Vacuum valve and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To provide a vacuum valve that can be assembled by fitting a fixed side flange and a movable side flange to a ceramic insulating container without using a jig and accurately positioning them, and a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: A vacuum valve 100 includes: a cylindrical insulating container 1; a fixed-side flange 5 fixed to one end of the insulating container 1 in an axial direction Z; a movable-side flange 8 fixed to the other end of the insulating container 1 in the axial direction Z; and a pair of separable contacts 3 and 6 housed in the insulating container 1. An annular groove section 11 coaxial with the insulating container 1 is formed at an end surface of the insulating container 1 in the axial direction Z. The fixed-side flange 5 and the movable-side flange 8 are fitted into the groove 11 and joined to the insulating container 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vacuum valve and a method for manufacturing a vacuum valve. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, vacuum valves mounted on vacuum circuit breakers and the like are composed of the following components: ceramic insulating container, shield, fixed contact, fixed electrode bar, fixed flange, movable contact, movable electrode bar, movable flange, and bellows. These components are brazed together in a vacuum atmosphere to form a sealed vacuum container. After brazing, the expansion and contraction of the bellows enables the opening and closing of the fixed contact and the movable contact while maintaining the internal airtightness.

[0003] Furthermore, when assembling the aforementioned components, the components are assembled and brazed using a positioning jig or the like to maintain good concentricity between them, so as to prevent poor airtightness or uneven contact between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts due to eccentricity between the components. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7246416 [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-282923 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 07-288070 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In conventional vacuum valve structures, it is common to use an annular flat brazing material to braze the ceramic insulating container to the fixed and movable flanges, and it was necessary to use a positioning jig to prevent eccentricity between the ceramic insulating container and the fixed and movable flanges during assembly. This resulted in issues such as time-consuming assembly and a reduced number of parts that could be put into a heating furnace at one time, resulting in poor production efficiency.

[0006] In addition, the annular flat brazing material is expensive because of the large amount of scraps produced during production, which raises the problem of increased production costs. As shown in Figures 2 and 4 of Patent Document 1 and Figures 2, 3, and 4 of Patent Document 2, prior art is disclosed in which the shape of the end face of the opening of the ceramic insulating container is changed to braze the fixed flange and the movable flange, but the main role of these is to relax the electric field at the end of the metallized layer provided on the end face of the ceramic insulating container, and accurate positioning effects and suppression of defects due to eccentricity cannot be expected from such a structure.

[0007] On the other hand, Patent Document 3 discloses a prior art in which grooves are provided in the fixed flange and the movable flange, making it possible to use linear brazing filler metal, which is generally considered to be cheaper because it produces less waste material during manufacturing than annular flat brazing filler metal, as shown in Figures 1, 6, 7, and 8. The use of linear brazing filler metal is an effective means of reducing manufacturing costs, but a structure like that of Patent Document 3 requires a positioning jig during assembly, just like the conventional structure.

[0008] The vacuum valve and manufacturing method for a vacuum valve according to the present disclosure have been made to solve the problems described above, and have an object to provide a vacuum valve and a manufacturing method for a vacuum valve in which a fixed side flange and a movable side flange can be fitted to a ceramic insulating container without the use of jigs, accurately positioned, assembled, and then brazed to each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The vacuum valve according to the present disclosure comprises: A cylindrical insulating container; a fixed flange fixed to one axial end of the insulating container; a movable flange fixed to the other axial end of the insulating container; A pair of connectable and disconnectable contacts are housed in the insulating container, An annular groove is formed on an axial end surface of the insulating container, the groove being coaxial with the insulating container; The fixed flange and the movable flange are fitted into the grooves and joined to the insulating container. The method for manufacturing a vacuum valve according to the present disclosure further comprises the steps of: A method for manufacturing the vacuum valve, comprising the steps of: The fixed flange and the movable flange can be positioned on the insulating container by fitting their ends into the grooves. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the vacuum valve and the method for manufacturing the vacuum valve of the present disclosure, It is possible to provide a vacuum valve and a manufacturing method thereof in which a fixed flange and a movable flange can be fitted to a ceramic insulating container without using a jig, accurately positioned and assembled, and then brazed to each other. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum interrupter according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the circled portion A in FIG. [Diagram 3] 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of a vacuum interrupter according to a second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Embodiment 1 In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the terms "axial direction", "circumferential direction", "radial direction", "inner peripheral side", "outer peripheral side", "inner peripheral surface", and "outer peripheral surface" refer to the "axial direction", "circumferential direction", "radial direction", "inner peripheral side", "outer peripheral side", "inner peripheral surface", and "outer peripheral surface" of the vacuum valve, respectively. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, when referring to "upper" and "lower", a plane perpendicular to the axial direction is assumed at the referenced location, and the side of the plane that is the boundary and includes the center point of the vacuum valve is regarded as "lower", and the opposite side as "upper".

