This electromagnetic contactor comprises a set of controlled switches (C1, C2, C3), at least one electromagnetic field generator (L; L1, L2), for example a coil, associated with an adjustable core (P) controlling the state of the controlled switches and a unit (UC) controlling the power supply of the electromagnetic field generator. It comprises means for detecting the position of the adjustable core to detect the state of the controlled switches.

A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.

An arc suppressing circuit configured to suppress arcing across a power contactor coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source having a predetermined number of phases, each contact of the power contactor corresponding to one of the predetermined number of phases includes a number of dual unidirectional arc suppressors equal to the predetermined number of phases of the AC power source. Each dual unidirectional arc suppressor includes a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a positive domain, a a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a negative domain, and a coil lock controller, configured to be coupled between a contact coil driver of the power contactor, configured to detect an output condition from the contact coil driver and inhibit operation of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors over a predetermined time.

Device, circuit, system, and method for contact sequencing are discussed. An electrical circuit includes a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a first set of switchable contacts, and a second pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a second set of switchable contacts that are coupled to an arc suppression circuit. A controller circuit is coupled to the first and second pairs of terminals and is configured to sequence activation or deactivation of the first and second sets of contacts based on a contact control signal. A first power switching circuit is coupled to the first pair of terminals and the controller circuit. The first power switching circuit is configured to switch power from an external power source and to trigger the activation or the deactivation of the first set of switchable contacts based on a first logic state signal from the controller circuit.

A power contact health assessor system includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact and a contact separation detector configured to determine a time of separation of the set of switchable contact electrodes during deactivation of the power contact. The system includes a controller circuit operatively coupled to the pair of terminals and the contact separation detector. The controller circuit is configured to determine within a first observation window, a plurality of contact stick durations and an average contact stick duration. One or more additional observation windows with corresponding average contact stick durations are configured. A health assessment for the set of switchable contact electrodes may be based on a subsequent contact stick duration for a contact cycle after the first observation window and the corresponding average contact stick durations for the one or more additional observation windows.

A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.

A electromechanical relay device (100) comprising a source electrode (102), a beam (104) mounted on the source electrode at a first end and electrically coupled to the source electrode; a first drain electrode (112) located adjacent a second end of the beam, wherein a first contact (110) on the beam is arranged to be separated from a second contact (112) on the first drain electrode when the relay device is in a first condition; a first gate electrode (106 arranged to cause the beam to deflect, to electrically couple the first contact and the second contact such that the device is in a second condition; and wherein the first and second contacts are each coated with a layer of nanocrystalline graphite.

Device, circuit, system, and method for contact sequencing are discussed. An electrical circuit includes a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a first set of switchable contacts, and a second pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a second set of switchable contacts that are coupled to an arc suppression circuit. A controller circuit is coupled to the first and second pairs of terminals and is configured to sequence activation or deactivation of the first and second sets of contacts based on a contact control signal. A first power switching circuit is coupled to the first pair of terminals and the controller circuit. The first power switching circuit is configured to switch power from an external power source and to trigger the activation or the deactivation of the first set of switchable contacts based on a first logic state signal from the controller circuit.

A system for determining when an electrical contact or other component reaches a predetermined temperature. In operation, a trace material is dispersed into a surrounding environment (e.g., head space within a compartment above insulating oil), where the trace material is detected. A barrier may be ruptured or broken by temperature-induced gas pressure, or pierced by a spring-loaded member that is located within the same section that contains the trace material, and devices may be provided for moving the trace material through the foil barrier as the barrier is ruptured. The barrier may be opened solely by internal gas pressure. According to another embodiment, improved fail-safe operation may be achieved by providing a spring-loaded member and configuring the barrier to be ruptured by the pressure of the detectable gas material before the barrier is ruptured by the spring-loaded member.

A flexible magnetic coil for determining ion migration rates inside a vacuum device can include a plurality of insulated copper wires held together as a bundle. A positive pole can be connected to a first end of the bundle for receiving a positive DC voltage. A negative pole can be connected to a second end of the bundle for completing a circuit with the positive pole. A DC voltage ranging from ten volts to four thousand volts from a power supply can be connected to the positive pole, the negative pole, or combinations thereof. The bundle can be a loop and can form a circuit when the DC voltage is applied to the loop. The bundle can create a flexible electromagnetic field of at least one Gauss around the vacuum device using a calculation of a number of turns of insulated copper wire multiplied by applied DC current.