SWITCHGEAR HAVING HEAT PIPES INCORPORATED IN THE DISCONNECTING STRUCTURES AND POWER CONDUCTORS

• US 3,662,137 A
• Filed: 01/21/1970
• Issued: 05/09/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles M. Cleaveland
• Original Assignee: Charles M. Cleaveland
• Inventors: Cleaveland, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, H. O.
• Application Number:
  US05/004,479
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 174/15BH 165/105 200/166K 317/100
• US Class Current: 200/289
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/62 Heating or cooling of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/523 by using heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/52 Cooling of switch parts cooling of contacts H01H1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 11/04 Isolating-contacts, e.g. mountings or shieldings

Abstract

The primary disconnecting contacts of a metal-clad switchgear unit has at least one, and preferably two, heat pipes incorporated in the structure thereof. The use of one or more heat pipes conducts the heat generated adjacent the point of contact separations, and removes it to a remote area, at which heat sinks may be readily provided to more easily dissipate the heat generated at the separable contact structure. The advantage results that a cheaper material, such as aluminum, of small cross-sectional area, may be utilized instead of a solid copper disconnecting contact structure or higher currents may be carried where large conductors are restricted by available space. Suitable finned structures may be associated with the one or more heat pipes to serve as heat-sink structures. Also, where power conductors pass through locations, where radial heat flow is impeded, a heat pipe may advantageously be incorporated therein.

Claims

1. A disconnecting separable contact structure for circuit breakers, particularly those of the draw-out type, comprising, in combination:

a. a movable disconnecting contact and a relatively stationary disconnecting contact separable therefrom;

b. at least one of said separable disconnecting contacts having incorporated therewith a heat pipe;

c. whereby heat generated in proximity to the point of separable engagment of the contact structure may be removed to a remote point for facilitated cooling.

2. The disconnecting separable contact structure of claim 1, wherein both of the cooperable contact structures incorporate heat pipes.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the stationary contact structure has an incorporated heat pipe and additionally a surrounding bottle-shaped enclosing insulator.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein a current transformer encircles the enclosing insulator.

5. A disconnecting switch comprising a pair of separable contacts, a heat exchanger comprising a volatile liquid and having a heat-input portion and a heat-output portion, the heat-input portion of said heat exchanger being positioned closely adjacent the point of contact separation, and the heat output portion of said heat exchanger extending an appreciable distance away from the point of contact separation to dissipate heat generated at the point of contact separation.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a closed container, a wick inside said closed container and adjacent the inside walls thereof, the space inside said wick comprising a cavity, a volatile liquid in said cavity, the heat input portion of said heat exchanger being in close thermal proximity to the point of contact separation to permit the generated heat to vaporize said volatile liquid, which vapor passes through said cavity to the heat-output portion of said heat exchanger where said vapor is condensed to a liquid, which liquid passes through said wick back to the heat input portion of said heat exchanger.

7. The disconnecting switch of claim 5, wherein each separable contact encloses its own heat exchanger.

8. The combination of claim 6, wherein each separable contact encloses its own heat exchanger.