US 11,670,471 B2
Low energy reclosing pulse test
David G Porter, East Troy, WI (US); Stephen E Williams, Caledonia, WI (US); Peter J Meyer, Evanston, IL (US); Martin T Bishop, Oak Creek, WI (US); Thomas J Dyer, Minneola, FL (US); Andrew B Berman, Racine, WI (US); Joseph W Milton, Milwaukee, WI (US); and Lauren Abramczyk, Cudahy, WI (US)
Assigned to S&C Electric Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by S&C Electric Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/712,828.
Application 17/712,828 is a continuation of application No. 17/109,015, filed on Dec. 1, 2020, granted, now 11,328,885.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,296, filed on Dec. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0230825 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01H 33/666 (2006.01); H01H 36/00 (2006.01); G01R 31/327 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/6662 (2013.01) [G01R 31/3271 (2013.01); G01R 31/3278 (2013.01); H01H 36/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a magnetically actuated switch assembly to perform a low energy test pulse, the switch assembly including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the method comprising:
energizing a magnetic actuator to move the moveable contact against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact to make contact therebetween, wherein AC current conducts across a gap formed between the movable contact and the fixed contact as the moveable contact is moved toward the fixed contact and before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact; and
reversing the magnetic actuator to move the movable contact away from the fixed contract at least under the bias of the at least one spring so that the amount of time that the current conducts between the movable contact and the fixed contact is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, wherein reversing the magnetic actuator occurs at a time so that when the movable contact and the fixed contact begin conducting an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at or near a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.
 
10. A method for performing a reclosing fault testing operation in a power distribution network using a vacuum interrupter including a fixed contact and a movable contact, the method comprising:
energizing a magnetic actuator to move the movable contact against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact to make contact therebetween, wherein AC fault current conducts across a gap formed between the movable contact and the fixed contact as the moveable contact is moved toward the fixed contact and before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact; and
reversing the magnetic actuator to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact at least under the assistance of the bias of the at least one spring so that the amount of time that the current conducts between the movable contact and the fixed contact is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the fault current.
 
14. A magnetically actuated switch assembly having a low energy pulse test capability, the switch assembly comprising:
a fixed contact and a movable contact;
a magnetic actuator coupled to the movable contact, the magnetic actuator configured, under a first energization, to move the moveable contact against the bias of at least one spring coupled to the movable contact towards the fixed contact, wherein AC current conducts across a gap formed between the movable contact and the fixed contact as the moveable contact is moved toward the fixed contact and before the movable contact and the fixed contact make contact; and
the magnetic actuator, under a second energization, being further configured when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact to allow the bias of the at least one spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts between the movable contact and the fixed contact is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, wherein second energization of the magnetic actuator occurs at a time so that when the movable contact and the fixed contact begin conducting an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at or near a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.