Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Hayes O Dakin, Jr

Ronald W Crookston

Frank L Reese, Deceased

By Blanche Reese, Executrix

Lawrence A Brunson

An actuator for an electrical circuit interrupter utilizes a gas generating chemical charge which is carried in its own cylindrical operating chamber. These power units are stored in a magazine and are fed into an operating position by a transfer cylinder in the form of a rotary turret head having cylindrical cutouts for the power units. The operating position specifically is with a chamber juxtaposed opposite one of the two input ports of a duplex power cylinder which is connected to the operating linkages of the interrupter itself. After the power unit has operated to open the interrupter, it is ejected. The operating action is linked to a duplicate set of a storage magazine and transfer cylinder for the close direction so that while the interrupter is opening the duplicate close actuator portion is readied for instantaneous action. This provides for a fast reclosing duty cycle and multiple operations. Also, for high operating speeds and good reliability.

Actuator for an electrical circuit interrupter

A circuit breaker characterized by a pair of separable contacts, operating means for opening the contacts and comprising a cylinder and piston mechanism, closing means for closing the contacts and comprising a second cylinder and piston assembly operatively connected to the contacts.

Power circuit breaker with opening and closing mechanisms

An improved high-voltage circuit-interrupter is provided having series main contacts and resistance contacts with a closing resistance shunting the resistance contacts, so that the closing resistance is inserted into the circuit during the closing operation of the high-voltage circuit-interrupter, but is out of the circuit during the opening operation. An improved latching mechanism is provided for ensuring that the resistance contacts remain closed, during the beginning of the opening operation of the breaker, so that the closing resistance is shorted out, and the task of extinguishing the established arc, or arcs is imposed only upon the main contacts and not at the resistance contacts. During the closing operation, the construction is such that the main driving frame, carrying the movable main contact or contacts, charges a biasing means, but latches, which are provided, ensure that the main contacts are closed prior to the closing of the serially-related resistance contacts, thereby inserting the closing resistance into the circuit momentarily during the closing operation of the high-voltage circuit-interrupter. Another very important feature of the invention is the provision of an encircling closing resistance encompassing, or surrounding the separable closing contacts as a space-saving and cost-reduction constructional arrangement. Moreover, an additional feature of the invention is the provision of a probe contact, when desired, to short out the closing resistance in two steps, rather than shorting it out in one step. Thus, the individual resistance steps may be individually calculated for the optimum closing resistance value.

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North Huntingdon, PA, United States of America

Hayes O Dakin, Jr