Switchgear for efficient cooling of outflowing gases

Abstract

A switchgear (1) capable of effectively cooling outflowing gas comprises: an arc extinguishing chamber (10), an orifice (20) for allowing the gas to flow out of the arc extinguishing chamber (10), and a multilayer wire cloth / fabric (100). The multilayer wire cloth / fabric (100) comprises at least a first wire layer (110) and at least a second wire layer (120), the at least first wire layer (110) and the at least second wire layer (120) having corresponding cloth / fabric structures, wherein the at least first wire layer (110) and the at least second wire layer (120) are arranged in a stacked configuration in the orifice (20), so that the cloth / fabric structure of the at least second wire layer (120) is oriented in a direction different from the cloth / fabric structure of the at least first wire layer (110).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a switch device which can effectively cool the gas flowing out of an arc extinguishing chamber of the switch device when the contacts of the switch device are separated. Background Art

[0002] The switchgear can be either a circuit breaker or a contactor. A circuit breaker is an electrical switch used to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by a short circuit or a current lower than the current at which a short circuit occurs but large enough to damage the circuit. A contactor is an electrical switch used to interrupt the flow of current. Together with a protective device (e.g., a fuse or circuit breaker), a contactor must interrupt the flow of current in both short circuit and overload conditions.

[0003] The switch device includes a movable contact and a fixed contact. The movable contact can move in a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, the movable contact is in electrical contact with the fixed contact of the switch device, so that the switch device allows current to flow from the input terminal of the switch device to the output terminal. In the open state of the switch device, the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact, so that the current flow between the input terminal and the output terminal of the switch device is interrupted.

[0004] When the movable contact separates from the fixed contact, an arc is generated and destructive gases are produced. These gases pass through the arc extinguishing chamber of the switchgear. The destructive gases usually flow out through the orifices of the switchgear. The ionized hot gas transports fine particles from the housing and the contacts of the switchgear to the outside of the housing. The complex of the outflowing ionized destructive gas and fine particles will ignite outside the housing, and the particle dust will burn explosively. The pressure generated by the explosive combustion can damage the tight-fitting housing, partitions, and adjacent equipment of the switchgear. The combustion may affect the switchgear itself and surrounding components. For example, the outflowing particles and combustion residues will be deposited in layers on the surrounding components, thereby reducing the isolation performance.

[0005] US2016 / 240337A1, EP1939904A2 and US5889249A relate to a circuit breaker in which a cloth filter member is arranged near an outlet of the circuit breaker to capture debris and cool destructive gases generated when contacts are separated.

[0006] US4748301A relates to a circuit breaker comprising an arc extinguishing chamber comprising a plurality of spacer plates supported by side and back supports, wherein the layers of the side supports comprise a plurality of woven cloth or glass fibers. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is desirable to provide a switch device that can effectively cool and filter outflowing gas, thereby preventing the destructive gas outside the switch device from catching fire and burning explosively as much as possible.

[0008] An embodiment of a switchgear which enables effective cooling of the outflowing gas is specified in claim 1 .

[0009] According to one embodiment of the switchgear, the switchgear comprises an arc extinguishing chamber and an orifice for allowing the destructive gas to flow out of the arc extinguishing chamber. The switchgear further comprises a multilayer wire cloth or (knitted) fabric, which comprises at least a first wire layer and at least a second wire layer. At least the first wire layer and the second wire layer have a corresponding cloth or fabric structure. At least the first wire layer and the at least second wire layer are arranged in the orifice in a stacked configuration, so that the cloth or fabric structure of the at least second wire layer is oriented in a different direction than the cloth or fabric structure of the at least first wire layer.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the first and second wire layers of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric is layered with a weaving direction that is rotated by 90° compared to the weaving direction of an adjacent one of the first and second wire layers. This ensures that a defined equal distance can be maintained between the layers of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric. If the diameters and distances of the warp and weft threads are almost equal, a rotation greater than 0° and less than 90° must be selected in order to keep the thickness constant.

