A vacuum interrupter that divides the arc using multiple contact pieces

Abstract

The present invention discloses a vacuum interrupter that utilizes multiple contact pieces to divide the arc. By installing n contact pieces between the moving and stationary electrode contacts of the vacuum interrupter, n+1 short vacuum gaps, approximately connected in series, are artificially constructed, where n ≥ 2. During closing, the contact piece is sandwiched between the moving and stationary electrode contacts, ensuring close contact between the moving and stationary electrode contacts, ensuring normal current flow. During opening, after the moving electrode contact is actuated, the contact piece naturally falls under the action of gravity, but is held between the two contacts by the elastic force of a double-hook spring and the tension of a hook ring, dividing the vacuum gap into n+1 approximately series-connected gaps, thereby alleviating the saturation effect of long vacuum gaps.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of vacuum interrupters, and in particular relates to a vacuum interrupter that utilizes a plurality of contact pieces to divide an arc. Background Art

[0002] Vacuum circuit breakers are widely used in medium and low voltage systems due to their strong arc extinguishing capability, fast dielectric recovery, and environmental friendliness. However, a nonlinear saturation effect exists between the vacuum gap and the breakdown voltage. As the gap increases, the breakdown voltage increases slowly, hindering the development of single-break vacuum circuit breakers in the high voltage range.

[0003] Connecting multiple short vacuum gaps in series to form a multi-break vacuum circuit breaker is one effective way to increase the voltage rating of circuit breakers. By providing multiple breakpoints within a single switch, each breakpoint bears a smaller voltage and current, thereby improving overall breaking performance. However, widespread adoption and application of this technology still faces numerous difficulties and challenges, such as addressing the decentralized nature of the mechanical linkage mechanism, uneven voltage distribution across the breakpoints, and low levels of integration. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the problems existing in the prior art and improve the insulation level of a single-break vacuum interrupter, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a vacuum interrupter that uses multiple contact pieces to divide the arc. The present invention installs n contact pieces between the moving-end electrode contact and the static-end electrode contact of the vacuum interrupter, and divides the vacuum gap into n+1 fractures that are approximately connected in series when the arc is interrupted. This fully utilizes the insulation and arc-extinguishing capabilities of each short vacuum gap, alleviates the saturation effect of a long vacuum gap, and thus effectively improves the voltage tolerance and breaking level of the vacuum interrupter.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A vacuum interrupter that utilizes multiple contact pieces to divide an arc. N contact pieces 2 are installed between a moving electrode contact 3 and a stationary electrode contact 5 of the vacuum interrupter, where n ≥ 2. When the arc is interrupted, n+1 approximately series-connected short vacuum gaps are formed between the moving electrode contact 3 and the stationary electrode contact 5 of the vacuum interrupter through isolation by the contact pieces 2. This effectively alleviates the saturation effect of a long vacuum gap and improves the voltage withstand capability and interruption level of the vacuum interrupter.

[0007] Preferably, the n contact pieces 2 are coaxially arranged, which will simplify the structural design and manufacturing process, reduce the requirements for precise alignment, and reduce the manufacturing difficulty; a contact piece buckle 6 is extended from the edge of each contact piece and is evenly distributed along the circumference. The contact piece buckle 6 has a circular hole for fixing the double hook spring 8; the inner wall of the shielding cover 9 also has a shielding cover buckle 1 with circular holes evenly distributed along the circumference.

[0008] Preferably, if n≥3, one or more middle contact pieces 2 are connected to the contact pieces 2 of the upper layer only through the hanging ring 7, and the contact pieces 2 of the upper layer and the contact pieces 2 of the lower layer are connected to the shielding cover ring buckle 1 on the inner wall of the shielding cover 9 through the double hook spring 8. Such a design can conveniently adjust the number of contact pieces by reasonably selecting springs of different models and increasing or decreasing the number of hanging rings; the multiple double hook springs 8 connected to the contact pieces 2 of the upper layer are of exactly the same model and specification. After the switch is opened, the tension of the multiple double hook springs 8 and the gravity of the contact pieces 2 of the upper and middle layers offset each other, so that the contact pieces 2 of the upper and middle layers reach force balance and hover between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5; the multiple double hook springs 8 connected to the contact pieces 2 of the lower layer are of exactly the same model and specification. After the switch is opened, the tension of the multiple double hook springs 8 and the gravity of the contact pieces 2 of the lower layer offset each other, so that the contact pieces 2 of the lower layer reach force balance and hover between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5; after the multiple contact pieces 2 are force balanced, they do not contact each other, and gaps are left between them.

