Vacuum interrupter conductor assembly with integrated thomson coil

An actuator assembly for use with a circuit interrupter, the actuator assembly comprising:

• a stationary conductor assembly, the stationary conductor assembly comprising:
• a stationary conductor comprising a proximal end and a distal end disposed opposite the proximal end;
• a stationary separable contact coupled to the proximal end of the stationary conductor;
• and
• an insulator plate comprising a central opening through which the stationary conductor is disposed, the insulator plate being coupled to the stationary conductor and positioned distally relative to the stationary separable contact;
• a movable conductor assembly, the movable conductor assembly comprising:
• a movable conductor comprising a proximal end and a distal end disposed opposite the proximal end;
• a movable separable contact coupled to the proximal end of the movable conductor;
• and
• a conductive member formed as a cup comprising a cup base and a cup body extending from the base, the cup base comprising a central opening through which the movable conductor is disposed, the conductive member being coupled to the movable conductor such that its cup base is positioned distally relative to the moveable separable contact;
• a housing assembly, the housing assembly comprising:
• a housing body formed as an open cylinder, the housing body comprising a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first the end, the housing being coupled at the first end to the insulator plate, the second end being disposed closer to the distal end of the movable conductor assembly than the first end is;
• and
• a coil arrangement, the coil arrangement comprising:
• a coil housing coupled to the first end of the housing body;
• and
• a conductive coil seated within the housing and positioned in sufficient proximity to the cup-shaped conductive member to be able to repel the cup-shaped conductive member when a current is supplied to the conductive coil,
• wherein the movable conductor assembly is positioned such that the movable separable contact is aligned with the stationary separable contact,
• wherein the cup body of the conductive member extends from the cup base toward the movable separable contact and surrounds the movable separable contact and the stationary separable contact, and
• wherein the movable conductor is structured to move between a closed position wherein the movable separable contact is in contact with the stationary separable contact and an open position wherein there is a gap between the movable separable contact and the stationary separable contact.