US 2026/0221359 A1 · WELDING ARC-ENDURING COMPONENT TO STRUCTURAL OR MECHANICAL COMPONENT FOR ASSEMBLY OF VACUUM INTERRUPTER

Abstract

Vacuum switching apparatus such as a vacuum interrupter includes arc-enduring components, in the role of the arc-shield or the contacts, of an arc-enduring material such as Cu—Cr or Cu—Fe, joined to other structural or mechanical support components, in the role of the end-curls or the contact support, of an economic but strong material such as steel or iron. By employing welding instead of brazing to join these two dissimilar materials, it becomes possible to electrically join fraction, instead of the entirety, of the mutual faying surfaces of the two components. This separation between mechanical and electrical connections allows the mechanical support component to provide maximal and optimal mechanical support while minimizing its negative impact on electrical functioning of the joined assembly. Additionally, it enables the arc-enduring component to be made in a simpler or thinner geometry, improving the likelihood for it to be formed net-shape or near-net-shape.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for assembling a vacuum interrupter, said vacuum interrupter including a vacuum envelope and at least one of a shield assembly or a contact pre-assembly inside said vacuum envelope, wherein said method comprises:

providing an arc-shield or a contact made of an arc-enduring first material containing at least 40 percent by weight of copper;
providing a second component made of a second material containing no more than 10 percent by weight of copper;
welding at least part of the joint or joints between said arc-shield or said contact and said second component, to form said shield assembly or said contact pre-assembly;
and
assembling said shield assembly or said contact pre-assembly with other components of said vacuum interrupter.

2 more elements

A shield assembly or a contact pre-assembly for a vacuum interrupter, said vacuum interrupter comprising a generally tubular vacuum envelope, at least one electrical contact inside said vacuum envelope, and at least one of said shield assembly or said contact pre-assembly inside said vacuum envelope,

wherein said generally tubular vacuum envelope defines a central axis for said vacuum interrupter;
wherein said shield assembly comprises at least one arc-shield, made of an arc-enduring material containing at least 40 percent by weight of copper, inside said vacuum envelope and surrounding said at least one contact, said at least one arc-shield having one end and an opposite end along said axis of said vacuum interrupter, or
wherein said contact pre-assembly comprises a contact made of an arc-enduring material containing at least 40 percent by weight of copper, said contact having an arcing side on which arcing takes place when said vacuum interrupter is interrupting an electrical current, and a non-arcing side opposite said arcing side along said axis of said vacuum interrupter;
wherein said shield assembly or said contact pre-assembly comprises at least one second component made of a material containing no more than 10 percent by weight of copper;
and
wherein said second component is welded to said one end of said at least one arc-shield of said shield assembly, or to said non-arcing side of said contact of said contact pre-assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Welding arc-enduring component to structural or mechanical component for assembly of vacuum interrupter

Life of this patent

Welding arc-enduring component to structural or mechanical component for assembly of vacuum interrupter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20