US 12,112,905 B2
Alternative gas current pause circuit interrupter
Zachary Beecher, McDonough, GA (US); Teng Hu, Simpsonville, SC (US); and Joseph R Rostron, McDonough, GA (US)
Assigned to SOUTHERN STATES, LLC, Hampton, GA (US)
Filed by Southern States, LLC, Hampton, GA (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/056,347.
Prior Publication US 2024/0170240 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. H01H 33/02 (2006.01); H01H 3/42 (2006.01); H01H 33/42 (2006.01); H01H 33/56 (2006.01); H01H 33/64 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 33/64 (2013.01) [H01H 33/025 (2013.01); H01H 33/42 (2013.01); H01H 33/56 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric power circuit interrupter for a power line conducting electricity characterized by a rated voltage, a rated current, and a half-cycle period, comprising:
an insulator comprising a container filled with a dielectric gas excluding sulfur hexafluoride housing an electric power switch comprising a main contactor and an impedance contactor;
terminals connecting the electricity from the power line through the electric power switch;
a cap positioned adjacent to an end of the insulator housing a resistor and a varistor, wherein the impedance contactor, the resistor, and the varistor are electrically connected in series forming a shunt leg electrically connected in parallel with a main contactor leg comprising the main contactor;
an actuator for driving the electric power switch through an opening stroke to open the main contactor before the impedance contactor to disconnect the electricity flowing through the electric power switch;
the opening stroke causing at most two current restrikes to occur across the main contactor followed by a current pause in the shunt leg for recovery of the dielectric gas from the at most two current restrikes, the current pause comprising an electric current less than 10% of the rated current for a duration of at least 15% of the half-cycle period.