Vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber and inflatable switch cabinet comprising same

The segmented multi-layer bellows structure and connection design solves the problem of fatigue damage to the bellows caused by rapid air pressure changes, achieves higher stability and sealing performance, extends the service life, and improves the operating efficiency and safety of the inflatable cabinet.

CN223413994UActive Publication Date: 2025-10-03COOPER NINGBO ELECTRIC
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202422435770.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-10-09
Publication Date
2025-10-03
Estimated Expiration
2034-10-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the prior art, the bellows in the medium-pressure environmentally friendly inflatable cabinet is easily fatigued and damaged due to rapid changes in air pressure, resulting in sealing failure and affecting the reliability and safety of the inflatable cabinet.

Method used

The segmented multi-layer bellows structure is adopted, and flange connections and fixed connectors are used to improve the stability and guiding performance of the bellows, reduce the impact of reaction force, and enhance the sealing performance.

Benefits of technology

It significantly improves the pressure bearing capacity and stability of the bellows, extends its service life, reduces the risk of seal failure, and improves the operating efficiency and safety of the inflatable cabinet.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The utility model provides a vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber and an inflatable switch cabinet comprising the same. The vacuum arc-extinguishing chamber comprises a vacuum chamber, a movable conducting rod and a corrugated pipe. Wherein the vacuum chamber is formed by sealing an insulating shell, and a first cover plate and a second cover plate which are respectively arranged at two ends of the insulating shell. And a movable conducting rod penetrates through the first cover plate, extends into the vacuum chamber and moves in the vacuum chamber along the axial direction. And the outer side of the movable conducting rod extending into the vacuum chamber is sleeved with a corrugated pipe. The corrugated pipe comprises a plurality of sub-corrugated pipes which are arranged in a segmented mode, and each sub-corrugated pipe is of a nested multi-layer structure. The rigidity of the corrugated pipe can be reduced through the segmented design, so that the corrugated pipe is more stable when bearing high pressure, and the sealing failure caused by structural deformation is reduced. And due to the multi-layer design, the corrugated pipe can bear higher air pressure. And the segmented multi-layer corrugated pipe provides a more stable and reliable operation environment for the arc extinguish chamber, so that the service life of the arc extinguish chamber is remarkably prolonged.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of electric power engineering, and in particular relates to a vacuum interrupter. Background Art

[0002] The statements in this section are only intended to provide background information related to the present invention to help understand the present invention. Such background information does not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] In the current development of power systems, medium-voltage environmentally friendly gas-filled cabinets, as a new type of high-voltage switchgear, are gradually replacing traditional high-voltage switchgear due to their compact structure, easy maintenance, and strong environmental adaptability. The continuous development and application of high-pressure and medium-voltage products have placed increasingly stringent performance requirements on various components within the gas-filled cabinets, particularly the seals within the gas tank. As a crucial component of the gas-filled cabinet, the quality and performance of its internal seals are directly related to the reliability and safety of the entire equipment. Among these seals, the bellows of the arc extinguishing chamber is particularly critical. Since the arc extinguishing chamber must maintain a vacuum to achieve efficient arc extinguishing, the bellows not only must seal the vacuum environment within the arc extinguishing chamber but also withstand external pressure from the higher pressure within the gas tank. During operation, the arc extinguishing chamber often moves at very high speeds, requiring the bellows to withstand rapid pressure fluctuations within a very short period of time. These rapid pressure fluctuations place higher demands on the bellows' material, structural design, and manufacturing process. The bellows must possess sufficient elasticity and strength to accommodate the pressure shocks caused by rapid movement, while also maintaining a good seal to prevent gas leakage. However, due to the rapid movement of the arc extinguishing chamber and the high pressures it encounters, the service life of the bellows faces significant challenges. In actual use, the frequent pressure shocks can cause fatigue damage to the bellows, or even rupture, resulting in a loss of vacuum in the arc extinguishing chamber and affecting the normal operation of the gas cabinet. Therefore, improving the durability and reliability of the bellows and extending their service life have become important issues in the design and manufacture of medium-pressure environmentally friendly gas cabinets. Utility Model Content

[0004] According to a first aspect, the utility model provides a vacuum arc extinguishing chamber, which includes: a vacuum chamber, which is formed by sealing an insulating shell and a first cover plate and a second cover plate respectively arranged at both ends of the insulating shell; a movable conductive rod, which passes through the first cover plate and extends into the vacuum chamber and moves axially in the vacuum chamber; a bellows is provided on the outer side of the movable conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber, and the bellows includes a plurality of sub-bellows arranged in sections, and the sub-bellows are a multi-layer structure nested inside and outside.

