High-voltage switches with arc preventing or extinguishing devic – Arc preventing or extinguishing devices – Air-current blowout
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-08-28
Donovan, Lincoln N. (Department: 2832)
High-voltage switches with arc preventing or extinguishing devic
Arc preventing or extinguishing devices
Air-current blowout
C218S089000, C218S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281460
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a load break interrupter for suppressing arcing during opening of a blade-type disconnect switch and, more particularly, is concerned with such an interrupter having a diagonally split case with component mounting elements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the use of high voltage electrical transmission and distribution equipment, it is common practice to provide manually operable blade-type switches which can be opened as needed to break the flow of current in order that linemen can work on such equipment. These switches employ a pivotally movable blade-like contact electrically connected between a pair of fixed switch terminal contacts. When the movable contact of the switch is swung open by means of a conventional hot-line tool or the like, the circuit between the fixed terminal contacts is broken and the flow of current is interrupted. The fixed and movable contacts are in proximal relationship during opening and closing of the movable contact and the swinging movement of the movable contact away from the fixed contacts is slow relative to the current flow.
Because transmission and distribution lines carrying high voltages on the order of 15,000 volts or more will produce arcing which is damaging to the blade-type switch as the movable contact is swung away from the fixed contacts, it is also common practice to employ load break interrupters with such blade-type switches. One load break interrupter marketed under the trademark DuoGap by Hubbell Power Systems, Inc. of Centralia, Mo., a subsidiary of Hubbell Incorporated, is designed to overcome the problems associated with arcing across switch contacts. The Hubbell DuoGap interrupter is illustrated and described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,852 to Roberts et al. The Hubbell DuoGap interrupter basically includes a case, an arc-suppressing tube supported on the housing, a reciprocal shunt circuit rod slidably supported in the tube, electrical contacts spaced apart from one another on the rod and tube, and a spring-loaded trip mechanism disposed in the housing and coupled with the rod. Actuation of the trip mechanism pushes the rod through and relative to the tube to break an electrical shunt circuit between the electrical contacts on the rod and on the tube after the movable contact of the blade-type switch has separated from the fixed contacts thereof. Any arcing between the spaced apart electrical contacts on the interrupter rod and tube is confined to and suppressed inside the tube due to the presence of arc-suppressing material therein. The interrupter also includes a mechanism for resetting the interrupter to re-establish the shunt circuit through the interrupter after each actuation thereof.
The above-described Hubbell interrupter has performed highly satisfactorily over a prolonged period of commercial use. However, as with any successful product, the need arises from time to time to make improvements which will enhance its overall manufacture and operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a load break interrupter incorporating improved features that satisfies the aforementioned need. These features are a diagonally split case having component mounting elements, a shunt circuit break actuating mechanism, an arc-suppressing tube having a mechanically interlocked inner quench liner, and a vented muffler assembly on the arc-suppressing tube. One of these features, the diagonally split case with component mounting elements, constitutes the present invention of this application. This feature along with the other features constituting the inventions of the applications cross-referenced above increase reliability of the interrupter and simplify the manner of assembly and reduce the cost of the interrupter.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a load break interrupter which comprises: (a) a case having a housing and a cover attached to the housing and forming an interior chamber with the housing; (b) an arc-suppressing tube attached on and extending outwardly from the case; (c) a shunt circuit rod slidably supported in the tube for making and breaking a shunt circuit upon sliding of the rod into and from the tube; and (d) a shunt circuit break actuating mechanism disposed in the interior chamber of the case and coupled with the rod such that tripping of the actuating mechanism from a shunt circuit-defining position to a shunt circuit-breaking position causes the rod to at least partially extend into the case from the tube thereby breaking the shunt circuit such that any arcing that occurs upon breaking of the shunt circuit is confined and suppressed inside the tube.
More particularly, the case is split diagonally so as to provide the cover and housing. The shunt circuit break actuating mechanism is disposed in the interior chamber of the case and the housing and cover of the case have respective elements formed thereon which extend into the interior chamber and cooperate together so as to mount and retain components of the shunt circuit break actuating mechanism in operative relationship to one another. The housing and cover of the case also have respective guide elements formed thereon which extend into the interior chamber and cooperate together so as to guide movement of the shunt circuit rod in the interior chamber.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2710897 (1955-06-01), Lindell
patent: 2923799 (1960-02-01), Polgou et al.
patent: 3223810 (1965-12-01), Jelinek
patent: 3471669 (1969-10-01), Curtis
patent: 3739122 (1973-06-01), Pierzchala
patent: 3909570 (1975-09-01), Harner et al.
patent: 4011426 (1977-03-01), Lange
patent: 4013852 (1997-03-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 4103129 (1978-07-01), Evans et al.
patent: 4459447 (1984-07-01), Arimoto
patent: 4492835 (1985-01-01), Turner
patent: 5847630 (1998-12-01), Arnold et al.
'Hubbell Incorporated
Donovan Lincoln N.
Nguyen Tyler T.
Swartz Michael R.
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