Electrical shutdown device with insulating barrier

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical shutdown device with an insulation barrier. The electrical circuit breaking apparatus (10) comprises a housing (12) and a circuit breaker (14) arranged in the housing (12), the circuit breaker (14) comprising at least two portions (26, 32, 38) positioned contiguously to each other along a main axis (X-X), one of which defines a circuit breaking space (59) internally, the two portions (26, 32, 38) being separated by conductive rings (41, 42), the housing (12) comprising at least one wall, the conductive rings (41, 42) being arranged in the circuit breaking space (59). The invention relates to a circuit breaker (14) comprising at least one portion (26, 32, 38) having at least one electrically conductive zone (22) exposed facing the circuit breaker (14), characterized in that the at least one portion (26, 32, 38) comprises at least one barrier (61, 62, 66) covering the electrically conductive ring (41, 42) at a region (50) of the electrically conductive ring (41, 42) facing the electrically conductive zone (22) closest to the wall of the ring (41, 42).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical breaking equipment, comprising a housing and a circuit breaker arranged in the housing, the circuit breaker comprising at least two parts positioned along a main axis, the two parts being continuous with each other and one of the parts defining a circuit-breaking space internally, the two parts being separated by a conductive ring, the outer periphery of the conductive ring comprising at least one exposed connection range, the housing comprising at least one wall having at least one exposed conductive area facing the circuit breaker. Background Art

[0002] Railway vehicles require shutdown equipment to protect the vehicle's circuits. Such equipment includes high-voltage circuit breakers of approximately 15kV and 25kV mounted on the top of the vehicle to ensure electrical connection between the AC power from the catenary and the vehicle network.

[0003] Circuit breakers have isolators that protect the interrupting chamber of the circuit breaker from grounding equipment outside the circuit breaker (e.g., on top of a vehicle). The isolators prevent arcing between the grounding equipment and the internal circuits of the high voltage circuit breaker.

[0004] The circuit breaker is usually rectangular or oblong in shape. The electrical connections of the circuit breaker to the overhead line and to the vehicle network are located in the middle of the circuit breaker in order to isolate the incoming high potential from the grounded end of the circuit breaker. Therefore, the isolator is positioned on the roof of the vehicle along an axis orthogonal to the running surface of the rail vehicle in order to also move the central connection at high potential away from the grounded roof of the vehicle.

[0005] The circuit breaker equipment is then placed on top of the vehicle, exposed to weather and thunderstorms. In addition, there is limited available height space on top of a railway vehicle.

[0006] For example, a solution to the lack of available space and exposure to weather is described in document CN 205565304 U.

[0007] The circuit breaker is placed in a plane parallel to the operating surface in a grounded low profile electrical box. The high potential center connection is insulated from the grounded mounting plate by a layer of insulating material on the mounting plate.

[0008] However, this disconnect device does not prevent arcing between the center connection and another part of the electrical box. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to propose a circuit-breaking device capable of preventing the formation of electric arcs in an electrical box.

[0010] To this end, the subject of the invention is a switchgear of the above-mentioned type, in which at least one section comprises at least one barrier covering the conductive ring in a region of the conductive ring facing the conductive zone of the wall closest to the ring.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the circuit breaker device comprises one or more of the following features:

[0012] - the two parts are distinct from one another and a conductive ring separates the two parts over the entire periphery of the circuit breaker;

[0013] - the or each barrier is produced by a generatrix extending substantially parallel to the main axis;

[0014] - said portion comprises an insulating outer column, the barrier being integral with said insulating outer column;

[0015] - the barrier extends beyond the conductive ring along the main axis by an additional length of between 20% and 300% of the length of the ring along the main axis;

[0016] - Each section comprises at least one barrier covering said conductive ring, the barrier of each section being superimposed on a region of said conductive ring facing the conductive zone of the wall closest to said ring;

[0017] - at least one portion of the barrier is embedded in a groove provided in the thickness of another portion of the barrier;

[0018] - said circuit breaker comprises at least three parts separated by at least two conducting rings, each ring being covered by a barrier in a region of the conducting ring facing a conducting zone of the wall closest to said ring; and

[0019] - The barrier extends at an angle centered on the cross-sectional axis between 20° and 120°.

[0020] Another subject of the invention is a railway vehicle comprising a circuit breaker device as described above, wherein the wall closest to the ring and having at least one conductive zone bears flat against a partition of the railway vehicle, the main axis of the circuit breaker being substantially parallel to the partition of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1is a partial perspective view of a circuit breaker device according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the circuit-breaking device in a longitudinal plane; and

[0024] Figure 3 It is a partial perspective and cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker device along a transverse plane passing through the conductive ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 An electrical disconnect device 10 is shown advantageously placed on top of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle.