[0005] Preferably, the multiple sub-bellows are connected via flanges.

[0006] Preferably, the first end of the bellows is connected to the first cover plate, and the second end of the bellows is connected to one end of the movable conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber.

[0007] Preferably, a first fixing connector is provided on the first cover plate, and the first end of the bellows is connected to the first cover plate via the first fixing connector.

[0008] Preferably, one end of the movable conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber is provided with a second fixed connector, and the second end of the bellows is connected to the movable conductive rod via the second fixed connector.

[0009] Preferably, a gap is provided between the bellows and the dynamic conductive rod.

[0010] Preferably, gaps are provided between the multi-layer structures of the sub-corrugated tubes.

[0011] Preferably, there is no gap between the multi-layer structures of the sub-bellows.

[0012] According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a gas-filled switchgear cabinet, comprising the vacuum interrupter as described in the first aspect.

[0013] The utility model adopts a segmented multi-layer bellows structure. By dividing the bellows into multiple independent but interconnected sub-bellows, each sub-bellows can independently withstand and disperse pressure, thereby improving the overall pressure-bearing capacity and stability, and significantly reducing the risk of instability of the bellows under high air pressure. The segmented design can reduce the stiffness of the bellows, making the bellows more stable when subjected to high pressure, and reducing sealing failures caused by structural deformation. The multi-layer design allows the bellows to withstand higher air pressure. At the same time, due to the structural characteristics of the segmented multi-layer bellows, the reaction force generated when it is subjected to pressure is effectively controlled. The smaller reaction force means that the bellows has less influence on the moving guide rod during movement, thereby improving the operating efficiency and response speed of the entire system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The following is a further description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a vacuum interrupter according to this embodiment;

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the bellows according to this embodiment;

[0017] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a single-layer corrugated pipe in the prior art. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below through specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the various drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same components. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0019] In the field of power engineering, improving the durability and reliability of bellows and extending their service life have become a key issue in the design and manufacture of medium-pressure environmentally friendly inflatable cabinets. To meet this challenge, innovation and optimization can be achieved in material selection, structural design, and processing technology. For example, new materials with higher pressure resistance and improved fatigue life can be selected; the structural design of the bellows can be optimized to improve its pressure resistance and sealing effect; and advanced manufacturing processes can be used to ensure the processing accuracy and quality of the bellows. In addition, regular maintenance and monitoring can promptly detect and replace damaged bellows to ensure the long-term stable operation of the inflatable cabinet.

[0020] Figure 1 A vacuum interrupter according to the present invention is shown. The vacuum interrupter comprises a vacuum chamber 102, a movable conductive rod 103, and a bellows 101. The vacuum chamber 102 is formed by sealing an insulating housing 1021 with a first cover plate 1022 and a second cover plate 1023, respectively, at each end of the insulating housing. The movable conductive rod 103 extends through the first cover plate 1022 into the vacuum chamber 102 and moves axially within the vacuum chamber. The bellows 101 is sheathed around the outer side of the movable conductive rod 103, which extends into the vacuum chamber.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown, the bellows 101 includes two sub-bellows 1011 arranged in sections, each sub-bellows 1011 having a two-layer structure nested from the inside out. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the bellows 101 can be a multi-segment structure consisting of three or more sub-bellows 1011. According to other embodiments of the present invention, the sub-bellows 1011 can be a multi-layer structure having two or more nested layers.

