阅读说明：本技术 断路设备 (Circuit breaker arrangement ) 是由 亨里克·布里德 马利·贝塞拉 詹姆斯·曼内库特拉 阿莱西奥·贝尔加米尼 于 2020-02-17 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于中断电流的断路设备(10),该断路设备(10)包括导电的外部构件(28)；导电的内部构件(30),其相对于分断轴线(34)被径向布置在外部构件(28)的内侧；以及电绝缘或半导电的分断管(32),其相对于分断轴线(34)被径向布置在外部构件(28)与内部构件(30)之间,该分断管(32)被布置为沿着分断轴线(34)从起始位置(36)移动到突出位置(72),在突出位置(72)中,分断管(32)从外部构件(28)内的空间(38)突出,用于借助于分断管(32)中断外部构件(28)与内部构件(30)之间的电流。(A circuit interrupting device (10) for interrupting current, the circuit interrupting device (10) comprising an electrically conductive outer member (28); an electrically conductive inner member (30) arranged radially inside the outer member (28) with respect to a breaking axis (34); and an electrically insulating or semiconducting breaking tube (32) arranged radially between the outer member (28) and the inner member (30) with respect to the breaking axis (34), the breaking tube (32) being arranged to be moved along the breaking axis (34) from a starting position (36) to a protruding position (72), in which protruding position (72) the breaking tube (32) protrudes from a space (38) within the outer member (28) for breaking an electric current between the outer member (28) and the inner member (30) by means of the breaking tube (32).)

1. A circuit breaking device (10) for interrupting current, the circuit breaking device (10) comprising:

-an electrically conductive outer member (28);

-an electrically conductive inner member (30) arranged radially inside the outer member (28) with respect to a breaking axis (34); and

-an electrically insulating or semiconducting breaking tube (32) arranged radially between the outer member (28) and the inner member (30) with respect to the breaking axis (34), the breaking tube (32) being arranged to be moved along the breaking axis (34) from a starting position (36) to a protruding position (72), in which protruding position (72) the breaking tube (32) protrudes from a space (38) within the outer member (28) for interrupting an electric current between the outer member (28) and the inner member (30) by means of the breaking tube (32).

2. The circuit interrupting device (10) of claim 1 wherein said outer member (28) and/or said inner member (30) is a conductive tube.

3. The circuit breaking device (10) according to claim 2, wherein said outer member (28), said inner member (30) and said breaking tube (32) are substantially concentric with said breaking axis (34).

4. The circuit interrupting device (10) of any of the previous claims further comprising an actuator (42), said actuator (42) being arranged to force said disconnect tube (32) from said start position (36) to said protruding position (72).

5. The circuit breaking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an arc chamber (16), and wherein in the protruding position (72) the breaking tube (32) is arranged to be positioned at least partially within the arc chamber (16).

6. The circuit interrupting device (10) of claim 5 further comprising at least one arc limiting member (52, 54, 74), said at least one arc limiting member (52, 54, 74) being disposed within said arc chute (16).

7. The circuit breaking device (10) according to claim 6, wherein said breaking tube (32) is arranged to move past said at least one arc limiting member (52, 54, 74) by moving along said breaking axis (34) from said starting position (36) to said protruding position (72).

8. The circuit breaking device (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the at least one arc limiting member (52, 54, 74) is positioned radially outside and/or radially inside the breaking tube (32) with respect to the breaking axis (34) when the breaking tube (32) is in the protruding position (72).

9. The circuit interrupting device (10) of any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the at least one arc limiting member (52, 54, 74) comprises at least one diverter plate (52, 54) and/or at least one arc cooling body (74).

10. The circuit breaking device (10) according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the arc chute (16) further comprises at least one exhaust opening (22, 24), the at least one exhaust opening (22, 24) being adapted to exhaust a volume inside the arc chute (16) when the breaking tube (32) has been moved from the starting position (36).

11. The circuit breaking device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an end portion (12) and wherein said severing tube (32) is arranged to rest against said end portion (12) in said protruding position (72).

12. The circuit interrupting device (10) of claim 11 wherein said end portion (12) includes a seal (58).

13. The circuit interrupting device (10) of claim 11 or 12 wherein the end portion (12) includes a slot (60), the slot (60) for receiving the disconnect tube (32) in the protruding position (72).

