Oct. 25, 1960 F. G.
MacRAE 2,957,967
ELECTRICAL DISCONNECTORS
Filed July 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet
e INVENTOR.
223 % % A7AA G, MAAC 24A
A/S AJVAWAY
Oct. 25, 1960 F. G. MacRAE 2,957,967
ELECTRICAL DISCONNECTORS
Filed July 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2
INVENTOR.
AAAA 6. AAC Apa
BY
- A/S A77aeway
United States Patent Office 2,957,967
Patented Oct. 25, 1960
2
ground lead a distance sufficient to interrupt the dynamic
current flow even when stiff ground wires are used.
2,957,967 The detonation of the explosive is preferably effected
ELECTRICAL DISCONNECTORS by providing a spring biased armature operable by the
electromagnet and a cartridge having a conductive shell
Fred G. MacRae, La Grange, Ill., assignor to H. K. Poro in series with the inductive coil of the electromagnet
ter Company (Delaware), Pittsburgh, Pa., a corpora and with an electrode on the armature. The flux gen
tion of Delaware erated by the flow of dynamic current through the coil
Filed July 15, 1957, Ser. No. 671902 of the electromagnet will draw the armature away from
O its contact with the conducting shell; with consequent
3 Claims. (C. 200-115) formation of an arc between the electrode and shell.
The heat of the arc thus generated will detonate the ex
plosive in the cartridge. The time required for effect
My invention is an electrical disconnector or circuit
ing the explosion may be varied by suitable adjustment of
interrupter designed primarily for detecting, indicating, 5 the bias of the armature and of the number of ampere
turns in the electromagnet coil.
and neutralizing the effect of, a "failed” lightning ar The characteristic features and advantages of my im
rester, whether or not the failure of the lightning arrester provements will further appear from the following de
is caused, or immediately preceded, by the discharge to scription and the accompanying drawings in illustration
ground of lightning or a surge of steep wave front, and 20 thereof.
which permits the discharge to ground of lightning or In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of
surges of steep wave front without the passage thereof a disconnector embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows
through the means for detecting and interrupting an ab a disconnector embodying my invention incorporated in
normal flow of dynamic or follow current to ground. the base of a conventional type of lightning arrester
Lightning arresters, such as are used for the protec shown in vertical section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, trans
tion of distribution systems, transformers, and the like, 25 verse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
occasionally fail and permit an abnormal flow of dynamic and Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the incorporation
current through the arrester and the ground lead by
which it is connected to ground. Such failures in ar of my disconnector in the ground lead of a conventional
lightning arrester forming part of a distribution system.
resters of the "characteristic element" type are usually 30 The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the
due to the coring, fusing, or other impairment of the drawings comprises an insulating shell 1 having a hollow,
"characteristic element” by the passage of a lightning dis cylindrical body connected by a weakened wall section
charge, but failures may occur from other causes or in 2 with an apertured bottom section 3, which has a con
other types of arresters. Whatever cause of failure or ducting nut 4 threaded therein. A conducting cartridge
type of arrester may be involved, it is desirable that the 35 holder 5 is seated on the bottom 3 in contact with the
location of a failed arrester be indicated and that the nut 4 and contains a socket 6 for the reception of a
flow of dynamic current to ground be interrupted since blank cartridge consisting of a conducting shell 7 filled
the short circuiting of the line to ground not only blows with a suitable explosive and a detonator (not shown)
the protective fuses or circuit breakers, but also pre in the upper portion thereof.
vents
out.
