Technical Field

The invention relates to a high or medium voltage switch comprising a first and a second set of contact elements that are mutually displaceable. The invention also relates to a current breaker comprising such a switch.

Background Art

A switch of this type is disclosed in US 7 235 751. It has a first and a second set of contact elements and a drive adapted to displace one of the contact elements along a displacement direction. Each contact element carries at least one conducting element. In a first mutual position of the contact elements, their conducting elements combine to form at least one conducting path between the first and second terminals of the switch, in a direction transversally to the displacement direction. In a second position of the contact elements, the conducting elements are mutually displaced into staggered positions and therefore the above conducting path is interrupted.

Disclosure of the Invention

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an improved switch of this type.

This problem is solved by the switch of claim 1. Accordingly, the switch comprises a first and a second terminal for applying the current to be switched. Further, it has a first and a second set of contact elements and a drive adapted to mutually displace the contact elements relative to each other along a displacement direction. Each contact element comprises an insulating carrier that carries at least one conducting element. The positions of the conducting elements are such that:

• in a first mutual position of the contact elements the conducting elements form one or more conducting paths along an axial direction between the first and the second terminals, i.e. the switch is in the closed, conducting position; and
• in a second mutual position of the contact elements the conducting elements are mutually displaced such that the conducting path does not form, i.e. the switch is in its opened, non-conducting position.

The switch comprises a first and a second drive, with each drive being connected to one of said sets of contact elements. The first and a second drives are adapted to simultaneously, i.e. concurrently or during the same time window, move the first and second set, respectively, in opposite directions. By this measure, the relative contact separation speed as well as the total contact separation distance are basically doubled, which allows faster switching and reduces the travel length of each drive resulting in a fast build-up of dielectric strength across the contact gap.

Advantageously, each drive comprises an electrical drive coil and a movable member, wherein the movable member can be moved between a first and a second location and is connected to the first or second set of contact elements, respectively. The first location corresponds to the first mutual position of the contact elements and the second location corresponds to the second mutual position of the contact elements, or vice versa. Each drive is adapted to accelerate the movable member from the first position to the second position, in a direction away from the drive coil, when a current flows through the drive coil. Thus, current pulses through the drive coils can be used to close or open the switch.

Hence, in yet a further advantageous embodiment, the switch comprises a current pulse generator structured to generate concurrent current pulses in the drive coil of the first drive and the drive coil of the second drive, thereby achieving a concurrent actuation of both drives.

A very simple design to ensure a concurrent motion is achieved by arranging the drive coil of the first drive electrically in series to the drive coil of the second drive. Thus, any current pulse simultaneously acts on both drives.

The drives are advantageously arranged within the housing, thus obviating the need for mechanical bushings.

The switch is advantageously used in high voltage applications (i.e. for voltages above 72 kV), but it can also be used for medium voltage applications (between some kV and 72 kV).

Other advantageous embodiments are listed in the dependent claims, combinations of dependent claims as well as in the description below together with the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood and embodiments and advantages other than those set forth above will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

• Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a switch,
• Fig. 2 shows the an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact elements,
• Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a carrier with a conducting element,
• Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a carrier and a conducting element,
• Fig. 5 shows an application of the switch,
• Fig. 6 a diagram of stroke vs. time when opening and closing the switch, and
• Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a drive.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

The switch of Fig. 1 comprises a fluid-tight housing 1 enclosing a space 2 filled with an insulating fluid, in particular SF₆ or air or other at elevated pressure, or an oil.

Housing 1 forms a GIS-type metallic enclosure of manifold type and comprises two tube sections. A first tube section 3 extends along an axial direction A, and a second tube section 4 extends along a direction D, which is called the displacement direction for reasons that will become apparent below. Axial direction A can be perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to displacement direction D. The tube sections are formed by a substantially cross-shaped housing section 5.

First tube section 3 ends in first and second support insulators 6 and 7, respectively. First support insulator 6 carries a first terminal 8 and second support insulator 7 carries a second terminal 9 of the switch. The two terminals 8, 9 extending through the support insulators 6, 7 carry the current through the switch, substantially along axial direction A.

Second tube section 4 ends in a first and a second cap or flange portion 10 and 11, respectively.

First terminal 8 and second terminal 9 extend towards a center of space 2 and end at a distance from each other, with a switching arrangement 12 located between them, at the intersection region of first tube section 3 with second tube section 4.

