초록 ▼

An improved high-voltage interrupting switch or interrupter and method of assembly and operation thereof is provided. The switch is of the type including a pair of contacts which are normally electrically interconnected and which are rapidly driven apart and separated to form a gap therebetween, the

An improved high-voltage interrupting switch or interrupter and method of assembly and operation thereof is provided. The switch is of the type including a pair of contacts which are normally electrically interconnected and which are rapidly driven apart and separated to form a gap therebetween, thereby opening the switch. In preferred arrangements, one contact is stationary while a second contact is movable, although both may be movable. One of the contacts, preferably the stationary contact, contains a bore into which a portion of the second contact is telescoped. The second contact is arranged to receive a member to expand portions of the second contact to provide reliable, direct electrical interconnection of the stationary and movable contacts. In a specific arrangement wherein the stationary contact includes a conductive tube and the movable contact is partially telescoped into the bore of the stationary contact, the movable contact includes a bore for receiving a member. The member includes a tapered portion that, upon insertion into the bore of the movable contact, provides a radially-expansive force to a portion of the movable contact. The radially-expansive force expands the movable contact into desired, secure engagement against the interior of the stationary-contact conductive tube to provide electrical interconnection between the movable and stationary contacts. A piston disposed in the bore of the stationary contact is driven out of the bore of the stationary contact and moves the movable contact away from the stationary contact so as to separate the contacts and thereby open the switch. In a preferred arrangement, the member extends beyond the movable contact and is tapered such that the movement of the piston releases the member within the movable contact; thereafter, the member and the movable contact moving together in response to the piston. In a specific arrangement, the switch includes a second stationary-contact conductive tube that is aligned with the first stationary contact and the movable contact. The end of the movable contact opposite the first stationary contact is partially telescoped into the second stationary contact. The member extends throughout the length of the movable contact and includes a tapered portion adjacent the second stationary contact. Upon insertion of the member into the movable contact, the tapered portions are arranged to provide a radially-expansive force to a respective portion of the movable contact. The radially-expansive force expands portions of the movable contact into engagement with portions of the stationary-contact conductive tubes.

대표청구항 ▼

An improved arrangement for electrically interconnecting the separable, electrical contacts of a device in which portions of a first contact and a second contact are engaged, the device being operated in response to movement of a drive element to rapidly separate the contacts via movement of one or

An improved arrangement for electrically interconnecting the separable, electrical contacts of a device in which portions of a first contact and a second contact are engaged, the device being operated in response to movement of a drive element to rapidly separate the contacts via movement of one or both contacts, wherein the improvement comprises: a member; and means provided on the second contact and cooperating with said member for providing a contact-engagement force between the first and second contacts resulting from the insertion of at least a portion of said member or the second contact in the other and for providing the release of the contact-engagement force between the first and second contacts by relative movement between said member and the second contact in response to the movement of the drive element during device operation and in response to contact of said member by the drive element.