Abstract:
A high-voltage vacuum-type circuit breaker is provided having multiple spaced contacts, or electrodes, which are sequentially removed, or withdrawn from a pool of a liquid metal, such as gallium, or its alloys. A multiplicity of series arcs are thereby established, which are moved from the end electrodes to the adjacent surfaces of the intervening spaced electrodes. This enables a high-voltage circuit to be interrupted by the establishment of a number of arcs in series. If desirable, magnetic means may be employed to effect lateral movement of the established arcs. Gallium is particularly favorable for my circuit breaker application because of its extremely low vapor pressure in vacuum. In another circuit breaker arrangement, an insulating rotating disc, or wheel carries a number of spokelike contacts, or electrodes, which are sequentially withdrawn from the pool of liquid metal to establish a plurality of series arcs.