Series Vacuum Interrupter Layout for High-Voltage Circuit Breakers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum interrupters designed for high voltage applications are expensive and challenging to develop, requiring significant design effort for heat dissipation and large contact distances, which complicates their use in medium and high voltage circuit breakers.

Innovation Solution

A medium voltage or high voltage circuit breaker design featuring two vacuum interrupters connected in series with an interconnection part, a lever system, and an actuator, allowing for simultaneous movement of movable contacts and reduced contact distance, enhancing heat dissipation and mechanical support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a single high voltage vacuum interrupter is used, then high voltage application is achieved, but design complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoiddesign effort

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single high voltage vacuum interrupter into multiple lower voltage vacuum interrupters connected in series. Each vacuum interrupter handles a portion of the total voltage, reducing the complexity and cost of individual units while achieving the required high voltage capability through the series configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent places multiple vacuum interrupters within a common housing structure, with one vacuum interrupter positioned inside or alongside another. This nested arrangement allows compact integration of multiple interrupters while sharing common structural and insulating components, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Temperature

If a single high voltage vacuum interrupter is used, then high voltage application is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If large contact distance is used for high voltage, then dielectric withstand is improved, but actuator mechanism size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedielectric withstandVSAvoidactuator mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the total voltage into multiple series-connected vacuum interrupters, each with smaller contact distances suitable for lower voltage operation. This segmentation allows each actuator mechanism to be more compact while the series configuration achieves the required overall dielectric withstand capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12603239B2Medium voltage or high voltage circuit breaker

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG

AI summary

A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals, first and second vacuum interrupters, an interconnection part, an actuator, an operating rod, and a lever system. The first terminal is connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter. The second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is associated with a movable contact of the first and second vacuum interrupters when the circuit breaker is in a closed state. A first end of a first lever arm is coupled to the movable contact, and a second end is coupled to the operating rod. When transitioning from an open to a closed state, the actuator moves the operating rod to move the second end of the first lever arm and the second end of the second lever arm.