Ventilation insulation member for an interrupter unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ventilation insulation member for a contactor unit. A contactor unit (200) having a ventilation insulation member (201) is provided. The contactor unit (200) includes a housing (101) and a ventilation insulation member (201). The housing (101) includes a non-metallic housing (101A) and a metallic housing (101B), and the non-metallic housing (101A) and the metallic housing (101B) are in contact with each other, thereby forming one or more contact regions (105A, 105B) therebetween. The ventilation insulation member (201) can be physically disposed on the housing (101) so as to accommodate at least one of the contact regions (105A, 105B) to prevent flashover caused by solder edges formed in the contact regions (105A, 105B) when brazing the metallic part (101B) and the non-metallic part (101A) of the housing (101).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a switchgear such as a circuit breaker. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a ventilated insulating member for an interrupter unit of a circuit breaker. Background Art

[0002] Traditionally, a switchgear such as a circuit breaker mainly comprises a switch module formed by one or more function-oriented units, the one or more function-oriented units comprising a basic module unit, a pole module unit and a drive module unit. The pole module unit comprises an interrupter unit, such as a vacuum interrupter comprising a stationary member and a movable member. Typically, a circuit breaker is a switch used to protect a circuit connected thereto from damage due to overload by causing the current flowing therethrough to be interrupted through their automatic operation. A vacuum circuit breaker typically has a pair of electrical switch contacts arranged in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum circuit breaker interrupts the current by opening these switch contacts in a vacuum. Vacuum circuit breakers are necessary components, especially in medium voltage electrical protection devices. For high voltage applications, the interrupter unit can be filled with a gas such as SF6, both for insulation and for interruption.

[0003] Figure 1A A cross-sectional front view of a vacuum interrupter 100 according to the prior art is shown. The vacuum interrupter 100 comprises a housing 101 comprising a ceramic housing 101A and a metal housing 101B rigidly attached to each other. The housing 101 houses a metal vapor shield 102 therein. The metal vapor shield 102 in turn houses electrical contacts 103A, 103B, i.e., a fixed contact 103A rigidly connected to a fixed contact stem 107A and a moving contact 103B operably connected to a moving contact stem 107B via a bellows 104, which allows the moving contact 103B to move. The moving contact guide 106 guides the movement of the moving contact 103B by means of the bellows 104. The electrical contacts 103A and 103B are physically separated in a vacuum chamber defined within the ceramic housing 101A. Typically, the metal vapor shield 102 and the ceramic housing 101A are connected to each other in a leak-proof manner in order to maintain the vacuum within the vacuum interrupter 100. Similarly, the metal housing 101B and the ceramic housing 101A are connected to each other in a leak-proof manner.

[0004] During construction of the vacuum interrupter 100, the metal vapor shield 102 and the ceramic housing 101A, and the metal housing 101B and the ceramic housing 101A are joined via a brazing process, which results in the formation of solder edges (not shown) in the contact areas 105A and 105B, where the metal vapor shield 102 and the ceramic housing 101A and / or the metal housing 101B and the ceramic housing 101A form a physical joint therebetween. These solder edges, although very small in size, generally present sharp edges that result in high electric field strengths. Therefore, if the dielectric distance is small, these solder edges, when formed on the vacuum interrupter 100, may result in undesirable flashovers and risks to equipment and human life.

[0005] Figure 1B A perspective view of a vacuum interrupter 100 according to the prior art is shown. The vacuum interrupter 100 has contact areas 105A and 105B along its body, on which solder edges (not shown) are formed due to the physical connection made during the above-mentioned construction of the vacuum interrupter 100. These solder edges are usually formed in the area 105A towards the distal ends 108A and 108B of the vacuum interrupter 100. However, they can also be formed along the surface 105B where the metal housing 101B and the ceramic housing 101A are physically connected to each other.

[0006] Known techniques in the art to solve the above problems arising from forming a weld edge (not shown) include constructing a vacuum tube recast with a special material (e.g., elastomer), shrinking a tube that is shrunk onto the vacuum tube or onto the weld edge itself, applying a self-adhesive tape to the weld edge under mechanical stress, using a field control element (i.e., an electrode, by which the weld edge can be placed in a field shadow), etc. However, these techniques are quite time-consuming, design-intensive, and cost-intensive. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an interrupter unit suitable for air-insulated as well as gas-insulated applications, which solves the problems caused by solder edge formation in a time-efficient, design-efficient and cost-effective manner.

[0008] The interrupter unit disclosed herein achieves the aforementioned objects by means of a vented insulating member that can be physically disposed on a housing accommodating at least one contact area and thus a solder edge, thereby preventing the aforementioned problems due to the formation of a solder edge.

[0009] Disclosed herein is an interrupter unit. As used herein, an "interrupter unit" refers to a switching unit having electrical contacts that make or break a circuit to allow or interrupt current flow therebetween. According to one aspect, the interrupter unit is a vacuum interrupter unit that separates its electrical contacts in a vacuum having a maximum dielectric strength. The interrupter unit includes a housing. The housing includes a non-metallic housing (e.g., a ceramic housing or a glass housing) and a metal housing that are in contact with each other to form one or more contact areas between them. As used herein, a "contact area" refers to a physical contact point between two different material components of an interrupter unit. For example, a contact area is a contact point between a ceramic housing and a metal housing, or a contact point between a ceramic housing and a metal vapor shield that shields the electrical contacts of the interrupter unit and is disposed inside the housing.