[0009] Preferably, the material of the shielding cover ring buckle 1 for fixing the double hook spring on the inner wall of the shielding cover 9 is consistent with the material of the shielding cover 9, which is easy to manufacture; the material of the double hook spring 8 is high-quality carbon spring steel, alloy spring steel or non-ferrous metal alloy, which has strong elasticity and fatigue resistance, and is light in weight, has good processing performance and long service life; the material of the hanging ring 7 is copper, copper-chromium alloy, copper-tungsten alloy or stainless steel, which can withstand the high temperature of the arc burning process and has strong wear resistance.

[0010] When closing the circuit, the n movable contact pieces 2 are clamped between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5, and the moving electrode contact 3, the n contact pieces 2 and the static electrode contact 5 are in close contact to achieve normal current flow; when opening the circuit, after the moving electrode contact 3 is actuated, the n contact pieces 2 naturally fall down under the action of gravity, and because of the elastic force of the double hook spring 8 and the tension of the hanging ring 7, they stop between the two contacts, dividing the vacuum gap into n+1 fractures that are approximately connected in series, alleviating the saturation effect of the long vacuum gap.

[0011] Preferably, the number of shielding cover ring buckles 1 on each layer of the inner wall of the shielding cover 9 is 3, which can improve the structural stability and alleviate the swinging of the contact piece during the movement process.

[0012] Preferably, the contact piece buckle 6 and the shield cover buckle 1 are U-shaped buckles, which have a simple design, a firm connection, and a smooth transition of the U-shaped structure, which helps to reduce the risk of partial discharge in the arc extinguishing chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the material of the contact piece 2 is consistent with that of the moving-end electrode contact 3 and the static-end electrode contact 5, so that the addition of the contact piece 2 has the least effect on the flow of current during closing.

[0014] Preferably, the number of the contact pieces 2 is three.

[0015] Preferably, the contact piece 2 is a disc-shaped structure, which has a simple manufacturing process and good heat dissipation effect. Moreover, due to the symmetry of the disc-shaped structure, slight rotation or swing during the movement process has little effect on the effect of splitting the arc.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0017] The present invention provides a vacuum interrupter that utilizes multiple contact pieces to divide the arc. By installing three contact pieces between the moving and stationary electrode contacts of the vacuum interrupter, the vacuum gap is divided into four approximately series-connected breaks when the arc is interrupted. This fully utilizes the insulation and arc-extinguishing capabilities of each short vacuum gap, mitigates the saturation effect of long vacuum gaps, and effectively improves the voltage withstand capability and interruption performance of the vacuum interrupter. Compared with methods that improve the insulation performance of multi-break vacuum circuit breakers, the present invention offers lower manufacturing costs, a simpler structure, and ease of use, without requiring significant structural changes to traditional vacuum interrupters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments are briefly introduced below.

[0019] Figure 1 The figure is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a vacuum interrupter of the present invention that utilizes a plurality of contact pieces to divide the arc.

[0020] The numbers and names in the figure are as follows:

[0021] Shielding cover buckle-1, contact piece-2, moving end electrode contact-3, porcelain shell-4, static end electrode contact-5, contact piece buckle-6, hanging ring-7, double hook spring-8, shielding cover-9, bellows-10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum interrupter that utilizes a plurality of contact pieces to divide an arc. The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0024] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment of a vacuum interrupter that uses multiple contact pieces to divide the arc includes a porcelain shell 4, a shielding cover 9, a static electrode contact 5, a movable electrode contact 3, a bellows 10, a contact piece 2, a hanging ring 7, a shielding cover buckle 1, a contact piece buckle 6, and a double hook spring 8. In this embodiment, there are three contact pieces 2.

[0025] The upper and lower contact pieces 2 are fixed to the inner wall of the shielding case via double-hook springs 8, and the middle contact piece 2 is connected to the upper contact piece 2 via a hanging ring 7. The three contact pieces 2 are disc-shaped and coaxially arranged. The three double-hook springs 8 connected to the upper contact piece 2 are of identical model and specifications. After the switch is opened, the tension of the three double-hook springs 8 and the weight of the upper and middle contact pieces 2 offset each other, allowing the upper and middle contact pieces 2 to achieve force balance and hover between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5. The three double-hook springs 8 connected to the lower contact piece 2 are of identical model and specifications. After the switch is opened, the tension of the three double-hook springs 8 and the weight of the lower contact piece 2 offset each other, allowing the lower contact piece 2 to achieve force balance and hover between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5. After the three contact pieces 2 are force-balanced, they no longer touch each other, leaving a certain gap between them.

[0026] When closing the circuit, the three movable contact pieces 2 are clamped between the moving electrode contact 3 and the static electrode contact 5, and the moving electrode contact 3, the three contact pieces 2 and the static electrode contact 5 are in close contact to achieve normal current flow; when opening the circuit, after the moving electrode contact 3 moves, the three contact pieces 2 fall naturally under the action of gravity, and because of the elastic force of the double hook spring 8 and the tension of the hanging ring 7, they stop between the two contacts, dividing the vacuum gap into four nearly series-connected breaks, alleviating the saturation effect of the long vacuum gap.

