Improved Means for Displacing, Dispersing or Extinguishing Arcs formed in Breaking Electric Circuits.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
Improved Means for Displacing, Dispersing, or Extinguishing Arcs
formed in Breaking Electric Circuits.
I, SIDNEY HOWE SHORT, of 1184, East Madison Avenue, City of Cleveland,
County of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, United States of America, Electrical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for displacing,
dispersing or extinguishing arcs formed in breaking circuit.
A further object is to provide means for displacing, dispersing or extinguishing
arcs formed in breaking electric circuits wherein the blow-out, displacing,
dispersing or extinguishing power is directly proportional to the strength of the
arc-forming current.
Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.
The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location-
and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the
accompanying drawings, and finally specifically pointed out in the appended
claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference
signs appearing thereon,
Fig. 1, is a view in side elevation, a part in vertical section and parts in diagram,
of a controller showing the principles of the invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2, is a transverse section on the line 2, 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction
of the arrows..
Fig. 3, is a detached detail view in plan of the solenoid blow-out coil.
Fig. 4, is a view in perspective showing the application of the principles of the
invention to another form of circuit breaker.
The same part designated by the same reference sign wherever it occurs.
throughout the several views.
It is well known that when an electric circuit charged with a current is broken
a flash or arc is produced at the point where the break is effected. The intensity
of this spark is increased in proportion to the strength of the current in the
circuit. In the case of motors or generators employing or generating currents of
high potential the sparking resulting from the breaks in the circuit is destructive
to the contacts employed in effecting the break and it is a matter of material
importance to blow-out, displace, disperse or extinguish such arcs, in order to
prevent the rapid burning-out of the contacts and adjacent parts. Heretofore it
has been endeavored to remedy this defect by employing magnets, either
permanent or electro-magnets, so relatively arranged as to create a magnetic field
at the point where the rupture or break in the circuit is to be made, in order to
break, displace, disperse or extinguish the arc by virtue of the tendency of an arc
to move out of or into a magnetic field according to its direction. I have found,
however, that such prior efforts are objectionable by reason of the fact that the
conducting cores of the magnets employed afford short circuits for the arc.
In

page_text: the case of an iron core, the lines of force in the magnetic circuit attain their
maximum effect when the magnet core becomes saturated, and as the current
strength in the circuit to be broken increases after the point of saturation is
attained the blow-out, displacing, dispersing or extinguishing effect of the
magnetic circuit does not and cannot correspondingly increase, and hence the 5
destructive and objectionable sparking is experienced in the case of heavy
currents. The same objectionable results follow, and in a more marked degree,
in the case of permanent magnets. In such case the magnetic lines of force in the
magnetic field always remain permanent and do not vary in any degree with
variations in the current strength of the circuit to be broken, and hence a failure 1
to properly blow-out, disperse or extinguish heavy or excessive arcs results. It is
the purpose of the present invention to provide a construction and arrangement
wherein the use of magnets are wholly avoided, thus also avoiding the
objectionable features above noted, wherein the blowing-out, dispersing or
extinguishing power is always directly proportional to the strength of the current 1
in the arc to be blown out, and to this end I employ a different principle from that.
heretofore employed for the same purpose.
I
In carrying out the principles of my invention, I provide a coil (A), composed of
a suitable number of spiral or convolute layers or suitable conducting material,
preferably though not necessarily in the form of a ribbon suitably covered with 2
insulating material previous to winding into spiral or convolute form, said coil
being suitably taped over to hold it in convenient shape: 23 This coil A is formed
with an open space B, of suitable dimensions at the center. thereof, and the ends of
said coil are suitably coupled up in the circuit to be broken. In use the coil. A is
arranged with the space B in the center thereof in proximity to the contact to be 2
broken. If desired, and preferably, the coil may be enclosed in a box or casing-C,
of suitable material, such as vulca-beston, whereby it will be protected from the
flame of the arc.
'
1.
Thus it will be seen that I provide an arrangement wherein the current in the circuit:
to be broken flows through the strip of conducting material throughout its entire :3
length, and hence traverses a path encircling many times the open space at the center of
the coil, thereby creating in such space an electrical condition possessing the power
of displacing, dispersing or extinguishing any arc formed upon. separating the
adjacent contacts. It will also be seen that this electrical condition is entirely
dependent upon, and is at all times directly proportional to the strength of the 3.
current traversing the coil, and the suppression, displacement, extinguishment or
blowing-out of the arc is accomplished without the use of either permanent or
electro-magnets.
I will now describe the application of my invention to controller, particular.
reference being had to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein reference sign D, E, designates 4
sections of the controller. cylinder F, the operating handle therefor, a, b, c, d, e, f,.
suitable stationary contacts and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, corresponding and
co-operating contacts carried by the controller cylinder. The coils 12, 13, 15, 16
and 17, constructed as above described, are arranged with the open spaces at the
center thereof adjacent to or opposite the points, respectively, where the relatively 4.
movable and stationary contacts separate from each other when the circuits
controlled thereby are to be broken. It will be observed that contacts 3 and 4 are..
slightly in advance of contacts 5 and 6, and that contact 2 is similarly slightly:
in advance of contacts 7 and 9, and contact 1 in advance of contacts 8 and 10.
The purpose of this relative arrangement of the several contacts will presently more
fully appear. The several coils, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, are connected up in
series through conductors P, Q, S, U, V. The resistances R, R, are connected to i
contacts a, b, and c: T represents the trolley connection; M, the motor; G, the :
ground connection therefor; 0, a.conductor connecting one terminal of coil 12 to
contact.e; W, a connection from one terminal of coil 17 to motor M. From this..
arrangement it will be seen that when the controller cylinder is moved into position.
for contacts 3 and 4, to make.connection with contacts c and d, respectively, current?
3