As can best be seen from Fig. 2, switching arrangement 12 comprises a first set of contact elements 13a, 13b, 13c and a second set of contact elements 14a, 14b, 14c. In the embodiment shown here, each set comprises three contact elements, but that number may vary, and, for example, be two or more than three. The first and second set may also have different numbers of contact elements, e.g. two and three, respectively. Advantageously, the number is at least two contact elements per set. The contact elements of the two sets are stacked alternatingly, i.e. each contact element of one set is adjacent to two contact elements of the other set unless it is located at the end of switching arrangement 12, in which case it is located between one contact element of the other set and one of the terminals 8, 9.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each contact element comprises a plate-shaped insulating carrier 15, one or more conducting elements 16 and an actuator rod 17. In the embodiment shown here, each carrier 15 carries two conducting elements 16.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the switch in the closed state with the contact elements 13a, 13b, 13c, 14a, 14b, 14c in a first mutual position, where the conducting elements 16 align to form two conducting paths 34 along axial direction A between the first and the second terminals 8, 9. The conducting paths 34 carry the current between the terminals 8, 9. Their number can be greater than one in order to increase continuous current carrying capability. In another exemplary embodiment, an arrangement with three contact elements 16 in each insulating carrier 15 is possible, which lead to three conducting paths 34 when the switch is closed. In a further examplary embodiment a non-inline arrangement with four contact elements 16 in each insulating carrier 15 is also possible, which leads to four conducting paths 34 when the switch is closed.

The contact elements 13a, 13b, 13c, 14a, 14b, 14c can be moved along the displacement direction D into a second position, where the conducting elements 16 are staggered in respect to each other and do not form a conducting path. In Fig. 2, the position of the conducting elements in this second position is shown in dotted lines under reference number 16'. As can be seen, the conducting elements 16' are now separated from each other along direction D, thereby creating several contact gaps (two times the number of contact elements 13, 14), thereby quickly providing a high dielectric withstand level.

To achieve such a displacement, and as best can be seen in Fig. 1, the actuator rods 17 are connected to two drives 18, 19. A first drive 18 is connected to the actuator rods 17 of the first set of contact elements 13a, 13b, 13c, and a second drive 19 is connected to the actuator rods 17 of the second set of contact elements 14a, 14b, 14c.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the switch is opened by pulling the actuator rods 17 away from the center of the switch, thereby bringing the conducting elements into their second, staggered position. Alternatively, the rods 17 can be pushed towards the center of the switch, which also allows to bring the conducting elements into a staggered position.

The drives 18, 19 can e.g. operate on the repulsive Lorentz-force principle and be of the type shown in US 7 235 751, which is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. Each drive is able to displace one set of contact elements along the displacement direction D. They are adapted and controlled to move the first and second sets in opposite directions at the same time in order to increase the travelling length and speed of displacement. An embodiment of a suitable drive is described in more detail below.

The drives 18, 19 are arranged in opposite end regions of second tube section 4.

It should be noted that the full stroke (e.g. 20 mm per drive) of the drives may not be necessary to travel in order for the contact system to provide the dielectric strength required, but a distance much shorter (e.g. 10 mm per drive) may suffice, which can be reached in an even shorter time. This also provides certain safety in case of backtravel upon reaching the end-of-stroke position and damping phase of the actuators, see Fig. 6. As can be seen from that figure, a sufficient separation of the conducting elements 16 can be reached within 1 or 2 ms.

As shown in Fig. 2, each terminal 8, 9 carries a contact plate 32 forming a contact surface 33 contacting the conducting elements 16 when the switch is in its first position. The contact plates 32 are mounted to the terminals 8, 9 in axially displaceable manner, with springs 20 elastically urging the contact surface 33 against the conducting elements, thereby compressing the conducting elements 16 in their aligned state for better conduction. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, helical compression springs 20 are used for this purpose, but other types of spring members can be used as well. Also, even though it is advantageous if there is at least one spring member in each terminal 8, 9, a compression force for the aligned conducting elements 16 can also be generated by means of a spring member(s) in only one of the terminals 8, 9.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of single conducting element 16 in its carrier 15. As can be seen, it axially projects by a height H over both axial surfaces 15a, 15b of carrier 15. In other words, the axial extension (i.e. the extension along axial direction A) of conducting element 16 exceeds the axial extension of carrier 15 that surrounds it. Advantageously, the axial extension of carrier 15 at the location of conducting element 16 is at least 10% less than the axial extension of conducting element 16.

Conducting element 16 advantageously comprises an aluminium body with silver coating.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, conducting element 16 is fixedly connected to carrier 15, e.g. by means of a glue.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a contact element 16. In this embodiment, contact element 16 comprises a first section 21 and a second section 22 connected to each other, e.g. by means of a screw 23. Each section 21, 22 comprises a shaft 24 and a head 25, with the head 25 having larger diameter than the shaft 24. The two shafts 24 extend axially through an opening 26 of carrier 15 and the heads rest against the surfaces 15a, 15b of carrier 15. The distance between the two heads 25 is slightly larger than the axial extension of carrier 15, such that conducting element 16 is movable in axial direction A in respect to carrier 15 for the reasons described above.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, a screw was used for connecting the two sections 21, 22. Alternatively, a rivet can be used as well. In yet a further alternative, one of the sections 21, 22 can be designed as a male section having a pin introduced into an opening of the other, female section for forming a press-fit or shrivel-fit connector.