14. The circuit interrupting device (10) of any of the preceding claims further comprising a contact arrangement (40), said contact arrangement (40) being configured to selectively electrically disconnect said outer member (28) and said inner member (30).

15. The circuit interrupting device (10) of claim 14 wherein said contact arrangement (40) is configured to electrically disconnect said outer member (28) and said inner member (30) during movement of said disconnect tube (32) from said start position (36) to said protruding position (72).

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to circuit interrupting devices. In particular, a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current is provided.

Background

Conventional circuit interrupting devices open a gap between two contacts while extinguishing the ignited arc by establishing a voltage. In some types of circuit interrupting devices, an arc between separate contacts is directed to a stacked arrangement of a plurality of shunt plates located within an arc chute. The splitter plates are typically arranged substantially parallel to each other and a space is formed between each pair of adjacent splitter plates. The arc chute may be filled with air, gas, or other fluid.

When the arc is ignited, it strikes the edge of the splitter plate and is divided into several arc segments. Ideally, the arc enters the splitter plate and the arc segment stays within the splitter plate area until the current is interrupted. The arc is then extinguished.

US 4562323 a discloses a switchgear comprising means for controlling the separation of the contacts and for inserting an electrically insulating shield between the contacts during opening thereof. The shield cooperates with an electrically insulating surface formed by a wall of the substantially enclosed arc chamber for shearing an arc between the contacts.

GB 1201100 a discloses an electrical switch comprising a cluster of resilient contacts, a fixed cylindrical contact, and a ring of insulating material which is movable in an axial direction to separate the fixed contact from the resilient contacts.

US 3425017 a discloses a current sensor comprising a contact finger, an inwardly extending annular contact portion, a metallic tension tube, and an insulating inner layer formed at one end of the metallic tension tube.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit breaking device for interrupting a current, which has a high fault current breaking capability.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that provides for rapid interruption of the current.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a circuit breaking device for interrupting a current, which provides a reliable interruption of the current.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that is compact.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that is inexpensive.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that can operate over a wide voltage range.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that is effective in reducing the risk of sustained arcing, such as preventing reignition.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that can be used multiple times to interrupt current.

It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current that, in combination, solves several or all of the above objects.

According to one aspect, a circuit interrupting device for interrupting current is provided, the circuit interrupting device including an electrically conductive outer member; an electrically conductive inner member arranged radially inside the outer member with respect to the breaking axis; and an electrically insulating or semiconducting breaking tube arranged radially between the outer member and the inner member with respect to the breaking axis, the breaking tube being arranged to be moved along the breaking axis from a starting position to a protruding position in which the breaking tube protrudes from a space within the outer member for interrupting an electric current between the outer member and the inner member by means of the breaking tube.

Although the inner member is arranged radially inside the outer member with respect to the severing axis, the inner member may or may not be aligned with the outer member along the severing axis. That is, the inner member may or may not be disposed within the outer member.

In the case where the inner member is arranged within the outer member, a space may be formed between the outer member and the inner member. In the case where the outer member and the inner member are offset along the dividing axis, a space may be formed in the outer member. In any case, the inner member is arranged radially between the outer member and the inner member with respect to the breaking axis.

The breaking tube provides an electrical barrier between the outer member and the inner member. Due to the tubular shape of the breaking tube, the arc can be effectively captured by the movement of the breaking tube from the starting position to the protruding position.

As the break-off tube moves from the starting position, the arc path between the inner and outer members is lengthened. When the breaking tube has started to move from the starting position, the breaking tube forces the arc from the inner member through the protruding end of the breaking tube and to the outer member. Therefore, breaking the tube when moving from the starting position lengthens the arc. The arc is thus stressed by the movement of the breaking tube from the starting position. The extended length of the arc path eventually causes the arc to be extinguished. Thereby, the circuit comprising the circuit breaking device can be opened. Thus, the starting position and the protruding position of the breaking tube may correspond to the closed position and the open position of the circuit breaking device, respectively.

