Vacuum circuit interrupter

Abstract

.[.The invention disclosed a vacuum type electric circuit interrupter comprising a highly evacuated envelope which includes at least one metallic tube made of the magnetic material or the ferromagnetic material, a pair of relatively movable contacts disposed within said envelope in a location and means for eliminating the magnetodistortion of said metallic tube. This means comprises a magnetic flux generating member for supplying the magnetic flux to said metallic tube. The noise generated from the vacuum circuit interrupter is, accordingly, eliminated by means of a magnetic field applying member for applying previously the magnetic field to said metallic tube or by increasing the magnetic reluctance of the metallic tube..]. .Iadd.A vacuum type electric circuit interrupter comprises a highly evacuated envelope including at least one metallic tube made of magnetic or ferromagnetic material and a pair of relatively movable contacts disposed within the envelope. A magnetic flux generator on the metallic tube substantially eliminates magnetostriction generated in the metallic tube by an alternating magnetic field caused by an alternating current flowing in the contacts through conductive rods. Acoustic noise is, accordingly, substantially reduced. To these ends, a magnetic field applied to the metallic tube by a magnetic flux generator has a flux density such that a portion of the metallic tube is saturated. .Iaddend.

What is claimed is: .[. 
     
       1.  A vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope consisting of a tubular portion of insulating material, a pair of relatively movable contacts disposed within said envelope in a location surrounded by said tubular insulating portion, at least one metallic tube for connecting said tubular portion of insulating material and for forming said evacuated envelope, and means for eliminating the magnetodistortion of said metallic tube comprising a magnetic flux generating member for supplying the magnetic flux to said metallic tube and a mounting member for mounting said magnet flux generating member to said envelope..]. .[.2. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for eliminating the magnetodistortion of the metallic tube comprising a magnetic field applying member for applying previously the magnetic field to said metallic tube..]. .[.3. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said magnetic field applying member comprising at least one magnetic flux generating member consisting of a permanent magnet and provided on the outer side of the metallic tube of the envelope, and a mounting member including at least one yoke for mounting said permanent magnet..]. .[.4. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said magnetic field applying member comprising at least one magnetic flux generating member consisting of a permanent magnet and provided on an inner surface of said metallic tube of the envelope, and a mounting member for mounting said permanent magnet to said inner surface of the metallic tube..]. .[.5. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 3, wherein said magnetic flux generating member further comprising a permanent magnet provided on an inner surface of said metallic tube..]. .[.6. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 3, said mounting member includes a circular shaped yoke..]. .[.7. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said magnetic field applying member comprising at least one magnetic flux generating member including at least one electric magnet which consists a yoke provided at the outer side of said metallic tube and a lead wire wound over said yoke..]. .[.8. As claimed in claim 2, wherein said magnet field applying member comprising at least one magnetic field applying member including at least one electric magnet which consists of a yoke secured to an inner surface of said metallic tube and a lead wire wound over said yoke..]. .[.9. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 7, wherein said electric magnet comprising a circular shaped yoke provided coaxially with said metallic tube and at outer sides of the metallic tube and a lead wire wound on said yoke..]. .[.10. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for eliminating the magnetodistortion of the metallic tube comprising means for increasing the magnetic reluctance of said metallic tube of the envelope..]. .[.11. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 10, wherein said magnetic reluctance increasing means comprises at least one permanent magnet directly secured to an outer surface of said metallic tube of the envelope..]. .[.12. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 10, wherein said magnetic reluctance increasing means comprising a plurality of permanent magnets secured on said metallic tube spaced apart from each..]. .[.13. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 12, said means further comprising a magnetic flux bypassing segment which comprises an arc-shaped yoke..]. .[.14. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 13, wherein said magnetic flux by-passing segment comprising a ring-shaped yoke..]. .[.15. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 10, said magnetic reluctance increasing means comprising at least one electric magnet which consists of a C-shaped yoke secured on an outer surface of the metallic 
     
     
        tube and a lead wire wound on said yoke..]. .Iadd.16.  A vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope including a tubular portion of electrically insulating material, a pair of relatively movable contacts disposed within said envelope, at least one metallic tube of magnetic material connected to said tubular portion of insulating material, said tube having a tendency to be magnetostrictive, and means for substantially eliminating the magnetostrictive tendency of said metallic tube, said eliminating means comprising a magnetic flux generating member for supplying a magnetic flux to and along said metallic tube such that the density of the magnetic flux in a portion of said metallic tube reaches a saturation level, and a mounting member for mounting said magnetic flux generating member on said envelope. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.17.  A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 16, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises a permanent magnet provided on an outer side of the metallic tube of the envelope, the mounting member including at least one yoke for mounting said permanent magnet. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 16, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises a permanent magnet provided on an inner surface of the metallic tube of the envelope, and the mounting member mounting said permanent magnet to said inner surface of the metallic tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 17, wherein said magnetic flux generating member further comprises an additional permanent magnet provided on an inner surface of the metallic tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 17, wherein said mounting member includes a circularly shaped yoke. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 16, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises at least one electro-magnet including a yoke provided on an outer side of the 
     
     
        metallic tube and a lead wire wound over said yoke. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22.  A vacuum-type electric circuit interrupter comprising an evacuated envelope including a tubular portion of electrically insulating material, a pair of relatively movable contacts disposed within said envelope, at least one metallic tube of magnetic material connected to said tubular portion of insulating material, said tube having a tendency to be magnetostrictive, and means for substantially eliminating the magnetostrictive tendency of said metallic tube, said eliminating means comprising a magnetic flux generating member for supplying magnetic flux to and along said metallic tube, the magnetic flux density in a portion of said metallic tube being such that the magnetic flux in the tube portion reaches a saturation level. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 22, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises at least one permanent magnet directly secured to an outer surface of the metallic tube of the envelope. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 22, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises a plurality of spaced apart permanent magnets secured on the metallic tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 22, wherein said magnetic flux generating member further comprises a magnetic flux by-passing segment which comprises an arc-shaped 
     
     
        yoke. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.  A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 25, wherein said magnetic flux by-passing segment comprises a ring-shaped yoke. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A vacuum circuit interrupter as claimed in claim 22, wherein said magnetic flux generating member comprises at least one electro-magnet including a C-shaped yoke secured on an outer surface of the metallic tube and a lead wire wound on said yoke. .Iaddend.