Chemically activated switch
US4224491A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 16, 1978 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 16, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H39/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switch is provided for use in controlling currents associated with power line faults. The switch includes a housing with a pair of relatively movable electrodes opened and closed by means of chemical propellants. In the preferred form, one electrode comprises a movable contact slidably disposed in a support cylinder within the housing and the other electrode is fixed. The sliding contact is movable into a closed position in which the electrodes are in mutual contact. A first chemical propellant charge disposed in the support cylinder drives the contact into the closed position. A chamber for holding dielectric fluid is disposed in the housing and extends through an opening in the fixed electrode. A second propellant charge is located behind a piston in the chamber. When in the closed position, the contact blocks and closes the opening in the electrode, thus closing the chamber. Upon detonation of the second propellant charge, the piston is driven against the fluid in the tube, driving the contact into the open position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.