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(11) | EP 0 206 249 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Circuit breaker |
| (57) In a circuit breaker, which has fixed pressure reflector (3) and moving pressure
reflector (5) respectively around its fixed contact point (1b) and moving contact
point (4b) and an insulation barrier (6) for isolating a power source side space (P)
and a load side space (L) thereby, at least one oblong protrusion is provided along
the foot part (6c) of the insulation barrier (6); thereby undesirable flow of conductive
powder from the contacts are prevented and insulation characteristic between the power
source side space (P) and a load side space (L) is much improved. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a circuit breaker, and particularly concerns a circuit breaker for power line which is of a type comprising an insulation barrier for isolation between power source side and load side, and is improved for prevention of undesirable decrease of insulation characteristic due to deposition of fine granules of conductive substance around the insulation structure around fixed contact and fixed conductor.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] A typical example of the conventional circuit breaker having pressure reflectors both for a fixed contact and a moving contact is shown in FIG.3 and FIG.4. As shown in these figures, a fixed contact 1 of power source side comprises a fixed conductor la and a fixed contact point lb which is provided on end tip part of the fixed conductor la. An arc runner 2 which is made of a metal is provided at a vicinity of the fixed contact point lb. A fixed pressure reflector 3, which is Usually made of an insulative material, such as phenol resin or PBA (polybuthylenetelephtalate) resin or a high resistivity substance (e.g. tungsten-containing metal) which has a higher specific resistance than the fixed conductor la is provided to surround the fixed contact point lb and also to cover the fixed conductor la.
[0003] A moving contact 4 comprises a moving conductor 4a and a moving contact point 4b connected to a near end part of the moving conductor 4a. The other end of the moving contact 4 is connected to known moving mechanism for making circuit breaking operation and circuit interrupting operation. Such known mechanism is disclosed in detail, for instance, in the United States Patent No. 3,599,130. Since the mechnism and operation of the moving contact 4 is not the gist of the present invention, the detailed" description of the moving mechanism is omitted. A moving pressure reflector 5 is provided so as to surround the moving contact point 4b, and also to cover the moving conductor 4a. The moving pressure reflector 5 is made of an insulative substance or a high resistance substance which has higher specific resistance than the moving conductor 4a. An insulation barrier 6 is disposed on the fixed pressure reflector 3, so as to each other isolate a space P of power source side wherein the fixed contact 1 and a known arc extinguisher 7 are disposed and a space L of load side wherein moving mechanism of the moving contact 4 is disposed. The insulative barrier 6 is made of, for instance, a glass-fiber-reinforced polyesther, or the like, insulative sheet and has a vertically oblong hole 6b wherein the moving contact 4 moves. Furthermore, the insulation barrier 6 has, at its lower foot part, an indent 6a in which the fixed pressure reflector 3 is to be inserted when a circuit breaker is assembled. By such configuration, the insulation barrier 6 separates the power source side space P in the right side of FIG.1 and the load side space L in the left side thereof.
[0004] In the above-mentioned circuit breaker of the prior art, which comprises the fixed pressure reflector 3 on the fixed contact 1 and a moving pressure reflector 5 on the moving contact 4, cross-section of the arc A produced at an opening of the moving contact 4b from the fixed contact lb is limited small, by the function of the pressure reflectors 3 and 5, and that, the arc resistance is increased. That is to say, the arc current is limited low, thereby producing a current limiting state. In this way, the provision of the pressure reflectors 3 and 5 can improve current limiting characteristic at breaking of circuit, especially at shortcircuiting. In addition to this, the insulation barrier 6 further improves the insulation characteristiics between the power source side space P and load side space L. That is, by provision of the insulation barrier 6, even in the circuit breaking operation with the above-mentioned high arc voltage, break-out of insulation can be prevented. In other words, the insulation characteristic of the circuit breaker is improved, and stable and safe circuit breaking is assured.
[0005] In the above-mentioned circuit breaker, there has been a problem such that powder or fine granules of conductive substance generated at every openings of the moving contact point 4b from the fixed contact point lb, flows along the surface of the fixed pressure reflector 3 and is deposited on the surface, since the surface is formed in a simple face, and such deposited fine granules of the conductive substance is liable to cause breakout of insulation between the power source side space P and the load side space L.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problem of the prior art circuit breaker, by providing a circuit breaker which is capable of improving insulation characteristic between the power source side space and load side space by preventing break- out of the insulation due to deposition of powder or fine granule of conductive substance on surface of fixed pressure reflector.
[0007] The above-mentioned object is accomplished by providing at least one oblong protrusion on the surface of the fixed pressure reflector in a manner to be parallel along or at the vicinity of the foot part of an insulation barrier provided on the fixed pressure reflector.
[0008] A circuit breaker in accordance with the present invention comprises
a fixed contact, having a fixed conductor and a fixed contact point disposed at one end part of the fixed conductor,
a fixed pressure reflector disposed to surround the fixed contact point and to cover the fixed conductor,
a moving contact having a moving conductor and a moving contact point disposed at one end part of the moving conductor,
a moving pressure reflector disposed to surround the moving contct point and to cover the moving conductor,
an insulation barrier disposed above the fixed pressure reflector to isolate power
source side space and load side space, wherein
improvement is that
the fixed pressure reflector has at least one oblong protrusion provided protruding parallelly along foot part of the insulation barrier.