the reactivation of the line and may result in a lock 40 A conducting ring 8 encircles the base of the cartridge
holder 5 and rests on the bottom 3 of the shell 1. The
My improved disconnector or interrupter is designed ring 8 supports an insulating spool 9, which has a hub
to interrupt such flows to ground and comprises an elec
tromagnet in series with a ground lead and activated by containing a soft iron core 10. The external faces of
the flanges of the spool 9 are covered by paramagnetic
the flow of dynamic current therethrough to control im 45 shields 11 and 12. The shield 12 has a down-turned
pact mechanism preferably of the explosive type, and flange 13 which encircles the periphery of an inductive
conducting elements including electrodes forming an arc coil 14 consisting of a suitable number of ampere turns
gap in series with the ground conductor and in parallel of insulated wire. One end of the coil 14 passes through
with the electromagnet and impact mechanism for divert the bottom flange of the spool 9 and is electrically con
ing dynamic current through, and shunting lightning or nected with the electrode 15 of a spring-biased armature
Surges of steep wave front around, the electromagnet and 50 16 mounted on the spool flange and normally biasing
impact mechanism. the electrode 15 against the top of the shell 7.
The electrical and impact constituents of my improved The other end of the coil 14 passes through the up
disconnector may be assembled in a small and compact per flange of the spool 9 and through the shield 13 and
shell of insulating material which may be seated in the 55 is electrically connected with a cup shaped conductor 17
base of conventional arresters without adding materially overlying the shield 13 and having a depending edge 18
to the arrester length, or which may be interpolated be encircling the ring 8 and forming therewith an arc gap
tween sections of the ground lead. The ability of a 19 in shunt relation to the coil 14 and shell 7.
conventional type of arrester to discharge lightning is A conducting nut 20 is screwed into the threaded top
not appreciably diminished by the incorporation of my 60 flange 21 of the shell 1 until it presses firmly against
disconnector, which does not impair the direct path of the top of the member 17 and holds all the electrical and
lightning to ground. The inductance of the electromag impact elements within the shell 1 in their assembled
net diverts the lightning therefrom, and the operation of relation. The nut 20 may be provided with a threaded
the lightning arrester normally interrupts the flow of bore 22 for the attachment of a threaded conductor.
dynamic or follow current before the explosive is det 65 The nut 4 is provided with a threaded socket 23 for
onated or any harm is done to the protected apparatus. the reception of a threaded bolt 24. A data plate 25
Should the lightning arrester fail to interrupt the flow and complementary wire clamps 26 may be tightened
of dynamic current within a predetermined time interval, against the shell 1 and against a ground conductor 27
flow of dynamic current through the electromagnet will by a nut 28.
result in the detonation of the explosive and the ruptur 70 may As illustrated in Fig. 2, my improved disconnector
ing of the disconnector forcefully enough to expel the tionalbelightning readily incorporated in the base of a conven
arrester A by inserting the shell 1 with
2,957,967
3 4.
in the arrester flange B, with the nut 20 of the discon Having described my invention, I claim:
nector in close contact with the conducting bottom plate 1. In an electrical disconnector, the combination of
C of the arrester, and securing the disconnector in place an insulating housing having first and second electrodes;
by sealing compound 29. an electromagnet mechanism comprising an electromag
The lightning arrester per se forms no part of my net electrically connected to said first and second elec
invention, but in the form illustrated comprises a wet trodes, an armature actuated upon the energization of
porcelain body partially filled with a “characteristic ele the electromagnet by the dynamic current, said armature
ment,” such as silicon carbide D, compacted between comprising the electrical path between said electromagnet
the conducting bottom plate C and the conducting top and said second electrode, said mechanism including a
plate E. An arc gap assembly F is inserted between the 10 portion relative to which said armature is movable upon
retaining plate E and the conducting cover G, which is actuation by said electromagnet, due to the energization
covered by a cap H and to which a line lead I may be of the electromagnet, to form an arc gap therewith; an
connected. explosive including a detonator in proximity with said
Instead of mounting my improved disconnector di arc and detonatable by the heat formed thereby, whereby
rectly in the base of the lightning arrester, it may have 5 said armature controls the electrical separation of said
its nut 20 threaded on the end of a threaded conductor second electrode from said first electrode, and means
or a hanger J of suitable length depending from the usual forming a shunt path for current surges above prede
ground terminal of a lightning arrester, as illustrated termined values around said electromagnet.
