Electric power interrupter and method thereof
A novel electric power interrupter is provided, the interrupter comprising concentric springs and interlocking hooks for opening and closing the interrupter. The electric power interrupter further comprises a housing over a vacuum chamber and an electrically insulating layer around the vacuum chamber, a fixed section and a moving section. The butt contact of the fixed section is stationary, while the butt contact of the movable section moves towards and away from the fixed section. A toggle mechanism is provided for operating the movable section to open or close the interrupter. The present invention provides a better voltage dissipation and reduces the risk of electrical arcs forming outside the interrupter.
1 . A high voltage electrical power interrupter, the interrupter comprising:
an electrically insulated interrupting chamber;
a first contacting member fixed within the interrupting chamber;
a toggle mechanism;
a movable contacting assembly moveable within the interrupting chamber comprising:
a second contacting member being elongated;
a recess portion; and
a first abutting member;
a plunger movable within the recess portion, the plunger comprising:
a first end attached to the toggle mechanism;
a second end adapted to resiliently abut on the recess portion; and
a second abutting member contactable with the first abutting member;
wherein a gap is formed between the first and the second abutting members when the power interrupter is closed.
2 . The power interrupter of claim 1 , the toggle mechanism comprising:
a resilient member;
a lever attached to the resilient member;
a first truss pivotally attached to the lever;
a second truss pivotally attached to the first truss and pivotally attached to the first end of the plunger;
wherein the lever induces movement of the first and second trusses to displace the plunger.
3 . The power interrupter of claim 1 further comprising a first resilient member partially compressed between the recess portion and the second end of the plunger.
4 . The power interrupter of claim 3 further comprising a second resilient member between a portion of the movable contacting assembly and the second abutting member of the plunger.
5 . The power interrupter of claim 4 , the second abutting member comprising a hook adapted to push against the first abutting member.
6 . The power interrupter of claim 5 , the first abutting member comprising a hook operatively matching with the hook of the second abutting member.
7 . The power interrupter of claim 4 , the second resilient member having a resilient force being equal or higher than the first resilient member.
8 . The power interrupter of claim 7 , the first and second resilient members being concentrical springs.
9 . The power interrupter of claim 4 wherein the second resilient member surrounds inserted the first resilient member.
10 . The power interrupter of claim 3 wherein the first resilient member is at least partially compressed when the power interrupter is closed.
11 . The power interrupter of claim 1 , the gap being annular around the elongated contacting assembly.
12 . The power interrupter of claim 1 further comprising an insulating housing, the housing comprising a vacuum chamber.
13 . The power interrupter of claim 12 , wherein the housing is made of any one of or a combination of urethane, polymer and silicone.
14 . The power interrupter of claim 1 , wherein when the power interrupter is open the toggle mechanism is configured to move the abutting member of the plunger toward the abutting member of the contact to engage the abutting member of the plunger with the abutting member of the contact.
15 . The power interrupter of claim 1 , the abutting member of the plunger being a hook.
16 . The power interrupter of claim 15 , the abutting member of the recess portion being a hook matching the shape of the hook of the plunger.
17 . A method for interrupting high voltage electrical power, the method comprising:
upon tripping, resiliently moving a first abutting member of a plunger within a gap between the first abutting member of the plunger and a second abutting member of a movable contacting assembly;
when the gap is closed, engaging the first and second abutting members; and
pulling the movable contacting assembly away from a fixed contacting assembly.
18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising decompressing a first partially compressed resilient member between the plunger and the movable contacting assembly and decompressing a second resilient member between the movable contacting assembly and the first abutting member upon tripping.
19 . A method for closing a high voltage power interrupter, the method comprising:
slidably pushing a plunger toward an interrupting chamber;
the plunger resiliently pushing a first contacting member of a movable contacting assembly toward a second fixed contacting member;
the pushed plunger creating a gap between a first abutting member of the plunger and a second abutting member of the movable contacting assembly;
maintaining contact between the first contacting member and the second fixed contacting member.
20 . The method of claim 19 , the contact between the first and second contacting members being maintained by toggling a latch mechanism.