Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits
Abstract
A high voltage switch contact structure capable of interrupting high voltage, high current AC and DC circuits. The contact structure confines the arc created when contacts open to the thin area between two insulating surfaces in intimate contact. This forces the arc into the shape of a thin sheet which loses heat energy far more rapidly than an arc column having a circular cross-section. These high heat losses require a dramatic increase in the voltage required to maintain the arc, thus extinguishing it when the required voltage exceeds the available voltage. The arc extinguishing process with this invention is not dependent on the occurrence of a current zero crossing and, consequently, is capable of rapidly interrupting both AC and DC circuits. The contact structure achieves its high performance without the use of sulfur hexafluoride.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Utron Inc., Manassas, VA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1175193
- Patent Number(s):
- 6838632
- Application Number:
- 10/420,717
- Assignee:
- Utron Inc.
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01H - ELECTRIC SWITCHES
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-99ER52915
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
Citation Formats
Via, Lester C., Witherspoon, F. Douglas, and Ryan, John M. Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits. United States: N. p., 2005.
Web.
Via, Lester C., Witherspoon, F. Douglas, & Ryan, John M. Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits. United States.
Via, Lester C., Witherspoon, F. Douglas, and Ryan, John M. Tue .
"Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175193.
@article{osti_1175193,
title = {Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits},
author = {Via, Lester C. and Witherspoon, F. Douglas and Ryan, John M.},
abstractNote = {A high voltage switch contact structure capable of interrupting high voltage, high current AC and DC circuits. The contact structure confines the arc created when contacts open to the thin area between two insulating surfaces in intimate contact. This forces the arc into the shape of a thin sheet which loses heat energy far more rapidly than an arc column having a circular cross-section. These high heat losses require a dramatic increase in the voltage required to maintain the arc, thus extinguishing it when the required voltage exceeds the available voltage. The arc extinguishing process with this invention is not dependent on the occurrence of a current zero crossing and, consequently, is capable of rapidly interrupting both AC and DC circuits. The contact structure achieves its high performance without the use of sulfur hexafluoride.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2005},
month = {1}
}