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 medium voltage circuit interrupter includes a circuit interrupter housing and a plurality of poles. Each of the poles includes an encapsulated pole unit. The encapsulated pole unit includes a first unit having a first conductor, a second conductor, a vacuum interrupter electrically connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a first housing housing the vacuum interrupter. A removable second unit includes a third conductor, a fourth conductor having a first portion electrically connected to the third conductor and a second portion removably electrically connected to one of the first conductor and the second conductor, an electronic device structured to sense a characteristic of the pole, and a second insulative housing encapsulating the third conductor, the first portion of the fourth conductor and the electronic device. An operating mechanism is structured to open and close the vacuum interrupter of each of the poles.

Abstract: A stored energy assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The stored energy assembly includes a mount removably coupled to the circuit breaker housing. A stored energy mechanism, such as a spring, is coupled to the mount and is movable among charged and discharged positions. An actuating element is cooperable with the gears of a gear assembly in order to move among first and second positions corresponding to the spring being disposed in the charged and discharged positions, respectively. A manual charging mechanism and an automatic charging mechanism are coupled to the gear assembly, and move the gears, in order to move the actuating element and charge the spring. The spring, the actuating element, the gear assembly, and the charging mechanisms are coupled to the mount, thereby forming a sub-assembly. The sub-assembly is removably coupled to the circuit breaker housing.

Abstract: A time delay mechanism is provided for a circuit breaker stored energy assembly including a mount, a spring coupled to the mount, at least one charging mechanism for charging the spring to store energy, at least one actuator for releasing the stored energy, and a drive assembly for transferring the stored energy into movement of the circuit breaker operating mechanism. First and second trip shafts of the time delay mechanism are pivotably coupled to the mount. Linking elements interconnect the first and second trip shafts. A trip catch and a drive lever are coupled to the first trip shaft. The linking elements and a damper, which is connected to the drive lever, contribute to a delay from a first time that the first trip shaft initially moves, to a second time that the second trip shaft moves to release the trip catch. The damper is adjustable to adjust the delay.

Abstract: A system displays information from and controls electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers having separable contacts and a plurality of conditions, such as bus temperature and contact wear. A plurality of sensors are structured to sense the conditions of the circuit breakers and to communicate the sensed conditions over corresponding wireless signals. A display and control unit is operatively associated with the circuit breakers and is structured to receive the corresponding wireless signals and display information corresponding to the sensed conditions or to control the circuit breakers based upon one or more of the sensed conditions.

Abstract: A fuse having a plurality of configurable thermal ceilings. The fuse includes a housing, a first conductive cap, a second conductive cap, a plurality of conductive elements extending through the housing, and a conductive connector that is electrically coupled to a conductive element. One or more conductive elements are electrically connected to the first conductive cap at any one time.

Abstract: A method monitors a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum. The vacuum interrupter includes a line side, a load side and separable contacts electrically connected therebetween. The line side has a line side voltage and the load side has a load side voltage. The method includes determining whether the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open or closed, comparing the line side voltage to the load side voltage, and determining the leakage or the loss of vacuum when the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open and when the load side voltage is within a predetermined amount of the line side voltage.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit breaker includes a line terminal, a load terminal and a vacuum interrupter having a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a moveable contact assembly moveable between closed and open circuit positions. The fixed contact assembly is electrically interconnected with the line terminal and the moveable contact assembly is electrically connected to the load terminal. An operating mechanism moves the moveable contact assembly between the closed and open circuit positions. An auxiliary contact indicates one of the open or closed circuit positions. An electro-optical voltage sensor determines a voltage difference between the line and load terminals, or the shield and one of the line and load terminals. A circuit determines no leakage or loss of vacuum of the vacuum envelope when the vacuum switch is intended to be in the open circuit position and when the voltage difference is greater than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An encapsulated medium voltage vacuum circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, a vacuum interrupter, an operating mechanism and an elongated, insulated, generally cylindrical encapsulating housing. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical communication with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly. The fixed contact assembly is electrically interconnected with the line terminal. A flexible conductor electrically connects the movable contact assembly with the load terminal. The operating mechanism moves the movable contact assembly between the closed circuit position and the open circuit position. The housing includes a first end supporting the line terminal and an opposite second end supporting the load terminal.

Abstract: A method monitors a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum. The vacuum interrupter includes a line side, a load side and separable contacts electrically connected therebetween. The line side has a line side voltage and the load side has a load side voltage. The method includes determining whether the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open or closed, comparing the line side voltage to the load side voltage, and determining the leakage or the loss of vacuum when the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open and when the load side voltage is within a predetermined amount of the line side voltage.