[0026] The circuit breaker device 10 includes a housing 12 and a circuit breaker 14 arranged in the housing 12 .

[0027] The housing 12 includes a bottom 16 placed on the roof of the vehicle and four side walls 18 defined in a height direction E of the housing 12 . Figure 2 The cover 20 visible in FIG. 1 extends above the side wall 18 parallel to the bottom 16 .

[0028] In another embodiment, the bottom 16 is attached to another partition of the rail vehicle.

[0029] Figure 1 The cover 20 and one of the side walls 18 are not shown.

[0030] The housing 12 is closed. An opening is advantageously provided in the wall of the housing 12 for the passage of cables connecting the circuit breaker 14 to an overhead electrical network and / or a vehicle network.

[0031] The bottom 16 and the sidewalls 18 have a conductive material that is connected to ground at least in one area, thereby defining a conductive region 22 .

[0032] Advantageously, the housing 12 has an electrically conductive material that is grounded throughout the bottom 16 and side walls 18 .

[0033] The circuit breaker 14 is a vacuum interrupter.

[0034] The circuit breaker 14 includes a mechanical controller 24 fixed to the side wall 18, such as Figure 1 The mechanical controller 24 is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0035] The circuit breaker 14 comprises a cylindrical actuating portion 26 oriented along a main axis XX.

[0036] The main axis XX is substantially parallel to the bottom 16 of the housing 12 and is orthogonal to the height direction E of the housing 12. The main axis extends substantially parallel to the rolling surface of the vehicle.

[0037] The actuating portion 26 forms together with the mechanical controller 24 an actuator 27. The actuating portion 26 is located against the mechanical controller 24. The actuating portion 26 comprises a hollow insulating cylindrical column 28 of the actuator and a driving rod 30 located in the centre thereof, both located along the main axis XX.

[0038] Figure 3 The actuating portion 26 is shown separately in FIG.

[0039] The circuit breaker 14 also comprises an intermediate portion 32 positioned along the main axis XX in continuation of the actuating portion 26. The intermediate portion 32 comprises a hollow insulating intermediate cylindrical column 34 and an interruption chamber 36 at its centre, both positioned along the main axis XX.

[0040] The circuit breaker 14 further comprises a support portion 38 located next to the intermediate portion 32. The support portion 38 is oriented along a secondary axis YY inclined relative to the primary axis XX. Figure 2 The base 39 visible in the figure is connected to the bottom 16. The support portion 38 includes a hollow insulating cylindrical support column 40.

[0041] The parts 26, 32, 38 are different from each other. Each column 28, 34, 40 is made of an insulating material such as ceramic or a composite material, and each column is particularly molded from epoxy resin.

[0042] The circuit breaker 14 includes a conductive output ring 41 separating the actuation portion 26 and the middle portion 32. The circuit breaker 14 includes a conductive input ring 42 separating the middle portion 32 and the support portion 38. The conductive input ring 42 and the conductive output ring 41 are electrically connected to the interruption chamber 36. The conductive input ring 42 is connected to the support portion 38 via a connector 44.

[0043] The connector 44 is a metal part that receives the support portion 38 , with one part oriented along the main axis XX and another part oriented along the secondary axis YY, thus forming a connection between the two directions of elongation of the portions 32 , 38 .

[0044] Each conductive ring 41, 42 is a metal part, including an outer periphery 46, which includes at least one exposed connection area 48. The outer periphery 46 is also conductive. The connection area 48 of the conductive output ring 41 is connected to the pantograph, and the connection area of ​​the conductive input ring 42 is connected to the transformer of the vehicle.

[0045] Figure 3 A cross section of the electrically conductive output ring 41 is shown, wherein the exposed connection area 48 is visible.

[0046] Each conductive ring 41, 42 separates the two parts surrounding it over the entire periphery of the circuit breaker 14. The periphery 46 is therefore clear.

[0047] Each conductive ring 41, 42 is formed by Figure 3 The screw shown is fixed to the two parts surrounding it.

[0048] Each conductive ring 41 , 42 has a region 50 facing the conductive area 22 of the base 16 .

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, the conductive area 22 of the wall closest to the rings 41, 42 is located on the bottom 16. The side wall 18 is further away from the rings 41, 42 than the bottom 16. The cover 20 has an insulating coating.

