# US 10,679,806 B2 · Composite arc shields for vacuum interrupters and methods for forming same

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- Number: US 10,679,806 B2
- Document ID: US10679806B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/817,950
- Filed: 2017-11-20
- Published: 2018-03-15
- Granted: 2020-06-09
- Earliest claimed: 2014-10-13
- Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
- Applicants: Eaton Corporation
- Inventors: Louis Grant Campbell; Eric Dennis Smith; Franklin Willis Freeborn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10679806B2

## CPC

- H01H 33/66207: {Specific housing details, e.g. sealing, soldering or brazing}
- H01H 11/00: Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches (processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88)
- H01H 33/66261: {Specific screen details, e.g. mounting, materials, multiple screens or specific electrical field considerations}
- H01H 2033/66223: {Details relating to the sealing of vacuum switch housings}
- H01H 2033/66269: {Details relating to the materials used for screens in vacuum switches}
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

The disclosed concept pertains to vacuum interrupters and arc-resistant shields. The arc-resistant shields are positioned in between a ceramic insulator. Each end of the arc-resistant shield is hermetically sealed to the ceramic insulator. The arc-resistant shield includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface includes an arc-resistant material. Disposed within the arc-resistant shield is a pair of electrode assemblies which are separable to establish arcing. In certain embodiments, the arc-resistant material is copper-chromium alloy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for preparing a vacuum interrupter, comprising:
forming a tubular vacuum cavity, comprising:
a first ceramic portion;
a second ceramic portion; and
an arc-resistant shield, comprising:
a shield structure having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and an opposite second end; and
an arc-resistant material, comprising:
copper-chromium alloy, comprising:
copper selected from the group consisting of pure copper and copper alloy; and
chromium alloy comprising ferrochrome,
wherein the arc-resistant material is applied to at least a portion of the interior surface of the shield structure to form a layer, or
wherein the arc-resistant material is co-formed with the shield structure to form a composite;
a first electrode assembly; and
a second electrode assembly;
positioning the arc-resistant shield between the first and second ceramic portions;
hermetically sealing the first end of the shield structure to the first ceramic portion;
hermetically sealing the opposite second end of the shield structure to the second ceramic portion; and
positioning the first and second electrode assemblies within a portion of the cavity defined by the arc-resistant shield, said first and second electrode assemblies being separable to establish arcing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealing includes brazing or welding.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the arc-resistant material and shield structure are co-formed against a mandrel utilizing a technique selected from the group consisting of isostatic press, uniaxial press and metal spinning.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the arc-resistant material is expanded into the shield structure utilizing an uniaxial press acting on an internally placed elastomeric plug.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the arc-resistant material is in a powder alloy form and is mixed with a suitable binder to form a coating and the coating is applied to the interior surface of the shield structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising sintering and sinterbonding the arc-resistant material to the shield structure.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the arc-resistant material is in a powder alloy form and is mixed with a suitable binder to form a tape and the tape is applied to the interior surface of the shield structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the arc-resistant material is encased within a multi-piece shield structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the encasement process comprises brazing or welding.