Vacuum interrupter and vacuum switch
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SIEMENS ENERGY GLOBAL GMBH & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2023-09-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing vacuum switch technologies face challenges in maintaining the stability and lifespan of the wrinkle bale, which is crucial for reliable vacuum control and switching operations.
The design incorporates a multi-layered wrinkle bale with varying wrinkle heights, distances, and material thicknesses along the longitudinal axis of the contact element, enhancing stability and lifespan by distributing mechanical stress evenly.
This design significantly increases the stability and lifespan of the wrinkle bale, enabling it to withstand numerous switching processes without damage, thus ensuring reliable vacuum switch operations.
Smart Images
Figure EP2023075191_20032025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Vacuum interrupters and vacuum switches
[0003] The invention relates to a vacuum interrupter and a vacuum switch with a vacuum interrupter.
[0004] In the following, a vacuum switch refers to a circuit breaker which has at least one pair of two contact elements which are movable relative to one another and which contact one another in a vacuum to close a current path and are separated from one another to open the current path, the vacuum being understood to mean a so-called technical vacuum.
[0005] A vacuum interrupter is referred to below as a component of a vacuum switch which comprises a tube housing and at least one pair of two contact elements of the vacuum switch which are movable relative to one another. The tube housing encloses a tube volume which is evacuated to create the vacuum. A contact element which is firmly connected to the tube housing is often arranged in the tube volume. A further contact element which is movable relative to the tube housing is guided through a tube opening in the tube housing in order to be able to drive movement of this contact element from the outside. The tube opening must be sealed in order to prevent gas from penetrating the tube volume. In order to seal the tube opening, for example, a bellows is used which has one end connected to the movable contact element and one end connected to the tube housing.
[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a vacuum interrupter with an improved bellows and a vacuum switch with such a vacuum interrupter. This object is achieved according to the invention by a vacuum interrupter with the features of claim 1 and a vacuum switch with the features of claim 13.
[0007] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.
[0008] A vacuum interrupter according to the invention comprises
[0009] - a tube housing,
[0010] - a contact element projecting through a housing opening of the tube housing into a tube volume surrounded by the tube housing, which contact element is movable relative to the tube housing along a longitudinal axis of the contact element, and
[0011] - a bellows having a first end fixedly connected to the contact element and a second end fixedly connected to the tube housing and enclosing the housing opening, wherein
[0012] - the bellows is made up of several layers.
[0013] The invention aims at a design of the bellows of a vacuum interrupter of a vacuum switch which gives the bellows high stability and service life, so that the bellows is designed, for example, for several tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of switching operations of the vacuum switch, each of which entails compression or stretching of the bellows. For this purpose, the invention provides for the bellows to be designed in multiple layers. The multi-layer design of the bellows can significantly increase its stability and service life compared to a single-layer design. In particular, the multi-layer design of the bellows means that damage to one layer of the bellows does not necessarily lead to a failure of the bellows' function of sealing the housing opening, since this function can be fulfilled by an undamaged layer of the bellows.
[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the bellows has at least two layers made of different materials. For example, at least one layer of the bellows is made of stainless steel and / or at least one layer of the bellows is made of an alloy containing nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and niobium.
[0015] Constructing the bellows with layers made of different materials offers the advantage of combining the benefits of different materials. Layers made of stainless steel or an alloy containing nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and niobium are particularly advantageous for the stability and service life of the bellows.
[0016] In a further embodiment of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention, the bellows has a plurality of folds extending around the longitudinal axis of the contact element, each fold having a fold structure that varies along the longitudinal axis. The fold structure preferably counteracts uneven loading of the bellows along the longitudinal axis of the contact element.
[0017] The above-mentioned design of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention takes into account that a bellows of a vacuum interrupter is generally subjected to different levels of mechanical stress along its longitudinal extent. The mechanical stress on an area of the bellows therefore generally depends on where the area is located along the longitudinal extent of the bellows. For example, the end areas of the bellows are often subjected to particularly high levels of stress. This effect can be intensified by transverse forces acting on the bellows, which are generated, for example, by imperfect guidance of the bellows or, in particular when the bellows is installed horizontally, by gravity.Accordingly, one embodiment of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention provides that the variation in the fold structure of the bellows' folds counteracts uneven loading of the bellows along the longitudinal axis of the contact element. In other words, the fold structure of the bellows' folds along the longitudinal axis of the contact element is designed such that it compensates for uneven loading of the bellows along the longitudinal axis of the contact element. This can advantageously increase the service life of the bellows.
[0018] In a further embodiment of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention, the fold height of the bellows folds varies along the longitudinal axis of the contact element. For example, the fold height is smaller in a more heavily loaded region of the bellows than in a less heavily loaded region of the bellows. In particular, the fold height of the bellows folds can decrease toward the first end and / or the second end of the bellows compared to a central region of the bellows.