[0013] The vacuum valve and the method for manufacturing the vacuum valve according to the first embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum interrupter 100 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the circled portion A in Fig. 1. This portion is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the brazed portion between the ceramic insulating container 1 of the vacuum valve 100 and the fixed flange 5 (the same is true for the movable flange 8 side).

[0014] The vacuum valve 100 has a cylindrical ceramic insulating container 1, and a fixed side flange 5 is fixed to one end of the ceramic insulating container 1 in the axial direction Z, and a movable side flange 8 is fixed to the other end to form a container and maintain the inside of the container in an airtight state at a high vacuum.

[0015] A fixed electrode bar 4 is fixed to a fixed flange 5 fixed to one end in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1, and a movable electrode bar 7 is attached to a movable flange 8 via a bellows 9. One end of the bellows 9 is fixed to the movable flange 8 so as to surround the movable electrode bar 7, and the other end of the bellows 9 is fixed to the movable electrode bar 7 so as to surround the movable electrode bar 7.

[0016] A fixed contact 3 is attached to a fixed electrode bar 4 housed in a ceramic insulating container 1, and a movable contact 6 is attached to a movable electrode bar 7 so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from each other and face each other in the axial direction Z. A shield 2 is also provided within the ceramic insulating container 1 so as to surround the fixed contact 3 and the movable contact 6 which face each other in the axial direction Z. The movable electrode bar 7 is configured so as to be able to move smoothly in the axial direction Z during the opening and closing operations of the vacuum valve 100.

[0017] An annular groove 11 recessed downward in the axial direction Z is provided around the entire circumference on both end faces 1T of the ceramic insulating container 1 in the axial direction Z. The central axis of the annular groove 11, the central axis of the fixed side flange 5, and the central axis of the movable side flange 8 are coaxially formed.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, a groove portion having a rectangular cross section cut in the radial direction X is shown as an example of the groove portion 11 here, but the groove portion 11 may have an R-surface or a C-surface at the corner of the upper end or the corner of the lower end, or the bottom surface or the side surface may be inclined.

[0019] A linear brazing material 10 is fitted into the bottom of the groove 11 on one end side of the ceramic insulating container 1 in the axial direction Z, and a lower end portion 51 of the fixed side flange 5 is fitted onto the linear brazing material 10 in the axial direction Z. Similarly, a linear brazing material 10 is fitted into the bottom of the groove 11 on the other end side of the ceramic insulating container 1, and a lower end portion 81 of the movable side flange 8 is fitted onto the linear brazing material 10 in the axial direction Z.

[0020] The grooves 11 are preferably provided on both end faces 1T in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1, but may be provided on only one side. The dimensions of the grooves 11, such as their width in the radial direction X and their depth in the axial direction Z, are preferably changed depending on the thicknesses of the fixed flange 5 and the movable flange 8 in the type of vacuum valve 100 to be applied, or the diameter of the linear brazing material 10 used, to provide a structure that provides better positioning accuracy.

[0021] For example, the clearance between the width of the groove 11 in the radial direction X and the width of the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8 in the radial direction X is made as small as possible, and the depth of the fit is set large to reduce rattling. In addition, a metallized layer is provided on the axial end face of the conventional ceramic insulating container, which allows the ceramic insulating container to be indirectly brazed to the metal fixed side flange and movable side flange using a general silver brazing material. However, in the ceramic insulating container 1 according to the first embodiment, depending on the dimensions of the groove 11, it may be difficult to form a metallized layer as in the conventional case. In that case, it is preferable to use an active brazing material to which an active metal such as Ti (Titanium) is added, and braze the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8 directly to the ceramic insulating container 1 without providing a metallized layer on the ceramic insulating container 1. The above-mentioned metallized layer may be provided as in the conventional case. When a metallized layer is provided on the end face in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1 and on the groove portion 11, the ceramic insulating container 1, the fixed flange 5 and the movable flange 8 may be indirectly brazed with a silver brazing material.

[0022] The manufacturing process for the vacuum valve 100 can be broadly divided into four steps: a fixed-side assembly process in which the fixed contact 3, fixed electrode 4, and fixed flange 5 are brazed in a hydrogen or vacuum atmosphere, a moving-side assembly process in which the moving contact 6, moving electrode 7, moving flange 8, and bellows 9 are brazed in a hydrogen or vacuum atmosphere, an insulating assembly process in which the ceramic insulating container 1 and the shield 2 are brazed or joined by welding, etc., and finally, a vacuum assembly process in which the three types of assemblies obtained in the above-mentioned assembly processes are brazed in a vacuum atmosphere. The first embodiment is effective in the vacuum assembly process.