[0050] The actuator column 28 passes through Figure 2 The screws shown are secured to the mechanical controller 24 and the conductive output ring 41 .

[0051] Each post 28, 34, 40 has on the outside a series of transverse collar flanges on the outer surface and has a cylindrical inner surface.

[0052] The cylindrical inner surface of the actuator stem 28 internally defines a channel 57. In the channel 57, the drive rod 30 is positioned along the main axis XX.

[0053] The cylindrical inner surface of the intermediate column 34 internally defines a disconnection space 59 in which the disconnection chamber 36 is located. The drive rod 30 is connected to the mechanical controller 24 at one side and to the disconnection chamber 36 at the other side.

[0054] Each column 28, 34 comprises a cylindrical body followed by a barrier made of insulating material. This material is advantageously ceramic or a composite material.

[0055] The actuator post 28 includes an inner barrier 61 that partially covers the conductive output ring 41. The intermediate post 34 includes an outer barrier 62 that covers the inner barrier 61 at the conductive output ring 41.

[0056] The inner barrier 61 and the outer barrier 62 are superimposed in the region 50 of the conductive output ring 41 while remaining distinct from each other. The outer barrier 62 defines in its thickness a groove 64 in which the inner barrier 61 is embedded.

[0057] In another embodiment, a groove is provided in the inner barrier 61 to accommodate the outer barrier 62 .

[0058] The middle post 34 also includes an input barrier 66 covering the conductive input ring in the region 50 of the conductive input ring 42 .

[0059] Each barrier 61 , 62 , 66 is integral with a corresponding column 28 and 34 , and each barrier 61 , 62 , 66 is molded simultaneously with the corresponding column 28 and 34 .

[0060] In another embodiment (not shown), the support column 40 includes a support barrier covering the conductive input ring 42, the support barrier overlapping the input barrier 66 in the region 50 of the conductive input ring.

[0061] Each barrier 61 , 62 , 66 is radially separated from the conductive ring 41 , 42 and from the conductive zone 22 closest to the wall of the respective ring 41 , 42 .

[0062] Each barrier 61, 62, 66 is generated by a generatrix extending substantially parallel to the main axis XX. The barriers 61 and 66 extend along the main axis XX beyond the corresponding conductive ring 41, 42 by an additional length between 20% and 300% of the thickness of the ring 41, 42 along the main axis XX.

[0063] Each barrier 61, 62, 66 extends angularly over an angle centered on the axis XX, which is between 20° and 120° around the periphery of the corresponding ring 41, 42. Each barrier 61, 62, 66 has a thickness defined radially relative to the main axis XX, which is between 10% and 50% of the thickness of the column when fastened to the corresponding ring 41, 42.

[0064] The operation of the circuit breaker 14 will now be briefly described.

[0065] The circuit breaker 14 has a nominal configuration when current flows through the circuit breaker 14. The circuit breaker 14 has an open configuration when a fault or operation on the voltage line or vehicle requires the circuit breaker to be opened.

[0066] In the nominal configuration, current is supplied to the exposed connection range 48 on the conductive input ring 42, thereby placing the conductive input ring 42 at a high voltage. The current flows in the interruption space 59, in particular through the interruption chamber 36. The current is transmitted out of the circuit breaker 14 at the conductive output ring 41 through the exposed connection range 48.

[0067] The current is delivered to the outside of the circuit breaker 14 via the pantograph and the cables connecting it to the overhead network and the vehicle network.

[0068] The actuation portion 26 and the support portion 38 serve to isolate the interruption chamber 36. The actuation portion 26 also serves to transmit force from the mechanical controller 24 to the interruption chamber 36.

[0069] When a fault is detected, or during operation on the power line or on the vehicle, the mechanical controller 24 receives a command from the control unit to cut off the current. The mechanical controller 24 pulls the drive rod 30 located in the channel 57 along the main axis XX, and the force is transmitted to the interruption chamber 36, so that a circuit break can occur in the interruption chamber 36.

[0070] The disconnect device 10 has the advantage of being compact and at the same time providing safety for the electrical network of the vehicle.

[0071] Since each conductive ring 41, 42 is in a nominal configuration at high voltage and has an exposed conductive connection, there is a risk of arcing between the conductive rings 41, 42 and the conductive area 22. Since the bottom 16 supported by the top plane of the vehicle is connected to the chassis ground of the vehicle, the resulting conductive area 22 is conducive to the formation of arcs.