With the inner member arranged within the outer member, the breaking tube forces the arc to extend along the breaking axis from the starting position over at least twice the length of the axial transition of the breaking tube. The circuit-breaking device can thus provide interruption of the current by a particularly effective extension of the arc. The extension is effective in that the arc path between the outer member and the inner member extends at a distance of at least twice the breaking tube distance when the breaking tube is moved from the starting position along the breaking axis over the breaking tube distance. Therefore, the voltage can be quickly established.

The circuit-breaking device can thus break or interrupt the current by breaking the protrusion of the tube and the corresponding extension of the arc path. The exact position of the breaking tube along the breaking axis at which the arc is extinguished depends on the specific configuration of the breaking device and on the current and voltage applied. The breaking tube does not have to be moved all the time, e.g. against the end, to break the current. The protruding position may be a position where the breaking pipe protrudes from the space, so that an arc path between the outer member and the inner member extends on the protruding portion of the breaking pipe, so that the arc is extinguished.

Since the circuit breaking device comprises a breaking tube, the circuit breaking device constitutes a tubular circuit breaker. The circuit breaking device may be used for AC applications and DC applications, for example in the low and medium voltage range. The circuit interrupting devices can be active or passive (i.e., no auxiliary power is required other than from the circuit source being applied). The circuit breaking device according to the present disclosure may be implemented, for example, as a switching device, a power device, a diverter switch, a disconnector, a passive DC breaker, a passive AC breaker, a load switch, or a current limiter.

The severing tube may also be arranged to move backwards along the severing axis from the protruding position to the starting position. The circuit interrupting device may be configured to interrupt the current multiple times.

The segmented tube may for example be made of POM (polyoxymethylene) or other plastic material. Alternatively, the separation tube may be made of zinc oxide. The separation tube may be electrically insulating or semiconducting and not electrically conducting.

The inner member may be connected to an inner electrical contact of the electrical circuit and the outer member may be connected to an outer electrical contact of the electrical circuit. The outer and inner members may have various shapes, such as tubes, rods or rods. The outer member and the inner member may have the same type of shape or different types of shapes.

The outer member and/or the inner member may be a conductive tube. According to one example, each of the outer member and the inner member is a conductive tube.

The outer member, the inner member and the severing tube may be substantially concentric or concentric with the severing axis. In this case, a three-axis breaking device is formed.

According to one example, the outer member comprises an outer member end and the inner member comprises an inner member end, the inner member is arranged within the outer member and the outer member end and the inner member end are substantially aligned, or aligned along the severing axis. In this case, the severing tube may extend beyond the outer and inner member ends along the severing axis in the protruding position.

The circuit breaking device may further comprise an actuator arranged to force the break tube from the starting position to the protruding position. The actuator may be, for example, a linear actuator or a ballistic actuator, such as a Thomson drive. In any case, the actuator may be, for example, electromagnetic or pneumatic. The linear actuator continuously controls the movement of the severed pipe, while the ballistic actuator provides the ballistic movement of the severed pipe. The rapid actuation of the breakout tube provides a rapid increase in voltage and improves the performance of the circuit breaking device.

The circuit breaking device may further comprise an arc chute, and the breaking tube may be arranged at least partly in a protruding position inside the arc chute. The arc chute may be filled with air, gas, or other fluid.

Each of the outer member end and the inner member end may abut a volume within the arc chamber. Thus, when the breaking tube moves into the arc extinguishing chamber, the arc has no place to escape.

The circuit interrupting device may also include at least one arc limiting member disposed within the arc chute. Alternatively, the circuit interrupting device may not include any arc limiting members at all.

The severing tube may be arranged to move past the at least one arc limiting member by moving along the severing axis from the starting position to the projecting position. In this way, the arc may be forced to the at least one arc limiting member.

The at least one arc restricting member may be located radially outward and/or radially inward of the breaking tube with respect to the breaking axis when the breaking tube is in the protruding position. Each arc restricting member (such as an inner splitter plate) located radially inward of the splitter tube may include one or more through holes.

The at least one arc restricting member may comprise at least one splitter plate and/or at least one arc cooling body, such as a plate or hollow body made of a getter material. At least one diverter plate may be made of metal or steel.

