Vacuum circuit breaker with improved contact assembly

A vacuum switch comprising:

• a vacuum vessel for forming a vacuum chamber;
• a fixed side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• and
• a movable side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• said arc electrode member is comprised of at least one of metal components selected from a group containing 80-30% by weight of one or more of Cr, W, Mo, Co and Fe, or at least one of alloys of metal components selected from a group containing 20-70% by weight of one or more of Cu, Ag and Au, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum switch comprising:

• a vacuum vessel for forming a vacuum chamber;
• a fixed side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• and
• a movable side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• said arc electrode member is comprised of at least one of metal components selected from a group containing 0.55-5% by weight of one or more of V, Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta and Si, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum switch comprising:

• a vacuum vessel for forming a vacuum chamber;
• a fixed side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• and
• a movable side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• each of said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod is comprised of at least one of metal components selected from a group containing less than 1.0% by weight of one or more of Cr, V, Zr, Si, W and Be,
• the remainder being comprised of an alloy of at least one of metal components selected from a group of one or more of Cu, Ag and Au, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum switch comprising:

• a vacuum vessel for forming a vacuum chamber;
• a fixed side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• and
• a movable side electrode unit provided in said vacuum vessel;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• each of said arc electrode member and said arc supporting member have a plurality of grooves for generating a vertical magnetic field,
• said grooves extending to a side face portion of said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• an insulated vessel;
• a vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit;
• conductive terminals connected to each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit outside of said vacuum switch;
• an insulating member connected to said movable side electrode unit;
• and
• an opening and closing means extending through said insulating member for driving said movable side electrode unit;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• an insulated vessel;
• a vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit;
• conductive terminals connected to each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit outside of said vacuum switch;
• an insulating member connected to said movable side electrode member;
• and
• an opening and closing means extending through said insulating member for driving said movable side electrode unit;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• said arc electrode member is comprised of at least one metal components selected from a group containing 80-30% by weight of one or more of Cr, W, Mo, Co and Fe, or at least one of alloys of metal components selected from a group containing 20-70% by weight of one or more of Cu, Ag and Au, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• an insulated vessel;
• a vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit;
• conductive terminals connected to each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit outside of said vacuum switch;
• an insulating member connected to said movable side electrode unit;
• and
• an opening and closing means extending through said insulating member for driving said movable side electrode unit;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• said arc electrode member is comprised of at least one of metal components selected from a group containing 0.5-5% by weight of one or more of V, Nb, Zr, Ti, Ta and Si or at least one of alloys of metal components selected from a group containing 30-70% of one or more of Cu, Ag and Au, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• an insulated vessel;
• a vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit;
• conductive terminals connected to each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit outside of said vacuum switch;
• an insulating member connected to said movable side electrode unit;
• and
• an opening and closing means extending through said insulating member for driving said movable side electrode unit;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• each of said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod is comprised of at least one of metal components selected from a group containing less than 1.0% by weight of one or more of Cr, V, Zr, Si, W and Be,
• the remainder being comprised of an alloy of at least one of metal components of selected from a group of one or more of Cu, Ag and Au, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• an insulated vessel;
• a vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit;
• conductive terminals connected to each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit outside of said vacuum switch;
• an insulating member connected to said movable side electrode unit;
• and
• an opening and closing means extending through said insulating member for driving said movable side electrode unit;
• each of said fixed side electrode unit and said movable side electrode unit being respectively comprised of an arc electrode member, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting said arc electrode member, a coil electrode member and a conducting rod;
• wherein
• each of said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member have a plurality of grooves for generating a vertical magnetic field,
• said grooves extending to a side face portion of said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, and
• joining portions between said arc electrode member and said arc electrode supporting member, said coil electrode member and said conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic press process.