[0027] In summary, the vacuum interrupter provided by the present invention utilizes multiple contact pieces to divide the arc, artificially constructing multiple short vacuum gaps that are approximately connected in series. This effectively leverages the advantageous properties of short vacuum gaps and mitigates the saturation effect of long vacuum gaps. This design also offers a simple structure, ease of use, and low manufacturing cost, achieving higher voltage withstand characteristics without significantly altering the traditional vacuum interrupter structure.

[0028] The present invention uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of the present invention. The above examples are only intended to help understand the method and core concept of the present invention. At the same time, those skilled in the art will find that the specific implementation methods and application scopes may vary based on the concept of the present invention. In summary, the contents of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum interrupter utilizing multiple contact pieces to divide the arc, characterized in that: N contact pieces (2) are installed between the moving electrode contact (3) and the static electrode contact (5) of the vacuum interrupter, where n≥2. When the arc is interrupted, n+1 approximately series-connected vacuum short gaps are formed between the moving electrode contact (3) and the static electrode contact (5) of the vacuum interrupter through isolation by the contact pieces (2), effectively alleviating the saturation effect of the long vacuum gap and improving the voltage tolerance and interruption level of the vacuum interrupter.

2. The vacuum interrupter utilizing multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 1, characterized in that: The n contact pieces (2) are coaxially arranged; a contact piece buckle (6) uniformly distributed along the circumference extends from the edge of each contact piece, and a circular hole is provided on the contact piece buckle (6) for fixing a double hook spring (8); and the inner wall of the shielding cover (9) also has a shielding cover buckle (1) with circular holes uniformly distributed along the circumference.

3. The vacuum interrupter using multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 2, characterized in that: If n≥3, one or more contact pieces (2) in the middle are connected to the contact piece (2) in the upper layer only through the hanging ring (7), and the contact piece (2) in the upper layer and the contact piece (2) in the lower layer are connected to the shielding cover ring buckle (1) on the inner wall of the shielding cover (9) through the double hook spring (8); the multiple double hook springs (8) connected to the contact piece (2) in the upper layer are of the same model and specification. After the switch is opened, the pulling force of the multiple double hook springs (8) and the gravity of the contact pieces (2) in the upper and middle layers cancel each other out, so that the contact pieces (2) in the upper and middle layers are 2) reaching a force balance and hovering between the moving end electrode contact (3) and the static end electrode contact (5); the multiple double hook springs (8) connected to the lower contact piece (2) are of exactly the same model and specification; after the switch is opened, the pulling force of the multiple double hook springs (8) and the gravity of the lower contact piece (2) offset each other, so that the lower contact piece (2) reaches a force balance and hovers between the moving end electrode contact (3) and the static end electrode contact (5); after the multiple contact pieces (2) are all balanced in force, they do not contact each other, and gaps are left between them.

4. The vacuum interrupter using multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 3, characterized in that: The material of the shielding cover ring buckle (1) for fixing the double hook spring on the inner wall of the shielding cover (9) is consistent with the material of the shielding cover (9), which is easy to manufacture; the material of the double hook spring (8) is made of high-quality carbon spring steel, alloy spring steel or non-ferrous metal alloy; the material of the hanging ring (7) is made of copper, copper-chromium alloy, copper-tungsten alloy or stainless steel.

5. The vacuum interrupter using multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the switch is closed, the n movable contact pieces (2) are clamped between the moving electrode contact (3) and the static electrode contact (5), and the moving electrode contact (3), the n contact pieces (2) and the static electrode contact (5) are in close contact to realize normal current flow; when the switch is opened, after the moving electrode contact (3) moves, the n contact pieces (2) naturally fall down under the action of gravity, and due to the elastic force of the double hook spring (8) and the pulling force of the hanging ring (7), they stop between the two contacts, dividing the vacuum gap into n+1 fractures that are approximately connected in series, thereby alleviating the saturation effect existing in the long vacuum gap.

6. The vacuum interrupter using multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of shielding cover ring buckles (1) on each layer of the inner wall of the shielding cover (9) is 3.

7. The vacuum interrupter using multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 2, characterized in that: The contact piece buckle (6) and the shield cover buckle (1) adopt U-shaped buckles.

8. The vacuum interrupter utilizing multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the contact piece (2) is consistent with that of the moving-end electrode contact (3) and the static-end electrode contact (5), so that the addition of the contact piece (2) minimizes the effect on the flow during closing.

9. The vacuum interrupter utilizing multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the contact pieces (2) is three.

10. The vacuum interrupter utilizing multiple contact pieces to divide the arc according to claim 1, characterized in that: The contact piece (2) is a disc-shaped structure.

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