According to one example, the circuit interrupting device includes a plurality of shunt plates arranged in a stack within the arc chamber. The dividing plate may be an external dividing plate, i.e. a dividing plate located radially outside (with respect to the breaking axis) the breaking tube. Alternatively or additionally, the splitter plate may be an internal splitter plate, i.e. a splitter plate located radially inwards (with respect to the severing axis) of the severing tube.

According to an alternative variant, the arc chamber may be empty, i.e. not comprise any arc limiting member. Circuit interrupting devices without a diverter plate or without any arc limiting member can also interrupt the current flow between the external and internal components.

The arc chute may further comprise at least one exhaust opening for exhausting the volume inside the arc chute when the breaking tube has been moved from the starting position. The at least one venting opening may be constituted, for example, by a through-hole and/or a through-groove. Once the severing tube starts to move from the starting position, venting takes place through the at least one venting opening.

The at least one venting opening may comprise at least one axial venting opening for venting the volume in the arc chamber and in the severing tube when the severing tube has been moved from the starting position. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one exhaust opening may comprise at least one radial exhaust opening for exhausting the volume inside the arc chamber and outside the breaking tube when the breaking tube has been moved from the starting position.

The circuit breaking device may further comprise an end portion, and the break tube may be arranged to rest against the end portion in the protruding position. The end portions may define an arc chute. When the breaking tube is placed against the end, the arc has no place to escape and any residual current is cut off. The placement of the breaking tube against the end provides an arc quenching effect. The breaking tube arranged to rest against the end in the protruding position makes the arc chute design more compact or usable without a dedicated arc chute.

The end portion may include a seal. The tip of the break-off tube can thus be sealingly received in the seal of the end. Alternatively, the disjunct tube simply hits the end.

The end portion may include a slot for receiving the break-off tube in the protruding position. The slot and tip of the score-break tube may be designed so that the score-break tube does not bounce in the slot. Thereby, any residual current can be reliably prevented from occurring. For example, the shape of the slot and the tip of the singulating tube may substantially match or match, e.g. each have a tapered or curved shape.

The end portions may be electrically insulated. Alternatively, the end portions may be semi-conductive or conductive. The end portions may be made of, for example, an insulation ablative material, POM, or other plastic material.

The circuit interrupting device can also include a contact arrangement configured to selectively electrically disconnect the outer member and the inner member. The contact arrangement may for example comprise one or more contact fingers. When the contact arrangement electrically disconnects the outer and inner members, an arc is ignited between the outer and inner members.

The operation of the contact arrangement may be associated with the movement of the severing tube, or with the severing tube (e.g. directly or via a linkage), with an actuator, or by means of simultaneous control of the severing tube and the contact arrangement.

The contact arrangement may be configured to electrically disconnect the outer member and the inner member during movement of the severing tube from the starting position to the projecting position. When moving from the starting position to the protruding position, the severing tube may push or otherwise actuate the contact arrangement to electrically disconnect the outer and inner members. Therefore, in this case, the dividing tube serves as a disconnecting tube. One example of such a contact arrangement is a crown contact, which automatically opens by penetrating the break-away tube.

Alternatively, the contact arrangement may be actuated in other ways while initiating travel of the severance tube. That is, the contact arrangement does not necessarily have to be actuated by moving the break tube. Instead, the contact arrangement may be provided separately and in synchronism with the operation of breaking the tube.

The contact arrangement may provide electrical connections at various points of the outer member and the inner member. For example, the contact arrangement may provide an electrical connection between the outer member end and the inner member end prior to electrically disconnecting.

Drawings

Other details, advantages and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent from the following examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1: schematically representing a perspective view of a circuit interrupting device;

FIG. 2: schematically representing a cross-sectional side view of the circuit interrupting device of figure 1;

FIG. 3: schematically showing a partially enlarged view of the breaking device in fig. 2 with the severing tube in a starting position;

FIG. 4: schematically showing a partially enlarged view of the breaking device in fig. 2 with the severing tube in the protruding position;

FIG. 5: schematically showing a partial enlarged view of the breaking device in fig. 2 with the severing tube in the other protruding position;

FIG. 6: schematically representing another example of a circuit breaking device; and

FIG. 7: another example of a circuit interrupting device is schematically illustrated.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a circuit breaking apparatus for interrupting current will be described. The same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar structural features.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a circuit interrupting device 10 configured to interrupt current. The circuit interrupting device 10 can be used for both AC and DC applications, for example, in the low and medium voltage ranges.

