A medium voltage circuit switch or breaker includes: at least one movable contact; a fixed contact; and a mechanical or magnetical drive system, which moves the at least one movable contact to a closed or opened position by a movement of a rod and/or a lever. The mechanical or magnetical drive system is linked to a switching generating signal. The mechanical or magnetical drive system includes at least one pyrotechnical actuator or gas generator. The pyrotechnical actuator or the gas generator is linkable to the switching generating signal of the mechanical or magnetical drive system.

A transmission subsystem has an automatic transfer switch (100) which includes at least a pair of movable contact members (28, 30). The pair of movable contact members includes a first movable contact member (28) at a first location and a second movable contact member (30) at a second location. The automatic transfer switch further includes a fixed member (29), a controller (68) configured to select one of the first and second movable contact members, and a permanent magnetic actuator (65). The permanent magnetic actuator includes an actuator body, a first driving rod (60), and a second driving rod (62). The permanent magnet actuator is configured to move the first driving rod in a first direction independently of movement of the second driving rod. The first driving rod is configured to move the first movable contact member, and the second driving rod is configured to move the second movable contact member.

A transmission subsystem has an automatic transfer switch (100) which includes at least a pair of movable contact members (28, 30). The pair of movable contact members includes a first movable contact member (28) at a first location and a second movable contact member (30) at a second location. The automatic transfer switch further includes a fixed member (29), a controller (68) configured to select one of the first and second movable contact members, and a permanent magnetic actuator (65). The permanent magnetic actuator includes an actuator body, a first driving rod (60), and a second driving rod (62). The permanent magnet actuator is configured to move the first driving rod in a first direction independently of movement of the second driving rod. The first driving rod is configured to move the first movable contact member, and the second driving rod is configured to move the second movable contact member.

A dual conductor Thomson coil actuator for use in opening the separable contacts of a circuit interrupter comprises two nested conductors wound to form a single coil, rather than the traditional design comprising one single conductor wound to form a coil of the same size. Each of the two conductors can be excited by half the capacitance that would be used to excite the traditional single conductor coil, using the same voltage as the single conductor coil. When the same total capacitor-stored energy that would be used to excite the single conductor coil is instead used to excite the dual conductor coil, the initial pulse of aggregate current through the dual conductor coil is greater than the initial pulse of current through the single conductor coil, resulting in a faster initial opening distance of the separable contacts during an opening stroke.

A direct current circuit breaker handcart and a direct current switch apparatus are provided. In the direct current circuit breaker handcart, the current carrying element is located on the support surface, and includes a main circuit breaker and an auxiliary circuit breaker electrically connected with each other; the commutation element is located on the support surface, is electrically connected with the current carrying element, and includes a commutation capacitor, a commutation inductor, a commutation switch assembly, and a commutation capacitor charger electrically connected with each other; the repulsive assembly is configured to control opening and breaking off of the main circuit breaker; the energy absorbing element is located on the support surface, and is electrically connected with the current carrying element and the commutation element, respectively.

A direct current circuit breaker handcart and a direct current switch apparatus are provided. In the direct current circuit breaker handcart, the current carrying element is located on the support surface, and includes a main circuit breaker and an auxiliary circuit breaker electrically connected with each other; the commutation element is located on the support surface, is electrically connected with the current carrying element, and includes a commutation capacitor, a commutation inductor, a commutation switch assembly, and a commutation capacitor charger electrically connected with each other; the repulsive assembly is configured to control opening and breaking off of the main circuit breaker; the energy absorbing element is located on the support surface, and is electrically connected with the current carrying element and the commutation element, respectively.

Waste disposer systems such as food waste disposer systems in which waste disposers such as food waste disposers are integrated with air switch assemblies, and related methods, are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a housing, a power control module, a motor, an actuator, an air conduction tube connecting the actuator at least indirectly with the module, and a power link. The module is configured to switch between having a first status and having a second status in response to a pressure change communicated through the tube as a result of an actuation of the actuator. Further, electric power received at the power link is communicated to the motor from the power link at least indirectly via the module when the module has the first status, but is not communicated to the motor when the module has the second status.

Waste disposer systems such as food waste disposer systems in which waste disposers such as food waste disposers are integrated with air switch assemblies, and related methods, are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a food waste disposer system includes a housing, a power control module, a motor, an actuator, an air conduction tube connecting the actuator at least indirectly with the module, and a power link. The module is configured to switch between having a first status and having a second status in response to a pressure change communicated through the tube as a result of an actuation of the actuator. Further, electric power received at the power link is communicated to the motor from the power link at least indirectly via the module when the module has the first status, but is not communicated to the motor when the module has the second status.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprises a vacuum interrupter operable between a closed state and an open state, and an actuator. The actuator comprises a piezoelectric driving element that is expandable and contractable along an expansion axis in response to an electrical input signal. The actuator further comprises a mechanical amplifying structure extendable along an actuation axis and being mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric driver such that expansion or contraction of said piezoelectric driving element causes the amplifying structure to extend or retract along the actuation axis. The mechanical amplifying structure is coupled to the vacuum interrupter for operating the vacuum interrupter between said closed and open states.

An actuator for opening the separable contacts of a circuit interrupter integrates a Thomson coil arrangement into the movable and stationary conductor assemblies. A movable separable contact is coupled to one end of the movable conductor, and a stationary separable contact is coupled to one end of the stationary conductor. The movable and stationary conductors are each formed with a collar positioned near the respective movable and stationary separable contacts. The actuator further includes a coil seated within a coil housing, and the coil housing is coupled to the stationary conductor collar. A conductive member shaped as a cup and structured to be actuated by the coil is coupled to the movable conductor collar, such that the rim of the cup faces the coil. A housing is positioned around the conductive member cup body with bellows and coupled to the coil housing, forming a vacuum chamber around the separable contacts.