Abstract: An actuator assembly including a first actuator having a first magnetically actuated plunger and a first latching plate, where the first plunger is operable to be magnetically latched to the first latching plate. The actuator assembly further includes a second actuator coupled to and axially aligned with the first actuator. The second actuator includes a second magnetically actuated plunger, a second latching plate, a sleeve positioned within and extending from the second plunger and being rigidly secured to the first plunger, and a tolerance spring wrapped around the sleeve. The second plunger is operable to be magnetically latched to the second latching plate, where latching of the second plunger causes the tolerance spring to compress and provide additional latching force of the first plunger to the first latching plate.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.

Abstract: A switch assembly including a vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact and a movable contact, an actuator operable to move the movable contact, and a drive rod assembly coupled to the movable contact and the actuator. The drive rod assembly includes a male part and a female part where the male part is inserted into and coupled to the female part. One of the male part or the female part includes a conductor that provides an electrical connection between the male and female parts and one of the male part or the female part includes a locking ring that snap fits into a groove in the other male or female part.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter including a cylindrical insulator, a first end cap sealed to one end of the insulator and a second end cap sealed to an opposite end of the insulator to provide a vacuum chamber. The vacuum interrupter further includes a fixed contact stem extending through the first end cap and having a contact positioned within the chamber, and a movable contact stem extending through the second end cap and having a contact portion positioned within the chamber. A first vapor shield is formed around the fixed contact stem so as to define a gap between the fixed contact and the insulator and a second vapor shield is formed around the movable contact so as to define a gap between the movable contact and the insulator.

Abstract: A switch assembly including a vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact and a movable contact, an actuator operable to move the movable contact, and a drive rod assembly coupled to the movable contact and the actuator. The drive rod assembly includes a male part and a female part where the male part is inserted into and coupled to the female part. One of the male part or the female part includes a conductor that provides an electrical connection between the male and female parts and one of the male part or the female part includes a locking ring that snap fits into a groove in the other male or female part.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.

Abstract: An actuator assembly including a first actuator having a first magnetically actuated plunger and a first latching plate, where the first plunger is operable to be magnetically latched to the first latching plate. The actuator assembly further includes a second actuator coupled to and axially aligned with the first actuator. The second actuator includes a second magnetically actuated plunger, a second latching plate, a sleeve positioned within and extending from the second plunger and being rigidly secured to the first plunger, and a tolerance spring wrapped around the sleeve. The second plunger is operable to be magnetically latched to the second latching plate, where latching of the second plunger causes the tolerance spring to compress and provide additional latching force of the first plunger to the first latching plate.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter including a cylindrical insulator, a first end cap sealed to one end of the insulator and a second end cap sealed to an opposite end of the insulator to provide a vacuum chamber. The vacuum interrupter further includes a fixed contact stem extending through the first end cap and having a contact positioned within the chamber, and a movable contact stem extending through the second end cap and having a contact portion positioned within the chamber. A first vapor shield is formed around the fixed contact stem so as to define a gap between the fixed contact and the insulator and a second vapor shield is formed around the movable contact so as to define a gap between the movable contact and the insulator.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a switchgear unit is disclosed. The operating unit includes an input drive shaft operable to rotate and counter-rotate. A trip linkage has a cam disk rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft and is coupled to a spring-drive mechanism for opening and closing the vacuum interrupter. An over-center linkage has a drive link rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft, and a follower link for opening and closing the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft through a first range drives the trip linkage for opening the vacuum interrupter and moves the drive link though an over-center position without opening the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft though a second range drives the over-center linkage for opening the isolating disconnect after the vacuum interrupter is opened.

Abstract: Devices and assemblies are provided for operating circuit interrupters. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a circuit interrupter and a contact spring assembly. The circuit interrupter is located within the housing and includes a moving contact and a stationary contact. Contact spring assembly includes a mass, a plunger, a ferrule, a spring, and a dielectric drive rod. The mass defines an inner bore with a first diameter at a first portion of the mass and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter at a second portion of the mass. The plunger has a flange portion and a body portion. The flange portion is located within the inner bore at the second portion and has a flange diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The spring is disposed within the inner bore between the plunger and the ferrule.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a switchgear unit is disclosed. The operating unit includes an input drive shaft operable to rotate and counter-rotate. A trip linkage has a cam disk rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft and is coupled to a spring-drive mechanism for opening and closing the vacuum interrupter. An over-center linkage has a drive link rotatably coupled to the input drive shaft, and a follower link for opening and closing the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft through a first range drives the trip linkage for opening the vacuum interrupter and moves the drive link though an over-center position without opening the isolating disconnect. Rotation of the input drive shaft though a second range drives the over-center linkage for opening the isolating disconnect after the vacuum interrupter is opened.

Abstract: Devices and assemblies are provided for operating circuit interrupters. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a circuit interrupter and a contact spring assembly. The circuit interrupter is located within the housing and includes a moving contact and a stationary contact. Contact spring assembly includes a mass, a plunger, a ferrule, a spring, and a dielectric drive rod. The mass defines an inner bore with a first diameter at a first portion of the mass and a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter at a second portion of the mass. The plunger has a flange portion and a body portion. The flange portion is located within the inner bore at the second portion and has a flange diameter that is larger than the first diameter. The spring is disposed within the inner bore between the plunger and the ferrule.

Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.

Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.

Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.

Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.

Abstract: An arc extinguishing composition including an arc-quenching metal hydrate (herein defined as a metal compound that produces water vapor (H2O) when in contact with an electrical arc), and one or more binders. The compositions contain an arc-quenching metal hydrate compound, such as Mg(OH)2, with or without a second arc-quenching compound, such as melamine, and these metal hydrate-containing compositions are used in a method of extinguishing an arc by disposing the molded compositions along a path of an electrical arc, for contacting the arc.