A switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly having a fixed contact and a movable contact configured to move relative to the fixed contact between a closed position in which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open position in which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contact. The switchgear apparatus also includes an electromagnetic actuator configured to move the movable contact between the open position and the closed position, a manual trip assembly movable from an initial position to an actuated position to move the movable contact from the closed position to the open position, and a mechanical interlock assembly configured to prevent the movable contact from moving from the open position to the closed position when the manual trip assembly is in the actuated position

A multi-circuit DC breaking system is proposed. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present technique, there may be an advantage that by combining current-limiting technology and multi-circuit breaking technology, a failure may be quickly detected, a magnitude of a fault current may be firstly limited, and a breaking operation is performed, in a range of various fault currents, by distributing the fault currents to some circuits of multi-circuits configured in parallel, thereby easily increasing the capacity thereof.

A switchgear apparatus includes a vacuum interrupter assembly having a movable contact and a stationary contact, a main housing surrounding the vacuum interrupter assembly, and a first terminal electrically coupled to one of the movable contact and the stationary contact, the first terminal extending from the main housing along a first axis. The switchgear apparatus also includes a second terminal electrically coupled to the other of the movable contact and the stationary contact, the second terminal extending from the main housing along a second axis, and a mounting head couplable to the main housing in a plurality of orientations about the first axis.

A disc member is for a Thomson coil actuator of an electrical switching apparatus. The Thomson coil actuator has at least one generally planar coil. The disc member includes at least one annular-shaped conductive member structured to be driven by the coil, and a structural support member directly coupled to the conductive member.

A switch assembly including a switch and a high impedance element used for energy harvesting purposes that are connected to a power line at one end and assembly electronics at an opposite end, where in one non-limiting embodiment the switch assembly has particular application for use in connection with a vacuum interrupter. The high impedance element has higher impedance than the switch so that current flows through the switch from the power line when the switch is closed and through the high impedance element from the power line when the switch is open, where power from the high impedance element can power a switch closing device, such as a solenoid actuator. The high impedance element can be a resistive element, a capacitive element or a combination of a resistive and capacitive element.

An insulating rotary diaphragm for a vacuum interrupter (VI) electrical switch. The insulating diaphragm is designed for use in underground or pad-mounted VI switches where an external lever is rotated by a line worker to manually open the switch. A torsional insulating rod is coupled between a switch actuator and the external lever, and the diaphragm maintains constant contact with the insulating rod and an outer housing when the lever and rod are rotated, thus ensuring adequate isolation between the actuator and the lever. The diaphragm deforms torsionally when the lever and rod are rotated. This configuration allows the actuator to be at medium voltage, eliminates the need for a translational insulating rod between the medium voltage switch components and the lever, and thereby reduces the overall length of the VI switch.

A circuit breaker may include a first magnetic actuator connected to a first single-phase vacuum interrupter, a second magnetic actuator connected to a second single-phase vacuum interrupter, and a third magnetic actuator connected to the third single-phase vacuum interrupter. Each magnetic actuator is configured to receive an interrupt signal, and in response, actuate a respective vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open circuit condition. Each magnetic actuator includes a fixed core, a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding the fixed core, and a movable core received within the fixed core. A controller generates an interrupt signal to a respective magnetic actuator and interrupts one or more of the first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters.

A medium-voltage switchgear system includes a three-phase circuit breaker having first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters connected between respective first, second and third single-phase inputs and first, second and third single-phase outputs. Magnetic actuators are connected to first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters, which are configured to receive an interrupt signal and in response, actuate the respective vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open circuit condition. A controller circuit is connected to each of the first, second and third magnetic actuators and generates an interrupt signal in response to a detected single-phase overcurrent or fault on a single-phase circuit and interrupt that single-phase circuit on which the single-phase overcurrent or fault occurred and maintain power on the remaining two single-phase circuits over which a single-phase overcurrent or fault was not detected.

A circuit breaker includes at least one moveable contact. The moveable electrode is operably connected to a Thomson coil actuator that can separate and open the contacts of the circuit breaker. A sensor senses current or voltage in the circuit breaker. When a condition exists that triggers an opening action, a controller will use select a current level to apply to the Thomson coil actuator. The selected current level will vary based on the sensed current or voltage level. The controller will cause a driver to apply the selected current level to the Thomson coil actuator, and it will cause the contacts to separate and open. If the circuit breaker is a vacuum interrupter, the vacuum interrupter may employ a multi-section bellows in which each section has unique structural characteristics as compared to the other sections, so that different sections will dominate as the Thomson coil's speed of operation varies.

A method for performing a low energy pulse testing in a power distribution network that causes contacts to close and then open in about one fundamental frequency cycle of current flow time and close on a voltage waveform that produces symmetrical fault current. The method includes energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of a spring to move a movable contact towards a fixed contact. The method also includes de-energizing the actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, where energizing the magnetic actuator occurs when an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.