VACUUM CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER HAVING HEAT EXCHANGER FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

摘要

Overheating of the contacts and associated current-carrying parts of a vacuum type circuit breaker is prevented by fastening a U-shaped heat exchanger component of non-magnetic sheet metal to a protruding portion of the stem that is located at the top of the breaker bottle and is integral with the stationary contact. The U-shaped heat exchanger component is secured in inverted position on the stationary stem and the downwardly-extending skirts of the heat exchanger are slotted to provide a series of spaced ribs which form planar grid structures that allow ambient air to flow through the heat exchanger component and enhance its heat transfer characteristics. The heat exchanger component is secured to the stationary stem by conical-shaped washers that curve toward and are compressed flat against the flat central portion of the heat exchanger component in sandwiched relationship therewith by a lock nut which engages threads on the stem and thus firmly clamps the various components together on top of the circuit breaker and the leaf conductor assembly that is fastened to the stem.