Abstract: A sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system has a tank constructed to hold a quantity of SF6; a circuit breaker having contacts insulated by the SF6; a heater operative to supply heat to the SF6; and a thermal capacitor in conductive engagement with the tank, and operative to store heat energy and constructed to conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank. A thermal energy storage system for a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system having a tank storing a quantity of SF6 includes a thermal capacitor operative to store heat energy and constructed to engage the tank and conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank.

Abstract: A sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system has a tank constructed to hold a quantity of SF6; a circuit breaker having contacts insulated by the SF6; a heater operative to supply heat to the SF6; and a thermal capacitor in conductive engagement with the tank, and operative to store heat energy and constructed to conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank. A thermal energy storage system for a sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulated circuit breaker system having a tank storing a quantity of SF6 includes a thermal capacitor operative to store heat energy and constructed to engage the tank and conduct the heat energy to the SF6 in the tank.

Abstract: A tank for a circuit breaker has a body defining an interior volume and having opposing ends. An flange is at each end of the body with the flanges defining a central longitudinal axis of the body. The body has an internal surface defining a top portion of the tank disposed substantially above the axis and defining a bottom portion of the tank disposed substantially below the axis. The top portion is spaced from the axis as defined by at least a first radius from the axis. The bottom portion is spaced from the axis as defined by at least a second radius from axis. The second radius is greater than the first radius so as to reduce an electric field intensity on the bottom portion of the body and thus reduce effects of foreign particles within the interior volume, regardless of phase rotation.

Abstract: A tank for a circuit breaker has a body defining an interior volume and having opposing ends. An flange is at each end of the body with the flanges defining a central longitudinal axis of the body. The body has an internal surface defining a top portion of the tank disposed substantially above the axis and defining a bottom portion of the tank disposed substantially below the axis. The top portion is spaced from the axis as defined by at least a first radius from the axis. The bottom portion is spaced from the axis as defined by at least a second radius from axis. The second radius is greater than the first radius so as to reduce an electric field intensity on the bottom portion of the body and thus reduce effects of foreign particles within the interior volume, regardless of phase rotation.

Abstract: A linkage and operating assembly is provided for a dead tank circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a plurality of pole assemblies and an actuating assembly associated with each pole assembly for opening and closing a movable electrical contact of the associated pole assembly. The linkage and operating assembly includes a linkage module having a plurality of drive structures. Each drive structure has a portion constructed and arranged to be removably coupled to an associated actuating assembly. An operating mechanism is coupled with the linkage module for causing movement of the drive structures substantially simultaneously. When the portions of the drive structures are decoupled from the associated actuating assemblies, the linkage module together with the operating mechanism is constructed and arranged to be removed as a single unit from the circuit breaker.

Abstract: Current path structure provides a current path between an interrupter assembly and a resistor assembly of a dead tank circuit breaker and includes an electrically conductive fixed support having first and second ends. The first end is fixed to one of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. A substantially hollow, electrically conductive conductor has first and second ends, with a connector at the first end thereof. The connector is removably connected to the other of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. Coupling structure removably couples the conductor with the fixed support such that when coupled, the current path structure is in an operative position electrically connecting the interrupter assembly with the resistor assembly, and when decoupled, the fixed support can be moved into telescoping relation within the conductor defining a collapsed position of the current path structure.

Abstract: Drive structure is provided for connection between an actuating assembly of a circuit breaker and linkage structure for opening and closing a movable electrical contact disposed in a volume of insulating material in a pole assembly. The drive structure includes a drive lever constructed and arranged to connect with the at least one actuating assembly. A drive shaft has first and second ends, with the first end being removably coupled to the drive lever so that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive lever. Seal structure is disposed between the drive lever and the actuating assembly such that the drive shaft can be removed from the drive lever without disrupting the volume of insulating material.

Abstract: Contact alignment structure aligns a contact of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes the contact fixed to a conductor, and a resistor tube having a longitudinal axis. The contact alignment structure includes a tube clamp assembly for selectively coupling to a periphery of the resistor tube. A rocker assembly is coupled with the tube clamp assembly and with the conductor so that the conductor is supported by the rocker assembly only at one end of the conductor. When the rocker assembly is coupled to the conductor, the tube clamp assembly can be rotated about the periphery of the resistor tube to change a position of the contact in a first degree of freedom, and a portion of the rocker arm assembly can be moved to change a position of the contact in a second degree of freedom that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the resistor tube.

Abstract: Holding structure includes a gear rack member for coupling with an object for movement therewith. The gear rack member includes a set of a teeth and a cam profile surface. A latch is associated with the set of teeth so as to engage and disengage the teeth. A cam follower is fixed to the latch to engage the cam profile surface thereby defining the engaged or disengaged position of the latch with respect to the teeth. A spring provides torque on the latch. The holding structure is constructed and arranged such that during movement of the object in an intended direction, the latch engages the teeth and is held in the engaged position by the spring so as to stop any movement of the object in a direction that is opposite the intended direction, otherwise, the spring is constructed and arranged to hold the latch in the disengaged position.

Abstract: Linkage structure is connected between an operating mechanism and an actuating assembly of a circuit breaker for opening and closing an electrical contact of a pole assembly. The linkage assembly includes a lever to connect with the actuating assembly. A connection rod is coupled to one end of the lever and is associated with a close spring for closing the electrical contact. A spring structure is coupled to another end of the lever. The spring structure includes an open spring providing a spring force on the lever for opening the electrical contact. The open spring places the connection rod in tension. Retaining structure is associated with the lever and the spring structure to ensure that the spring force of the open spring, exerted on the lever, is directed to the retaining structure so that tension on the connection rod is removed, enabling the connection rod to be serviced.