[0009] By the above-mentioned provision of the oblong protrusion parallely along the foot part of the insulation barrier, powder or fine granule of conductive substance generated at every opening of the moving contact point from the fixed contact point is not deposited on the surface of the fixed pressure reflector at least at the part where the foot part of the insulation barrier and the oblong protrusion are disposed each other adjacent. Besides, by the provision of the oblong protrusion the creeping distance is elongated, and therefore, insulation characteristic at the surface of the fixed pressure reflector is improved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
FIG.1 is a partly sectional side view of a principal part of a circuit breaker embodying the present invention.
FIG.2 is a perspective view showing a principal part of the embodiment of FIG.I.
FIG.3 is the partly sectional view of the conventional circuit.breaker.
FIG.4 is the perspective view of the conventional circuit breaker of FIG.3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] As shown in these figures, a fixed contact 1 of power source side comprises a fixed conductor la and a fixed contact point lb which is provided on end tip part of the fixed conductor la. An arc runner 2 which is made of a metal is provided at a vicinity of the fixed contact point lb. A fixed pressure reflector 3, which is usually made of an insulative material, such as phenol resin or PBA resin or a high resistivity substance (e.g. tungsten-containing metal) which has a higher specific resistance than the fixed conductor la is provided to surround the fixed contact point lb and also to cover the fixed conductor la. The fixed pressure reflector 3 is provided with at least one oblong protrusions In the embodiment of FIG.1, two oblong protrusions are provided. An insulation barrier 6 is provided above the fixed pressure reflector 3, in a manner to each other isolate a space P of power source side wherein the fixed contact 1, the fixed contact point lb and a moving contact point 4b and a known arc extinguisher 7 are disposed and a space L of load side wherein moving mechanism for a moving contact 4 is disposed. The insulative barrier 6 is made of, for instance, a glass fiber-reinforced polyesther, or the like insulative sheet and has a vertically oblong hole 6b wherein the moving contact 4 moves. Furthermore, the insulation barrier 6 has, at its lower foot part 6c, an indent 6a in which the fixed pressure reflector 3 is to be inserted when a circuit breaker is assembled. The two oblong protrusions 8a and 8b are provided substantially in parallel with the foot part 6c of the insulation barrier which is mounted on the fixed pressure reflector 3 at the part of the indent 6a. Therefore, the foot part 6c of the insulation barrier 6 is easily disposed between the two oblong protrusions 8a and 8b.
[0013] The moving contact 4 comprises a moving conductor 4a and the moving contact point 4b connected to a near end part of the moving conductor 4a. The other end of the moving contact 4 is connected to a known moving mechanism for making circuit breaking operation and circuit interruption operation. Since the mechanism is known and not the gist of the present invention, description and illustration of the detail thereof are omitted. A moving pressure reflector 5 is provided so as to surround the moving contact point 4b and also to cover the moving conductor 4a. The moving pressure reflector 5 is made of an insulative substance or a high resistance substance which has higher specific resistance than the moving conductor 4a.
[0014] The operation of the above-mentioned embodiment is elucidated as follows. As a result of the provision of the oblong protrusions 8a and 8b substantially in parallel with and along the foot part of the insulation barrier 6, overwrapping part of the oblong protrusion 8b, the foot part 6c of the insulation barrier 6 and the oblong protrusion 8a form obstacle means against flow of powder or fine granule of conductive substance generated at the opening of the moving contact point 4b from the fixed contact point lb. Therefore the hitherto depositing undesirable conductive powder or fine granules are not deposited on the surface of the fixed pressure reflector 3 any more. Furthermore, since the creeping distance along the surface of the fixed pressure reflector 3 is elongated by the provision of the oblong protrusions 8a and 8b; the insulation characteristic of the surface of the fixed pressure reflector itself is improved.
1. A circuit breaker comprising:
a fixed contact (1), having a fixed conductor (la) and a fixed contact point (lb) disposed at one end part of the fixed conductor,
a fixed pressure reflector (3) disposed to surround said fixed contact point (lb) and to cover said fixed conductor (la),
a moving contact (4) having a moving conductor (4a) and a moving contact point (4b) disposed at one end part of the moving conductor,
a moving pressure reflector (5) disposed to surround said moving contact point (4b) and to cover said moving conductor (4a), and
an insulation barrier (6) disposed above said fixed pressure reflector (3) to isolate
power source side space (P) and load side space (L), wherein
improvement is that
said fixed pressure reflector (3) has at least one oblong protrusion (8a) provided protruding parallelly along foot part (6c) of said insulation barrier (6).
2. A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1, wherein a pair of said oblong protrusions
(8a,8b) are provided substantially parallelly on both sides of said foot part (6c)
of insulation barrier (6).
3. A circuit breaker in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said insulation barrier
(6) has
an oblong hole (6b) wherein said moving conductor (4a) moves in longitudinal direction thereof for opening and closing of said moving contact point with said fixed contact point, and
an indent (6a) in which said fixed pressure reflector (3) is to be inserted.