WO1999010903A1 - Current limiting circuit breakers with ptc (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) elements and arc extinguishing capabilities - Google Patents
Current limiting circuit breakers with ptc (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) elements and arc extinguishing capabilities Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999010903A1 WO1999010903A1 PCT/US1998/017543 US9817543W WO9910903A1 WO 1999010903 A1 WO1999010903 A1 WO 1999010903A1 US 9817543 W US9817543 W US 9817543W WO 9910903 A1 WO9910903 A1 WO 9910903A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- switch
- current
- line
- contacts
- circuit breaker
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H9/42—Impedances connected with contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/30—Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts
- H01H9/32—Insulating body insertable between contacts
Definitions
- the invention relates to the use of mechanical means and elements with Positive
- PTC Temperature Coefficient Resistivity
- Circuit breakers are widely used in residential and industrial applicaitons for the
- Arcing occurs between the contacts of circuit breakers used to interrupt the current, which
- Another approach that has been used to limit the amount of arcing is the use of a resistor connected in parallel with the main contacts of the circuit breaker. Upon opening of the main contacts, current can still flow through the shunt resistor, effectively reducing the amount of arcing in the main contacts. The current flowing through the resistor is less than the short circuit current that would flow through the main contacts in the absence of the resistor, and the opening of a second pair of contacts connected in series with the resistor can be accomplished with less arcing than would occur in the absence of the shunt resistor.
- Tanaka et al. teach a circuit breaker in which a resistor-provided UHV breaker has a tank sealing an insulating gas, a main contact and a resistor unit connected in parallel to the main contacts also located in the tank. Mechamsms are provided so that the resistor contact is made before and broken after the main contact is made and broken. The resistor has to be rated to withstand the high currents and temperatures during short circuit conditions.
- Khalid teaches a current limiting circuit breaker in which the current limiting contacts are in series with the main contacts of a breaker. Opening of the limiting contacts shunts high fault current through the resistor.
- the resistor is an iron wire resistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistance. The flow of the short circuit current through the resistor heats the resistor, thereby increasing its resistance and limiting the buildup of the short circuit current.
- PTC positive temperature coefficient
- Perkins et al. describe a PTC resistor that utilizes the metal-insulator solid state transition in (V,Cr) 2 O 3 .
- the resistivity of a ceramic body including (V,Cr) 2 O 3 increases to a value 100 times tne value at 20° C.
- the switch is connected to a PTC element that is shunted by the actuating coil for the switch.
- the current flows through the PTC resistor.
- the rapid heating of the PTC resistor leads to an increased resistance and voltage across the PTC resistor, diverting current through the actuating coil which then trips the switch.
- Hansson et al. U.S. Patent 5,382,938 disclose a PTC element that is capable of withstanding short circuit currents without damage, thereby enabling it to be reused.
- Figure 1 shows a disclosure by Hansson '938 on the use of a PTC element 22 as an overcurrent protection device for a motor 25.
- the PTC element is connected in series with a switch 23 and in parallel with an excitation coil 24 that operates the switch 23.
- tripping circuit consisting of two parallel connected current branches. One of these branches has the excitation coil for the switch while the other branch has two PTC resistors. Overcurrent conditions cause a buildup of voltage across the PTC resistors that then activates the excitation coil for the switch.
- Chen U.S. Patent 5,629,658 discloses a number of devices in which PTC elements are used in conjunction with two or more switches to limit the current under short circuit conditions and thereby reduce the associated arcing.
- PTC resistors have to be designed to withstand the heating that accompanies short circuit currents. This can make their use more expensive unless arrangements are made to limit this heating.
- Belbel et al. U.S. Patent 4,562,323 discloses a switch in which an electrically insulating screen is inserted between the contacts during the opening of the contacts. The control of the movement of the screen is obtained by propulsion means separate from those causing the separation of the contacts.
- Belbel et al. U.S. Patent 4,677,266 disclose another switch that has an insulating screen that adapts the breaking speed as the current increases.
