US3590189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter with piston device having an opening piston and a closing piston
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1968-09-25
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A circuit interrupter has a movable contact structure which is piston actuated. The operating piston rod has an opening piston and a closing piston secured thereto, so that upon entrance of high-pressure gas on one side of the opening piston, the opening piston will move to the open position carrying with it the movable contact structure. The closing piston, secured to the piston rod, has high-pressure gas acting on one side thereof at all times. A shock absorber structure may be used, and if used is also fixedly secured to the movable operating piston rod for the movable contact structure. Upon exhausting the high-pressure gas from the one face of the opening piston, the closing pressure, constantly acting upon one side of the closing piston, will effect a closing operation of the contact structure.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Fischer
- 👤 Wayne S Aspey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/28; H01H33/30; H01H33/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
An operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter including, in combination: a. separable contact structure including a movable contact for establishing an arc; b. a piston device for actuating said movable contact including a closing piston and a separate opening piston both secured to a piston rod; c. said piston rod being mechanically connected to the movable contact; and, d. the cross-sectional area of the opening piston being larger than the cross-sectional area of the closing piston.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
An operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter including, in combination: a. separable contact structure including a movable contact for establishing an arc; b. a piston device for actuating said movable contact including a closing piston and a separate opening piston both secured to a piston rod; c. said piston rod being mechanically connected to the movable contact; and, d. the cross-sectional area of the opening piston being larger than the cross-sectional area of the closing piston.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein high-pressure gas constantly acts on the closing face of the closing piston, and high-pressure gas is alternately admitted and exhausted from the opening face of the opening piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein a shock absorber piston is also fixedly secured to the said piston rod to cushion the opening and closing operations of the contact structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein a three-way opening control valve controls the admission and exhausting of high-pressure gas to said opening face of the opening piston.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein the shock absorber piston reciprocates within a perforated shock absorber-operating cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod is extended externally of the circuit interrupter and is adaPtable for operation by a hand jack for maintenance purposes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 5, wherein regulating screws are exposed and control the perforations of the shock absorber-operating cylinder thereby rendering them accessible for adjustment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 3, wherein check valves are provided at the ends of the operating cylinder for the shock absorber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 1, wherein a pressure-sensitive flow regulator is disposed between the opening piston and the valve controlling the flow thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein high-pressure gas constantly acts on both sides of the shock absorber piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein high-pressure gas constantly acts on both sides of the shock absorber piston.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A compressed-gas operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter comprising, in combination: a. means defining a low-pressure chamber having at least a portion of a stepped operating cylinder projecting therewithin; b. means defining a high-pressure chamber and disposed contiguously of said low-pressure chamber and having a shock-absorbing cylinder disposed at least partially therein; c. a piston rod having a closing piston of relatively small diameter and a separate opening piston of relatively large diameter and a shock absorber piston all secured to and movable with the piston rod; d. separable contact means including a movable contact for establishing arcing; and, e. the piston rod being mechanically connected to the movable contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
A compressed-gas operating mechanism for a circuit interrupter comprising, in combination: a. means defining a low-pressure chamber having at least a portion of a stepped operating cylinder projecting therewithin; b. means defining a high-pressure chamber and disposed contiguously of said low-pressure chamber and having a shock-absorbing cylinder disposed at least partially therein; c. a piston rod having a closing piston of relatively small diameter and a separate opening piston of relatively large diameter and a shock absorber piston all secured to and movable with the piston rod; d. separable contact means including a movable contact for establishing arcing; and, e. the piston rod being mechanically connected to the movable contact.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 12, wherein the shock-absorbing cylinder is perforated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 12, wherein the shock-absorbing cylinder has check valves disposed at opposite ends thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 12, wherein high-pressure gas constantly acts on one side of the closing piston and high-pressure gas is alternately admitted and exhausted from one face of the opening piston.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |