Commutating Circuit Breaker

A commutating circuit breaker for use in an electrical circuit that defines an electrical path wherein current flows through the commutating circuit breaker when it is in an on state, the commutating circuit breaker comprising:

• a stator having one or more stator electrodes;
• a shuttle having one or more shuttle electrodes, the shuttle movable with respect to the stator and configured such that during such motion the shuttle electrodes slide against the stator electrodes;
• wherein at least one of the stator and shuttle has an increasing resistivity along its length, with a higher graded resistivity on at least a trailing edge that comprises a portion of one electrode that last touches another electrode when the shuttle moves relative to the stator;
• and
• a launching system arranged to move the shuttle relative to the stator between an on state position where the commutating circuit breaker presents a relatively low electrical resistance in the electrical circuit, and an open position where the commutating circuit breaker presents a very high electrical resistance in the electrical circuit;
• wherein as the shuttle moves between the on state position and the open position, the current flowing through the commutating circuit breaker is shunted into paths of increasing resistance.