Variable-speed circuit breaker and switching method for same

A vacuum interrupter system, comprising:

• a fixed contact;
• a moveable contact;
• a single Thomson coil actuator structured to separate and open the contacts;
• a bellows that comprises a plurality of sections;
• and
• a controller that is operable to:
• receive, from a sensor, a sensed level of current or voltage in the circuit breaker;
• determine, based on the sensed level, that one of a plurality of fault conditions exists;
• select, from a plurality of current levels corresponding to the plurality of fault conditions, an actuating current level corresponding to the existing fault condition;
• and
• apply the selected actuating current level to the actuator to separate and open the contacts;
• wherein the bellows are structured such that separating and opening the contacts causes a first section of the bellows to move more quickly than, or to a greater distance than, a second section of the bellows, and
• wherein each current level in the plurality of current levels corresponds to a distinct opening speed such that applying the actuating current level to the actuator separates and opens the contacts at a speed different than the speed at which the actuator would separate and open the contacts if a different current level were to be selected.

A vacuum interrupter system, comprising:

• a fixed contact;
• a moveable contact;
• single actuator structured to separate and open the contacts;
• a bellows that comprises a plurality of sections;
• and
• a controller that is operable to:
• receive, from a sensor, a sensed level of current or voltage in the circuit breaker;
• determine, based on the sensed level, that one of a plurality of fault conditions exists;
• select, from a plurality of current levels corresponding to the plurality of fault conditions, an actuating current level corresponding to the existing fault condition;
• and
• apply the selected actuating current level to the actuator to separate and open the contacts;
• wherein the bellows are structured such that separating and opening the contacts causes a first section of the bellows to move more quickly than, or to a greater distance than, a second section of the bellow, and
• wherein each current level in the plurality of current levels corresponds to a distinct opening speed such that applying the actuating current level to the actuator separates and opens the contacts at a speed different than the speed at which the actuator would separate and open the contacts if a different current level were to be selected.