the first surface of the electrode 101. Electric current flows into the conductor 103 in its axial direction.
The reinforcing member 104 is disposed inside the hollow part 101b. The reinforcing member 104 mechanically supports and fixes the bottom of the hollow part 101b and the first surface of the contact point 102. The reinforcing member 104 is made of, for example, insulating material or stainless steel.
The contact point 102 has a first concavity 102a on the first surface. The first concavity 102a opens to the conductor 103 side. The connecting plate 105 is disposed inside the first concavity 102a and is made of material whose resistivity is lower than one of the contact point 102. Such material is, for example, copper.
As shown in
In
Next, the operation of the vacuum valve of the first embodiment will be described with reference to
The first surface of the electrode 101 makes contact with both of the contact point 102 and the connecting plate 105. Since the connecting plate 105 is made of material whose resistivity is lower than one of the contact point 102, the resistance of the connecting plate 105 is small. Therefore, when electric current is interrupted, a lot of electric current which flows through the electrode part 100 flows through the conductor 103, the electrode 101, the connecting plate 105 and the contact point 102 in order. Then, it flows into the contact point (not shown) disposed to face the contact point 102 via an arc which occurs between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown).
The direction of electric current 14 which flows from the conductor 13 into the electrode 101 is limited by the electrode slits 101a. That is, the electric current 14 passes between the electrode slits 101a, as shown in
Also, the central axes 10 of the connecting plate slits 105a incline in the rotatory direction of the spiral of the electrode slits 101a (it is “right” in
Therefore, the direction of electric current 15 which flows through the connecting plate 105 is limited by the connecting plate slits 105a, as shown in
According to the vacuum valve of the first embodiment as described above, in addition to the vertical magnetic field generated by the electric current 14 which flows through the electrode 101, the same-direction vertical magnetic field is also generated by the electric current 15 which flows through the connecting plate 105. Therefore, intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it can improve.
Even if the distance between the electrodes disposed to face each other is large, or the thickness of the contact point 102 is thick, enough vertical magnetic fields are generated. It is possible to control the arc efficiently, so that the arc is diffused throughout the contact point 102. For these reasons, even when high electric current is interrupted, it is not necessary to enlarge either the electrode 101 or contact point 102, and the cost can be reduced.
As shown in
It is possible to strengthen further the intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it.
The configuration of a second embodiment will be described with reference to
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a gap 201 is formed between the electrode 101 and the contact point 102. The electrode 101 makes contact with only the connecting plate 105.
According to the vacuum valve as configured above, electric current which flows through the electrode 101 from the conductor 103 does not flow into the contact point 102 directly, but all the electric current flows into the connecting plate 105. Therefore, the electric current 15 which flows through the connecting plate 105 increases. It is possible to further strengthen the intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
The configuration of a third embodiment will be described with reference to
The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in including contacting portions 301. The contacting portions 301 are formed between the electrode 101 and the contact point 102. That is, the electrode 101 and the contact point 102 do not make contact with each other except the contacting portions 301.
The contacting portions 301 are located at the opposite side to the rotatory direction of the spiral of the electrode slits 101a with respect to the electrode slits 101a (left side along the circumferential direction with respect to the electrode slits 101a in
According to the vacuum valve as configured above, all electric current which flows through the electrode 101 from the conductor 103 flows into the connecting plate 105 via the contacting portions 301. Therefore, the electric current 15 which flows through connecting plate 105 increases. It is possible to further strengthen the intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
Since the contacting portions 301 are located at the opposite side to the rotatory direction of the spiral of the electrode slits 101a with respect to the electrode slits 101a, as viewed from the contact point 102 side, and disposed near the electrode slits 101a, the circumferential-direction component of the electric current 14 which flows through the electrode 101 increases. It is possible to further strengthen the intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it.
same parts as those of the first embodiment will be designated by like reference symbols with no description made thereon.
The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the connecting plate slits 105a are formed as inclined along the direction of the spiral of the electrode slits 101a.
According to the vacuum valve as configured above, the direction of electric current which flows into the connecting plate 105 is limited by the connecting plate slits 105a (electric current 17 in
The configuration of a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to
The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a hollow 501 is formed on the second surface of the contact point 102.
When the contact point 102 is brought into contact with the contact point (not shown) which is disposed to face it, they are brought into contact with each other in the contacting portion 18. That is because the hollow 501 is formed on the second surface of the contact point 102. The arc occurs in the contacting portion 18 when the contact points are separated from each other. The inside of the broken line A corresponds to the hollow 501 in
The connecting plate slits 105a reach to the inside of the broken line A which corresponds to the hollow 501 from the starting point on the circumference of the connecting plate 105. That is, the area C is located between the connecting plate slits 105a.
The direction of electric current which flows through the area C of the connecting plate 105 is limited by the connecting plate slits 105a. Since the circumferential-direction component of the electric current increases, a high intensity vertical magnetic field is generated in the area C. The arc occurs in the contacting portion 18 corresponding to the area C in which the high intensity vertical magnetic field is generated by the hollow 501. Therefore, the arc can be affected by the vertical magnetic field further.
It is possible to control the arc stably, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
The configuration of a sixth embodiment will be described with reference to
The sixth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in including a cylindrical magnetic substance 401.
