METAL-HYDRATE CONTAINING ARC-EXTINGUISHING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS

• US 20080237194A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: S&C Electric Company
• Original Assignee: S&C Electric Company
• Inventors: Moore, Jeffrey A., Benson, Keith W.
• Application Number:
  US12/137,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 218/158
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0008 Organic ingredients according to more than one of the "one dot" groups of C08K5/01 - C08K5/59
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/34922 Melamine; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2033/085 using a flat arc chute, the width of arc chamber being only slightly greater then thickness of switch blade
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/76 wherein arc-extinguishing gas is evolved from stationary parts; Selection of material therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/42 using an arc-extinguishing gas characterised by the composition of the gas H01H33/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/302 wherein arc-extinguishing gas is evolved from stationary parts

Abstract

An arc extinguishing composition including an arc-quenching metal hydrate (herein defined as a metal compound that produces water vapor (H₂O) when in contact with an electrical arc), and one or more binders. The compositions contain an arc-quenching metal hydrate compound, such as Mg(OH)₂, with or without a second arc-quenching compound, such as melamine, and these metal hydrate-containing compositions are used in a method of extinguishing an arc by disposing the molded compositions along a path of an electrical arc, for contacting the arc.

Claims

1. An arc-extinguishing composition comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

a compatible plasticizer for said polymeric binder.

2. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching metal hydrate to the polymeric binder.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the metal hydrate is magnesium hydroxide.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether, lactam, lactone, epoxy, ester, sulfate, sulfonate, sulfinate, sulfamate, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinate, and combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine, amide, ether, ester, and combinations thereof.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the binder comprises a polyamide.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein the polyamide is a nylon.

8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the nylon is selected from the group consisting of nylon 4/6, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, and polyphthalamide.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further includes a second arc-quenching compound selected from the group consisting of melamine, guanidine, guanidine acetate, guanidine carbonate, 1,3 diphenylguanidine, a cyanurate, a melamine cyanurate, hydantoin, allantoin, urea, urea phosphate, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

11. The composition of claim 10, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is melamine.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 200 μ

m.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 100 μ

m.

14. The composition of claim 13, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 50 μ

m.

21. An arc-extinguishing sheath disposed to surround an electrical fuse, said sheath formed from the composition of claim 1.

15. An arc-extinguishing composition comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

an effective amount of a second arc-quenching composition that is not an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

a coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching metal hydrate to the polymeric binder.

16. The composition of claim 15, wherein the second arc-quenching compound selected from the group consisting of melamine, guanidine, guanidine acetate, guanidine carbonate, 1,3 diphenylguanidine, a cyanurate, a melamine cyanurate, hydantoin, allantoin, urea, urea phosphate, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is melamine.

19. The composition of claim 15, wherein the metal hydrate is magnesium hydroxide.

22. An arc-extinguishing sheath disposed to surround an electrical fuse, said sheath formed from the composition of claim 15.

20. An arc-extinguishing composition comprising a metal hydrate and an effective amount of melamine having a particle size distribution such that at least 90% by weight of melamine particles have a size less than 200 μ

m; and

a binder for the melamine.

23. An arc-extinguishing sheath disposed to surround an electrical fuse, said sheath formed from the composition of claim 20.

24. A method for extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with a sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.

25. The method of extinguishing an electrical arc of claim 24, wherein the sheath or liner further comprises a polymeric coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching compound to the polymeric binder.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether, lactam, lactone, epoxy, ester, sulfate, sulfonate, sulfinate, sulfamate, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinate, and combinations thereof.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine, amide, ether, ester, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the binder comprises a polyamide.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the polyamide is a nylon.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the nylon is selected from the group consisting of nylon 4/6, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, and polyphthalamide.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the composition contains a second arc-quenching compound selected from the group consisting of melamine, guanidine, guanidine acetate, guanidine carbonate, 1,3 diphenylguanidine, a cyanurate, a melamine cyanurate, hydantoin, allantoin, urea, urea phosphate, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is melamine.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 200 μ

m.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 100 μ

m.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the melamine has a particle size such that at least 90% by weight of the melamine particles have a size less than 50 μ

m.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the sheath or liner further comprises a plasticizer compatible with the polymeric binder.

38. A method of extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with a sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching compound to the polymeric binder; and

a second arc-quenching compound selected from the group consisting of melamine, guanidine, guanidine acetate, guanidine carbonate, 1,3 diphenylguanidine, a cyanurate, a melamine cyanurate, hydantoin, allantoin, urea, urea phosphate, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is selected from the group consisting of melamine, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the second arc-quenching compound is melamine.

41. A method of extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with a sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching compound to the polymeric binder; and

a plasticizer compatible with the polymeric binder; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.

42. A method of extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with a sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder;

a second arc-quenching compound selected from the group consisting of melamine, guanidine, guanidine acetate, guanidine carbonate, 1,3 diphenylguanidine, a cyanurate, a melamine cyanurate, hydantoin, allantoin, urea, urea phosphate, benzoguanidine, dithioammelide, ammeline, a cyanuric halide, and combinations thereof; and

a plasticizer compatible with the polymeric binder; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amine, amide, ether, lactam, lactone, epoxy, ester, sulfate, sulfonate, sulfinate, sulfamate, phosphate, phosphonate, phosphinate, and combinations thereof.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the polymeric binder includes a functionality selected from the group consisting of anhydride, carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine, amide, ether, ester, and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the binder comprises a polyamide.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the polyamide is a nylon.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the nylon is selected from the group consisting of nylon 4/6, nylon 6, nylon 6/6, nylon 11, nylon 6/12, and polyphthalamide.

48. A method of extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with an extruded sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

a terpolymer coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching metal hydrate to the polymeric binder comprising a mixture of three olefins selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, styrene, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butylacrylate, glycidylmethacrylate, methylmethacrylate, maleic anhydride, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid and salts thereof; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.

49. The method of claim 48, where in the terpolymer is a terpolymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene, ethyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride;

propylene, ethyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride;

ethylene, ethyl acrylate, and glycidylmethacrylate;

propylene, ethylacrylate, and glycidylmethacrylate;

ethylene, n-butyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride; and

propylene, n-butyl acrylate, and maleic anhydride.

50. A method of extinguishing an electrical arc comprising:

encircling a fuse with an extruded sheath or liner, the sheath or liner comprising an effective amount of an arc-quenching metal hydrate;

a polymeric binder for the arc-quenching metal hydrate; and

a coupling agent that binds the arc-quenching metal hydrate to the polymeric binder in an amount of about 5% to about 100% based on the total weight of the polymeric binder and coupling agent mixture and wherein the coupling agent is selected from the group consisting of a titanate and a zirconate; and

positioning the sheath or liner such that if an arc forms within the sheath or liner, the sheath or liner evolves arc-extinguishing gasses, and the arc-extinguishing gases extinguish the arc.