page_text: will flow from trolley T to contact d, contact 4, contact 3, contact c, resistance,
R, R, connection N, spiral 12, connection P, spiral 13, connection Q, spiral 14,.
connection S, spiral 15, connection U, spiral 16, connection V, spiral 17,
connection W, motor M, to ground. When, however, the controlling cylinder is
moved into running position," that is, into "on" position, contacts 5 and 6 are,
brought into connection respectively with contacts e. and f. Therefore, current
traverses, the path above described through resistances R, R, thence through
connection O to contact 2, contact 5, 6, f, w, through motor M, to ground. There:
fore, during the operation of the motor with the controller in "on" position
the blow-out coils are all cut out of working circuit and hence there is no:
consumption of energy of the working current by reason of such current,
traversing the circuit of said several coils. When, however, the controller cylinder
is moved towards "off" position, the contacts 5 and 6 leave their co-operating
contacts e and, while contacts 3 and 4 are still contacting with their co-operating.
contacts cand d, thereby again cutting into live circuit, the solenoid coils.
preparatory to a rupture of the circuit by said contacts 3 and 4 leaving their:
co-operating contacts c and d, and hence creating the electrical condition by which
the arc resulting from such rupture is dispersed, extinguished or blown out.
By moving, the controller cylinder into position to bring contacts 2 and 1,
respectively, into engagement with contacts band a, the resistances R, R, are
successively cut out, in the ordinary manner of controllers, but by arranging the
contacts 2 and 1 slightly in advance, respectively, of contacts 7 & 9 and 8 & 10, it
will be readily::seen that when the controller is standing in "running position".
with any form of controller wherein any desired circuit variation is introduced or;
regulated, the blow-out coils are out of circuit, but are again cut into circuit just
prior to a complete rupture of the circuit. The specific form of controller.
shown, therefore, is merely illustrative of a practical embodiment of the principles:
of my invention.
It is obvious, that the principles of the invention are equally well adapted for any
kind of switch, or circuit-breaker. For instance, I have shown in Fig. 4, its,
application to a knife-edge switch. The electrical blow-out coil A is arranged withi
its central open space B opposite or in proximity to the contact. A' between which
and the contact lever B¹ the arc is formed at the moment said lever leaves said contact,
and hence the electrical condition created in said open space by the current in the
circuit to be broken traversing the path encircling many times said open space
effects a blowing out of the arc as indicated.
i
If desired, an auxiliary contact, indicated in dotted lines at A2, may be arranged
in a shunt circuit, indicated in dotted lines at B2, whereby when contact lever B¹
is in position to close the main circuit through contact A1; the coils of the blow-out
conductor are shunted, but the arrangement is such that contact between lever B¹
and auxiliary contact A² is broken in advance of a break between said lever and
contact A', when said lever is moved in a direction to open the circuit, thereby
again including the spiral coils in the circuit to be broken just prior to the breaking
of such circuit, whereby the desired electrical condition is again created which
effects a blowing-out of the arc, and the blowing-out power is proportional to the
strength of the current in the circuit to be broken.
The principles of my invention may be embodied in a wide variety of specific
forms of apparatus, and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I
do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details of
construction and arrangement shown and described. It is also evident that my
invention may be applied in any situation where a switch or break in a circuit is
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1
1

page_text: conducting coil arranged in the circuit to be broken, and in proximity to said
contacts, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a spiral conducting coil arranged in a circuit to be
broken and having a central open space, of separable contacts arranged in said
circuit in proximity to said open space, as and for the purpose set forth..
3. The combination with a circuit, including a conductor formed into insulated
convolutions, of separable contacts for opening said circuit, said contacts arranged
in proximity to said convolutions, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The combination with a circuit, including a conductor formed into convolutions,
an enclosing casing therefor, and separable contacts for opening or closing said
circuit, said contacts arranged in proximity to said convolutions, as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. The combination with a circuit including a conductor formed into convolutions
around a central open space, a fire proof enclosing case for said convolutions, and
separable contacts for opening or closing said circuit, said contacts arranged in
proximity to said open space, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with a circuit including a conductor formed into convolutions,
separable contacts for opening or closing said circuit, said contacts arranged to
be closed after the main circuit is closed between said contacts, and to be opened
in advance of the opening of said main circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination in a controller of a switch including separable contacts,
electric blow-out coils arranged adjacent to the several circuit-breaking points of
the switch, each coil comprising convolutions around a central open space, as and
for the purpose set forth."
8. The combination in a controller of a cylinder, contacts mounted thereon,
relatively stationary co-operating contacts, a conducting coil arranged in the circuit
to be broken adjacent to each pair of contacts to be broken, said coils comprising
spiral convolutions, a shunt circuit for said coils and contacts controlling said shunt
circuit, whereby when said controller is in "running" position said coils are cut
out of working circuit, but are replaced in circuit in advance of the opening of said
circuit, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dis 20th dow of December 1907
SIDNEY HOWE SHORT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.