Shorting switch and system to eliminate arcing faults in power distribution equipment

A shorting system for eliminating arcing faults in power distribution equipment, said shorting system comprising:

• a vacuum switch comprising a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable along a longitudinal axis between a closed circuit position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly;
• a driven member;
• a mount mounting the driven member for linear movement along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable contact assembly, said driven member coupled to the movable contact assembly to move the movable contact assembly between the open circuit position and the closed circuit position with the linear movement of the driven member;
• a spring member having a compressed state and a released state, which moves said driven member and the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position;
• a release member having an opening therein, said release member coupled to said driven member and normally maintaining said spring member in the compressed state;
• a charge disposed in the opening of said release member, said charge being actuated to fracture said release member and release said spring member to the released state;
• first and second terminals respectively electrically interconnected with said fixed contact assembly and said movable contact assembly;
• and
• means for detecting an arcing fault and responsively activating the charge disposed in the opening of said release member,
• wherein said activated charge fractures said release member, which releases said spring member, which drives said driven member to move the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position to eliminate said arcing fault.

A shorting switch for eliminating arcing faults in power distribution equipment, said shorting switch comprising:

• a vacuum switch comprising a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable along a longitudinal axis between a closed circuit position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly;
• a driven member having a longitudinal opening with a circumferential groove therein;
• a mount mounting the driven member for linear movement along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable contact assembly, said driven member coupled to the movable contact assembly to move the movable contact assembly between the open circuit position and the closed circuit position with the linear movement of the driven member;
• a spring member having a compressed state and a released state, which moves said driven member and the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position;
• a ball-lock member having a plurality of ball bearings and a push rod with a circumferential groove therein, said ball bearings engaging the circumferential groove of the longitudinal opening of the driven member to hold said spring member in the compressed state and to hold said movable contact assembly in the open circuit position;
• means for driving the push rod of said ball-lock member into the longitudinal opening of said driven member to cause said ball bearings to engage the circumferential groove of the push rod of said ball-lock member and to release said driven member, in order to move the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position;
• and
• first and second terminals respectively electrically connected to said fixed contact assembly and said movable contact assembly.

A shorting system for eliminating arcing faults in power distribution equipment, said shorting system comprising:

• a housing;
• a vacuum switch comprising a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable along a longitudinal axis between a closed circuit position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly;
• a driven member;
• a mount mounting the driven member in said housing for linear movement along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the movable contact assembly, said driven member coupled to the movable contact assembly to move the movable contact assembly between the open circuit position and the closed circuit position with the linear movement of the driven member;
• a spring member having a compressed state and a released state, which moves said driven member and the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position;
• a latch member, which normally latches said driven member to hold said spring member in the compressed state and to hold said movable contact assembly in the open circuit position, said latch member releasing said driven member to move the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position, said latch member having an end, which engages said driven member, and a pivot in said housing;
• means for detecting an arcing fault and responsively unlatching the end of said latch member to release said driven member to move the movable contact assembly to the closed circuit position;
• and
• first and second terminals respectively electrically interconnected with said fixed contact assembly and said movable contact assembly.