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.

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.

The invention relates to a pyrotechnic current breaker (1) for severing a bus bar (2), comprising a first detonator (7) for passive tripping and a second detonator (14) for active tripping. Both act on a severing piston (9), which severs the bus bar (2) at at least one severing point (5a, 5b) in the event of tripping. The first detonator (7) is connected, by means of two conductors (8a, 8b), to the two sides of a fuse, through which the current through the bus bar (2) flows, while the second detonator (14) has contacts (15a, 15b) for the connecting of an external tripping device. According to the invention, one of the Iwo detonators, preferably the first detonator (7), is disposed in the severing piston (9). The fuse is preferably formed integrally with the bus bar (2), the fuse being formed either by the severing point(s) (5a, 5b) or by a weakened region between two severing points (5a, 5b). It can easily be provided that, in the event of tripping, at least one conductor (8a, 8b) is interrupted in order to prevent an arc in the first detonator (7), e.g. by virtue of the fact that at least one conductor (8a, 8b) is disposed in the path of motion of the severing piston (9).

The invention relates to a pyrotechnic current breaker (1) for severing a bus bar (2), comprising a first detonator (7) for passive tripping and a second detonator (14) for active tripping. Both act on a severing piston (9), which severs the bus bar (2) at at least one severing point (5a, 5b) in the event of tripping. The first detonator (7) is connected, by means of two conductors (8a, 8b), to the two sides of a fuse, through which the current through the bus bar (2) flows, while the second detonator (14) has contacts (15a, 15b) for the connecting of an external tripping device. According to the invention, one of the Iwo detonators, preferably the first detonator (7), is disposed in the severing piston (9). The fuse is preferably formed integrally with the bus bar (2), the fuse being formed either by the severing point(s) (5a, 5b) or by a weakened region between two severing points (5a, 5b). It can easily be provided that, in the event of tripping, at least one conductor (8a, 8b) is interrupted in order to prevent an arc in the first detonator (7), e.g. by virtue of the fact that at least one conductor (8a, 8b) is disposed in the path of motion of the severing piston (9).

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.

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.

A shield apparatus and a resultant circuit interrupter are disclosed, wherein the shield apparatus includes a shield apparatus base and a protection apparatus, with the protection apparatus including a shield that helps to direct an electrical arc along a flow path through a number of passages and that will help to enable dissipation of the arc and the plasma generated thereby. The shield apparatus is mountable to a portion of the housing of the circuit interrupter within its interior, and the shield is situated adjacent at least a first passage.

A device includes an electro-mechanical switching device having an open-circuit and closed-circuit conditions and a path of least resistance having a path input and a path output with the switching device between the input and the output. The device includes a bypass power switch device that comprises a solid-state circuit interrupter and that is configured to conduct current between the input and the output in response to an open-circuit condition of the switching device. The device includes a current sensor that is connected to the output and configured to detect a fault current event. The device includes an actuator that is coupled to the switching device and a controller that is configured to generate a trigger signal to activate the actuator to cause the open-circuit condition of the switching device and to interrupt the fault current event by the power switch device, based on the detected fault current event.

A device includes an electro-mechanical switching device having an open-circuit and closed-circuit conditions and a path of least resistance having a path input and a path output with the switching device between the input and the output. The device includes a bypass power switch device that comprises a solid-state circuit interrupter and that is configured to conduct current between the input and the output in response to an open-circuit condition of the switching device. The device includes a current sensor that is connected to the output and configured to detect a fault current event. The device includes an actuator that is coupled to the switching device and a controller that is configured to generate a trigger signal to activate the actuator to cause the open-circuit condition of the switching device and to interrupt the fault current event by the power switch device, based on the detected fault current event.