Abstract: A manual opening mechanism for use with an isolation switch of a circuit interrupter is fully integrated into the circuit interrupter. The manual opening mechanism includes a rotating handle that is accessible from the front panel of the circuit interrupter. Rotating the handle applies force to the centerline of the isolation switch drive shaft, which prevents uneven loading and thus optimizes robustness during manual opening of the isolation switch. In addition, the handle has an ergonomic design, and is proportioned to minimize the force that an operator must apply to the handle in order to open the isolation switch.

Abstract: Coil-based actuators for use in opening and closing the separable contacts of circuit interrupters provide increased initial velocity for opening strokes and improved damping at the end of opening strokes by utilizing current-based damping and omitting contact springs and contact dampeners.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.

Abstract: A vacuum switching apparatus includes a vacuum envelope; a fixed contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a first movable contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a second movable contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a first bellows within the vacuum envelope and cooperating with the first movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within the vacuum envelope; and a second bellows within the vacuum envelope and cooperating with the first movable contact assembly and the second movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within the vacuum envelope.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes an electrical conductor, at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor disposed about the electrical conductor, and a first insulator molded about the electrical conductor. The first insulator includes a plurality of structures structured to maintain concentricity between the electrical conductor and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor. A second insulator is molded about the first insulator and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum switching apparatus includes a vacuum envelope; a fixed contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a first movable contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a second movable contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope; a first bellows within the vacuum envelope and cooperating with the first movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within the vacuum envelope; and a second bellows within the vacuum envelope and cooperating with the first movable contact assembly and the second movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within the vacuum envelope.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes an electrical conductor, at least one of a voltage sensor and a current sensor disposed about the electrical conductor, and a first insulator molded about the electrical conductor. The first insulator includes a plurality of structures structured to maintain concentricity between the electrical conductor and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor. A second insulator is molded about the first insulator and the at least one of the voltage sensor and the current sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit interrupter having a pole unit structure and an operating mechanism structured to move the vacuum circuit interrupter contacts between a first, closed position, wherein a movable contact is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a fixed contact, and a second, open position wherein the movable contact is spaced from, and not in electrical communication with, the fixed contact, as well as being structured to rotate a housing assembly rotatable portion between a first position, wherein a rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a line terminal, and a second position, wherein the rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a grounded terminal.

Abstract: An electrically insulated conductor connection assembly and a method for providing the same are provided. The electrically insulated conductor connection assembly includes first and second electrical conductors each comprising a body portion and an end portion. A fastening mechanism electrically and mechanically connects the end portions of the first electrical conductor to the end portion of the second electrical conductor, and an insulator overlays and electrically insulates the fastening mechanism. The end portions of the first and second electrical conductors and the fastening mechanism form a joint, which is structured to be fastenable and unfastenable. When the joint is fastened and the insulator is overlaying the fastening mechanism, the joint is electrically insulated.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker housing and a plurality of independent poles. Each of the independent poles includes separable contacts, a voltage sensor mounted on or within the circuit breaker housing and being structured to sense voltage operatively associated with the separable contacts, and an electro-magnetic actuator structured to open and close the separable contacts. A point-on-wave controller is housed by the circuit breaker housing and cooperates with the sensors and the actuators of the independent poles to independently and synchronously open and close the separable contacts of the independent poles.

Abstract: A manual opening device is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a synchronous circuit breaker, including a housing having an opening, a plurality of pole mechanisms each comprising separable contacts, and at least one operating mechanism including a number of actuators adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism is supported by the housing and includes a corresponding pole shaft. The manual opening device comprises an operating handle, a cam assembly, and a drive assembly. A first end of the operating handle protrudes through the opening of the housing and the second end is coupled to the cam assembly. The drive assembly couples the cam assembly to the corresponding pole shaft of the operating mechanism and cooperates with the corresponding pole shaft and actuators to simultaneously open the separable contacts when the operating handle is moved from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit interrupter having a pole unit structure and an operating mechanism structured to move the vacuum circuit interrupter contacts between a first, closed position, wherein a movable contact is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a fixed contact, and a second, open position wherein the movable contact is spaced from, and not in electrical communication with, the fixed contact, as well as being structured to rotate a housing assembly rotatable portion between a first position, wherein a rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a line terminal, and a second position, wherein the rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a grounded terminal.