The circuit breaking device 10 of this example comprises an end portion 12 and a wall 14 forming an arc chute 16. The circuit interrupting device 10 also includes an outer electrical contact 18 and an inner electrical contact 20. A plurality of axial exhaust openings 22 are formed in the end portion 12 and a plurality of radial exhaust openings 24 are formed in the wall 14. The end portion 12 and the wall 14 may be made of an electrically insulating material such as POM and/or Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), for example.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional side view of the circuit interrupting device 10 of fig. 1. In fig. 2, the circuit interrupting device 10 is disposed within an outer housing 26. The arc chute 16 may be filled with air, gas, or other fluid.

The circuit interrupting device 10 includes an electrically conductive outer member 28, an electrically conductive inner member 30, and a disconnect tube 32. Thus, the circuit breaking device 10 may be referred to as a tubular circuit breaker. The break tube 32 may be made of an insulating material, such as POM or other plastic material, or of a semi-conductive material. The severing tube 32 of this example has a circular cross-section.

The severing tube 32 is concentric with the severing axis 34. In fig. 2, the severing tube 32 is in the starting position 36. The severing tube 32 is configured to move along the severing axis 34 from a starting position 36 (upwards in fig. 2).

The inner member 30 is arranged radially inside the outer member 28 with respect to a breaking axis 34. The severing tube 32 is arranged radially between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 with respect to a severing axis 34. A space 38 is defined within the outer member 28, and the severing tube 32 is arranged in a starting position 36 in this space 38.

As shown in fig. 2, the outer member 28 is connected to the outer electrical contact 18, while the inner member 30 is connected to the inner electrical contact 20. The circuit interrupting device 10 also includes a contact arrangement 40. The contact arrangement 40 is configured to selectively electrically disconnect the outer member 28 and the inner member 30.

In this example, each of the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 is a conductive tube concentric with the severing axis 34. Each of the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 has a circular cross-section. Thus, the circuit interrupting device 10 in fig. 2 is a three axis circuit interrupting device. However, one or more of the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 may take a shape other than a tube.

The circuit interrupting device 10 also includes an actuator 42. The actuator 42 may be of various types to force the severed tube 32 away from the starting position 36. In fig. 2, the actuator 42 is illustrated as a ballistic actuator in the form of a thomson drive. The actuator 42 includes a thomson coil 44, an armature 46, an armature relaxation pad 48, and an actuator tube 50. The thomson coil 44 and armature 46 are arranged to provide energy to the ballistic movement of the severing tube 32.

The circuit interrupting device 10 also includes a plurality of shunt plates 52, 54. The diverter plates 52, 54 constitute examples of arc limiting members according to the present disclosure. The circuit interrupting device 10 may include additional types of arc limiting members, alternative types of arc limiting members, or no arc limiting members at all.

The circuit interrupting device 10 also includes a bottom portion 56. The end 12, the wall 14 and the bottom 56 delimit the arc chute 16.

Each of the axial exhaust openings 22 and the radial exhaust openings 24 is constituted by a through hole. An axial exhaust opening 22 extends from the interior of the arc chute 16 and through the end 12. A radial exhaust opening 24 extends from the interior of the arc chute 16 and through the wall 14. The exhaust openings 22, 24 are configured to exhaust the volume within the arc chute 16 when the break tube 32 starts to move from the starting position 36.

The end 12 of this example also includes a seal 58 and a groove 60 formed in the seal 58. The groove 60 is annular and concentric with respect to the severing axis 34.

Fig. 3 schematically shows a partially enlarged view of the circuit breaking device 10 in fig. 2. The circuit interrupting device 10 includes an outer shunt plate 52 and an inner shunt plate 54. All diverter plates 52, 54 are arranged coaxially with respect to the breaking axis 34. Each inner manifold 54 includes a through hole 62.

The diverter plates 52, 54 may be made of metal or steel. The diverter plates 52, 54 are arranged in a stack within the arc chute 16. However, the number and configuration of the diverter plates 52, 54 may vary.