[0072] The presence of the barriers 61 , 62 , 66 makes it possible to physically limit the risk of an electric arc, the path of travel of the electric arc between the conductive rings 41 , 42 and the conductive zone 22 increasing with the presence of the barriers 61 , 62 , 66 .

[0073] The presence of two distinct parts 26 , 32 serves to maintain easy assembly and maintenance of the circuit breaker 14 through the presence of exposed connection areas 48 on the conductive rings 41 , 42 .

[0074] The screens 61, 62, 66 are integral with the respective posts 28, 34, 40 and can be manufactured economically and easily, limiting the number of different parts, in particular by using the same mould for the posts 28, 34 and the respective screens 61, 62, 66. Thus, the mechanical resistance of each part 26, 32, 38 is maintained.

[0075] The fact that the barriers 61 , 66 are present over an additional length relative to the length of the conductive rings 41 , 42 along the main axis XX further makes it possible to extend the distance travelled by the arc between the conductive rings 41 , 42 and the conductive zone 22 .

[0076] The superposition of the inner barrier 61 and the outer barrier 62 at the region 50 of the conductive output ring 41 makes it possible to further extend the path of the arc travel, so that the distance the arc travels is doubled between the configuration without the barrier and the configuration with the barrier.

[0077] The barriers 61, 62, 66 extend at an angle centered on the axis XX, which is between 20° and 120° of the total circumference of the conductive rings 41, 42, facilitating access to the exposed connection range 48 and the means for fixing the conductive rings 41, 42 to the parts 26, 32, 38, while protecting the area 50 at greatest risk from arcing.

[0078] Therefore, a vehicle comprising such a circuit-breaking device 10 has a reduced height, since the circuit breaker 14 is placed parallel to the partition of the vehicle, while limiting the risk of arcing caused by the proximity of the conductive rings 41 , 42 to the conductive partition.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit-breaking device (10), comprising a housing (12) and a circuit breaker (14) arranged in the housing (12), the circuit breaker (14) comprising at least two parts (26, 32, 38), the at least two parts (26, 32, 38) being positioned successively to each other along a main axis (XX), one of the parts defining a circuit-breaking space (59) internally, the two parts (26, 32, 38) being separated by a conductive ring (41, 42), the outer periphery (46) of the conductive ring (41, 42) comprising at least one exposed connection range (48), the housing (12) comprising at least one wall, the at least one wall having at least one conductive area (22) exposed facing the circuit breaker (14), characterized in that At least one of the portions (26, 32, 38) comprises at least one barrier (61, 62, 66) covering the conductive ring (41, 42) at a region (50) of the conductive ring (41, 42) facing the conductive zone (22) closest to the wall of the ring (41, 42).

2. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1, wherein: The two parts (26, 32, 38) are distinct from each other, and the conductive ring (41, 42) separates the two parts (26, 32, 38) around the entire periphery of the circuit breaker (14).

3. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The or each barrier (61, 62, 66) is produced by a generatrix extending substantially parallel to the main axis (XX).

4. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The portion (26, 32) includes an insulating outer column (28, 34), and the barrier (61, 62, 66) is integral with the column (28, 34).

5. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The barrier (61, 62, 66) extends along the main axis (XX) beyond the conductive ring (41, 42) by an additional length between 20% and 300% of the length of the ring (41, 42) along the main axis (XX).

6. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each portion (26, 32) comprises at least one barrier (61, 62, 66) covering the conductive ring (41, 42), the barrier (61, 62) of each portion (26, 32) being superimposed at a region (50) of the conductive ring (41) facing the conductive zone (22) closest to the wall of the ring (41).

7. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 6, wherein: The barrier (61, 62) of at least one portion (26, 32) is embedded in a groove provided in the thickness of the barrier (61, 62) of the other portion (26, 32).

8. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The circuit breaker (14) comprises at least three parts (26, 32, 38) separated by at least two conductive rings (41, 42), each ring (41, 42) being covered by a barrier (61, 62, 66) at a region (50) of the conductive ring (41, 42) facing the conductive zone (22) closest to the wall of the ring (41, 42).

9. The circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the barrier (61, 62, 66) extends angularly at an angle centered on the axis of the portion (26, 32), the angle being between 20° and 120°.

10. A railway vehicle comprising a circuit breaker device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The wall closest to the rings (41, 42) and having at least one conductive zone (22) abuts against a diaphragm plane of a railway vehicle, the main axis (XX) of the circuit breaker (14) being substantially parallel to said diaphragm of the vehicle.

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