Patent ID: 6788516
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A self-recovering current-limiting device including a liquid metal, the device comprising:a first and a second electrode for connection to an electric circuit to be protected, each of the first and second electrodes being made of solid metal, being rotationally symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis, and defining a respective hollow space in the respective electrode; a plurality of pressure-resistant insulating bodies; and a plurality of insulating intermediate walls interleaved with and supported by the plurality of pressure-resistant insulating bodies and defining a plurality of connecting channels disposed in a circular pattern, the plurality of pressure-resistant insulating bodies and the insulating intermediate walls together defining a plurality of compression spaces disposed between the first and second electrodes, the plurality of compression spaces being interconnected by the plurality of connecting channels and being at least partially filled with the liquid metal; wherein the respective hollow spaces are each connected to an adjacent respective one of the plurality of compression spaces and wherein a respective volume of each of the hollow spaces and an amount of the liquid metal in the current-limiting device are selected so that an upper one of the first and second electrodes is sufficiently wetted with the liquid metal when the current-limiting device is in a position deviating substantially from a position when the longitudinal axis is horizontal.