US 12,424,404 B2
Thomson coil with energized coil damping
Tyler Holp, Coraopolis, PA (US); Brad R. Leccia, Bethel Park, PA (US); Steven Z. Chen, Coraopolis, PA (US); Xin Zhou, Wexford, PA (US); Andrew W. Lichauer, Moon Township, PA (US); Koustubh D. Ashtekar, Coraopolis, PA (US); and Michael Slepian, Murrysville, PA (US)
Assigned to EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed by EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/087,883.
Prior Publication US 2022/0139654 A1, May 5, 2022
Int. Cl. H01H 3/22 (2006.01); H01H 50/18 (2006.01); H01H 50/44 (2006.01); H01H 50/54 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 50/18 (2013.01) [H01H 3/222 (2013.01); H01H 50/44 (2013.01); H01H 50/54 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator structured to be coupled to a moving stem of a circuit interrupter in order to open and close separable contacts of the circuit interrupter, the actuator comprising:
a shaft;
a first coil member; and
a first eddy current member coupled to the shaft and disposed above the first coil member such that the first eddy current member is disposed between the first coil member and the shaft,
wherein the first coil member is structured to be electrically connected to a first current source,
wherein the first eddy current member is structured to move in response to a change in current supplied to the first coil member,
wherein the actuator is configured to stop movement of the first eddy current member in response to changes in a damping current supplied to the first coil member, and
wherein the actuator does not comprise a contact dampener and is configured to stop movement of the first eddy current member during opening of the separable contacts without a contact dampener.