Operating mechanism usable with a vacuum interrupter
AssigneeCooper Industries, Inc.
InventorsRonald Arvid Waino, Daniel James Schreiber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operating mechanism for a vacuum interrupter which includes a spring driven multi-linked system moving the interrupter contacts open or closed with precise, controlled movement to minimize opening rebound, closing rebound and contact opening overtravel. Such a multi-linked system provides high contact separation forces and movement to a specific contact gap while simultaneously loading a closing spring to it's fully charged and latched state. This mechanism provides and maintains full contact pressure from the instant of contact make to the instant of contact separation.
Claims13
An operating mechanism for producing controlled linear motion at at least one of a plurality of stations wherein said controlled linear motion is utilized to independently open and close linearly moveable electrical contacts, said mechanism including means for producing a dynamic motive force at each of said stations, a first static energy storage means for opening the electrical contacts, a second static energy storage means for closing the electrical contacts, means for releasing said static energy of said first and said second static energy storage means to carry out the opening and closing of said contacts, and to provide an unvarying uniform high force required from making contact and up to and at contact separation, and means for preloading said first static energy storing means prior to releasing the static energy of the second static energy storage means.
In a high voltage electrical vacuum interrupter having at least one fixed and one moveable contact means, an operating mechanism comprising:
- means for providing a linear motive force for driving said operating mechanism,
- mechanical means for translating said linear motive force to a controllable functional means capable of operating said moveable contact means within pre-determined parameters, wherein an unvarying, substantially uniform high force is provided between said vacuum interrupter contacts during a closed state between said contacts, and wherein said mechanical means comprises at least one compression spring and
- a multi-link system that provides a high contact separation force and prevents contact rebound after the contacts are opened, and wherein said multi-link system includes at least one tension spring and
- means for discharging said at least one tension spring such that the discharging of said at least one tension spring causes the at least one compression spring to become re-armed.
An operating mechanism for opening and closing linear moving members on single or multiphase circuit interrupters, said mechanism comprising:
- a first spring for exerting a substantially high closing pressure on a set of interrupter contacts while the contacts are in a closed state, a second spring which drives a multi-linked system means for providing high contact separation forces and for moving the interrupter contacts from a closed position to an open position with precise, controlled movement thus minimizing opening rebound and contact opening overtravel, said mechanism providing and maintaining full unvarying constant closing pressure on the interrupter contacts from an instant contact is made between said interrupter contacts to an instant said interrupter contacts undergo contact separation,
- wherein each of said first and said second springs is fully charged and latched by said multi-linked system prior to the other spring being utilized to carry out its assigned function,
- wherein each of said first and said second springs is capable of fulfilling its function immediately upon being charged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.