Electrical current limiting device - has cylindrical housing in two parts with central insulator and internal filling of conductive liquid metal

摘要

The housing is constructed from two hollow metal cylinders (6, 7) clamped together on either side of a disc of insulating material (5). Terminals (13, 14) are clamped by bolts to the ends of the metal cylinders. Inside the cylinders is a conducting material such as mercury, sodium, caesium or a metal alloy (3), and provision is made for an expansion space, filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, and a small piston (8). A number of other components are included, such as iron shot, which disperse under the influence of a high electric current. The assembly has the effect of imposing a higher resistance to current flow for high flux densities than for low current flux densities.