Abstract: An electrically insulated conductor connection assembly and a method for providing the same are provided. The electrically insulated conductor connection assembly includes first and second electrical conductors each comprising a body portion and an end portion. A fastening mechanism electrically and mechanically connects the end portions of the first electrical conductor to the end portion of the second electrical conductor, and an insulator overlays and electrically insulates the fastening mechanism. The end portions of the first and second electrical conductors and the fastening mechanism form a joint, which is structured to be fastenable and unfastenable. When the joint is fastened and the insulator is overlaying the fastening mechanism, the joint is electrically insulated.

Abstract: The movable conductors of a three phase isolation switch are incorporated into the electrically insulative molded shaft, thereby mechanically supporting them and isolating them from the metal axle of the shaft. Movable contacts on the ends of each movable conductor are angularly spaced by ? degrees, where ? is less than 180° and is 90° in the exemplary embodiment. A common fixed load contact is located angularly between, and spaced ? degrees from, both the fixed line and ground contacts so that the shaft is rotated only ? degrees between a first, closed position, in which the movable conductors connect the fixed load contact for each phase to the corresponding fixed line contact, and a second, grounded position, where the fixed load contact of each phase is connected by the movable conductor to the corresponding fixed ground contact.

Abstract: A power circuit interrupter includes a housing having an opening, one or more vacuum interrupters including separable contacts, and an operating mechanism, supported by the housing, adapted to open and close the contacts. A linear actuator cooperates with the operating mechanism to open and close the contacts, and is responsive to a close signal to close the contacts. A pivotable trip member protrudes through the opening of the housing and cooperates with the operating mechanism and the linear actuator to open the contacts when pivoted from a first position to a second position. A close circuit includes an input inputting the close signal. A micro-switch includes an operator and a contact electrically connected in series with the input of the close circuit. The operator is engaged by the pivotable trip member to open the contact in response to partial pivoting thereof from the first position toward the second position.

Abstract: The movable conductors of a three phase isolation switch are incorporated into the electrically insulative molded shaft, thereby mechanically supporting them and isolating them from the metal axle of the shaft. Movable contacts on the ends of each movable conductor are angularly spaced by &agr; degrees, where &agr; is less than 180° and is 90° in the exemplary embodiment. A common fixed load contact is located angularly between, and spaced &agr; degrees from, both the fixed line and ground contacts so that the shaft is rotated only &agr; degrees between a first, closed position, in which the movable conductors connect the fixed load contact for each phase to the corresponding fixed line contact, and a second, grounded position, where the fixed load contact of each phase is connected by the movable conductor to the corresponding fixed ground contact.

Abstract: A switchgear cabinet includes a plurality of securing apparatuses that are mounted on a vertical flange of the switchgear cabinet, with the securing apparatuses each being formed with a locking hole that is engageable by a pin of a locking mechanism on a door member. Each securing apparatus includes an anchor plate connected with a first bracket and a second bracket, with the first and second brackets being mounted on the flange of the switchgear cabinet. The locking hole is formed in the anchor plate, and the anchor plate is substantially planar and free of bends. The anchor plate further is generally U-shaped and is configured to extend generally around at least a portion of the flange.

Abstract: A switchgear cabinet includes a plurality of securing apparatuses that are mounted on a vertical flange of the switchgear cabinet, with the securing apparatuses each being formed with a locking hole that is engageable by a pin of a locking mechanism on a door member. Each securing apparatus includes an anchor plate connected with a first bracket and a second bracket, with the first and second brackets being mounted on the flange of the switchgear cabinet. The locking hole is formed in the anchor plate, and the anchor plate is substantially planar and free of bends. The anchor plate further is generally U-shaped and is configured to extend generally around at least a portion of the flange.

Abstract: An arc-resistant switchgear cabinet includes a frame disposed on a floor and a door movably mounted on the frame. The frame includes a floor plate that is disposed against the floor and that includes a plurality of pins extending vertically upward from the floor plate. The door includes a plurality of corresponding receptacles into which the pins are received when the door is in a secured position. The pins in the receptacles resist the lower end of the door from moving in a horizontal direction away from the frame in the event of an arcing fault. A pair of bolts additionally fasten the lower comers of the door to the frame. The switchgear cabinet further includes interlocking tabs formed on the frame and on the door that overlap one another when the door is in the secured position.