- Brakowski et al. U.S. Patent 4,801,772 disclose a current limiting circuit interrupted in which an insulating wedge is inserted between the contact arms as they open.
- the present invention achieves interruption of electrical currents with a reduction in arcing, noise and gas venting.
- the present invention also reduces the cost and enclosure requirements for residential circuit breakers and increases the switching capacity of a normal relay.
- the invention improves the operation of circuit breakers when a ground fault is detected without a mechanical linkage between the ground fault circuit and the circuit breaker.
- the invention replaces SF 6 and vacuum switchgear by air circuit breakers while accomplishing many of the objectives listed above.
- One aspect of the invention uses a PTC element in a circuit breaker in series with a power line.
- the voltage increase across the PTC element during an overload is used to drive a relay coil for opening the main contacts.
- one or more metal oxide varistors are in parallel with the PTC component. This limits the maximum voltage (and hence the amount of heating) that occurs in the PTC element.
- Another aspect of the invention is the ability of a circuit breaker incorporating a PTC element to respond to ground faults.
- a ground fault interrupter circuit is used to energize a trip coil wound on the same core as the relay coil.
- the trip coil is eliminated and the full line voltage is applied to the relay coil.
- Another embodiment of the invention uses a switching device that is triggered by a ground fault sensing circuit to short the line; the resulting short circuit current operates the circuit breaker having a PTC element.
- the current limiting breaker could be used in low, medium and high voltage switching devices. Two pairs of contacts are provided in series with the line and in parallel with each other. The main contacts are provided with an insulating wedge that breaks the arc. The insulating wedge is driven by the magnetic forces caused by the short circuit line current. Upon opening of the main contacts, the current flows through the secondary contacts that are provided with a PTC element; the presence of the secondary contacts limits the arcing in the main contacts while the PTC element limits the current that has to be interrupted by the secondary contacts. In an alternate embodiment, the secondary contacts are eliminated and the invention is used as an accessory module in conjunction with another circuit breaker.
- Figure 1 shows the use of a PTC element as an overcurrent protection device for a motor.
- Figure 2 shows the use of a PTC element in accordance with this invention
- Figure 3 shows a magnetic relay that can be used to operate the invention of figure 1.
- Figure 4 shows one way in which the invention can be adapted to respond to ground faults.
- Figure 5 shows a second manner in which the invention can be used to respond to ground faults.
- Figure 6 illustrates the use of a PTC breaker in association with a shorting switch to respond to ground fault currents
- Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a current limiting PTC circuit breaker provided with a wedge mechanism for breaking the arc.
- Figure 9 illustrates a current limiting PTC module provided with a wedge mechanism for breaking the arc.
- Figure 1 shows a prior art device that uses a PTC element 22 as an overcurrent
- the PTC element is connected in series with a switch 23
- the circuit breaker 100 is connected in series to the line 99. Internal to the circuit breaker are the contacts 101. In series with the contacts are the PTC element 103 shunted by one or more varistors.
- the PTC components could be made from conductive polymers, ceramic BaTiO 3 , or any other PTC material having a resistivity greater than 0.1 ⁇ cm. at room temperature.
- varistor 105 In order to limit the complexity of the figure, only one varistor, 105, is shown. The purpose of the varistor 105 is to protect the PTC component.
- the rated voltage of the varistor has to be equal to or smaller than the rated voltage of the PTC component.
- the clamping voltage of the varistor has to be equal to or smaller than the transient failure voltage of the PTC component.
- the pair of separable contacts, 101, in line with the PTC components are driven to open by a coil connected in parallel with the PTC component. A mechanism similar to the magnetic latching relay shown in figure 3 could be used for the purpose.
- the magnetic latching device of figure 3 comprises , a stiff copper blade 117 attached
- the movable contact 101a carries the movable contact 101a.
- the coil 107 is wound on a core 121.
- the coil 107 is energized and the magnetic field produced therein
- a novel feature of the device in figure 3 is shown by the body 117a of the stiff copper blade forming
- the permanent magnet 113 serves to keep contacts latched in the open position.