[0011] By stacking the individual wire layers of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric, wherein at least the second wire layer is arranged to be rotated relative to at least the first wire layer, it can be further ensured that the flow direction of the destruction gas flowing out of the orifice of the switching device changes from the at least first wire layer to the at least second rotated wire layer. The change in direction of the outflowing gas leads to a better cooling effect of the outflowing destruction gas, wherein the small dimensions of the gas deionization device are embodied in the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric.

[0012] The multi-layer wire cloth or fabric is arranged in a defined orientation in the aperture. According to an advantageous embodiment, the fabric layer of at least the first wire layer facing the arc extinguishing chamber has a coarse cloth / fabric structure, while at least the second wire layer facing the outside of the switchgear has a fine cloth / fabric structure. Since the fabric layers become finer towards the outside, the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric can provide an external filtering effect.

[0013] To ensure that the multilayer wire cloth or fabric can be installed in the aperture with the correct orientation, at least one of the corners of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric has a profile that is different from the profile of the adjacent side of the cloth or fabric, for example a set bevel / chamfered edge. The surrounding housing is formed in the area of ​​the aperture so that the oppositely shaped profile of the inner wall of the aperture matches the set bevel of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric. This ensures that the multilayer wire cloth or fabric cannot be installed in the aperture of the switch device in the wrong way.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment of the switchgear, the surrounding housing portion of the switchgear forming the aperture comprises protruding ribs which are configured to support the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric. This configuration ensures that the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric can be loosely arranged in the aperture, so that no supporting frame is required to fix the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric in the aperture. The loosely arranged multi-layer wire cloth or fabric contributes to reducing the cost-effectiveness of the switchgear.

[0015] To further facilitate the production of multi-layer wire cloth or fabric, the individual fabric layers can be connected to each other by pressing the fabric layers of the multi-layer wire cloth at certain locations in small areas and welding them together at these points. Pressing and welding can be performed in one manufacturing operation.

[0016] Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description that follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or learned by practicing the embodiments as described in the written description and claims hereof as well as in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles and operations of the various embodiments. Therefore, the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 A cross-sectional side view of a switchgear capable of effectively cooling outgoing damage gases is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 A cross-sectional bottom view of a switchgear capable of effectively cooling outgoing damaging gases is shown;

[0020] Figure 3 A perspective view of a housing of a switchgear capable of effectively cooling outgoing damaging gases;

[0021] Figure 4A shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a multi-layer wire cloth / fabric to be disposed in an aperture of a switchgear;

[0022] Figure 4B Shows a multi-layered wire cloth / fabric that is not within the scope of the claims;

[0023] Figure 4C Shows a multi-layered wire cloth / fabric that is not within the scope of the claims;

[0024] Figure 5 A perspective view showing an embodiment of a multi-layer wire cloth / fabric to be disposed in an aperture of a switchgear, wherein outgoing disruptive gases are effectively cooled; and

[0025] Figure 6 An enlarged view of the pressed wire layer area of ​​a multi-layer wire cloth / fabric with a welded connection of the pressed wire layer is shown.

[0026] Reference numerals list

[0027] 1 Switchgear

[0028] 10 Arc extinguishing chamber

[0029] 20 Orifice

[0030] 30 Fixed contacts

[0031] 31 Contact plate

[0032] 32 Screws

[0033] 33 Nut

[0034] 40 movable contacts

[0035] 41 Contact plate

[0036] 50 Arc flow channel

[0037] 60 Cooling Plate

[0038] 70 Inner housing part

[0039] 71 Ribs of inner shell part

[0040] 80 External housing part

[0041] 81 Ribs of outer shell part

[0042] 90 Base Plate

[0043] 100,200,300 Multi-layer wire cloth / fabric

[0044] 101,...,104 Suppressed connection area

[0045] 105 Welding connection

[0046] 106 Profile

[0047] 110,120,210,220,310,320 Metal wire layer

[0048] 111,121,211,221,311,321 Warp

[0049] 112,122,212,222,312,322 Weft

[0050] 113,123 mesh DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Figure 1 An embodiment of a switch device 1 capable of effectively cooling the outflowing damage gas is shown. The switch device 1 includes a fixed / immovable contact 30 having a contact plate 31 and a movable contact 40 having a contact plate 41. In the open configuration of the switch device, the movable contact 40 is electrically isolated from the fixed contact 30. In the closed configuration, the movable contact 40 is in electrical contact with the fixed contact 30, so that the contact plate 31 and the contact plate 41 are in contact with each other.