[0023] In the vacuum assembly process, first, a linear brazing material 10 is placed in a groove 11 formed on one end face 1T in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1 that has undergone the insulating assembly process, and the linear brazing material 10 is abutted against the lower end portion 51 of the fixed side flange 5. The lower end portion 51 of the fixed side flange 5 that has undergone the fixed side assembly process is fitted into the groove portion 11 by pressing down on it from above.

[0024] Next, while supporting the fitted fixed side flange 5 so that it does not come out of the groove 11, it is turned upside down and placed on a base for loading into a heating furnace. Thereafter, a linear brazing material 10 is similarly placed in the groove 11 formed in the other end face 1T in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1, and the lower end 81 of the movable side flange 8 is brought into contact with it, and the lower end 81 of the movable side flange 8 is fitted into the groove 11 by pressing down from above, completing the assembly. Note that the movable side flange 8 may be assembled first.

[0025] According to the vacuum valve and the manufacturing method of the vacuum valve of embodiment 1, by assembling the lower end portion 51 of the fixed side flange 5 and the lower end portion 81 of the movable side flange 8 to fit into the groove portion 11 formed in the end face 1T in the axial direction Z of the ceramic insulating container 1, it is possible to position the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8 on the ceramic insulating container 1 without using a positioning jig, and defects due to eccentricity of these components can be suppressed.

[0026] In addition, since a bulky positioning jig is not required when placing the assembled vacuum valve 100 in the heating furnace, the number of vacuum valves 100 that can be placed in the heating furnace at one time increases, contributing to improved manufacturing efficiency. Also, there is less scrap material during manufacturing than with conventional annular flat brazing material, and since linear brazing material 10, which is generally considered to be inexpensive, can be used, the manufacturing cost of the vacuum valve 100 can be reduced.

[0027] Furthermore, the linear brazing filler metal 10 is stored in the groove portion 11 of the ceramic insulating container 1, and the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8 are arranged from above so as to press down the linear brazing filler metal 10 with their respective lower end portions 51, 81. This prevents the linear brazing filler metal 10 from shifting or falling when assembling the vacuum valve 100 or when putting it into a heating furnace, thereby realizing a simple and reliable assembly structure and manufacturing method.

[0028] Embodiment 2 The vacuum valve and the manufacturing method thereof according to the second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a brazed portion between ceramic insulating container 201 and fixed flange 205 (similar to the movable flange side) of vacuum valve 100 according to embodiment 2.

[0029] As in the first embodiment, the groove 211 having a rectangular cross section cut in the radial direction X is provided on the end face of the cylindrical ceramic insulating container 201 in the axial direction Z. In the second embodiment, the width of the groove 211 in the radial direction X is increased. Furthermore, the lower end 251 of the fixed side flange 205 and the movable side flange, which is fitted and brazed to the ceramic insulating container 201, is bent outward in the radial direction X to provide a deformed portion H having an increased width in the radial direction X. This structure allows a plurality of linear brazing materials 10 to be stored in the groove 211 while increasing the contact area between the ceramic insulating container 201 and the fixed side flange 205 and the movable side flange. In FIG. 3, the lower end 251 of the fixed side flange 205 is changed to an L-shape as an example, but this shape may be freely set.

[0030] A feature of the second embodiment in the assembly process of the vacuum valve 100 is the placement of multiple linear brazing filler metals 10. Although this requires more work than the first embodiment, the contact area between the bottom end faces of the fixed flange 5 and the movable flange 8 that are fitted together and the ceramic insulating container 201 is large, which stabilizes the assembly workability.

[0031] In addition, in embodiment 1, the lower end portions 51, 81 of the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8 that fit into the groove portion 11 of the ceramic insulating container 1 have a linear shape in the axial direction Z and are structured to hold down the linear brazing material 10 that has already been stored with an area equivalent to the plate thickness. Therefore, depending on the accuracy of the fitting dimensions between the groove portion 11 and the fixed side flange 5 and the movable side flange 8, there is a possibility that rattle may occur during fitting, making stable assembly impossible.

[0032] Therefore, in the second embodiment, the lower end 251 of the fixed side flange 205 and the lower end of the movable side flange in the axial direction Z are enlarged in the radial direction X to increase the contact area when fitted with the ceramic insulating container 201, thereby enabling more stable assembly.