The magnetic substance 401 is made of, for example pure iron, and disposed inside of the hollow part 101b of the electrode 101. Gaps are formed between the magnetic substance 401 and the inside surface of the electrode 101, and between the magnetic substance 401 and the connecting plate 105, respectively, so that they are not electrically connected each other. Instead of forming the gaps, a high resistant substance or an insulator may be disposed between the magnetic substance 401 and the inside surface of the electrode 101, and between the magnetic substance 401 and the connecting plate 105, respectively.
According to the vacuum valve of the sixth embodiment as described above, the magnetic substance 401 which has low magnetic resistance is disposed inside of the hollow part 101b of the electrode 101. Therefore, it is possible to further strengthen the intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
The configuration of a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to
The seventh embodiment differs from the first embodiment in including a second concavity 701.
The connecting plate 105 has a second concavity 701 which opens to the conductor 103 side. The size of the radial direction of the second concavity 701 is almost the same (including just the same) as the size of the hollow part 101b.
According to the vacuum valve of the seventh embodiment as described above, the connecting plate 105 has the second concavity 701. Therefore, electric current which flows through the connecting plate 105 passes near the contact point 102, that is, the electric current passes near the arc which occurs between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown).
For these reasons, the arc can be affected by the vertical magnetic field further, and it is possible to control the arc more stably, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.
The configuration of an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to
The eighth embodiment differs from the sixth embodiment and the seventh embodiment in that the vacuum valve has the magnetic substance 401 and the second concavity 701, and the magnetic substance 401 extends toward the inside of the second concavity 701 from the hollow part 101b.
According to the vacuum valve of the seventh embodiment as described above, the magnetic substance 401 is disposed near the arc which occurs between the contact point 102 and the contact point (not shown).
Therefore, the arc can be affected by the vertical magnetic field further, and it is possible to control the arc more stably, in addition to the effects obtained in the sixth embodiment or the seventh embodiment.
The configuration of a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to
The ninth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the electrode part 900.
The electrode part 900 includes a conductor 901, a contact point 902, an electrode 903, and a connecting plate 904. The electrode 903 includes an arm 905, an arc part 906, and a connecting pin 907.
The arm 905 which extends to an outer side in a vertical direction with respect to an axial direction of the conductor 901 is fixed to an axial end of the conductor 901. The arc part 906 is supported at the tip of the arm 905, and formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction around the conductor 901.
The connecting pin 907 is formed at the tip of the arc part 906. The arc part 906 is electrically connected with the contact point 902 via the connecting pin 907. The contact point 902 can be brought into contact or out of contact with a contact point (not shown) which is disposed to face it.
The contact point 902 has a first concavity 902a which opens to the conductor 901 side. The connecting plate 904 is disposed inside the first concavity 902a and is made of material whose resistivity is lower than one of the contact point 902. Such material is, for example, copper.
As shown in
In
As shown in
According to the vacuum valve as configured above, when interception operation is performed, an accidental current or a load current flows into the contact point (not shown) disposed to face the contact point 902 from the conductor 901 via the arm 905, the arc part 906, the connecting pin 907, the connecting plate 904, and the contact point 902.
A magnetic field (vertical magnetic field) is axially generated (upward in
The direction of electric current 25 which flows through the connecting plate 904 is limited by the connecting plate slits 904a, as shown in
According to the vacuum valve of the ninth embodiment as described above, in addition to the vertical magnetic field generated by the electric current 24 which flows through arc part 906 of the electrode 903, the same-direction vertical magnetic field is also generated by the electric current 25 which flows through the connecting plate 904. Therefore, intensity of the vertical magnetic field which is generated between the contact point 902 and the contact point (not shown) disposed to face it can improve.
Even if the distance between the electrodes disposed to face each other is large, or the thickness of the contact point 902 is thick, enough vertical magnetic fields are generated. It is possible to control the arc efficiently, so that the arc is diffused throughout the contact point 902. For these reasons, even when high electric current is interrupted, it is not necessary to enlarge either the electrode 903 or contact point 902, and the cost can be reduced.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. These embodiments can be modified in many different forms. Various kinds of omission, substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. These embodiments and the modifications thereof fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and are included in the scope of the present disclosure recited in the claims and the equivalent thereof.
100, 900: electrode part, 101, 903: electrode, 101a: electrode slits, 101b: hollow part, 102, 902: contact point, 102a, 902a: first concavity, 103, 901: conductor, 104: reinforcing member, 105, 904: connecting plate, 105a, 904a: connecting plate slits, 201: gap, 301: contacting portions, 401: magnetic substance, 501: hollow, 601: insulation vessel, 602: fixed side sealing metal fitting, 603: movable side sealing metal fitting, 604: fixed side conductor, 605: fixed side electrode, 606: movable side electrode, 607: movable side conductor, 608: bellows, 609: shield, 610: insulating part, 611: conductive part, 701: second concavity, 905: arm, 906: arc part, 907: connecting pin
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014-085371 | Apr 2014 | JP | national |
This application is a By-Pass Continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/000872, filed on Feb. 23, 2015, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-085371, filed on Apr. 17, 2014, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170032914 A1 | Feb 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2015/000872 | Feb 2015 | US |
Child | 15295263 | US |