Circuit breaker

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes: a breaking unit including a moving contact and a static contact, the moving contact being movable between a closed position in which the moving contact is in contact with the static contact and an open position in which the moving contact is separated from the static contact; the arc extinguishing system comprises an arc extinguishing chamber and an air passage structure, a first side surface of the air passage structure faces a breaking area of the moving contact and the static contact, and a second side of the air passage structure is communicated to the arc extinguishing chamber, so that an arc generated when the moving contact is separated from the static contact moves to the arc extinguishing chamber through the air passage structure, and the static contact is separated from the static contact. The airway structure is shaped to reduce a difference between a first air pressure at a first side of the airway structure and a second air pressure at a second side of the airway structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to a circuit breaker. Background Art

[0002] As the voltage level of DC applications continues to increase, the breaking capacity requirements of circuit breakers are also getting higher and higher. DC arc extinguishing is more difficult than AC arc extinguishing. How to design a DC circuit breaker with higher breaking capacity within the existing volume has become a challenge.

[0003] In the existing air duct structure of the arc extinguishing system, as the arc moves, the air pressure near the disconnecting area will be much lower than the air pressure near the arc extinguishing chamber at certain moments, which may cause the arc to flow back from the arc extinguishing chamber to the disconnecting area. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a circuit breaker, comprising: a breaking unit, comprising a moving contact and a stationary contact, wherein the moving contact can move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the moving contact contacts the stationary contact in the closed position, and wherein the moving contact is separated from the stationary contact in the open position; an arc extinguishing system, comprising an arc extinguishing chamber and an airway structure, wherein a first side of the airway structure faces a breaking area between the moving contact and the stationary contact, and a second side of the airway structure is connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, so that an arc generated when the moving contact and the stationary contact are separated moves to the arc extinguishing chamber via the airway structure.

[0005] The shape of the airway structure is arranged to reduce a difference between a first air pressure at a first side of the airway structure and a second air pressure at a second side of the airway structure.

[0006] Advantageously, the air duct structure has a main air duct and a first return air duct, the main air duct having a main inlet arranged at a first side and a main outlet arranged at a second side, the main inlet being connected to the disconnecting area, and the main outlet being connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, the first return air duct having a first inlet and a first outlet, the first inlet being arranged at the second side of the air duct structure and being connected to the main outlet of the main air duct, the first outlet being arranged on the side of the disconnecting area opposite to the main inlet and being connected to the main inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the main air duct can flow back to the first outlet via the first inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

[0007] Advantageously, the airway structure also has a second return airway, and the first return airway and the second return airway are arranged on opposite sides of the main airway, and the second return airway has a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet is arranged at the second side of the airway structure and is connected to the main outlet of the main airway, and the second outlet is arranged on the side of the dividing area opposite to the main inlet and is connected to the main inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the main airway can flow back to the second outlet via the second inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

[0008] Advantageously, the circuit breaker comprises a first partition and a second partition arranged in the airway structure, thereby dividing the airway structure into a main airway, a first return airway and a second return airway, the main airway is located between the first partition and the second partition, the first return airway is located between the first partition and the first peripheral wall of the airway structure, the second return airway is located between the second partition and the second peripheral wall of the airway structure, the first peripheral wall comprises a first side wall extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a first vertical wall perpendicular to the first side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side, and the second peripheral wall comprises a second side wall extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a second vertical wall perpendicular to the second side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side.

[0009] Advantageously, each of the first and second partitions is formed at the second side with first and second comb teeth facing the first and second side walls, respectively, to form the first and second inlets, respectively.

[0010] Advantageously, each of the first and second partitions is formed with a first recess and a second recess at the first side, such that a first outlet is formed between the first recess and the first vertical wall, and a second outlet is formed between the second recess and the second vertical wall.

[0011] Advantageously, the cross section of the airway structure tapers at least partially in the direction from the first side to the second side.

[0012] Advantageously, the airway structure has an inclined portion, the cross section of which is tapered and gradually narrows in a direction from the first side to the second side.

[0013] Advantageously, the gas channel structure further comprises an expanded portion close to the breaking region and having a constant cross section, and a reduced portion close to the arc extinguishing chamber and having a constant cross section, and the inclined portion is connected between the expanded portion and the reduced portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way, wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 A partial schematic diagram of a circuit breaker according to the present application is shown.

[0016] Figure 2 A partially exploded view of a circuit breaker according to the present application is shown.

[0017] Figure 3 The first embodiment of the present application is shown Figure 1 Top view of the .

[0018] Figure 4 The first embodiment of the present application is shown Figure 1 Partial perspective view.

[0019] Figure 5 A perspective view showing a separator according to the present application is shown.

[0020] Figure 6 A top view of a second embodiment according to the present application is shown.

[0021] Figure 7 A top view combining the first embodiment and the second embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the technical solution of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the drawings of the specific embodiments of the present disclosure. The same figure marks in the drawings represent the same parts. It should be noted that the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, not all of the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0023] Compared to the embodiments shown in the drawings, feasible implementations within the scope of the present disclosure may have fewer components, other components not shown in the drawings, different components, differently arranged components, or differently connected components, etc. In addition, two or more components in the drawings may be implemented in a single component, or a single component shown in the drawings may be implemented as multiple separate components.