As shown in fig. 3, the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 are generally aligned along a severing axis 34. Thus, the inner member 30 is not only arranged radially inside the outer member 28, but also within the outer member 28. Thus, in this example, a space 38 is defined between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30.

Outer member 28 includes an outer member end 64 and inner member 30 includes an inner member end 66. The outer member end 64 and the inner member end 66 are generally aligned along the severing axis 34. Each of the outer member end 64 and the inner member end 66 is positioned adjacent to the arc chute 16. The contact arrangement 40 of this example includes a plurality of conductive fingers hinged to the outer member end 64.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the slot 60 forms a plug 68 and a post 70 in the end 12. In this example, the plug 68 is flush with the lower end of the cylinder 70. However, the plug 68 alternatively extends into the arc chamber 16 below the cylinder 70.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an enlarged partial view of the circuit breaking device 10 in fig. 2 with the severing tube 32 in the protruding position 72. Thus, the severing tube 32 has been moved by means of the actuator 42 along the severing axis 34 from the starting position 36, shown in fig. 2 and 3, to a protruding position 72, shown in fig. 4, in which protruding position 72 the severing tube 32 protrudes into the arc-extinguishing chamber 16.

During the movement of the severing tube 32 from the starting position 36 to the projecting position 72 in fig. 4, the severing tube 32 pushes the contact arrangement 40 from the electrical connection state in fig. 2 and 3 into the electrically disconnected state in fig. 4. Thereby, the outer member 28 is electrically disconnected from the inner member 30, and an arc is ignited between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30. However, the use of the break pipe 32 as a "push pipe" according to fig. 4 is only one of several ways of electrically disconnecting the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 by means of the contact arrangement 40.

When the tip of the breaking tube 32 has moved into the arc chute 16 but has not yet reached the diverter plates 52, 54, the breaking tube 32 can interrupt the so-called critical current (i.e. a current well below the rated current). In standard designs, the critical current arc may not reach the diverter plate package.

The arc generates an overvoltage inside the arc chute 16. The overpressure is released by means of the exhaust openings 22, 24. Further, when the breaking pipe 32 starts moving, the arc extinguishing chamber 16 is immediately exhausted through the exhaust openings 22, 24.

The splitter tube 32 moves radially outward of the inner splitter plate 54 and radially inward of the outer splitter plate 52. As the arc is connected through the shunt plates 52, 54, the shunt plates 52, 54 establish a series of anode-cathode voltage steps. As the breaking tube 32 moves into the arc chute 16, the arc is shunted between a shunt plate 52 outside the breaking tube 32 and a shunt plate 54 inside the breaking tube 32. Thereby, the diverter plates 52, 54 capture and cool the arc.

In the protruding position 72 in fig. 4, the severing tube 32 protrudes from the space 38 within the outer member 28 and an electrical barrier is formed between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30. The break-away tube 32 extends beyond (upwardly in fig. 4) the outer member end 64 and the inner member end 66.

The arc is forced to move from the inner member 30, over the protruding end of the break tube 32, and back to the outer member 28. The breaking tube 32 thereby lengthens the arc path between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 and forces the arc over this extended length.

As can be seen from fig. 4, the distance of the arc path increases at a speed at least twice as fast as the moving speed of the breaking tube 32. That is, the break tube 32 forces the arc to extend at least twice the length of the axial transition of the break tube 32 from the starting position 36 to the protruding position 72. In some implementations, this stress of the arc in the protruding position 72 in fig. 4 causes the arc to be extinguished. The projecting position 72 in fig. 4 thus constitutes a position of the breaking tube 32 for interrupting the current between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 by means of the breaking tube 32.

The through holes 62 of the internal manifold 54 allow gas to escape within the severing tube 32, thus relieving pressure. The radial exhaust openings 24 allow gas to flow from the arc chamber 16 and distribute the arc voltage axially between the diverter plates 52, 54. The concentricity of the dividing plates 52, 54 with respect to the severing axis 34 facilitates the formation of an arc into the dividing plates 52, 54. Thus, the through holes 62, the radial exhaust openings 24, and the axial exhaust openings 22 in the diverter plate 54 allow the arc to move and avoid excessive pressure within the arc chamber 16.