[0052] The switchgear includes terminals for securing electrical wires to connect the switchgear to an electrical circuit. Figure 1 The screw 32 is shown fixed to the terminal side of the port 30 by the nut 33. In the closed state of the switch device, the current flows from one of the terminals to the other terminal through the connection of the fixed contact and the movable contact. In the event of a short circuit in the circuit connected to the switch device, the high current flowing through the switch device is interrupted by separating the movable contact 40 from the fixed contact 30. In this case, an arc is generated between the contact plate 31 and the contact plate 41, and the amount of gas is too large, and explosive combustion may occur.

[0053] To provide a propagation path for the arc, the switchgear 1 includes an arc runner 50 that guides the arc to the arc extinguishing chamber 10. The arc extinguishing chamber 10 includes a stack of cooling plates 60 that separate and cool the arc. By dividing the arc into smaller arcs within the arc extinguishing chamber 10, the arc is cooled, while the arc voltage increases and acts as an additional impedance to limit the circuit through the switchgear.

[0054] When the movable contact 40 and the fixed contact 30 separate, destructive ionized gas is generated in the arc extinguishing chamber 10. The switchgear 1 includes an orifice 20 for allowing the destructive gas to flow out of the arc extinguishing chamber 10. The switchgear 1 also includes a multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 disposed in the orifice 20. The multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 is designed to cool the destructive gas, thereby effectively preventing the gas from igniting and explosively burning outside the switchgear.

[0055] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the switchgear 1 viewed from the bottom side is shown. A bottom plate 90 covers the arc chambers and the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 . Figure 3 A perspective view of a switchgear 1 is shown with a multi-layered wire cloth or fabric 100 arranged in an aperture 20. The aperture 20 is configured as an opening in an outer part 80 (eg a covering element) of a housing of the switchgear.

[0056] Figure 4A A cross-sectional view of a multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 is shown in an enlarged view. The multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 includes at least a first wire layer 110 and at least a second wire layer 120. The at least first wire layer 110 and the at least second wire layer 120 have a corresponding cloth / fabric structure. The at least first wire layer 110 and the at least second wire layer 120 are as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 4A The stacked configuration shown is arranged in the aperture 20. In the stacked configuration of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric, the first wire layer can be arranged directly adjacent to the second wire layer. Figure 1 and Figure 4A As further shown, the stacking configuration of the multi-layered wire cloth or fabric 100 is embodied such that the cloth / fabric structure of at least the second wire layer 120 is oriented in a different direction than the cloth / fabric structure of at least the first wire layer 110 .

[0057] According to a possible embodiment of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100, each of the cloth / fabric structures of at least the first wire layer 110 and the at least second wire layer 120 comprises a plurality of warp yarns 111, 121 and weft yarns 112, 122. The respective weft yarns 112, 122 of at least the first wire layer 110 and the second wire layer 120 are configured as parallel straight wire yarns in the respective cloth / fabric structures of at least the first wire layer 110 and the second wire layer 120. The respective warp yarns 111, 121 of at least the first wire layer 110 and the second wire layer 120 are configured as wavy wire yarns in the respective cloth / fabric structures of at least the first wire layer 110 and the second wire layer 120. The respective warp yarns 111, 121 alternately pass over and under consecutive weft yarns 112, 122.

[0058] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the wire layers of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 is arranged in a stacked configuration of wire layers, the weaving direction of its warp and weft yarns being rotated by an angle relative to the other wire layers. At least one rotated wire layer can, for example, be rotated by, for example, 90° relative to at least one other wire layer, for example, relative to at least one adjacent wire layer, in a stacked configuration of a plurality of wire layers.

[0059] The arrangement of at least one of the wire layers in another direction than the rest of the wire layers can ensure that the flow direction of the damaging gas out of the arc extinguishing chamber 10 through the orifice 20 is changed within the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100. The deflection of the gas flow within the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 can effectively cool the damaging gas when flowing through the multilayer wire cloth or fabric.