[0022] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, the two sub-bellows 1011 are connected by a flange 1012. This flange connection not only provides good sealing performance but also enhances the guiding stability of the bellows through the flange's support. This is because, given the same total length, designing the bellows as a multi-segment structure can reduce the aspect ratio of each sub-bellows. Bellows with excessively large aspect ratios are prone to cylindrical elastic instability. Furthermore, using a flange connection can further enhance the bellows' stability.

[0023] Bellows are usually used for air chamber sealing, so there is usually a pressure difference on both sides of the bellows. Figure 3 A conventional single-layer corrugated pipe is shown. Figure 3 Compared to conventional single-layer bellows, the present invention utilizes a segmented, multi-layered bellows structure. By dividing the bellows into multiple independent but interconnected sub-bellows, the multi-segment bellows exhibits greater stability than a single-segment bellows of the same overall length, allowing it to withstand greater pressure. This improves the overall pressure-bearing capacity and stability, significantly reducing the risk of the bellows becoming unstable under high pressure. The segmented design also reduces the bellows' stiffness, making it more stable under high pressure and reducing seal failure due to structural deformation. Due to the structural characteristics of the segmented, multi-layer bellows, the reaction force generated when subjected to pressure is effectively controlled. For example, the bellows can be thought of as a spring; when subjected to tension or compression, it generates an axial reaction force, just like a spring. For bellows of the same length, the stiffness of the segmented bellows is lower than that of the single-segment bellows, thereby reducing the reaction force generated during movement. This smaller reaction force means that the bellows has less impact on the moving guide rod during movement, thereby improving the operating efficiency and response speed of the entire system. The design of the segmented, multi-layer bellows also takes maintenance convenience into consideration. The segmented structure allows for quick location of problem sections when replacement or repair is required, reducing maintenance time and costs. This utility model bellows is not only suitable for standard working conditions, but also adapts to a wider range of temperatures and pressures, enabling it to maintain high performance in a variety of harsh environments.

[0024] See further Figure 1 , the first end 1013 of the bellows is fixedly connected to the first cover plate 1022, and the second end 1014 of the bellows is fixedly connected to the end 1031 of the moving conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber. In the present utility model, the bellows not only plays a sealing role, but also cooperates with the moving conductive rod to form a guide structure, which mainly guides the bellows with the help of the moving conductive rod to prevent the bellows from deforming and twisting due to instability, which may cause the bellows to scratch the surrounding parts during movement and cause the bellows to leak. The use of the segmented bellows and the moving conductive rod in the present utility model can effectively guide the moving conductive rod to move smoothly on a predetermined path, reducing the possibility of the bellows being damaged and leaking due to deviations during movement. The bellows of the present utility model can ensure that it can still maintain good guiding and sealing performance when it is subjected to the force applied by the moving conductive rod.

[0025] Further participation Figure 1In the embodiment, a first fixed connector 1024 is further provided on the first cover plate 1022, through which the first end 1013 of the bellows is connected to the first cover plate 1022. This ensures that one end of the bellows is fixed in place to prevent shaking or instability during the movement of the movable conductive rod, thereby improving the stability of the entire structure. The design of the fixed connector allows for quick assembly and disassembly of the bellows, facilitating maintenance and replacement, reducing maintenance time and costs, and helping to maintain a tight seal between the bellows and the cover plate, preventing gas leakage and ensuring normal operation of the device in a vacuum or specific gas environment.

[0026] Further, see Figure 1 The end 1031 of the moving conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber is further provided with a second fixed connector 1032. The second end 1014 of the bellows is connected to the moving conductive rod 103 via the second fixed connector 1032. This embodiment ensures the stability of the bellows during the movement of the moving conductive rod, reducing the risk of failure caused by bellows swaying. It helps the bellows accurately follow the movement of the moving conductive rod, ensuring a reliable and consistent electrical connection. It also effectively reduces stress caused by movement, extending the service life of the bellows.

[0027] In this embodiment, a gap is provided between the bellows 101 and the movable conductive rod 103 to provide a certain degree of flexibility in movement, allowing the bellows to expand and contract freely to a certain extent and adapt to different working conditions. The presence of the gap can reduce direct contact between the bellows and the movable conductive rod, thereby reducing wear and extending the service life of both. At the same time, it can allow the bellows and the movable conductive rod to expand or contract appropriately when the temperature changes, avoiding damage caused by thermal stress. In addition, the gap can serve as a shock absorber, absorbing the impact and vibration generated during the movement of the movable conductive rod and protecting the connection structure from damage.