[0010] The interrupter unit includes a ventilated insulating member that can be physically disposed on a housing that houses at least one contact area. As used herein, a "ventilated insulating member" refers to a layer having an insulating material therein, and the layer is configured to cover one or more of the contact areas while at least partially providing ventilation to the one or more contact areas. Advantageously, the insulating ventilating member is configured as an automatically retractable cap having a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the housing of the interrupter unit, so that when the insulating ventilating member is extended and aligned on the housing to cover one or more of the contact areas and is released, it automatically retracts on the contact area.

[0011] According to one aspect, the ventilating insulating member includes protrusions and / or recesses along the inner surface of the ventilating insulating member. According to another aspect, the ventilating insulating member includes orifices along the inner surface of the ventilating insulating member. These protrusions, recesses and / or orifices are arranged along the inner surface of the ventilating insulating member, for example in the form of ribs, grooves, holes, wrinkles and / or combinations thereof, so as to form a gap between the shell and the insulating ventilating member, which allows air to escape therefrom. Advantageously, the protrusions, recesses and / or orifices are constructed in one of a plurality of aspects, including but not limited to: vertical alignment relative to the shell, horizontal alignment relative to the shell, oblique alignment relative to the shell and / or combinations thereof. Advantageously, the number of protrusions, recesses and / or orifices and their physical alignment are determined based on the amount of clamping to be applied to the shell, the construction of the interrupter unit and ensuring effective removal of air by the ventilating insulating member.

[0012] These protrusions and recesses enable the ventilating insulating member to provide ventilation for the contact area(s). Advantageously, the ventilating properties of the insulating ventilating member allow it to be used in gas-insulated applications. In gas-insulated applications, the vacuum interrupter unit is immersed and held under pressure in a container filled with insulating gas. In order to fill the container with insulating gas, the container is evacuated, and air is extracted from the container so as to create a vacuum, and finally the container is filled with insulating gas. When the air is extracted from the container, the ventilating properties of the insulating ventilating member prevent air from being trapped under the ventilating insulating member. Moreover, the ventilating properties also allow the insulating ventilating member to maintain its position on the housing even when the gas pressure changes during evacuation. In addition, the ventilating properties also ensure that the air in the container is completely removed. Therefore, the ventilating insulating member is suitable for gas-insulated applications with vacuum tubes used in gas containers of gas-insulated switchgear.

[0013] The ventilating insulating member is flexibly arranged on the housing so as to accommodate one or more of the contact areas. Advantageously, the insulating ventilating member is constructed as an annular member covering only the contact area(s). According to one aspect, the insulating ventilating member extends to cover more than one contact area. Advantageously, this aspect allows covering more than one contact area and thus covering solder edges that may be formed along various contact areas of the ceramic housing and the metal housing. Advantageously, the ventilating insulating member is made of an elastomeric material such as silicone. According to one aspect, the insulating ventilating member is made only of an elastomer. According to another aspect, the insulating ventilating member is made of a composite material with an elastomer. According to yet another aspect, the insulating ventilating member is made of a graded material with an elastomer to cover one or more of the contact areas.

[0014] In addition, a switch device is disclosed herein. The switch device is, for example, a circuit breaker arrangement structure. The circuit breaker arrangement structure includes a pole module unit and a drive module unit operably connected to the pole module unit. The pole module unit includes the above-mentioned interrupter unit. The circuit breaker arrangement structure is a vacuum circuit breaker.

[0015] Furthermore, a switchgear arrangement is disclosed herein, which comprises a cable room, a busbar room and a switch room, the switch room having the aforementioned circuit breaker arrangement including an interrupter unit. The switchgear arrangement is an air insulated switchgear, a vacuum insulated switchgear or a gas insulated switchgear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The above and other features of the present invention will now be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings of the present invention.The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the present invention.

[0017] The invention will be further described below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1A A cross-sectional elevation view of a vacuum interrupter according to the prior art is shown.

[0019] Figure 1B A perspective view of a vacuum interrupter according to the prior art is shown.

[0020] Figure 2A A perspective view of a vacuum interrupter with vented insulating caps, each covering a contact area, is shown according to embodiments of the insulating venting components disclosed herein.

[0021] Figure 2B A perspective view of a vacuum interrupter with a venting insulating cap covering more than one contact area according to embodiments of the insulating venting components disclosed herein is shown.

[0022] Figure 3 A venting insulating cap according to an embodiment of an insulating venting member disclosed herein is shown.

[0023] Figure 4 A circuit breaker arrangement is shown having Figure 2A or Figure 2B The vacuum interrupter shown in .

[0024] Figure 5 A switchgear arrangement is shown, which has Figure 4 A circuit breaker arrangement including a vacuum interrupter is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Various embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same elements throughout. In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. Obviously, these embodiments can be implemented without these specific details.

