A vacuum interrupter including a first movable contact and electrode contained within a vacuum chamber, a second movable contact and electrode contained within the vacuum chamber, a first actuator operably coupled to the first movable contact, and a second actuator operably coupled to the second movable contact. The vacuum interrupter also includes a first bellows and first bellows plate operably coupled to the first movable electrode, as well as a second bellows and second bellows plate operably coupled to the second movable electrode. Additionally, the vacuum interrupter includes a first pressure chamber located between the first actuator and the vacuum chamber, and a second pressure chamber located between the second actuator and the vacuum chamber.

A contactor for medium voltage electric systems including: one or more electric poles; for each electric pole, a fixed contact and a corresponding movable contact reversibly movable between a first position, at which the movable contact is decoupled from the fixed contact, and a second position, at which the movable contact is coupled with the fixed contact; an electromagnetic actuator including a magnetic yoke having a fixed yoke member and a movable yoke member, the movable yoke member reversibly movable between a third position corresponding to the first position of the movable contacts, at which the movable yoke member is decoupled from the fixed yoke member, and a fourth position, corresponding to the second position of the movable contacts, at which the movable yoke member is coupled with the fixed yoke member, the electromagnetic actuator including an excitation circuit assembly including an excitation coil wound around the magnetic yoke and electrically connected with an auxiliary electric power supply to be fed with an excitation current to generate an excitation magnetic flux to move the movable yoke member from the third position to the fourth position or to maintain the movable yoke member in the fourth position; an opening springs operatively coupled with the movable yoke member to move the movable yoke member from the fourth position to the third position; a kinematic chain to operatively connect said movable yoke member with said movable contacts. The electromagnetic actuator including camping circuit assembly comprising a damping coil arranged to form a conductive loop adapted to be at least partially enchained with the excitation magnetic flux generated by the excitation current flowing along the excitation coil, when the auxiliary electric power supply provides the excitation current to the excitation coil, so that a secondary current circulates along the damping coil when the excitation magnetic flux is subject to a transient.

A capacitor capacitance measurement device includes a discharge circuit which is connected in parallel to a charging circuit and a capacitor and in which a discharge switch and a discharge resistor are connected in series, a resistor voltage dividing circuit which is connected in parallel to the capacitor and in which a first resistor and a second resistor are connected in series, and a control device for sending a command to stop charging of the capacitor to the charging circuit, sending a conduction command to the discharge switch, measuring a voltage V.sub.a at a voltage division point of the resistor voltage dividing circuit, and calculating a capacitance of the capacitor from a drop in the voltage of the capacitor during discharge. On the basis of whether a time difference in the capacitor voltage drop is within a threshold, correct/false determination for capacitor capacitance measurement is performed.

A drive mechanism is for a vacuum switching apparatus. The vacuum switching apparatus has a stationary contact and a movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with the stationary contact in order to connect and disconnect power, respectively. The drive mechanism includes a drive rod structured to drive the movable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact, the drive rod being movable along a longitudinal axis, and a number of toggle assemblies each having a component and a biasing element coupled to the component. The component is coupled to the drive rod. The biasing element is structured to bias the drive rod in a direction not coinciding with the longitudinal axis.

A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

A circuit breaker includes a pole unit with a moveable electrode and a fixed electrode. A resilient member is operably connected to a first end of the pole unit. A linkage extends from the second end of the pole unit and operably connects to the moveable electrode. A linear actuator is operably connected to the linkage and located away from the pole unit. A Thomson coil or other high-speed actuator is also operably connected to the linkage. A gap is provided between the pole unit and the linear actuator member when the resilient member is not extended. To open the electrodes, the high-speed actuator first acts on the linkage by pulling the movable electrode away from the fixed electrode. The linear actuator then actuates and increases the distance between the contacts of the breaker by pulling the pole unit toward it, closing the gap.

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.

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.

A distribution grounding switch for an electricity distribution network has a first electrical terminal adapted connectable to a mains line, a second electrical terminal connectable to a lateral line, a first vacuum bottle having a pair of contactors therein, a second vacuum bottle having a pair of contactors therein, and a magnetic linkage cooperative with one of the pair of contactors of the first vacuum bottle and one of the pair of contactors of the second vacuum bottle so as to cause the pair of contactors of the first vacuum bottle the close while generally simultaneously causing the pair of contactors of the second vacuum bottle to open. The mechanical linkage also causes the pair of contactors of the first vacuum bottle to open generally simultaneously with the closing of the pair of contactors of the second vacuum bottle.

Recloser apparatuses, methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment a recloser includes a vacuum interrupter coupled with first and second electrical terminals. A driving structure is coupled with the vacuum interrupter. An electromagnetic actuator is coupled with the driving structure and is moveable to a first position to open the vacuum interrupter and to a second position to close the vacuum interrupter. A mechanical opening/closing mechanism includes a handle and a mechanical connection driving structure. The handle is moveable to move the vacuum interrupter to the first position and the second position. A control circuit is provided in communication with the electromagnetic actuator and is operable to actuate the electromagnetic actuator to move the vacuum interrupter between the first position and the second position.