阅读说明：本技术 真空开关设备及其触头组件 (Vacuum switching apparatus and contact assembly thereof ) 是由 L·G·坎贝尔 B·A·罗森克兰斯 S·D·梅奥 于 2014-08-28 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及真空开关设备及其触头组件。所述触头组件包括：触头元件,所述触头元件具有平面的外侧面和触头直径；和平面的加强元件,所述平面的加强元件具有小于所述触头直径的加强直径,并适于结构性地加强所述触头元件。其中,所述平面的加强元件设置在所述平面的外侧面上。(The invention relates to a vacuum switching apparatus and a contact assembly thereof. The contact assembly includes: a contact element having a planar outer side face and a contact diameter; and a planar reinforcing element having a reinforcing diameter less than the contact diameter and adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element. Wherein the planar reinforcing element is arranged on an outer side of the plane.)

1. A contact assembly for a vacuum switching apparatus, the contact assembly comprising:

a contact element having a planar outer side face and a contact diameter; and

a planar reinforcing element having a reinforcing diameter less than the contact diameter and adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element,

wherein the planar reinforcing element is arranged on an outer side of the plane.

2. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer side of the plane is a first side; the contact element further includes a second side disposed opposite the first side, and a contact thickness measured by a distance between the first side and the second side; the reinforcing element has a reinforcing thickness; and the reinforcement thickness is less than the contact thickness.

3. The contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the stiffening element is attached to the first side of the contact element.

4. The contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the stiffening element is a screen element.

5. The contact assembly of claim 2, wherein the contact element is a spiral contact; the spiral contact includes a number of radial segments; and the reinforcing elements comprise a number of reinforcing elements for the radial segments.

6. The contact assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact element is made of a first material; the reinforcing element is made of a second material; and the first material is different from the second material.

7. The contact assembly of claim 6, wherein the first material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion; the second material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion; and the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially the same as the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

8. A vacuum switching apparatus comprising:

vacuum encapsulating; and

at least one contact assembly enclosed in the vacuum envelope and comprising:

a contact element having a planar outer side face and a contact diameter; and

a planar reinforcing element having a reinforcing diameter less than the contact diameter and adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element,

wherein the planar reinforcing element is arranged on an outer side of the plane.

9. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 8, wherein the outer side of the plane is a first side; the contact element further includes a second side disposed opposite the first side, and a contact thickness measured by a distance between the first side and the second side; the reinforcing element has a reinforcing thickness; and the reinforcement thickness is less than the contact thickness.

10. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reinforcement member is attached to the first side of the contact member.

11. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing member is a screen member.

12. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the contact element is a spiral contact; the spiral contact includes a number of radial segments; and the reinforcing elements comprise a number of reinforcing elements for the radial segments.

13. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 8, wherein the contact element is made of a first material; the reinforcing element is made of a second material; and the first material is different from the second material.

14. The vacuum switching apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion; the second material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion; and the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially the same as the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

15. The vacuum switching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the vacuum switching apparatus is a vacuum interrupter; the at least one contact assembly is a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly; the movable contact assembly is movable between a closed position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly.

Technical Field

The disclosed concept relates to vacuum switching apparatus, and in particular to vacuum switching apparatus such as vacuum interrupters. The disclosed concept also relates to a contact assembly for a vacuum interrupter.

Background

Circuit breakers, such as power circuit breakers for systems operating above about 1000 volts, typically use a vacuum interrupter as the switching device. Vacuum interrupters typically include separable electrical contacts disposed in an insulative housing. Generally, one of the contacts is fixed relative to both the housing and an external electrical conductor that is electrically interconnected with a circuit associated with the vacuum interrupter. The other contact is part of a movable contact assembly that includes a shaft having a circular cross-section and a contact disposed at one end of the shaft and enclosed within a vacuum chamber. The driving mechanism is arranged at the other end and is positioned outside the vacuum chamber.

These contacts are subjected to a large contact force, which is associated with, for example, relatively high currents. Thus, the contacts are prone to breaking or bending, among other problems.

There is therefore room for improvement in vacuum switching apparatus, such as vacuum interrupters and contact assemblies therefor.

Disclosure of Invention

These needs and others are met by embodiments of the disclosed concept, which are directed to a reinforced contact assembly for a vacuum switching apparatus, such as a vacuum interrupter.

As one aspect of the present invention, a contact assembly for a vacuum switching apparatus is provided. The contact assembly includes: a contact element; and a reinforcement element adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element.

The contact element may include a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, and a contact thickness measured by a distance between the first side and the second side. The reinforcement member may have a reinforcement thickness, wherein the reinforcement thickness is less than the contact thickness. The contact element may further comprise a contact diameter and the reinforcement element may comprise a reinforcement diameter, wherein the reinforcement diameter is smaller than the contact diameter.

