US 6,307,172 B1 · Circuit breaker with particle trap

Abstract

A circuit breaker is provided having a particle trap within an interior gas-insulation cavity containing a contact mechanism. The interior cavity is defined within a tank. In an embodiment, the tank has a generally cylindrical tank wall, and the trap is a recessed channel formed by the tank wall along a bottom of the interior cavity. The trap is effective to collect foreign particles present within the tank, thereby reducing breakdown. In an embodiment, portions of the tank wall adjacent to the channel curve or slope downwardly toward the channel to guide particles moving under the influence of gravity, mechanical vibration and gas flow into the trap where they are immobilized in operation due to the low electrical field.`

Claims9

Dependent claims

A circuit breaker comprising:

a contact mechanism movable between an open and closed position;
a driving mechanism operable to drive the contact mechanism between the open and closed positions;
a tank having at least one wall defining an interior chamber enclosing the contact mechanism, the interior chamber being filled with a gas;
and
a trap in a bottom of the tank for collecting foreign particles, wherein the trap is a channel defined by the wall of the tank, the channel opening to the interior chamber and extending substantially along a length of the interior chamber;
the channel having a generally U-shaped bottom, along opposite longitudinal sides of the channel the wall being shaped to curve downwardly into the channel in a manner convex in shape with respect to the interior cavity.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Circuit breaker with particle trap

Life of this patent

Circuit breaker with particle trap

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9