[0026] Figure 2A A perspective view of a vacuum interrupter 200 having venting insulating caps 201 is shown, each venting insulating cap covering a venting member according to an embodiment of the insulating venting member disclosed herein. Figure 1B The venting insulating cap 201 is flexibly positioned, ie extended and / or stretched over the ceramic housing 101A and positioned so as to cover the contact areas 105A, thereby preventing any influence of solder edges (not shown) formed in these contact areas 105A.

[0027] Figure 2BA perspective view of a vacuum interrupter 200 having a venting insulating cap 201 is shown, the venting insulating cap 201 covering the venting member according to an embodiment of the insulating venting member disclosed herein. Figure 1B As shown in FIG. 1 , there are more than one contact area 105A and 105B. Figure 2B As shown, the venting insulating cap 201 is configured to flexibly expand on the ceramic housing 101A to cover the contact area 105A, and extend along the ceramic housing 101A all the way to the metal housing 101B to cover the contact area 105B. This arrangement of the venting insulating cap provides additional coverage of the solder edges (not shown) formed in the respective contact areas 105A and 105B.

[0028] Figure 3 A venting insulating cap 201 according to an embodiment of an insulating venting member disclosed herein is shown. The venting insulating cap 201 is a circular cap and / or sleeve configured to fit Figure 2A and 2B The vacuum interrupter 200 shown in FIG. The venting insulating cap 201 is flexibly positioned on the ceramic housing 101A so that the bottom surface 201B of the venting insulating cap 201 is in contact with the ceramic housing 101A. Figure 2A The distal end 108A or 108B of the vacuum interrupter 200 is shown in direct physical contact, and the inner surface 201C of the venting insulating cap 201 is completely disposed against the contact area 105A and / or 105B, and at least partially against the ceramic housing 101A. The venting insulating cap 201 includes a protrusion, i.e., a rib 201A, which extends along the inner surface 201C until the bottom surface 201B to allow a gap to be maintained over the entire height H of the venting insulating cap 201, so that air can effectively escape therefrom.

[0029] Figure 4 A circuit breaker arrangement 400 is shown having Figure 2A or Figure 2B The circuit breaker arrangement 400 comprises a pole module unit 401 and a drive module unit 402, which is operably connected to the pole module unit 401 via a pole insulator 403 and an insulating coupler 404. The pole module unit 401 comprises the above-mentioned vacuum interrupter 200. The circuit breaker arrangement 400 is a vacuum circuit breaker.

[0030] Figure 5 A switchgear arrangement 500 is shown, which has Figure 4 The circuit breaker arrangement 400 shown includes a vacuum interrupter 200. The switchgear arrangement 500 includes a cable chamber 501, a switch chamber 502 and a busbar chamber 503, all of which are connected to each other. Figure 4 The aforementioned circuit breaker arrangement 400 is shown including the interrupter unit 200 .

[0031] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to those embodiments. In view of this disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may exist without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention as described herein. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the preceding description. All changes, modifications and variations within the equivalent meanings and scopes of the claims will be considered to be within their scope.

Claims

1. An interrupter unit (200), include: A housing (101), the housing (101) comprising a non-metallic housing (101A) and a metal housing (101B), the non-metallic housing (101A) and the metal housing (101B) being in contact with each other to form one or more contact areas (105A, 105B) therebetween; and a ventilation insulating member (201), the ventilation insulating member (201) being physically arranged on the housing (101), Wherein, the ventilation and insulation component (201) comprises: One or more of a protrusion (201A) and a recess (201A) along the inner surface (201C) of the ventilating insulating member (201); or one or more apertures along the inner surface (201C) of the ventilating insulating member (201), and wherein the ventilation insulating member is configured as an automatically retractable cap having a circumference smaller than a circumference of the housing of the interrupter unit, wherein the venting insulating member is configured to accommodate at least one of the contact areas when the venting insulating member is stretched and aligned on the housing, and Wherein, when the ventilating insulating member is released, the ventilating insulating member is configured to automatically contract on at least one of the contact areas.

2. The interrupter unit (200) according to claim 1, in, The ventilation insulation component (201) comprises at least an elastomer.

3. The interrupter unit (200) according to claim 1 or 2, being one of a vacuum interrupter unit and a gas interrupter unit.

4. A switch device (400), at least include: A pole module unit (401) comprising an interrupter unit (200) according to one of claims 1 to 3, and A driving module unit (402), the driving module unit (402) is operably connected to the pole module unit (401).

5. The switchgear (400) according to claim 4, being one of a vacuum circuit breaker and a gas circuit breaker.

6. A switchgear arrangement (500), comprising at least include: Cable room (501); a switch chamber (502), the switch chamber (502) comprising a switch device (400) according to one of claims 4-5, wherein the switch device (400) comprises an interrupter unit (200) according to one of claims 1-3; and Busbar room (503).

7. The switchgear arrangement (500) according to claim 6, being one of an air-insulated switchgear, a vacuum-insulated switchgear and a gas-insulated switchgear.

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