- FIG 4 Another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in figure 4, shows how a circuit breaker of the present invention can interrupt the flow of current when a ground fault occurs.
- a ground fault interruption circuit is designed to interrupt the electric current to the load when a fault current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit.
- the contacts 101 are in series with the live line, 99.
- neutral line 121 is also indicated in figure 4.
- a ground fault detection circuit, 123 is on the load side of the circuit breaker. The ground fault detection circuit, 123, sends a signal to a
- ground fault circuit board 125, upon occurrence of a ground fault.
- the board activates a trip coil, 127, that is also capable of operating the contacts 101.
- the trip coil 127, that is also capable of operating the contacts 101.
- the circuit breaker of the present invention eliminates the use of a second coil for ground fault interruption. It is illustrated in figure 5. As in the embodiment of figure 4, the contacts are on the live line 99.
- the ground fault detection circuit, 123 sends a signal to the ground fault circuit board, 125, upon detection of a ground fault.
- the ground fault circuit board includes an SCR, 129, that closes upon detection of a ground fault. The effect of this is to apply the full line voltage across the relay coil, 107, thus
- An alternate embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 6, eliminates the diodes 127 in figure 5.
- the switch, 131 shorts the line to ground, causing a large short circuit current to flow through the line.
- the breaker then operates as a short circuit protection device: the current cause heating of the PTC element, 103, leading to a buildup of voltage
- the switch 131 could be an SCR as in figure 5.
- An advantage of this system is that no linkage is required between the ground fault detection circuit and the circuit breaker. This allows the manufacture of "standard circuit breakers" using high volume, cost effective manufacturing, without the loss of offering a Ground Fault Interruption (GFI) product; the GFI product could be sold as an accessory that could be either factory or field installed.
- GFI Ground Fault Interruption
- Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of a type of circuit breaker that is a current limiter.
- the breaker is provided with a pair of main contacts, 145a and 145b, and a pair of secondary contacts, 147a and 147b.
- the line terminal, 141 is connected by a first flexible connecter ("pig tail" ) to a movable magnetic plate, 149.
- the magnetic plate, 149 is connected by means of a second pig tail, 153, to a fixed magnetic plate, 157.
- the magnetic plate, 157 is connected to one of the the main contacts, 145a, and one of the secondary contacts, 147a. Contacts 145a and 147a are the fixed contacts.
- the movable main contact 145b is connected through the main blade, 169 and pig tail 165, to the load terminal
- the movable secondary contact, 147b, is connected through the secondary blade, 168 to a PTC element 167.
- the PTC element 167 is made of tungsten.
- the preferred shape of the PTC element is the serpentine shape shown in the figures: this reduces the inductance of the PTC element.
- the PTC element 167 is, in turn connected to the load terminal 143.
- the movable magnetic plate 149 is provided with a spring 159 to control its operation
- the wedge is preferably made of glass filled nylon.
- a conventional mechanism not shown, can move
- the operation of the circuit breaker is best understood by considering what happens when a short circuit occurs.
- the fixed magnetic plate 157 and the movable magnetic plate 149 form a reverse current loop, carrying current in opposite directions. During short circuit conditions, this produces a strong repulsive force on the movable magnetic plate, 149, causing it to move the insulating wedge 161 between the main contacts 145a and 145b.
- the wedge
- the reverse current loop should preferably be designed to provide a driving force that can accelerate the wedge at at least 5000 m/s 2 .
- the wedge being quickly driven between the main contacts 145a and 145b, causes the arc to be extinguished in less than two milliseconds.
- the current then flows through the secondary contacts, 147a and 147b, and the PTC element 167. It is preferable that the voltage drop across the PTC element be less than 15 volts at the moment of opening of the main contacts 145a and 145b.
- the resistance of the PTC element 167 is increased to at least 10 times its room
- the PTC element is specially designed to withstand the heating.