[0024] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the usual meanings understood by persons of ordinary skill in the field to which the present disclosure belongs. The words "first", "second" and similar words used in the patent specification and claims of the present disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. When the number of components is not specified, the number of components may be one or more; similarly, words such as "one", "the", "said" and the like do not necessarily indicate a quantity limitation. Words such as "include" or "comprise" and the like mean that the element or object appearing before the word includes the element or object listed after the word and its equivalent, without excluding other elements or objects. Words such as "install", "set", "connect" or "connected" and the like are not limited to physical or mechanical installation, setting, connection, but may include electrical installation, setting, connection, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to indicate the relative position relationship when the device is in use or the position relationship shown in the drawings. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative position relationship may also change accordingly.

[0025] Figure 1 An exploded view of a circuit breaker according to the present application is shown. The circuit breaker includes a housing 1, which includes a first half shell 11 and a second half shell 12, the first half shell and the second half shell are connected together and define a space for accommodating various components of the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a breaking unit and an arc extinguishing system. The breaking unit includes a moving contact 21 and a stationary contact 22, the moving contact 21 can move between a closed position and an open position, in which the moving contact is in contact with the stationary contact, and in which the moving contact is separated from the stationary contact. The arc extinguishing system includes an arc extinguishing chamber 31 and an airway structure, the first side of the airway structure faces the breaking area of ​​the moving contact and the stationary contact, and the second side of the airway structure is connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, so that the arc generated when the moving contact and the stationary contact are separated moves to the arc extinguishing chamber via the airway structure. The general structure of the breaking unit and the arc extinguishing system is well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore, the general structure thereof will not be described in detail herein, and the airway structure of the present application will be described in detail.

[0026] The improvement of the air channel structure of the present application is that the shape of the air channel structure is arranged to reduce the difference between the first air pressure at the first side of the air channel structure and the second air pressure at the second side of the air channel structure. In this way, the arc back-off phenomenon is reduced by making the first air pressure at the first side close to the second air pressure at the second side while maintaining stability.

[0027] In one example, if Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the air duct structure has a main air duct 32 and a first return air duct 33, the main air duct has a main inlet 321 arranged at the first side and a main outlet 322 arranged at the second side, the main inlet is connected to the disconnecting area S, and the main outlet is connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, the first return air duct 33 has a first inlet 331 and a first outlet 332, the first inlet 331 is arranged at the second side of the air duct structure and is connected to the main outlet 322 of the main air duct, the first outlet 332 is arranged on the side of the disconnecting area S opposite to the main inlet 321 (that is, the main inlet 321 and the first outlet 332 are arranged on opposite sides of the disconnecting area S, the main inlet 321 is arranged in front of the disconnecting area S, and the first outlet 332 is arranged behind the disconnecting area S), and is connected to the main inlet 321, so that the airflow flowing through the main air duct can flow back to the first outlet via the first inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, the airflow flows from the disconnection area S along the solid arrow in the main air channel 32 to the arc extinguishing chamber, then enters the first return air channel 33 through the first inlet 331 , as shown by the dotted arrow, and then flows back to the main air channel 32 through the first outlet 332 .

[0029] Similarly, the airway structure also has a second return airway 34, and the first return airway 33 and the second return airway 34 are arranged on opposite sides of the main airway. Similar to the first return airway, the second return airway 34 has a second inlet and a second outlet, the second inlet is arranged at the second side of the airway structure and communicates with the main outlet of the main airway, and the second outlet is arranged on the side of the partition area opposite to the main inlet and communicates with the main inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the main airway can flow back to the second outlet via the second inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

[0030] The circuit breaker includes a first partition 35 and a second partition 36 arranged in the airway structure, thereby dividing the airway structure into a main airway 32, a first return airway 33 and a second return airway 34, the main airway is located between the first partition 35 and the second partition 36, the first return airway 33 is located between the first partition 35 and the first peripheral wall of the airway structure, the second return airway 34 is located between the second partition 36 and the second peripheral wall of the airway structure, the first peripheral wall includes a first side wall 37 extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a first vertical wall 38 perpendicular to the first side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side, the second peripheral wall includes a second side wall extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a second vertical wall perpendicular to the second side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side.

[0031] The first partition plate 35 is formed with first comb teeth 351 at the second side facing the first side wall 37, as shown in FIG. Figure 5As shown, the first comb teeth 351 form a first inlet. In this way, the airflow of the return arc is optimized. Similarly, the second partition plate 36 is formed with second comb teeth at the second side facing the second side wall to form a second inlet.

[0032] The first partition plate 35 is formed with a first recess 352 at the first side so that a first outlet is formed between the first recess and the first vertical wall. Similarly, the second partition plate 36 is formed with a second recess at the first side so that a second outlet is formed between the second recess and the second vertical wall.

[0033] The airway structure of the first embodiment of the present application has been described above. Figure 6 The airway structure according to the second embodiment of the present application is shown. The airway structure is characterized in that the cross section at the first side is larger than the cross section at the second side. Advantageously, the cross section of the airway structure at least partially gradually decreases in the direction from the first side to the second side.

[0034] like Figure 6 As shown, the air channel structure also has an expanded portion 323 with a constant cross section near the breaking area and a reduced portion 324 with a constant cross section near the arc extinguishing chamber, and an inclined portion 325 is connected between the expanded portion and the reduced portion. The inclined portion is tapered and gradually narrows from the first side to the second side.

[0035] It should be understood that the airway structure may also not have an expanding portion and a reducing portion with a constant cross section, but gradually narrows from the first side toward the second side.

[0036] By having an air passage structure with a large cross section close to the first side, the expanded gas can be effectively accommodated, and the pressure difference between the first air pressure at the first side and the second air pressure at the second side can be reduced, which is beneficial to reducing arc back.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above two embodiments can be combined, that is, both the return airflow can be provided and the airway cross section at the first side can be made larger, which can be achieved by reasonably designing the shape of the partition. Figure 7 As shown, the first baffle 35 has a recess 352, which expands the cross section of the main air passage near the first side. Similarly, the second baffle may have a similar recess.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above embodiments are merely preferred implementations, and certain technical features in the embodiments may not be necessary for solving specific technical problems, and thus these technical features may be absent or omitted without affecting the solution of the technical problems or the formation of technical solutions; moreover, the features, elements and / or functions of one embodiment may be appropriately combined, coupled or coordinated with the features, elements and / or functions of one or more other embodiments, unless the combination, coupling or coordination is obviously not feasible.

Claims

1. A circuit breaker, comprising: The breaking unit comprises a moving contact and a stationary contact, wherein the moving contact can move between a closed position and an open position, wherein the moving contact contacts the stationary contact in the closed position and the moving contact separates from the stationary contact in the open position; The arc extinguishing system comprises an arc extinguishing chamber and an air duct structure, wherein a first side of the air duct structure faces a disconnection area between a moving contact and a stationary contact, and a second side of the air duct structure is connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, so that an arc generated when the moving contact and the stationary contact are separated moves to the arc extinguishing chamber via the air duct structure. The air channel structure is characterized in that the shape of the air channel structure is arranged to reduce the difference between a first air pressure at a first side of the air channel structure and a second air pressure at a second side of the air channel structure.

2. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that The air duct structure has a main air duct and a first return air duct, the main air duct has a main inlet arranged at a first side and a main outlet arranged at a second side, the main inlet is connected to the disconnecting area, and the main outlet is connected to the arc extinguishing chamber, the first return air duct has a first inlet and a first outlet, the first inlet is arranged at the second side of the air duct structure and is connected to the main outlet of the main air duct, the first outlet is arranged on the side of the disconnecting area opposite to the main inlet, and is connected to the main inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the main air duct can flow back to the first outlet via the first inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

3. The circuit breaker according to claim 2, characterized in that The airway structure also has a second return airway, and the first return airway and the second return airway are arranged on opposite sides of the main airway. The second return airway has a second inlet and a second outlet. The second inlet is arranged at the second side of the airway structure and is connected to the main outlet of the main airway, and the second outlet is arranged on the side of the dividing area opposite to the main inlet and is connected to the main inlet, so that the airflow flowing through the main airway can flow back to the second outlet via the second inlet and further flow back to the main inlet.

4. The circuit breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that The circuit breaker includes a first partition and a second partition arranged in the airway structure, thereby dividing the airway structure into a main airway, a first return airway and a second return airway, the main airway is located between the first partition and the second partition, the first return airway is located between the first partition and the first peripheral wall of the airway structure, the second return airway is located between the second partition and the second peripheral wall of the airway structure, the first peripheral wall includes a first side wall extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a first vertical wall perpendicular to the first side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side, and the second peripheral wall includes a second side wall extending in a direction from the first side to the second side and a second vertical wall perpendicular to the second side wall and extending from one end thereof on the first side.

5. The circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the first and second partitions is formed at a second side with first and second comb teeth facing the first and second side walls, respectively, to form a first inlet and a second inlet, respectively.

6. The circuit breaker according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the first and second partitions is formed with a first recess and a second recess at a first side such that a first outlet is formed between the first recess and the first vertical wall and a second outlet is formed between the second recess and the second vertical wall.

7. The circuit breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that The cross-section of the airway structure tapers at least partially in a direction from the first side to the second side.

8. The circuit breaker according to claim 7, characterized in that The airway structure has an inclined portion, the cross section of which is tapered and gradually narrows in a direction from the first side to the second side.

9. The circuit breaker according to claim 8, characterized in that The air channel structure also has an expanded portion with a constant cross section close to the breaking area and a reduced portion with a constant cross section close to the arc extinguishing chamber, and the inclined portion is connected between the expanded portion and the reduced portion.

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