# US 2013/0153540 A1 · Method of extinguishing an electric arc in a low or high voltage switchgear by pulse discharge

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- Number: US 2013/0153540 A1
- Document ID: US20130153540A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/816,159
- Filed: 2010-12-09
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-09
- Inventors: Choi Min Pak; Sang Hwan Kwon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153540A1

## CPC

- H01H 33/04: Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H 33/596: {for interrupting DC}
- 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 present invention relates to a method of extinguishing an electric arc, which occurs in low or high voltage switchgears, by pulse discharge. The electric arc is cut like a “fuse” by connecting a condenser (201) to both ends of the electric arc at the moment when it occurs and discharging the condenser (201) through the electric arc. The condenser is charged using a resistor (202) and a diode (203), and its discharge is adjusted by some auxiliary contacts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of extinguishing an electric arc of a switchgear by pulse discharge, where the electric arc is cut like a “fuse” with a loud explosion sound by connecting the nonpolar condenser fully charged up to the maximum of the supply voltage (maximum voltage), the capacity of which can provide with much higher discharge energy than the arc energy, directly to both ends of the electric arc.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, where a condenser is charged up to the maximum value of the supply voltage using a resistor and a diode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, where a condenser is connected directly to both ends of the electric arc at the moment when it occurs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A method according to claim 3, where the discharge of the condenser is adjusted by some auxiliary contacts.
i. An auxiliary contact or an intermediate contact-maker can be moved following the motion of the moving contact by linking the auxiliary contact to the moving contact or installing the intermediate contact-maker between the fixed contact and the moving contact.
ii. The condenser is not allowed in the switching-in state of the switchgear to be connected to both ends of the contact portion of the fixed contact and the moving contact, or of the fixed contact and the intermediate contact-maker.
iii. The condenser is connected directly to both ends of the electric arc at the moment when it occurs with the switchgear switched-off.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, where auxiliary contacts are all made of tungsten alloy.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, where the main and auxiliary contacts of high voltage switchgears are all working in oil.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, where the main, and auxiliary contacts of high voltage switchgears are all working in vacuum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

A method according to claim 4, where the main and auxiliary contacts of high voltage switchgears are all working in gas.