The invention relates to a self-energy arc extinguishing chamber and a
circuit breaker employing the same. The self-energy arc extinguishing chamber comprises a shell, wherein a
piston cylinder barreland a
piston cylinder bottom are arranged in the shell, a
piston structure is arranged in the
piston cylinder barrel and the
piston cylinder bottom and moves in reciprocating way in response to breaking and closing operation of the arc extinguishing chamber, the piston structure, the
piston cylinder barrel and the piston cylinder bottom form an air press chamber, a movable arc contact, a
nozzle and an
expansion chamber are arranged on the piston structure, the
expansion chamber is corresponding to the movable arc contact and the
nozzle, a pressure
relief valve structure is arranged on the airpress chamber and is used for reducing pressure when the arc extinguishing chamber is broken, an air supplement passage is arranged on the air press chamber, and an air supplement valve structure isarranged on the air supplement passage and is opened to supplement air to the air press chamber when the arc extinguishing chamber is closed. The
internal pressure of the air press chamber is abruptlyreduced during closing operation of the
circuit breaker, the air supplement valve structure is opened, external
sulfur hexafluoride gas rapidly enters the air press chamber through the air supplementpassage, the closing and air supplement operation is completed, the internal and
external pressure difference is balanced, the closing resistance is effectively reduced, and the closing operation work is reduced.