The reinforcement member may be embedded in the contact element between the first side of the contact element and the second side of the contact element. Alternatively, the stiffening element may be attached to a respective one of the first side of the contact element and the second side of the contact element.

The stiffening element may comprise a substantially planar element. The reinforcing element may be a screen element.

The contact element may be a spiral contact. The helical contact may include a number of radial segments; and the reinforcing elements may comprise a number of reinforcing elements for said radial segments.

The contact element may be made of a first material and the stiffening element may be made of a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material. The first material may have a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second material may have a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The first coefficient of thermal expansion may be substantially the same as the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vacuum switching apparatus includes: vacuum encapsulating; and at least one contact assembly enclosed in the vacuum envelope, the contact assembly comprising: a contact element, and a reinforcement element adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element.

The vacuum switching apparatus may be a vacuum interrupter. The contact assembly may include a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly. The movable contact assembly is movable between a closed position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open position spaced from the fixed contact assembly.

Drawings

A full understanding of the invention can be obtained by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view, partially in section, of a vacuum interrupter and its contact assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact assembly of FIG. 1;

figure 3A is a partially cut away isometric view of a contact assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3B-3B of FIG. 3A;

figure 4A is an exploded isometric view of a contact assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, further illustrating the assembled contact enhancing element in a partially hidden phantom line drawing.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4A;

figure 5 is an exploded isometric view of a contact assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

figure 6 is an isometric view of a contact assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

figure 7 is an isometric view of a contact assembly according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention is described in connection with vacuum interrupters, but the present invention is applicable to a wide range of contact assemblies used with other vacuum switching apparatus and electrical switching apparatus.

Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, upper, lower and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.

As used herein, the statement that two or more parts are "connected" or "coupled" together means: the components are joined together directly or through one or more intermediate components. Further, as used herein, the statement that two or more parts are "attached" shall mean that the parts are joined together directly.

As used herein, the term "attached" refers to bonding using any known or suitable bonding method (e.g., and without limitation: gluing, welding, brazing, soldering, solid state sintering, liquid phase sintering, mechanical pressing, molten material deposition, metallurgical bonding).

As used herein, the term "embedded" refers to being enclosed therein (i.e., encapsulated). For example and without limitation: the stiffening element of the contact assembly according to the present invention may be embedded in the respective contact element using any known or suitable method, such as, and without limitation, induction molding.

As used herein, the term "vacuum envelope" refers to an envelope in which a partial vacuum is employed.

As used herein, the term "structurally reinforced" refers to a member that is intentionally strengthened or mechanically strengthened such that the structural integrity (e.g., and without limitation, bending strength; resistance to bending or breaking) of the member is improved.

As used herein, the term "number" refers to one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).

Referring to fig. 1, a vacuum switching apparatus, such as a vacuum interrupter 2, is shown. The vacuum interrupter 2 includes a vacuum envelope 4, which is shown in cross-section in fig. 1 to show hidden structures. In accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum interrupter 2 employs a contact assembly 100, 100'. Specifically, the fixed contact assembly 100 is at least partially located within the vacuum envelope 4 and is movable (e.g., and without limitation, upward and downward in the direction of arrow 700 as viewed in fig. 1) between a closed position shown in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly 100 and an open position (not shown) spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly 100.

It should be understood that only the fixed contact assembly 100 is described in detail herein for ease of illustration and economy of disclosure. It is understood that any number of contact assemblies used with the vacuum switching apparatus 2 may be substantially identical, or may have a different known or suitable configuration, or combination thereof.

With continuing reference to figure 1 and with further reference to figure 2, in accordance with the present invention, each contact assembly 100 includes a contact element 102, and a reinforcement element 104 adapted to structurally reinforce the contact element 102. Thus, the strength or structural integrity of the contact assembly 100 is particularly improved, among other advantages. That is, the contact assembly 100 has a significantly reduced likelihood of bending or breaking in response to relatively high contact forces, such as those associated with relatively high currents. In addition to the above aspects, the design of the reinforcement contact assembly of the present invention also allows for a reduction in the overall size (e.g., and without limitation, thickness) of the contact assembly 100. This in turn may, for example, be cost effective, as the material required for the contact assembly is reduced.