- the secondary contacts then open to interrupt the circuit.
- the line terminal 181 is connected to the stationary main contact 187a and the stationary secondary contact 185a.
- the movable main contact 187b is connected to the load terminal
- the wedge 193 adapted to be driven between the main contacts, is mechanically
- the movable magnetic plate 191 is simply placed
- a short circuit current flowing through the bus is sufficient to cause motion of the magnetic plate 191 which, in turn, causes the wedge 193 to
- FIG. 7 A portion of the device of figures 7 or 8 could be used as a current limiting module. This is illustrated in figure 9, where such a module, designed to be used in series with another circuit breaker, is shown.
- the module is provided with a pair of main contacts, 215a and 215b.
- the line terminal, 201 is connected by a first pig tail to a movable magnetic plate, 203.
- the magnetic plate, 203 is connected by means of a second pig tail, 207, to a fixed magnetic plate, 209.
- the fixed magnetic plate, 209 is connected to the fixed contact 215a, and the PTC element 219.
- the movable contact 215b is connected through the blade, 217 and pig tail 221, to the load terminal 223.
- the PTC element 219 is made of tungsten.
- the preferred shape of the PTC element is the serpentine shape shown in the figures: this reduces the inductance of the PTC element.
- the PTC element 219 is, in turn connected to the load terminal 223.
- the movable magnetic plate 203 is provided with a spring 211 to control its operation and is mechanically coupled to an insulating wedge 213, disposed so as to be capable of insertion between the contacts 215a and 215b.
- the wedge is preferably made of glass filled nylon. In the preferred embodiment, insertion of the wedge also causes a mechanism, not shown, to move blade 217 and open the contacts 215a and 215b. It is also possible to have a
- the main difference between the operation of the module shown in figure 9 and of the circuit breaker of figure 8 is the absence of the secondary contacts in the former.
- the device of figure 9 acts as a current limiter and complete interruption is performed by a breaker for which the device of figure 9 is an accessory.
- the fundamental concept of the devices of figures 7 - 9 is to convert most of the interruption energy into heating the PTC element, instead of generating an arc and gas pressure during a short circuit interruption, as happens in conventional prior art devices.
- SF 6 or a vacuum has to be used to suppress the arcing.
- the arcing is greatly reduced, so that SF 6 or a vacuum are no longer necessary. This makes it possible to build air circuit breakers to perform the same function. This reduces the cost considerably.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP51454799A JP2001504983A (en) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-08-25 | Current limiting circuit breaker with PTC (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) element and arc extinguishing ability |
CA002266560A CA2266560A1 (en) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-08-25 | Current limiting circuit breakers with ptc (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) elements and arc extinguishing capabilities |
EP98942230A EP0934597A1 (en) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-08-25 | Current limiting circuit breakers with ptc (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) elements and arc extinguishing capabilities |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US91875597A | 1997-08-25 | 1997-08-25 | |
US08/918,755 | 1997-08-25 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999010903A1 true WO1999010903A1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
Family
ID=25440913
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/017543 WO1999010903A1 (en) | 1997-08-25 | 1998-08-25 | Current limiting circuit breakers with ptc (positive temperature coefficient resistivity) elements and arc extinguishing capabilities |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0934597A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001504983A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2266560A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1999010903A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6414256B1 (en) * | 2000-12-20 | 2002-07-02 | Square D Company | Current limiting circuit breaker |
US7330097B2 (en) | 2002-06-11 | 2008-02-12 | Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd. | Direct current cutoff switch |
WO2010037424A1 (en) * | 2008-10-03 | 2010-04-08 | Abb Technology Ag | Electric current limiting device |
US7742270B2 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2010-06-22 | Invensys Systems, Inc. | System and method for limiting energy in an industrial control system |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105489303A (en) | 2014-09-18 | 2016-04-13 | 瑞侃电子(上海)有限公司 | Cable and manufacturing method therefor, circuit protector and manufacturing method therefor, and load circuit |
Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3249810A (en) * | 1962-11-20 | 1966-05-03 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupting apparatus |
US4562323A (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1985-12-31 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Switch device having an insulating screen inserted between the contacts during breaking and means for shearing the arc between this screen and an insulating wall |
US4583146A (en) * | 1984-10-29 | 1986-04-15 | General Electric Company | Fault current interrupter |
US4677266A (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1987-06-30 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Switch device having an insulating screen inserted between the contacts during breaking |
US4801772A (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-01-31 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Current limiting circuit interrupter with insulating wedge |
US4816958A (en) * | 1986-11-14 | 1989-03-28 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Fault current interrupter including a metal oxide varistor |
WO1991012643A1 (en) * | 1990-02-08 | 1991-08-22 | Asea Brown Boveri Ab | Device for motor and short-circuit protection |
EP0487920A1 (en) * | 1990-10-30 | 1992-06-03 | Asea Brown Boveri Ab | PTC element |
US5126517A (en) * | 1990-09-11 | 1992-06-30 | Square D Company | Arc suppressing current interrupter |
US5495083A (en) * | 1993-12-24 | 1996-02-27 | Schneider Electric Sa | Electric switch device with separable contacts including fixed contact mounted current limiter and shunt conductor |
US5629658A (en) * | 1992-08-18 | 1997-05-13 | Chen; William W. | Methods of arc suppression and circuit breakers with electronic alarmers |
-
1998
- 1998-08-25 CA CA002266560A patent/CA2266560A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1998-08-25 EP EP98942230A patent/EP0934597A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1998-08-25 WO PCT/US1998/017543 patent/WO1999010903A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-08-25 JP JP51454799A patent/JP2001504983A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3249810A (en) * | 1962-11-20 | 1966-05-03 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Circuit interrupting apparatus |
US4562323A (en) * | 1983-02-04 | 1985-12-31 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Switch device having an insulating screen inserted between the contacts during breaking and means for shearing the arc between this screen and an insulating wall |
US4583146A (en) * | 1984-10-29 | 1986-04-15 | General Electric Company | Fault current interrupter |
US4677266A (en) * | 1984-11-26 | 1987-06-30 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Switch device having an insulating screen inserted between the contacts during breaking |
US4816958A (en) * | 1986-11-14 | 1989-03-28 | La Telemecanique Electrique | Fault current interrupter including a metal oxide varistor |
US4801772A (en) * | 1988-03-02 | 1989-01-31 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Current limiting circuit interrupter with insulating wedge |
WO1991012643A1 (en) * | 1990-02-08 | 1991-08-22 | Asea Brown Boveri Ab | Device for motor and short-circuit protection |
US5126517A (en) * | 1990-09-11 | 1992-06-30 | Square D Company | Arc suppressing current interrupter |
EP0487920A1 (en) * | 1990-10-30 | 1992-06-03 | Asea Brown Boveri Ab | PTC element |
US5629658A (en) * | 1992-08-18 | 1997-05-13 | Chen; William W. | Methods of arc suppression and circuit breakers with electronic alarmers |
US5495083A (en) * | 1993-12-24 | 1996-02-27 | Schneider Electric Sa | Electric switch device with separable contacts including fixed contact mounted current limiter and shunt conductor |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6414256B1 (en) * | 2000-12-20 | 2002-07-02 | Square D Company | Current limiting circuit breaker |
US7330097B2 (en) | 2002-06-11 | 2008-02-12 | Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd. | Direct current cutoff switch |
US7742270B2 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2010-06-22 | Invensys Systems, Inc. | System and method for limiting energy in an industrial control system |
US8159804B2 (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2012-04-17 | Invensys Systems, Inc. | System and method for limiting energy in an industrial control system |
WO2010037424A1 (en) * | 2008-10-03 | 2010-04-08 | Abb Technology Ag | Electric current limiting device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2001504983A (en) | 2001-04-10 |
EP0934597A1 (en) | 1999-08-11 |
CA2266560A1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
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