[0060] Figure 4B and Figure 4CAnother embodiment of a multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 is shown, which is not within the scope of the claims, wherein adjacent wire layers 210, 220 ( Figure 4B ) or adjacent metal wire layers 310, 320 ( Figure 4C ) are arranged in the same orientation. Figure 4B In the illustrated embodiment, the wire layers 210, 220 are arranged on top of each other so that the corresponding hills of the warp yarns 211, 221 of adjacent wire layers 210, 220 and the corresponding valleys of the warp yarns 211, 221 of adjacent wire layers 210, 220 are placed on top of each other, so that the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 200 has the same thickness, a larger pore size, and a lower pressure drop. Figure 4C , the metal wire layers 310, 320 are placed on top of each other so that Figure 4B Compared with the metal wire layers 210, 220, the corresponding valleys and hills of the warp yarns 311, 321 of adjacent metal wire layers are offset from each other, so that the multi-layer metal wire cloth or fabric 300 has a smaller thickness, a smaller pore size, and a higher pressure drop than the multi-layer metal wire cloth or fabric 200. In general, as Figure 4B and Figure 4C As shown, the thickness of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 200, 300 depends on the arrangement of the wire layers.

[0061] Figure 4A The arrangement of at least the first wire layer 110 and at least the second wire layer 120 can ensure that the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 can be manufactured with a defined thickness, a defined pore size and a defined pressure drop. In addition, the stacking configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100, i.e., one wire layer has a different orientation compared to another wire layer, in particular a directly adjacent wire layer, can ensure that the wire layers of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 have a defined equal distance.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the switch device 1, in an orthogonal projection of the stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100, the warp yarns 111 in at least the first wire layer 110 are offset by a defined angle, for example up to 90°, relative to the warp yarns 121 in at least the second wire layer 120. This means that in an orthogonal projection of the stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100, the warp yarns 111 of at least the first wire layer 110 are perpendicular to the warp yarns 121 of at least the second wire layer 120. Furthermore, in an orthogonal projection of the stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100, the weft yarns 112 in at least the first wire layer 110 are offset by a defined angle, for example up to 90°, relative to the weft yarns 122 in at least the second wire layer 120. In this case, the weft yarns 112 in at least the first wire layer 110 are arranged perpendicular to the weft yarns 122 of at least the second wire layer 120.

[0063] Figure 5 A perspective view of a multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 is shown, which includes at least a first wire layer 110 and at least a second wire layer 120 in a stacked configuration. The cloth / fabric structure of at least the second wire layer 120 is arranged to be rotated relative to the cloth / fabric structure of at least the first wire layer 110.

[0064] Each of the at least first wire layer 110 and the second wire layer 120 comprises a plurality of meshes 113, 123. The meshes are located at the wide side and the narrow side of the cloth or fabric 100. The meshes 123 of the at least second wire layer 120 are smaller than the meshes 113 of the at least first wire layer 110. According to an advantageous embodiment, the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 is arranged in the aperture 20 such that the at least first wire layer 110 is arranged closer to the arc extinguishing chamber 10 than the at least second wire layer 120. This ensures that a filtering effect occurs in the multilayer wire cloth or fabric 100 towards the outside of the switchgear.

[0065] To produce the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100, at least a first wire layer 110 and at least a second wire layer 120 are pressed together at a plurality of regions 101, 102, 103, 104 before welding. The at least first wire layer 110 and the at least second wire layer 120 are connected to one another by respective welded connections 105 provided at the plurality of regions 101, 102, 103, 104. The plurality of regions 101, 102, 103, 104 of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 are spaced apart from one another, such as Figure 5 As shown. The pressed and welded areas 101, 102, 103, 104 of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 can be located near the corners of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100. This manufacturing method allows pressing of the individual wire layers in small areas while welding between the wire layers as points. Advantageously, pressing and welding can be performed in one operation step.

[0066] To facilitate and ensure that the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 is installed in the aperture 20 in the correct orientation, i.e., the coarse cloth / fabric structure faces the interior of the switchgear and the fine cloth / fabric structure faces the exterior of the switchgear, the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 may have at least a profile 106 that is different from the profile of an adjacent side of the cloth or fabric, such as, for example, a chamfered edge at one of the corners of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100. Figure 5The illustrated embodiment of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 has a profile 106 that is different from the profile of the adjacent side of the cloth or fabric, for example, two chamfered edges are provided at opposite corners of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100. The surrounding housings 70, 80 are provided with oppositely shaped profiles so that the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric 100 can only be placed in the housings 70, 80 in the correct predetermined orientation.

Claims

1. A switchgear capable of effectively cooling outflowing gas, comprising: - an arc extinguishing chamber (10), - an orifice (20) for letting the gas flow out of the arc-extinguishing chamber (10), - a multi-layer wire cloth or fabric (100) comprising at least a first wire layer (110) and at least a second wire layer (120), said at least first wire layer (110) and said at least second wire layer (120) having respective cloth or fabric structures, said respective cloth or fabric structures comprising respective warp yarns (111, 121) and weft yarns (112, 122), - wherein the at least first metal wire layer (110) and the at least second metal wire layer (120) are arranged in a stacked configuration in the orifice (20) so that the weaving direction of the warp yarns (111) of the at least first metal wire layer (110) is rotated by an angle relative to the weaving direction of the warp yarns (121) of the at least second metal wire layer (120), and the weaving direction of the weft yarns (112) of the at least first metal wire layer (110) is rotated by an angle relative to the weaving direction of the weft yarns (122) of the at least second metal wire layer (120), so that the cloth or fabric structure of the at least second metal wire layer (120) is oriented in a different direction than the cloth or fabric structure of the at least first metal wire layer (110), - wherein the multi-layered wire cloth or fabric (100) is loosely arranged in the aperture (20) between the ribs (71, 81) of the inner and outer parts of the housing (70, 80) of the switching device.

2. The switch device according to claim 1, in, In the stacked configuration of the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric (100), the respective cloth or fabric structures of the at least first wire layer (110) and the at least second wire layer (120) are arranged so that the flow direction of the gas changes when the gas flows through the multi-layer wire cloth or fabric (100).

3. The switch device according to claim 1 or 2, -in, In an orthogonal projection of the stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric (100), the warp yarns (111) in the at least first wire layer (110) are offset by up to 90° relative to the warp yarns (121) in the at least second wire layer (120), - wherein, in an orthogonal projection of the stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric (100), the weft yarns (112) in the at least first wire layer (110) are offset by up to 90° relative to the weft yarns (122) in the at least second wire layer (120).

4. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, -in, The respective weft yarns (112, 122) of the at least first and second metal wire layers (110, 120) are configured as parallel straight metal wire yarns in the respective cloth or fabric structure of the at least first and second metal wire layers (110, 120), - wherein the respective warp yarns (111, 121) of the at least first and second metal wire layers (110, 120) are constructed as wavy metal wire yarns in the respective cloth or fabric structure of the at least first and second metal wire layers (110, 120), the respective warp yarns (111, 121) alternately passing over and under consecutive weft yarns (112, 122).

5. The switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in, In a stacked configuration of the multilayer wire cloth (100), the at least first wire layer (110) and the at least second wire layer (120) are connected to each other by respective welded connections (105) arranged at a plurality of regions (101, 102, 103, 104) of the multilayer wire cloth or fabric (100), the plurality of regions being spaced apart from each other.

6. The switch device according to claim 5, in, The at least first metal wire layer (110) and the at least second metal wire layer (120) are pressed together at the plurality of regions (101, 102, 103, 104) prior to welding.

7. A switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, -in, The multilayer wire cloth or fabric (100) is arranged in the aperture (20) such that the at least first wire layer (110) is arranged closer to the arc extinguishing chamber (10) than the at least second wire layer (120), - wherein each of said at least first and second metal wire layers (110, 120) comprises a plurality of meshes (113, 123), - wherein the mesh openings (123) of the at least second metal wire layer (120) are smaller than the mesh openings (113) of the at least first metal wire layer (110).

8. A switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, -in, The multi-layer wire cloth or fabric (100) has at least one profile (106) on one side of the cloth or fabric (100) that is different from a profile on an adjacent side of the cloth or fabric (100), - wherein the shell (70, 80) surrounding the cloth or fabric (100) is arranged with opposite chamfered profiles.

Images