[0033] Furthermore, a plurality of linear brazing filler metals 10 can be arranged, and the increased amount of brazing filler metal, combined with the increased contact area described above, can contribute to good brazing and fillet formation.

[0034] Although the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments and examples, the various features, aspects, and functions described in one or more embodiments are not limited to application to a particular embodiment, but may be applied to the embodiments alone or in various combinations. Therefore, countless variations not exemplified are assumed within the scope of the technology disclosed in each embodiment, including, for example, a case where at least one component is modified, added, or omitted, and further, a case where at least one component is extracted and combined with a component of another embodiment.

[0035] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0036] (Appendix 1) A cylindrical insulating container; a fixed flange fixed to one axial end of the insulating container; a movable flange fixed to the other axial end of the insulating container; A pair of connectable and disconnectable contacts are housed in the insulating container, An annular groove is formed on an axial end surface of the insulating container, the groove being coaxial with the insulating container; The fixed flange and the movable flange are fitted into the grooves and joined to the insulating container. (Appendix 2) The vacuum valve described in Appendix 1, wherein the fixed side flange and the movable side flange have a deformed portion at an end portion that fits into the groove portion and is joined to the insulating container, the deformed portion being increased in radial width of the end portion. (Appendix 3) the insulating container is a ceramic insulating container, 3. The vacuum valve according to claim 1, wherein a metallized layer is provided in the groove portion of the ceramic insulating container, and the ceramic insulating container, the fixed side flange and the movable side flange are brazed with a brazing material. (Appendix 4) the insulating container is a ceramic insulating container, 3. A vacuum valve as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein no metallized layer is provided in the groove portion of the ceramic insulating container, and the ceramic insulating container, the fixed side flange and the movable side flange are brazed with an active brazing material. (Appendix 5) 3. The vacuum valve according to claim 2, wherein the deformation portion is formed by bending an end portion of the insulating container that is to be joined to the groove portion. (Appendix 6) A method for producing a vacuum valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A method for manufacturing a vacuum valve, wherein the fixed side flange and the movable side flange can be positioned in the insulating container by fitting their ends into the grooves. (Appendix 7) A manufacturing method for a vacuum valve as described in Appendix 6, which includes placing a linear brazing material in the groove, abutting the linear brazing material against the end of the fixed side flange and the end of the movable side flange, fitting the fixed side flange and the movable side flange into the groove, and then heating in a heating furnace to join the insulating container to the fixed side flange and the movable side flange. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 Vacuum valve, 1,201 Ceramic insulating container, 1T end face, 2 Shield, 3 Fixed contact, 4 Fixed electrode bar, 5,205 Fixed flange, 51,81,251 Lower end, 6 movable side contact, 7 movable side electrode rod, 8 movable side flange, 9 bellows, 10 linear brazing material, 11,211 groove portion.

Claims

1. A cylindrical insulating container; a fixed flange fixed to one axial end of the insulating container; a movable flange fixed to the other axial end of the insulating container; A pair of connectable and disconnectable contacts are housed in the insulating container, An annular groove is formed on an axial end surface of the insulating container, the groove being coaxial with the insulating container; The fixed flange and the movable flange are fitted into the grooves and joined to the insulating container.

2. The vacuum valve according to claim 1, wherein the fixed side flange and the movable side flange have a deformed portion at an end portion which is fitted into the groove portion and joined to the insulating container, the deformed portion being increased in radial width of the end portion.

3. the insulating container is a ceramic insulating container, 3. The vacuum valve according to claim 1, wherein a metallized layer is provided in the groove of the ceramic insulating container, and the ceramic insulating container is brazed to the fixed flange and the movable flange with a brazing material.

4. the insulating container is a ceramic insulating container, 3. The vacuum valve according to claim 1, wherein the groove of the ceramic insulating container does not have a metallized layer, and the ceramic insulating container, the fixed flange and the movable flange are brazed with an active brazing material.

5. 3. The vacuum valve according to claim 2, wherein the deformed portion is formed by bending an end portion of the insulating container that is to be joined to the groove portion.

6. A method for manufacturing a vacuum valve according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: A method for manufacturing a vacuum valve, wherein the fixed side flange and the movable side flange can be positioned in the insulating container by fitting their ends into the grooves.

7. A method for manufacturing a vacuum valve as described in claim 6, comprising the steps of: placing a linear brazing material in the groove; abutting the linear brazing material against an end of the fixed side flange and an end of the movable side flange; fitting the fixed side flange and the movable side flange into the groove; and then heating in a heating furnace to join the insulating container to the fixed side flange and the movable side flange.

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