A pulse voltage conditioning method of a vacuum interrupter with automatic conditioning energy adjustment based on a trend of a breakdown voltage of the vacuum interrupter during a conditioning process. A current-limiting resistor and a parallel capacitor are automatically adjusted to ensure the conditioning energy reaching a critical value without deconditioning effect. The critical value refers to a maximum conditioning energy without damaging the electrode surfaces, namely an optimal conditioning energy, which can better remove insulation defects on the electrode surface and improve insulation performance of a vacuum gap. The problems of insufficient conditioning and deconditioning effect during conventional voltage conditioning process of the vacuum interrupter can be solved. Therefore, insulation strength of the vacuum interrupter can be raised to a higher level through conditioning.

A circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter. The interrupter includes a first movable electrode to which a first contact is connected and a second movable electrode to which a second contact is connected. The interrupter is operable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the first contact and the second contact are separated by a contact gap distance. In the closed state, the first contact and the second contact touch each other. The circuit breaker includes an ultrafast actuator operatively connected to each of the first and second movable electrodes. The ultrafast actuator is configured to change the vacuum interrupter from the closed state to the open state by simultaneously moving the first contact in a first direction along a first distance portion of the contact gap, and the second contact in a second direction along a second distance portion of the contact gap.

An arc shield surrounding an outer peripheral side of a fixed electrode and a movable electrode is provided, in addition to a fixed-side insulating unit in which a fixed-side insulator is provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the fixed side in the axial direction of the arc shield, and a movable-side insulating unit in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the movable side in the axial direction of the arc shield. The movable-side insulating unit has an insulator group in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected in the axial direction, an insulator-group-side sub shield surrounding the outer peripheral side of a movable-side energizing shaft, and an insulator-group-side sub shield support part which is on the outer peripheral surface of the insulator-group-side sub shield and interposed between two adjacent movable-side insulators of the insulator group.

An arc shield surrounding an outer peripheral side of a fixed electrode and a movable electrode is provided, in addition to a fixed-side insulating unit in which a fixed-side insulator is provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the fixed side in the axial direction of the arc shield, and a movable-side insulating unit in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected coaxially with the arc shield on the movable side in the axial direction of the arc shield. The movable-side insulating unit has an insulator group in which movable-side insulators are provided to be connected in the axial direction, an insulator-group-side sub shield surrounding the outer peripheral side of a movable-side energizing shaft, and an insulator-group-side sub shield support part which is on the outer peripheral surface of the insulator-group-side sub shield and interposed between two adjacent movable-side insulators of the insulator group.

A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.

A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.

The present disclosure provides a contact monitoring device for a vacuum circuit breaker. The contact monitoring device is provided in a vacuum circuit breaker comprising: a vacuum interrupter having a fixed electrode which is fixed in an insulating container and is provided with a fixed contact at one end, and a movable electrode which is installed in the insulating container to be able to be lifted or lowered wherein the vacuum interrupter is provided with a movable contact at one end, the movable contact contacting or being separated from the fixed contact when the movable electrode is lifted or lowered; and a push rod assembly which is coupled to the other end of the movable electrode and lifts or lowers the movable electrode. In addition, the present disclosure provides a vacuum circuit breaker having the contact monitoring device.

The present disclosure provides a contact monitoring device for a vacuum circuit breaker. The contact monitoring device is provided in a vacuum circuit breaker comprising: a vacuum interrupter having a fixed electrode which is fixed in an insulating container and is provided with a fixed contact at one end, and a movable electrode which is installed in the insulating container to be able to be lifted or lowered wherein the vacuum interrupter is provided with a movable contact at one end, the movable contact contacting or being separated from the fixed contact when the movable electrode is lifted or lowered; and a push rod assembly which is coupled to the other end of the movable electrode and lifts or lowers the movable electrode. In addition, the present disclosure provides a vacuum circuit breaker having the contact monitoring device.

Provided is a vacuum interrupter capable of improving an axial magnetic field intensity even at a contact portion other than a region of the contact portion corresponding to a region surrounded by an arm portion and a coil portion. In the vacuum interrupter according to the present disclosure, in each coil electrode, a bypass portion has: a second coil portion which extends so as to have an overlap with a corresponding first coil portion and a power feeding portion opposed to the first coil portion, in a circumferential direction; a first arm portion which connects the second coil portion and a ring portion; and a second arm portion which connects the second coil portion and the first coil portion.

Provided is a vacuum interrupter capable of improving an axial magnetic field intensity even at a contact portion other than a region of the contact portion corresponding to a region surrounded by an arm portion and a coil portion. In the vacuum interrupter according to the present disclosure, in each coil electrode, a bypass portion has: a second coil portion which extends so as to have an overlap with a corresponding first coil portion and a power feeding portion opposed to the first coil portion, in a circumferential direction; a first arm portion which connects the second coil portion and a ring portion; and a second arm portion which connects the second coil portion and the first coil portion.