Abstract: An electrical contact assembly includes a contact apparatus with stationary first and second contact members, a movable contact member having a generally planar profile and an armature operable to produce a force to cause the movable contact member to remain closed upon application of current through the first contact member, the movable contact member, and second contact member, and an actuator mechanism coupled to a side of the movable contact member and adapted to open and close the contact apparatus.

Abstract: An electrical contactor includes a first stationary contact bar with first and second contact surfaces, and a single moving contact bar with first and second contact surfaces. The first and second contact surfaces of the first stationary contact bar and the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar are configured such that, when the single moving contact bar travels towards the first stationary contact bar, the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar touches the first contact surface of the first stationary contact bar in a first contact point, and the second contact surface of the first stationary contact bar in a second contact point. At least one of the first and second contact surfaces of the first stationary contact bar or the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar have a convex shape to establish the first and second contact points.

Abstract: An electrical contact apparatus is disclosed. The contact apparatus has first contact member having a first contact, a movable contact member received adjacent to the first contact member, the movable contact member having an opposing contact positioned adjacent the first contact, and an armature operable to produce an electromagnetic closing force to cause the movable contact member to remain closed upon application of current through the first contact member, movable contact member. Contact assemblies and methods of operating the contact apparatus are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An electrical contactor includes a first stationary contact bar with first and second contact surfaces, and a single moving contact bar with first and second contact surfaces. The first and second contact surfaces of the first stationary contact bar and the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar are configured such that, when the single moving contact bar travels towards the first stationary contact bar, the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar touches the first contact surface of the first stationary contact bar in a first contact point, and the second contact surface of the first stationary contact bar in a second contact point. At least one of the first and second contact surfaces of the first stationary contact bar or the first contact surface of the single moving contact bar have a convex shape to establish the first and second contact points.

Abstract: Embodiments include a liquid cooled electronic device including a compartment configured to enclose an electronic module therein. The compartment includes a stationary cooling plate disposed on an interior portion of the compartment, the stationary cooling plate comprising a liquid cooling system configured to remove heat from the stationary cooling plate and a plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic module. The electronic module includes a mobile cooling plate configured to intimately fit with the stationary cooling plate when the plurality of electrical connectors are connected to the electronic device module. The heat generated by the electronic module is removed by the mobile cooling plate and the stationary cooling plate.

Abstract: Embodiments of an angled electrical contactor are provided. An aspect includes a moving contact bar including at least 4 contact discs, wherein a first contact disc and a second contact disc of the moving contact bar are located in a first plane, and a third contact disc and a fourth contact disc of the moving contact bar are located in a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are distinct and are at an angle to each other. Another aspect includes a first stationary contact bar including at least 2 contact discs, wherein a first contact disc of first stationary contact bar is in a third plane, the third plane being substantially parallel to the first plane, and a second contact disc of the first stationary contact bar is in a fourth plane, the fourth plane being substantially parallel to the second plane.

Abstract: Embodiments of an angled electrical contactor are provided. An aspect includes a moving contact bar including at least 4 contact discs, wherein a first contact disc and a second contact disc of the moving contact bar are located in a first plane, and a third contact disc and a fourth contact disc of the moving contact bar are located in a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are distinct and are at an angle to each other. Another aspect includes a first stationary contact bar including at least 2 contact discs, wherein a first contact disc of first stationary contact bar is in a third plane, the third plane being substantially parallel to the first plane, and a second contact disc of the first stationary contact bar is in a fourth plane, the fourth plane being substantially parallel to the second plane.

Abstract: A power supply having one or more power electronic modules that may be replaced without shutting down the power supply. Each power electronic module may be enclosed in a separate compartment of the power supply. Each compartment may have stationary electrical connectors configured to electrically connect to the power electronic module. A racking mechanism connected to a handle outside the compartment may move a power electronic module out of electrical contact with the stationary electrical connectors and/or into electrical contact with the stationary electrical connectors. Movement of a power electronic module within the compartment may occur without shutting down the power supply. Methods of replacing power electronic modules without shutting down the power supply are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Embodiments include a liquid cooled electronic device including a compartment configured to enclose an electronic module therein. The compartment includes a stationary cooling plate disposed on an interior portion of the compartment, the stationary cooling plate comprising a liquid cooling system configured to remove heat from the stationary cooling plate and a plurality of electrical connectors configured to connect to the electronic module. The electronic module includes a mobile cooling plate configured to intimately fit with the stationary cooling plate when the plurality of electrical connectors are connected to the electronic device module. The heat generated by the electronic module is removed by the mobile cooling plate and the stationary cooling plate.

Abstract: A current sensor for measuring medium-voltage currents. The current sensor includes an input terminal configured to receive a current, an output terminal configured to transmit the current, a closed core made from a magnetic material and comprising a gap, at least one conductor operably connected to the input terminal and the output terminal and passing through the closed core, the at least one conductor sized to carry the current, and a molded case of solid dielectric material configured to encapsulate the closed core and the at least one conductor, wherein the gap and the terminals are not encapsulated by the molded case. The molded case is dimensioned such that internal and external spacings defined by the molded case are suitable for continuous operation with a medium voltage current as applied to the terminals and the at least one conductor while the core is at ground potential.

