Abstract: A ground and test (G&T) device includes a test device housing having upper terminals and lower terminals carried by the test device housing and engaging the load and line conductors when the test device housing in installed within the compartment of the switchgear frame. A plurality of grounding bars include a first set of grounding bars that connect the upper terminals to a lower ground bar and a second set of grounding bars that connect the lower terminals to the lower ground bus bar when the first set of grounding bars are not connected. A ground shoe assembly is connected to the lower ground bus bar and configured to engage a grounding circuit carried by the switchgear frame and includes a ground shoe bracket, bus bars, and die springs.

Abstract: A ground and test (G&T) device includes a test device housing having load and line conductors and a plurality of upper terminals and plurality of lower terminals carried by the test device housing and configured to engage the load and line conductors when the test device housing in installed within the compartment of the switchgear frame. A lower ground bus bar is carried by the test device housing and a plurality of grounding bars selectively connect either the upper terminals to the lower ground bus bar or connect the lower terminals to the lower ground bus bar. A ground shoe assembly is connected to the lower ground bus bar and configured to engage a grounding circuit carried by the switchgear frame.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame, a truck and circuit breaker mounted thereon. A drive mechanism is mounted on the switchgear frame and configured to rack the circuit breaker into a) a first connected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically connected, b) a second test position where the primary circuit is electrically disconnected and secondary circuit connected, and c) a third disconnected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically disconnected, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive chain and shuttle configured to engage the truck and rack and fix the circuit breaker into the first connected position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A switchgear system includes a switchgear frame having an interior compartment and front opening and containing therein at least one electrical switchgear component. A truck carries an electrical component and is supported for movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism connects the truck and is configured to rack in the truck into an electrically connected position with the at least one electrical switchgear component, rack out the truck from the electrically connected position into an electrically disconnected position, and rotate the truck upward from its disconnected position into a rotated position to allow operator access through the front opening to the at least one electrical component.

Abstract: A ground and test (G&T) device includes a test device housing having load and line conductors and a plurality of upper terminals and plurality of lower terminals carried by the test device housing and configured to engage the load and line conductors when the test device housing in installed within the compartment of the switchgear frame. A lower ground bus bar is carried by the test device housing and a plurality of grounding bars selectively connect either the upper terminals to the lower ground bus bar or connect the lower terminals to the lower ground bus bar. A ground shoe assembly is connected to the lower ground bus bar and configured to engage a grounding circuit carried by the switchgear frame.

Abstract: A switchgear system includes a switchgear frame having an interior compartment and front opening and containing therein at least one electrical switchgear component. A truck carries an electrical component and is supported for movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism connects the truck and is configured to rack in the truck into an electrically connected position with the at least one electrical switchgear component, rack out the truck from the electrically connected position into an electrically disconnected position, and rotate the truck upward from its disconnected position into a rotated position to allow operator access through the front opening to the at least one electrical component.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly includes a contact arm defining a central axis and having a first end configured for electrical connection with a pole of a circuit breaker and a second end having a distal end defining a shoulder and an engagement that protrudes from the contact arm proximal to the shoulder. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted circumferentially on the second end of the contact arm and configured to electrically engage a primary circuit contact. Each contact finger has a body with a depression that receives the engagement for electrical contact.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame and a truck carrying a circuit breaker and supported for linear movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism may rack in the truck and the circuit breaker is in electrical connection with primary circuit contacts, and may rack out the truck and the circuit breaker is electrically disconnected from the primary circuit contacts. As the drive mechanism racks in the circuit breaker, a shutter linkage moves a shutter opened, and as the drive mechanism racks out the circuit breaker, the shutter linkage moves the shutter closed over the primary circuit contacts.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame, a truck and circuit breaker mounted thereon. A drive mechanism is mounted on the switchgear frame and configured to rack the circuit breaker into a) a first connected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically connected, b) a second test position where the primary circuit is electrically disconnected and secondary circuit connected, and c) a third disconnected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically disconnected, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive chain and shuttle configured to engage the truck and rack and fix the circuit breaker into the first connected position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A ground and test (G&T) device includes a test device housing having load and line conductors and a plurality of upper terminals and plurality of lower terminals carried by the test device housing and configured to engage the load and line conductors when the test device housing in installed within the compartment of the switchgear frame. A lower ground bus bar is carried by the test device housing and a plurality of grounding bars selectively connect either the upper terminals to the lower ground bus bar or connect the lower terminals to the lower ground bus bar. A ground shoe assembly is connected to the lower ground bus bar and configured to engage a grounding circuit carried by the switchgear frame.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame and a truck carrying a circuit breaker and supported for linear movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism may rack in the truck and the circuit breaker is in electrical connection with primary circuit contacts, and may rack out the truck and the circuit breaker is electrically disconnected from the primary circuit contacts. As the drive mechanism racks in the circuit breaker, a shutter linkage moves a shutter opened, and as the drive mechanism racks out the circuit breaker, the shutter linkage moves the shutter closed over the primary circuit contacts.

Abstract: A switchgear system includes a switchgear frame having an interior compartment and front opening and containing therein at least one electrical switchgear component. A truck carries an electrical component and is supported for movement on the switchgear frame. A drive mechanism connects the truck and is configured to rack in the truck into an electrically connected position with the at least one electrical switchgear component, rack out the truck from the electrically connected position into an electrically disconnected position, and rotate the truck upward from its disconnected position into a rotated position to allow operator access through the front opening to the at least one electrical component.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A contact arm assembly includes a contact arm defining a central axis and having a first end configured for electrical connection with a pole of a circuit breaker and a second end having a distal end defining a shoulder and an engagement that protrudes from the contact arm proximal to the shoulder. A plurality of contact fingers are mounted circumferentially on the second end of the contact arm and configured to electrically engage a primary circuit contact. Each contact finger has a body with a depression that receives the engagement for electrical contact.

Abstract: A switchgear system may include a switchgear frame, a truck and circuit breaker mounted thereon. A drive mechanism is mounted on the switchgear frame and configured to rack the circuit breaker into a) a first connected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically connected, b) a second test position where the primary circuit is electrically disconnected and secondary circuit connected, and c) a third disconnected position where the primary and secondary circuits are electrically disconnected, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive chain and shuttle configured to engage the truck and rack and fix the circuit breaker into the first connected position.

Abstract: A cutout mountable recloser that remains latched to the cutout until the recloser is selectively mechanically unlatched via at least rotation of a driver by an operator. During installation, including while the recloser is being latched to the cutout, the recloser can be in an open condition. Latching of the recloser to the cutout can include increasing a tension force exerted by the cutout on the recloser by increasing a linear distance between first and second terminals of the recloser. With the opened recloser latched to the cutout, the recloser can be mechanically closed via a release of stored energy from a closing mechanism. The recloser can selectively be mechanically unlatched from the cutout by a subsequent reduction in the linear distance between first and second terminals of the recloser, which can reduce the tension force being exerted by the cutout.

Abstract: 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.