Vacuum interrupter with radial bellows
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsLi Yu, Mark A. Juds, Paul J. Rollmann, Andrew A. Rockhill, Hongbin Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medium or low voltage circuit interrupter includes a housing with a first end cap, a second end cap that comprises a radial bellows, and one or more insulating sidewalls that extends from the first end cap to the second end cap. The end caps and one or more sidewalls provide a vacuum chamber. A fixed contact that extends through an opening of the first end cap and into the vacuum chamber. A moveable contact that extends through an opening of the second end cap and into the vacuum chamber. Multiple such interrupters may be electrically connected in series, positioned a single plane, and actuated by a single actuator.
Claims24
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum circuit interrupters positioned proximate to each other in a planar array structure, wherein each of the vacuum circuit interrupters includes a fixed contact and a movable contact, and wherein the vacuum circuit interrupters are electrically connected to each other in a series between an input terminal and an output terminal;
- a connecting member that comprises an insulating material and that is attached to the movable contacts of each of the vacuum circuit interrupters;
- and
- an actuator that is connected to the connecting member;
- wherein the actuator is configured to move the connecting member in a first direction to close each of the interrupters, and to move the connecting member in a second direction to open each of the interrupters, and
- wherein each vacuum circuit interrupter is a low voltage circuit interrupter, and the series provides a medium voltage circuit interrupter.
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum circuit interrupters positioned proximate to each other on a single plane in an array structure, wherein:
- each of the vacuum circuit interrupters includes a fixed contact and a movable contact,
- the vacuum circuit interrupters are electrically connected to each other in a series between an input terminal and an output terminal,
- each vacuum circuit interrupter is a low voltage circuit interrupter, and
- the series provides a medium voltage circuit interrupter;
- an insulating chamber in which the vacuum circuit interrupters are contained;
- a plurality of bushings, through each of which one of the movable contacts or one of the fixed contacts extends from the insulating chamber;
- a connecting member that comprises an insulating material and that is attached to the movable contacts of each of the vacuum circuit interrupters;
- and
- an actuator that is connected to the connecting member;
- wherein the actuator is configured to move the connecting member in a first direction to close each of the interrupters, and to move the connecting member in a second direction to open each of the interrupters.
A circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a plurality of vacuum circuit interrupters positioned proximate to each other in a planar array structure, wherein each of the vacuum circuit interrupters includes a fixed contact and a movable contact, and wherein the vacuum circuit interrupters are electrically connected to each other in a series between an input terminal and an output terminal;
- a connecting member that comprises an insulating material and that is attached to the movable contacts of each of the vacuum circuit interrupters;
- and
- an actuator that is connected to the connecting member;
- wherein:
- the actuator is configured to move the connecting member in a first direction to close each of the interrupters, and to move the connecting member in a second direction to open each of the interrupters
- one or more of the vacuum circuit interrupters comprises:
- a housing that provides a vacuum chamber and that comprises:
- a first end cap,
- a second end cap that comprises a radial bellows, and
- an insulating sidewall that extends from the first end cap to the second end cap;
- the fixed contact extends through an opening of the first end cap and into the vacuum chamber,
- the moveable contact extends through an opening of the second end cap and into the vacuum chamber, and
- for one or more of the vacuum circuit interrupters:
- the housing includes a rim that encircles the first end cap;
- and
- the first end cap comprises a wall that extends through the rim and into the housing to form a wall of the vacuum chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.