Abstract: A mechanism assembly is for a vacuum circuit interrupter including a vacuum housing including a stationary contact and a moveable contact, and an operating mechanism including a drive rod. The mechanism assembly cooperates with the drive rod to open and close the contacts. The mechanism assembly includes a housing having a pair of first longitudinal openings and a pair of second longitudinal openings, the first longitudinal openings defining a first plane, the second longitudinal openings defining a different second plane. A first trunnion member is pivotally and translationally mounted with respect to the first longitudinal openings. The first trunnion member is coupled to the moveable contact. A second trunnion member is pivotally and translationally mounted with respect to the second longitudinal openings. The drive rod is pivotally connected to the second trunnion member. A pair of compression springs are biased between the first and second trunnion members.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved and more efficient methods and apparatus for maintaining and/or adjusting over-travel gaps and contact wipe portions in operating rod assemblies of circuit interrupters.

Abstract: An improved electrical interrupter apparatus includes a stationary contact and a movable contact within an enclosed region, with the movable contact being operatively connected with a drive unit that employs a pull-to-close mechanism to engage the movable contact with the stationary contact. When the contacts are desired to be closed, the drive unit applies a tensile force to an elongated rod that extends between the drive unit and a crank mechanism, which converts the tensile force in the rod into a compressive force applied to the movable contact.

Abstract: An improved electrical interrupter apparatus includes a stationary contact and a movable contact within an enclosed region, with the movable contact being operatively connected with a drive unit that employs a pull-to-close mechanism to engage the movable contact with the stationary contact. When the contacts are desired to be closed, the drive unit applies a tensile force to an elongated rod that extends between the drive unit and a crank mechanism, which converts the tensile force in the rod into a compressive force applied to the movable contact.

Abstract: An interlock for electric power switches includes indicator followers each following a state indicator on an associated electric power switch indicating the open/closed state of the switch. A first coupler couples one end of an associated elongated connecting member to each indicator follower. A second coupler couples the other end of each elongated connecting member to an auxiliary trip member actuator which actuates an auxiliary trip member on another electric power switch to maintain it in the open/tripped condition when the associated electric power switch is in the closed condition. The first couplers include a swivel through which the elongated connecting member slides and a compliant member, preferably in the form of a helical compression spring, captured between the swivel and a stop nut on the one end of the elongated connecting member.

Abstract: Operation of a medium voltage spring powered circuit breaker is analyzed by determining the linear position of a selected driven part of the circuit breaker operating mechanism. When the charged closing springs of the operating mechanism are released, the selected driven part, such as a vacuum interrupter stem or push rod, moves to a new linear position as actuated by the release of the charged closing springs. Linkages are provided to the driven parts. LVDT sensors engage each of the linkages to determine the linear positions of the driven parts. A processing unit collects operation data for the operating mechanism when the charged closing springs are released to actuate and produce linear movement of the driven parts. The operation data includes a plurality of the linear positions of the driven parts. A microprocessor-based routine and interface outputs the operation data.

Abstract: Heat sinks are placed on the contact stems of a vacuum interrupter between the vacuum bottle and junctions with the terminal conductors to lower the temperature of these junctions. The heat sinks are formed by a stack of thin laminations having central openings with inwardly directed tabs which bite into and secure the laminations to the stems. The laminations have aligned slots forming axial passages for cooling air. Preferably, the slots are enclosed to eliminate sharp peripheral edges to reduce the potential for flash over. In one embodiment, the slots are not formed by removing material but by bending it out of the plane of the lamination to maximize heat radiating surface area and to generate turbulent cooling air flow for increased cooling efficiency. An axially extending peripheral lip can provide axial spacing between laminations.

Abstract: Operation of a medium voltage spring powered circuit breaker is analyzed by applying a recording medium in the form of an adhesive backed tape to a selected driven part of the operating mechanism. A marking instrument is held in contact with the recording medium at a fixed point by a fixture in the form of a template secured to the circuit breaker frame. When the charged closing springs of the operating mechanism are released, the marking instrument produces a trace on the recording medium which is then analyzed to provide a quantitative evaluation of switch operation, including overtravel of the selected driven part.

Abstract: Switchgear with a closing spring release and an opening release accessible from a front face is further provided with top mounted closing and opening spring releases. In order to avoid interference with internal parts of the switchgear and to follow the movement of the trip mechanisms to which they are connected, these top mounted spring releases are flexible elongated members preferably in the form of flat stainless spring steel straps. The flat strap of the top mounted opening spring release has a slot engaging the opening trip lever and is sized so as not to engage the trip lever when the front accessible spring release is otherwise actuated. As the horizontal pivot axis of the closing spring trip lever moves transversely, the flat strap of the top mounted closing spring release is oriented to bend in the same direction while the lower end section is twisted 90.degree. to receive a coupling pin on the trip lever.

Abstract: An improved flexible connector for a circuit breaker. The flexible connector preferably, comprises a plurality of flexible sheets arranged in a stack. The stack defines an opening having an edge including at least one tab extending inwardly from the edge of the opening. The tabs are adapted to bend so that they make a secure interference fit with a movable contact so that current can flow directly from the movable contact into the flexible connector. A circuit interrupter system is also disclosed.