Abstract: A power supply having one or more power electronic modules that may be replaced without shutting down the power supply. Each power electronic module may be enclosed in a separate compartment of the power supply. Each compartment may have stationary electrical connectors configured to electrically connect to the power electronic module. A racking mechanism connected to a handle outside the compartment may move a power electronic module out of electrical contact with the stationary electrical connectors and/or into electrical contact with the stationary electrical connectors. Movement of a power electronic module within the compartment may occur without shutting down the power supply. Methods of replacing power electronic modules without shutting down the power supply are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A system for cooling a multi-cell power supply, the system including a water pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger in fluid communication with the water pump, and a supply water manifold in fluid connection with the water-to-air-heat exchanger. The system further includes a plurality of power cells in fluid communication with the supply water manifold via one or more water hoses, and a multi-winding device in fluid communication with the plurality of power cells via at least one water-cooled bus, wherein the at least one water cooled bus electrically connects the power cells to secondary windings of the multi-winding device. The water-cooled buses provide both electrical current as well as cooling fluid to each winding of the multi-winding device, thereby eliminating a need for separate cooling and power connections.

Abstract: An electrical contact apparatus is disclosed. The contact apparatus has first contact member having a first contact, a movable contact member received adjacent to the first contact member, the movable contact member having an opposing contact positioned adjacent the first contact, and an armature operable to produce an electromagnetic closing force to cause the movable contact member to remain closed upon application of current through the first contact member, movable contact member. Contact assemblies and methods of operating the contact apparatus are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A current sensor for measuring medium-voltage currents. The current sensor includes an input terminal configured to receive a current, an output terminal configured to transmit the current, a closed core made from a magnetic material and comprising a gap, at least one conductor operably connected to the input terminal and the output terminal and passing through the closed core, the at least one conductor sized to carry the current, and a molded case of solid dielectric material configured to encapsulate the closed core and the at least one conductor, wherein the gap and the terminals are not encapsulated by the molded case. The molded case is dimensioned such that internal and external spacings defined by the molded case are suitable for continuous operation with a medium voltage current as applied to the terminals and the at least one conductor while the core is at ground potential.

Abstract: A bypass device for bypassing a power cell of a multi-cell device. The bypass device includes a stationary portion of a first set of contacts connected to at least first and second output terminals of a power cell, a magnetically latching solenoid that, when energized, moves a moving portion of the first set of contacts from a first position to a second position or from the second position to the first position, and at least one added insulating material positioned between the solenoid and the first set of contacts, and configured to allow a voltage between the magnetically latching solenoid and the first and second output terminals of the power cell to exceed a voltage between said output terminals.

Abstract: A magnetically latching solenoid and method of determining a position of a plunger contained therein. The solenoid includes a frame, a plunger configured to move through the frame between a first stable position and a second stable position, and at least one magnet mounted near the center of the frame such that a first and second magnetic fields are produced by the magnet through the frame and the plunger, wherein each of the first and second magnetic fields drive a separate portion of the frame into magnetic saturation depending on the position of the plunger. The solenoid also includes a first and second sensors mounted on the frame at different locations configured to detect and measure the first and second magnetic fields. The detected and measured magnetic fields are then used to determine the position of the plunger in the solenoid.

Abstract: A signal isolating transformer may be arranged such that a first coil of the signal isolating transformer is located in a medium voltage compartment and a second coil of the signal isolating transformer is located external to the medium voltage compartment. The transformer spans an opening defined by a grounded wall to isolate faults in the medium voltage compartment.

Abstract: A method of reducing switching losses in a power supply includes the steps of advancing the output voltage of a first pole of a power cell by a first angle, retarding the output voltage of a second pole of the power cell by a second angle, and producing a combined output voltage of the power cell equal to a positive pulse of a duration angle equal to the sum of the first angle and the second angle for a first half of a switching cycle of the power cell, and equal to a negative pulse of a duration angle equal to the sum of the first angle and the second angle for a second half of the switching cycle of the power cell.

Abstract: A system for bypassing a power cell of a power supply, the system including a multi-winding device having a primary winding and a plurality of three-phase secondary windings, a plurality of power cells, wherein each power cell is connected to a different three-phase secondary winding of the multi-winding device, and a bypass device connected to first and second input terminals of at least one of the power cells and to first and second output terminals of the at least one of the power cells.

Abstract: A method. The method includes determining that a failure has occurred in a power cell of a multi-cell power supply. The method also includes moving a part of a first contact which is connected to first and second output terminals of the power cell from a first position to a second position, moving a part of a second contact which is connected to a first input terminal of the power cell from a third position to a fourth position, and moving a part of a third contact which is connected to a second input terminal of the power cell from a fifth position to a sixth position.