The contact assemblies 100, 100', 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 of the present invention may be further understood in conjunction with the examples that will be described below with reference to fig. 1-7. It should be understood that the following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Example 1

As shown in fig. 2, the contact element 102 may include a first side 106, a second side 108 disposed opposite the first side 106, and a contact thickness 110 measured by a distance between the first side 106 and the second side 108. The reinforcement member 104 may have a reinforcement thickness 112 that is less than the contact thickness 110. Also visible in fig. 4B is a contact thickness 310 measured by the distance between the first and second sides 306, 308 of the contact element 302, and a reinforcement thickness 312 of the reinforcement element 304.

Example 2

The contact element 102 may have a contact diameter 114 and the reinforcement element 104 may have a reinforcement diameter 116. As shown in fig. 2, the reinforcement diameter 116 may be smaller than the contact diameter 114.

Example 3

As shown in fig. 2, 3A and 3B, and 7, respectively, the reinforcement element 104, 204, 604 may be embedded in the contact element 102, 202, 602. In particular, the reinforcement member 104 may be embedded between a first side 106 of the contact element 102 and a second side 108 of the contact element 102, as best shown in the cross-sectional view of fig. 2.

Example 4

The stiffening elements 104, 204, 304, 404 of the contact assemblies 100, 200, 300, 400 may be generally planar elements.

Example 5

The stiffening members 204, 404 of the contact assemblies 200, 400 may be screen members, as shown by way of non-limiting example in fig. 3A, 3B, and 5, respectively.

Example 6

The stiffening elements (e.g., and without limitation, 104, 204, 604) may be embedded into the respective contact elements (e.g., and without limitation, 102, 202, 602) using any known or suitable method or process, such as, but not limited to: vacuum induction casting, insertion into the melt followed by cooling, dipping and removal, or any other known or suitable embedding method or process.

Example 7

Alternatively, the reinforcing element 304 may be suitably attached to a corresponding one of the first and second sides 306, 308 of the contact element 302, as shown in fig. 4A and 4B. Also visible are the stiffening element 404 in fig. 5 (which is shown in an exploded position, i.e., before attachment to the first side 406 of the contact element 402), and the stiffening element 504 in fig. 6 attached to the contact element 502.

Example 8

It should be appreciated that the stiffening element (e.g., without limitation, 304, 404, 504) may be attached to the contact element (e.g., without limitation, 302, 402, 502) using any known or suitable attachment method or process, such as, without limitation: solid state diffusion bonding, liquid phase sintering bonding, mechanical pressing, welding, brazing, soldering, or forming a metallurgical bond between a strength member (such as, but not limited to 304, 404, 504) and a contact member (such as, but not limited to 302, 402, 502).

Example 9

The contact element 502 of the contact assembly 500 may be a spiral contact having a number of radial sections 550, 560, 570, 580 (4 are shown in the non-limiting example of fig. 6). Stiffening element 504 may include a number of stiffening elements 572, 582 for radial sections 570, 580, respectively. It should be understood that such stiffening elements (e.g., without limitation, 572, 582) may be suitably attached to or embedded within respective radial sections (e.g., 570, 580) of the spiral contact 502. The spiral contact 602 of the contact assembly 600 may also be seen, wherein the spiral contact 602 includes (for example and without limitation) three radial sections 650, 660, 670, and the reinforcement element 604 includes three corresponding reinforcement elements 652, 662, 672. Each reinforcing element 652, 662, 672 is embedded in a corresponding one of said radial sections 650, 660, 670, as partially shown in fig. 7.

Example 10

The contact elements 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602 may be made of a first material, such as, and without limitation, copper. The stiffening element 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604 may be made of any known or suitable second material, which is preferably different from the first material of the contact element 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602. By way of example, and not limitation, the stiffening elements 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604 may be made of: tungsten, titanium, carbon fiber, stainless steel, or any other known or suitable material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures and material properties necessary to increase the strength of the contact assembly 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600.

Example 11

Preferably, the first material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second material has a substantially identical second coefficient of thermal expansion. By matching the coefficients of thermal expansion of the contact elements 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602 and the stiffener elements 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604, thermal related defects (e.g., thermal expansion at different rates) and related problems may be minimized and the integrity of the contact assembly 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 may be improved.

Accordingly, the vacuum switching apparatus 2 of the present invention includes a unique contact assembly 100, 200, 300, 400 having a hybrid structure including a contact element 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602 and a reinforcement element 104, 204, 304, 404, 504, 604 suitably embedded in or attached to the contact element to structurally reinforce the contact element 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602. In this manner, among other advantages, the contact assemblies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 of the present invention are also resistant to bending or breaking when subjected to relatively high operating forces and enable a reduction in overall dimensions (see, for example and without limitation, contact thickness 110 and reinforcement thickness 112 of FIG. 2; see also contact thickness 310 and reinforcement thickness 312 of contact assembly 300 of FIG. 4B), thus correspondingly reducing associated manufacturing and production costs.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.