[0028] According to some other embodiments of the present invention, gaps may be provided between the multi-layer structures of the bellows 101. Providing gaps allows the multi-layer structure of the bellows to undergo thermal expansion or contraction when the temperature changes, thereby avoiding material fatigue or damage due to thermal stress. It can also absorb and alleviate vibrations generated by external shocks or equipment operation, reducing damage to the bellows structure. Providing gaps in the multi-layer bellows structure can also serve as a way to release stress, reduce friction and stress concentration between layers, and extend the service life of the bellows. The gaps also provide the bellows with a certain degree of freedom, making it more flexible when under pressure or performing movements, and reducing the risk of damage due to excessive bending.

[0029] According to other embodiments of the present invention, the multilayer structure of the bellows 101 may also be free of gaps. Not providing gaps between the multilayer structure can increase the overall rigidity of the bellows, making it more stable when subjected to higher pressures or loads. A gapless design helps improve the bellows' sealing performance, preventing gas or liquid from leaking between layers. It also ensures that the load is more evenly distributed between the layers of the bellows, reducing local stress concentration and improving the overall load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, a gapless multilayer bellows can simplify the bellows' manufacturing process.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vacuum interrupter is provided, comprising a bellows according to any of the above embodiments. In high-pressure environments, the sealing performance and service life of the interrupter are critical factors. The segmented, multi-layered bellows design provides a more stable and reliable operating environment for the interrupter by improving guiding stability and controlling reaction force, thereby significantly extending the interrupter's service life.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a gas-filled switchgear is provided, including the vacuum interrupter described in the above embodiment. This embodiment effectively improves the performance of key sealing components, such as the interrupter bellows, extending their service life, thereby enhancing the safety and stability of the entire gas-filled switchgear, meeting the demands of modern power systems for efficient, environmentally friendly, and reliable power equipment.

[0032] References in this specification to "various embodiments," "some embodiments," "one embodiment," or "an embodiment" refer to a particular feature, structure, or property described in connection with the embodiment being included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in various embodiments," "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment," or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular features, structures, or properties may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, particular features, structures, or properties shown or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with features, structures, or properties of one or more other embodiments without restriction, as long as the combination is not illogical or inoperable.

[0033] In this specification, the terms "including," "having," and similar expressions are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices. "A" or "an" does not exclude the possibility of a plurality of steps. In addition, the elements in the drawings of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described through preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and includes various changes and modifications that may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vacuum interrupter, comprising: A vacuum chamber is formed by sealing an insulating shell and a first cover plate and a second cover plate respectively provided at two ends of the insulating shell; a movable conductive rod, which passes through the first cover plate, extends into the vacuum chamber, and moves axially in the vacuum chamber; It is characterized in that it also includes a bellows sleeved on the outside of the moving conductive rod of the vacuum chamber, the bellows includes a plurality of sub-bellows arranged in sections, and the sub-bellows are a nested multi-layer structure.

2. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sub-bellows are connected via flanges.

3. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first end of the bellows is connected to the first cover plate, and the second end of the bellows is connected to one end of the movable conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber.

4. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first fixing connector is provided on the first cover plate, and the first end of the bellows is connected to the first cover plate through the first fixing connector.

5. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 3, characterized in that: One end of the movable conductive rod extending into the vacuum chamber is provided with a second fixed connecting piece, and the second end of the bellows is connected to the movable conductive rod through the second fixed connecting piece.

6. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 1, characterized in that: A gap is provided between the bellows and the movable conductive rod.

7. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 1, characterized in that: Gaps are provided between the multi-layer structures of the sub-bellows.

8. The vacuum interrupter according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are no gaps between the multi-layer structures of the sub-bellows.

9. An inflatable switch cabinet, characterized in that: The vacuum interrupter comprises the vacuum interrupter according to any one of claims 1 to 8.