in Fig. 4. 2. In apparatus of the character described, the com
In operation, lightning, or other dangerously high volt 20 bination of an insulating shell including a wall portion
ages on the line, arcs over the gaps of the assembly F that is readily separable from the remainder of the shell,
and flows to ground through the silicon carbide D, and a container for an explosive supported by said wall por
plate C of the arrester and through the members 20, tion, first and second electrodes connected to said shell,
18, 8, 5 and 24 of the disconnector and through the lead an electromagnet electrically connected between said
27 to ground. Such paths are in series and offer low 25 electrodes, an armature cooperating with said container,
impedance to the passage of high voltages. As the volt energization of said electromagnet by dynamic current
age across the arrester decreases, impedance by the retracting said electrode from said container for igniting
"characteristic element' automatically increases, and if the explosive, and two gap electrodes one of which is
the arrester is in good condition all current flow ceases electrically connected to the first electrode and the other
in a few microseconds. 30 to the second electrode for shunting surge current around
If, however, there is any fault in the arrester, dynamic said electromagnet, armature and container.
current may follow surge current across the gaps of the 3. In apparatus of the character described, the com
arrester, but instead of flowing across the gap 9 of the bination of an insulating shell including a wall portion
disconnector, the dynamic current will follow the path that is readily separable from the remainder of the shell,
of lower impedance from the conductor 17, through the a conducting support seated on said wall portion, a con
coil 14, electrode 15, shell 7, cartridge support 5, nut 4, tainer for an explosive seated on said conducting sup
bolt 24, and ground lead 27 to ground. As soon as the port, a first electrode connected to said shell, a second
flux generated by current flow through the coil 14 is electrode encircling said support and container, said sec
sufficient to overcome the spring biasing action of the ond electrode being connected to said wall portion, an
armature 16, such armature is attracted by the core 10 40 electromagnet including a spool seated on said second
and the electrode 15 is lifted up from the head of the electrode and an inductive coil wound on said spool, an
cartridge 7. Current will, however, continue to flow armature controlled by said electromagnet; said inductive
across the gap formed by the elevation of the electrode coil, said armature, and said container being in electrical
15 from the head of the cartridge 7 and form an arc series with each other; said coil being connected -elec
whose heat will detonate the detonator and explosive in 45 trically to the first electrode and said container being
the cartridge. This explosion will fracture the shell 1 electrically connected to said second electrode, said arma
around its area of weakness 2 and repel the base 3 and ture being normally biased toward said container, ener
ground lead 27 connected therewith with considerable gization of said electromagnet by dynamic current re
force before the line has been locked out and to a dis tracting said electrode from said container to form an
tance ample to interrupt any current flow to ground. 50 arc gap with said container for generating heat sufficient
It will be seen that my invention provides an induc to ignite the explosive, and two gap electrodes one of
tive coil forming an electromagnet and offering high im which is electrically connected to the first electrode and
pedance to the passage of lightning therethrough and the other to the second electrode for shunting surge cur
whose flux activates means for interrupting the flow of rent around said electromagnet, armature and container.
dynamic current therethrough, in combination with means 55
providing a shunt path including electrodes forming an References Cited in the file of this patent
arc gap for diverting dynamic current through said in UNITED STATES PATENTS
ductive coil and shunting lightning around such coil to
ground. 1,009,748 Parsons --------------- Nov. 28, 1911
The displacement of the ground lead resulting from 60 1,179,722 Heinritz --------------- Apr. 18, 1916
the flow of dynamic current through the electromagnetic 1,266,558 Creighton ------------- May 21, 1918
coil not only interrupts the ground flow of dynamic cur 2,158,859 Horikoshi ------------- May 16, 1939
rent before a lockout occurs, but provides an indication 2,305,436 McMorris ------------- Dec. 15, 1942
of failure of the arrester readily visible from a remote 2,551,858 Stoelting --------------- May 8, 1951
distance, 65 2,860,210 Stoelting -------------- Nov. 11, 1958