[0019] In a further embodiment of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention, the pleat spacing between two adjacent pleats of the bellows varies along the longitudinal axis of the contact element. For example, the pleat spacing is greater in a more heavily loaded region of the bellows than in a less heavily loaded region of the bellows. In particular, the pleat spacing can increase toward the first end and / or the second end of the bellows compared to a central region of the bellows.
[0020] In a further embodiment of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention, the material thickness of the bellows varies along the longitudinal axis of the contact element. For example, the material thickness is greater in a more heavily loaded area of the bellows than in a less heavily loaded area of the bellows.
[0021] In particular, the material thickness can increase towards the first end and / or towards the second end of the bellows compared to a central region of the bellows. In the above-mentioned embodiments of a vacuum interrupter according to the invention, an uneven load on the bellows along its longitudinal extent is counteracted by a geometric design of the folds of the bellows that changes along the longitudinal extent, by varying the fold height, the fold spacing or the material thickness of the folds along the longitudinal extent. These features of the fold structure can also be combined with one another, so that the bellows has regions of different fold heights, fold spacings and / or material thicknesses along its longitudinal extent.A decrease in the fold height, an increase in the fold spacing and / or an increase in the material thickness towards one end of the bellows relieves the load on the end region of the bellows having this end and takes into account that the end regions of the bellows are typically subjected to particularly high loads.
[0022] A vacuum switch according to the invention has a vacuum interrupter designed according to the invention.
[0023] The above-described properties, features, and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understood in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings.
[0024] FIG 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a vacuum interrupter,
[0025] FIG 2 shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of a bellows of a vacuum interrupter, FIG 3 shows a sectional view of a second
[0026] From an example of a bellows of a vacuum switching tube,
[0027] FIG 4 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a bellows of a vacuum interrupter,
[0028] FIG 5 is a sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a bellows of a vacuum interrupter,
[0029] FIG 6 is a sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a bellows of a vacuum interrupter,
[0030] FIG 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a vacuum switch.
[0031] Corresponding parts in the figures are provided with the same reference symbols.
[0032] Figure 1 (FIG 1) shows an embodiment of a vacuum interrupter 1 in a schematic
[0033] Sectional view. The vacuum interrupter 1 comprises a tube housing 3, a first contact element 5, a second contact element 7, and a bellows 9.
[0034] The tube housing 3 encloses a tube volume 11, which is evacuated to generate a vacuum for the operation of the vacuum interrupter 1. The tube housing 3 has a housing opening 13 for the second contact element 7.
[0035] The first contact element 5 is arranged in the tube volume 11 and fixedly connected to the tube housing 3. The second contact element 7 is guided through the housing opening 13 and projects into the tube volume 11. The second contact element 7 is movable relative to the tube housing 3 along a longitudinal axis 15 of the second contact element 7 between a first switching position, in which it is in galvanic contact with the first contact element 5, and a second switching position shown in Figure 1, in which it is separated from the first contact element 5. The longitudinal axis 15 of the second contact element 7 is also a longitudinal axis of the vacuum interrupter 1 and a longitudinal axis of the bellows 9.
[0036] The two contact elements 5, 7 have mutually facing, stamp-like contact regions 17, 19, which abut one another in the first switching position. The tubular housing 3 is wider in the region of the contact regions 17, 19 (i.e., with a larger diameter in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 15) than in its end regions.
[0037] The bellows 9 is arranged in the tube volume 11. A first end 21 of the bellows 9 is fixedly connected to the second contact element 7. A second end 23 of the bellows 9, opposite the first end 21, is fixedly connected to the tube housing 3 and surrounds the housing opening 13. The bellows 9 closes the tube volume 11 from the environment of the vacuum interrupter 1 and has folds 25 running around the longitudinal axis 15 of the contact element 7. The first end 21 of the bellows 9 is connected to the second contact element 7, for example by soldering. The second end 23 of the bellows 9 is connected to the tube housing 3, for example by soldering.
[0038] Exemplary embodiments of the bellows 9 are shown in Figures 2 to 6. Figures 2 to 6 each show a sectional view of a portion of the bellows 9.
[0039] Figure 2 (FIG. 2) shows a first exemplary embodiment of the bellows 9. The bellows 9 is multi-layered, comprising three layers 35, 36, 37. The layers 35, 36, 37 are made of different materials. For example, at least one layer 35, 36, 37 is made of stainless steel, and at least one layer 35, 36, 37 is made of an alloy containing nickel, chromium, molybdenum, and niobium.