Abstract: Linkage structure is provided for connection between an operating mechanism and at least one actuating assembly of a circuit breaker for opening and closing a movable electrical contact of a pole assembly associated with the actuating assembly. The linkage structure includes at least one lever constructed and arranged to connect with the at least one actuating assembly. At least one connection rod is coupled to the lever and associated with a close spring for closing the electrical contact. At least one spring structure is coupled to the lever. The spring structure includes at least one open spring providing a spring force on the lever for opening the electrical contact while maintaining the connection rod in tension.

Abstract: A pole and actuating assembly for a circuit breaker includes a support frame, a plurality of pole and actuating members carried on the support frame, cabinet movably coupled with respect to the support frame, and guide structure between the support frame and the cabinet. The guide structure is constructed and arranged to permit guided, generally vertical movement of the cabinet with respect to the support frame so that the cabinet can be moved between an installation position wherein a bottom surface of the cabinet is on a plane different from a plane of the support frame, and a travel position wherein the bottom surface of the cabinet is on generally the same plane as the support frame.

Abstract: Holding structure includes a gear rack member for coupling with an object for movement therewith. The gear rack member includes a set of a teeth and a cam profile surface. A latch is associated with the set of teeth so as to engage and disengage the teeth. A cam follower is fixed to the latch to engage the cam profile surface thereby defining the engaged or disengaged position of the latch with respect to the teeth. A spring provides torque on the latch. The holding structure is constructed and arranged such that during movement of the object in an intended direction, the latch engages the teeth and is held in the engaged position by the spring so as to stop any movement of the object in a direction that is opposite the intended direction, otherwise, the spring is constructed and arranged to hold the latch in the disengaged position.

Abstract: Current path structure provides a current path between an interrupter assembly and a resistor assembly of a dead tank circuit breaker and includes an electrically conductive fixed support having first and second ends. The first end is fixed to one of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. A substantially hollow, electrically conductive conductor has first and second ends, with a connector at the first end thereof. The connector is removably connected to the other of the interrupter assembly or the resistor assembly. Coupling structure removably couples the conductor with the fixed support such that when coupled, the current path structure is in an operative position electrically connecting the interrupter assembly with the resistor assembly, and when decoupled, the fixed support can be moved into telescoping relation within the conductor defining a collapsed position of the current path structure.

Abstract: Contact alignment structure aligns a contact of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes the contact fixed to a conductor, and a resistor tube having a longitudinal axis. The contact alignment structure includes a tube clamp assembly for selectively coupling to a periphery of the resistor tube. A rocker assembly is coupled with the tube clamp assembly and with the conductor so that the conductor is supported by the rocker assembly only at one end of the conductor. When the rocker assembly is coupled to the conductor, the tube clamp assembly can be rotated about the periphery of the resistor tube to change a position of the contact in a first degree of freedom, and a portion of the rocker arm assembly can be moved to change a position of the contact in a second degree of freedom that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the resistor tube.

Abstract: Linkage structure is connected between an operating mechanism and an actuating assembly of a circuit breaker for opening and closing an electrical contact of a pole assembly. The linkage assembly includes a lever to connect with the actuating assembly. A connection rod is coupled to one end of the lever and is associated with a close spring for closing the electrical contact. A spring structure is coupled to another end of the lever. The spring structure includes an open spring providing a spring force on the lever for opening the electrical contact. The open spring places the connection rod in tension. Retaining structure is associated with the lever and the spring structure to ensure that the spring force of the open spring, exerted on the lever, is directed to the retaining structure so that tension on the connection rod is removed, enabling the connection rod to be serviced.

Abstract: Drive structure is provided for connection between an actuating assembly of a circuit breaker and linkage structure for opening and closing a movable electrical contact disposed in a volume of insulating material in a pole assembly. The drive structure includes a drive lever constructed and arranged to connect with the at least one actuating assembly. A drive shaft has first and second ends, with the first end being removably coupled to the drive lever so that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive lever. Seal structure is disposed between the drive lever and the actuating assembly such that the drive shaft can be removed from the drive lever without disrupting the volume of insulating material.

Abstract: Linkage structure is provided for connection between an operating mechanism and at least one actuating assembly of a circuit breaker for opening and closing a movable electrical contact of a pole assembly associated with the actuating assembly. The linkage structure includes at least one lever constructed and arranged to connect with the at least one actuating assembly. At least one connection rod is coupled to the lever and associated with a close spring for closing the electrical contact. At least one spring structure is coupled to the lever. The spring structure includes at least one open spring providing a spring force on the lever for opening the electrical contact while maintaining the connection rod in tension.

Abstract: A pole and actuating assembly for a circuit breaker includes a frame, a plurality of pole and actuating members including a pair of outer pole and actuating members fixed to the frame and a center pole and actuating member disposed there-between and rotatably fixed with respect to the frame. The center pole and actuating member, in an installation position, has a vertical height greater than a vertical height of each of the outer pole and actuating members. Bracket structure is coupled to the frame to permit rotation of the center pole and actuating member to be disposed securely at an acute angle with respect to the frame, thereby reducing the vertical height of the center pole and actuating member in a travel position thereof.

Abstract: A pole and actuating assembly for a circuit breaker includes a support frame, a plurality of pole and actuating members carried on the support frame, cabinet movably coupled with respect to the support frame, and guide structure between the support frame and the cabinet. The guide structure is constructed and arranged to permit guided, generally vertical movement of the cabinet with respect to the support frame so that the cabinet can be moved between an installation position wherein a bottom surface of the cabinet is on a plane different from a plane of the support frame, and a travel position wherein the bottom surface of the cabinet is on generally the same plane as the support frame.