Fig. 5 shows an application of the switch 27 of the present invention in a high voltage circuit breaker. This circuit breaker comprises a primary electrical branch 28 and a secondary electrical branch 29 arranged parallel to each other. At least one solid state breaker 30 is arranged in primary branch 28 and a plurality of solid state breakers 31 is arranged in series in secondary branch 29. The number of solid state breakers 31 in the secondary branch 29 is much larger than the number of solid state breakers 30 in the primary branch 28.

When the circuit breaker is in its closed current-conducting state, all solid state breakers are conducting and switch 27 is closed current-conducting state. The current substantially bypasses secondary branch 29, because the voltage drop in primary branch 28 is much smaller. Hence, for nominal currents, the losses in the circuit breaker are comparatively small.

When the current is to be interrupted, in a first step the solid state breaker(s) 30 in primary branch 28 are opened, which causes the current in primary branch 28 to drop to a small residual value that is then interrupted by opening switch 27. Now, the whole current has been commuted to secondary branch 29. In a next step, the solid state breakers 31 in secondary branch 29 are opened.

Hence, in the opened state of the circuit breaker of Fig. 5, switch 27 carries the whole voltage drop in the secondary branch, thereby protecting the solid state breaker(s) 30 of primary branch 28 from dielectric breakdown.

The switch described above is well suited for such an application as switch 27 because of its fast switching time and its large dielectric strength.

Fig. 7 shows an advantageous embodiment of a drive 18, 19. The drive comprises a frame 35 enclosing a chamber 36. A movable member 37 is arranged within chamber 36 and held by a bistable suspension 38. Movable member 37 is connected to the actuator rods 17 of one set of contact element 13a, 13b, 13c or 14a, 14b, 14c, with the actuator rods 17 extending through an opening 50 in frame 35.

Bistable suspension 38 comprises first and second pistons 39, 40 movable along bores 41, 42 in a direction perpendicular to displacement direction D. The pistons are pushed towards chamber 36 by means of first and second springs 43, 44. Each piston 39, 40 is connected to movable member 37 by means of a link 45, 46. Each link 45, 46 is formed by a substantially rigid rod, which is, at a first end, rotatably connected to its piston 39, 40, and, at a second end, rotatably connected to movable member 37.

The springs 43, 44 urge the links 45, 46 against movable member 37. Thus, movable member 37 can assume two stable locations within bistable suspension 38, namely a first location as shown with solid lines in Fig. 7, as well as a second location as shown in dashed lines. The first location corresponds to the first mutual position of the contact elements, and the second location to the second mutual position.

To operate movable member 37, first and second drive coils 47, 48 are arranged at opposite sides of chamber 36. Further, movable member 37 is of a conducting material, at least on its surfaces facing the drive coils 47, 48. In the first and second stable locations, movable member 37 is adjacent to first and second drive coil 47, 48, respectively.

Hence, when movable member 37 is e.g. in its first location and a current pulse is sent through first drive coil 47, a mirror current is generated within movable member 37, which leads to a repulsive force that accelerates movable member 37 away from first coil 47. The kinetic energy imparted on movable member 37 in this manner is sufficient to move movable member 37 to its second location adjacent to second drive coil 48.

The two drives 17, 18 should be operated synchronously, or at least in the same time window. A pulse generator 49 (see Fig. 1) is provided for this purpose. Pulse generator 49 is adapted to generate concurrent current pulses to the first drive coils 47 of both drives 17 and 18 for opening the switch, and/or concurrent current pulses to the second coils 48 of both drives 17 and 18 for closing the switch.

Advantageously and as already mentioned, a concurrent operation can for example be easily achieved by electrically arranging the first drive coils 47 of both switches in series, as shown by the feed lines between the drives 17, 18 and pulse generator 49 in Fig. 1.

Similarly, the second drive coils 48 of both switches should advantageously be arranged in series as well.

Notes:

Housing 1 is advantageously at ground potential (e.g. in a GIS = gas-insulated substation), but it may also be on high voltage potential (e.g. in a life tank breaker).

In the above examples, each insulating carrier 15 had its own actuator rod 17. Alternatively, the number of actuator rods may be different, in particular smaller than the number of insulating carriers 15, with at least some of the insulating carriers being mechanically interconnected.

Reference numbers

1:

housing

2:

space

3, 4:

tube sections

5:

housing section

6, 7:

support insulators

8, 9:

terminals

10, 11:

caps, flanges

12:

switching arrangement

13a, 13b, 13c:

first set of contact elements

14a, 14b, 14c:

second set of contact elements

15:

insulating carrier

15a, 15b:

axial surfaces of insulating carrier

16, 16':

conducting elements

17:

actuator rods

18:

contact plate

19:

contact surface

20:

springs

21, 22:

first and second sections of contact element

23:

screw

24, 25:

shaft and head

26:

opening

27:

switch

28, 29:

primary and secondary branch

30, 31:

semiconductor breakers

32:

contact plate

33:

contact surface

34:

conducting path

35:

frame

36:

chamber

37:

movable member

38:

bistable suspension

39, 40:

pistons

41, 42:

bores

43, 44:

springs

45, 46:

links

47, 48:

drive coils

49:

pulse generator

50:

opening