[0040] In other exemplary embodiments, the bellows 9 can have only two or more than three layers instead of three layers 35, 36, 37. Alternatively or additionally, the bellows 9 can have a pleated structure that varies along the longitudinal axis 15. Figures 3 to 6 each show an exemplary embodiment of the bellows 9 with a pleated structure that varies along the longitudinal axis 15. In each of these exemplary embodiments, the bellows 9 is designed in multiple layers, analogous to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2, although the layers 35, 36, 37 of the bellows 9 are not shown in Figures 3 to 6. The pleated structure of the bellows 9 counteracts any uneven mechanical loading of the bellows 9 along the longitudinal axis 15. Figures 3 to 6 each show an exemplary embodiment of a bellows 9 whose mechanical loading is greater in a region 27, 29 than in a region 31.In these embodiments, each region 27, 29 is an end region of the bellows 9, and the region 31 is a middle region of the bellows 9, with the region 27 comprising the first end 21 of the bellows 9 and the region 29 comprising the second end 23 of the bellows 9. In other embodiments, however, the regions 27, 29, 31 may be other regions of the bellows 9.
[0041] Figure 3 (FIG 3) shows a second embodiment of the bellows 9. In this embodiment, a fold height h of the folds 25 of the bellows 9 varies along the longitudinal axis 15. The fold height h of the folds 25 of the bellows 9 decreases in the region 27 towards the first end 21 of the bellows 9 and in the region 29 towards the second end 23 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9. The fold height h of a fold 25 denotes a difference between a maximum distance and a minimum distance of a fold surface 33 of the fold 25 from the longitudinal axis 15.
[0042] Figure 4 (FIG. 4) shows a third exemplary embodiment of a bellows 9. In this exemplary embodiment, a pleat spacing d between two adjacent pleats 25 of the bellows 9 varies along the longitudinal axis 15. In this case, the pleat spacing d increases in the region 29 toward the second end 23 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9.
[0043] Figure 5 (FIG. 5) shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a bellows 9. In this exemplary embodiment, a material thickness b of the folds 25 of the bellows 9 varies along the longitudinal axis 15. The material thickness b of the folds 25 of the bellows 9 increases in the region 27 towards the first end 21 of the bellows 9 and in the second region 29 towards the second end 23 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9.
[0044] Figure 6 (FIG. 6) shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a bellows 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the fold height h, the fold spacing d and the material thickness b of the folds 25 of the bellows 9 vary along the longitudinal axis 15. The fold spacing d and the material thickness b increase in the region 27 towards the first end 21 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9. In the region 29, the fold height h decreases towards the second end 23 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9 and the fold spacing d increases towards the second end 23 of the bellows 9 compared to the region 31 of the bellows 9.
[0045] Figure 7 (FIG. 7) shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a vacuum switch 40. The vacuum switch 40 has a switch housing 41, a vacuum interrupter 1 and a drive unit 42. The vacuum switch 40 can have further components which are not shown in Figure 7 since they are not relevant to the invention. The vacuum interrupter 1 is arranged in the switch housing 41 and is designed according to one of the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The drive unit 42 is set up to move the second contact element 7 relative to the tube housing 3 of the vacuum interrupter 1 along its longitudinal axis 15. The drive unit 42 can be arranged outside or inside the switch housing 41.
[0046] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
Patent claims 1. Vacuum interrupter (1) comprising - a tube housing (3) , - a contact element (7) projecting through a housing opening (13) of the tube housing (3) into a tube volume (11) surrounded by the tube housing (3), which is movable relative to the tube housing (3) along a longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7), and - a bellows (9) having a first end (21) firmly connected to the contact element (7) and a first end (21) firmly connected to the tube housing (3), the Housing opening (13) enclosing second end (23), wherein - the bellows (9) is constructed in several layers.
2. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bellows (9) has at least two layers (35, 36, 37) made of different materials.
3. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one layer (35, 36, 37) of the bellows (9) is made of stainless steel.
4. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one layer (35, 36, 37) of the bellows (9) is made of an alloy containing nickel, chromium, molybdenum and niobium.
5. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bellows (9) has a plurality of folds (25) extending around the longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7) with a fold structure varying along the longitudinal axis (15).
6. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 5, wherein the fold structure is designed to withstand uneven loading of the Bellows (9) along the longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7).
7. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a fold height (h) of the folds (25) of the bellows (9) varies along the longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7).
8. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 7, wherein the fold height (h) of the folds (25) of the bellows (9) decreases towards the first end (21) and / or towards the second end (23) of the bellows (9) compared to a central region (31) of the bellows (9).
9. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a fold spacing (d) of two adjacent folds (25) of the bellows (9) varies along the longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7).
10. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 9, wherein the fold spacing (d) increases towards the first end (21) and / or towards the second end (23) of the bellows (9) compared to a central region (31) of the bellows (9).
11. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein a material thickness (b) of the bellows (9) varies along the longitudinal axis (15) of the contact element (7).
12. Vacuum interrupter (1) according to claim 11, wherein the material thickness (b) increases towards the first end (21) and / or towards the second end (23) of the bellows (9) compared to a central region (31) of the bellows (9).
13. Vacuum switch (40) with a vacuum interrupter (1) designed according to one of the preceding claims.