Fig. 5 schematically shows an enlarged view of a part of the breaking device 10 in fig. 2 with the severing tube 32 in the other protruding position 72. In fig. 5, the singulating tube 32 has been moved along the singulating axis 34 past the diverter plates 52, 54 and has been positioned against the end 12.

As shown in fig. 5, the shape of the groove 60 substantially matches the shape of the tip of the cutting tube 32. Because the groove 60 is formed in the seal 58, the tip of the break tube 32 is reliably received in the groove 60 and prevents the break tube 32 from bouncing. When the tip of the breaking tube 32 is received in the groove 60, the arc is cut off and the current is extinguished.

The disconnect tube 32 can then be returned from the protruding position 72 in fig. 5 to the starting position 36 to reuse the circuit interrupting device 10. The return movement can be performed, for example, manually or by means of the actuator 42.

The pressure resistance of the breaking device 10 depends mainly on the stroke length of the severing tube 32. The current interrupting capability depends primarily on the strength of the interrupter tube 32 to withstand the arc voltage. The length of the stroke, the speed of the severing tube 32, the thickness and length of the severing tube 32, etc. may vary depending on the implementation.

The circuit breaking device 10 has been prototyped and proved to be capable of successfully interrupting DC currents in the range of 100V to 10kV at currents of 5A to 6 kA. Prototype testing also demonstrated that circuit interrupting device 10 can interrupt current many times at voltages up to 2 kV. Moreover, the prototyping demonstrates that the length and diameter of the arc chute 16 can be reduced without significantly changing the performance. Furthermore, prototypes of circuit interrupting devices 10 without shunt plates 52, 54 can also successfully interrupt current.

Fig. 6 schematically shows another example of the circuit breaking device 10. The main differences with respect to fig. 1 to 5 are described. The circuit interrupting device 10 of fig. 6 includes a plurality of outer shunt plates 52, a plurality of inner shunt plates 54, and a plurality of arc coolers 74. Each diverter plate 52, 54 and each arc cooler 74 constitute an arc limiting member according to the present disclosure. When the protruding position 72 is employed, each arc cooler 74 may be located radially outward and/or radially inward of the break pipe 32.

Two of the arc coolers 74 are embodied as plates and two of the arc coolers 74 are embodied as hollow members comprising an arc cooling chamber 76. The function of the arc cooling body 74 is to cool the arc. Because the temperature of the arc coolers 74 (even at the melting point or evaporation point) is lower than the temperature of the arc, each arc cooler 74 acts as a heat sink. The provision of the arc cooling body 74 can further enhance the performance of the circuit interrupting device 10.

Each arc cooler 74 may be made of a non-metallic material such as plastic, ceramic, semi-conductive or gas ablative or outgassed materials. Examples of outgassing materials are various polymers, such as POM. Further, each arc cooler 74 may have a linear electrical characteristic or a non-linear electrical characteristic.

The arc cooling chamber 76 may include an exhaust opening (not shown). Thus, the arc cooling chamber 76 may function to accumulate pressure waves generated by the arc. In some low voltage implementations, a circuit interrupting device 10 including only one shunt plate 52, 54 and only one arc cooler 74 may be sufficient.

Fig. 7 schematically shows another example of the circuit breaking device 10. The main differences with respect to fig. 1 to 6 are described. Furthermore, in fig. 7, the inner member 30 is arranged radially inside the outer member 28 with respect to the severing axis 34. However, the inner member 30 extends through the arc chute 16 from the opposite side (from above in fig. 7). Thus, the inner member 30 and the outer member 28 are offset along the severing axis 34, and the inner member 30 is not arranged inside the outer member 28.

Furthermore, in the example of fig. 7, the severing tube 32 is arranged radially between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 with respect to the severing axis 34, and the severing tube 32 is arranged to move along the severing axis 34 from the starting position 36 to a protruding position 72, in which protruding position 72 the severing tube 32 protrudes from the space 38 within the outer member 28 for severing an electric current between the outer member 28 and the inner member 30 by means of the severing tube 32.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it should be understood that the dimensions of the components may be varied as desired.