Vacuum circuit interrupter with actuation having active damping

A method of operating a vacuum circuit interrupter, the method comprising:

• actuating an actuator to operate a vacuum circuit interrupter that comprises a fixed contact and a moveable contact contained within a vacuum chamber, wherein:
• the actuator is connected to a non-conductive rod that is connected to the moveable contact and that extends from the vacuum chamber,
• the actuator comprises a first Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod, a first armature that is connected to the non-conductive rod, and a driver that is configured to energize the first Thomson coil, and
• the actuating comprises, by the driver, energizing the first Thomson coil so that when the first Thomson coil is energized the first armature will be repelled from the first Thomson coil and move the non-conductive rod to open the vacuum circuit interrupter;
• and
• causing a damper that is attached to the non-conductive rod to apply an active damping force to the non-conductive rod when the non-conductive rod is moved.

A circuit interrupter system, comprising:

• a vacuum circuit interrupter that comprises a fixed contact and a moveable contact contained within a vacuum chamber;
• a non-conductive rod that is connected to the moveable contact and that extends from the vacuum chamber;
• an actuator that is connected to the non-conductive rod, wherein the actuator comprises:
• a first Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod,
• a first armature that is connected to the non-conductive rod, and
• a driver that is configured to energize the first Thomson coil so that when the first Thomson coil is energized, the first armature will be repelled from the first Thomson coil and will move the non-conductive rod to open the vacuum circuit interrupter;
• and
• a damper that comprises a solenoid and a permanent magnet that is configured to provide an active damping force to the non-conductive rod when the non-conductive rod is moved to open the vacuum circuit interrupter.

A circuit interrupter system, comprising:

• a vacuum circuit interrupter that comprises a fixed contact and a moveable contact contained within a vacuum chamber;
• a non-conductive rod that is connected to the moveable contact and that extends from the vacuum chamber;
• an actuator that is connected to the non-conductive rod and that is configured to selectively move the non-conductive rod in a first direction that will drive the moveable contact toward the fixed contact, and in a second direction that will drive the moveable contact away from the fixed contact;
• and
• a damper that comprises a solenoid and a plunger that provides an active damping force to the non-conductive rod when the non-conductive rod is moved in the first direction, the second direction, or both the first direction and the second direction;
• wherein the actuator comprises:
• a first Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod,
• a second Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod,
• an armature that is connected to the non-conductive rod and positioned between the first Thomson coil and the second Thomson coil, and
• a driver that is configured to selectively energize the first Thomson coil and the second Thomson coil so that:
• when the first Thomson coil is energized, the armature will be repelled from the first Thomson coil, and the armature will move the non-conductive rod in the first direction;
• and
• when the second Thomson coil is energized, the armature will be repelled from the second Thomson coil, and the armature will move the non-conductive rod in the second direction.

A circuit interrupter system, comprising:

• a vacuum circuit interrupter that comprises a fixed contact and a moveable contact contained within a vacuum chamber;
• a non-conductive rod that is connected to the moveable contact and that extends from the vacuum chamber;
• an actuator that is connected to the non-conductive rod and that is configured to selectively move the non-conductive rod in a first direction that will drive the moveable contact toward the fixed contact, and in a second direction that will drive the moveable contact away from the fixed contact;
• and
• a damper that comprises a solenoid and a plunger that provides an active damping force to the non-conductive rod when the non-conductive rod is moved in the first direction, the second direction, or both the first direction and the second direction
• wherein the actuator comprises:
• a first Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod,
• a second Thomson coil that is wound around the non-conductive rod,
• a first armature that is connected to the non-conductive rod and positioned between the first Thomson coil and the vacuum circuit interrupter,
• a second armature that is connected to the non-conductive rod and positioned so that the second Thomson coil is between the vacuum circuit interrupter and the second armature, and
• a driver that is configured to selectively energize the first Thomson coil and the second Thomson coil so that:
• when the first Thomson coil is energized, the first armature will be repelled from the first Thomson coil, and the first armature will move the non-conductive rod to close the vacuum circuit interrupter;
• and
• when the second Thomson coil is energized, the second armature will be repelled from the second Thomson coil, and the second armature will move the non-conductive rod in the second direction to open the vacuum circuit interrupter.