Method for interrupting an electrical circuit

A method for interrupting electrical current through a circuit interrupter, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) defining a first current carrying path through the interrupter and electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors;
• (b) defining a static, second current carrying path electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors, and including an open circuit section having spaced-apart conductors that are energy dissipating members and a variable resistive element electrically in series with and upstream of the open circuit section, the second current carrying path being coupled electrically in parallel with the first current carrying path and defining an open circuit during normal operation of the interrupter;
• (c) directing electrical current through the first current carrying path and no current through the second current carrying path;
• (d) forming and expanding an arc in the first current carrying path into contact with a conductor of the open circuit section electrically around the resistive element to transfer the electrical current through the second current carrying path via the variable resistive element;
• and
• (e) transitioning the variable resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance higher than the first resistance to interrupt current through the first and second current carrying paths of the interrupter.

A method for interrupting electrical current through an electrical device, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) directing electrical current through a first current carrying path electrically in series between incoming and outgoing conductors, and no current through static, alternative current carrying path electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors, and electrically in parallel with the first current carrying path, the alternative current carrying path including an open circuit section and a variable resistive element electrically in series with and upstream of the open circuit section, the open circuit section including a plurality of spaced-apart conductors;
• (b) initiating interruption of the first current carrying path thereby increasing resistance to current through the first current carrying path and forming an expanding arc therein;
• (c) expanding the arc from the first current carrying path into contact with a conductor of the open circuit section electrically around the resistive element to transfer current from the first current carrying path to the variable resistive element of the alternative current carrying path having a lower resistance than the interrupting first current carrying path;
• and
• (d) increasing resistance of the alternative current carrying path to interrupt current through both the first and alternative current carrying paths.

A method for interrupting current through an electrical device, the device including a stationary conductive element, a movable conductive element for selectively completing and interrupting a first current carrying path electrically in series between incoming and outgoing conductors through the stationary conductive element, and an alternative current carrying path electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors, and electrically in parallel with the first current carrying path and including a conductive member adjacent to the stationary conductive element, the alternative current carrying path including an open circuit section and a variable resistive element electrically in series with and upstream of the open circuit section, the method comprising the steps of:

• directing current through only the first current carrying path, the alternative current carrying path forming an open circuit section, the open circuit section including a plurality of spaced-apart conductors;
• displacing the movable conductive element from the stationary conductive element to cause an expanding arc therebetween;
• expanding the arc towards the conductive member;
• expanding the arc from the first current carrying path into contact with a conductor of the open circuit section electrically around the variable resistive element in the alternative current carrying path to transfer arc current first through the variable resistive element of the alternative current carrying path, and subsequently through the open circuit section;
• and
• increasing resistance of the alternative current carrying path to interrupt current through both the first and alternative current carrying paths.

A circuit interrupter comprising:

• means for directing electrical current through a first current carrying path electrically in series between incoming and outgoing conductors of the interrupter, and no current through a static, open second current carrying path electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors, and electrically in parallel with the first current carrying path, the second current carrying path including an open circuit section and a controllable resistive element electrically in series with and upstream of the open circuit section, the open circuit section including a plurality of spaced-apart conductors;
• means for interrupting the first current carrying path to form an expanding arc therein;
• means for expanding the arc from the first current carrying path into contact with a conductor of the open circuit section electrically around the resistive element to transfer current flow from the first current carrying path to the second current carrying path through the controllable resistive element;
• and
• means for transitioning a resistive state of the controllable resistive element in the second current carrying path from a first resistance to a second resistance higher than the first resistance to interrupt current through the first and second current carrying paths of the interrupter.

A circuit interrupter comprising:

• means for defining a first current carrying path through the interrupter and electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors;
• means for defining a static, second current carrying path electrically in series between the incoming and outgoing conductors, and including an open circuit section having spaced-apart conductors that are energy dissipating members and a variable resistive element electrically in series with and upstream of the open circuit section, the second current carrying path being coupled electrically in parallel with the first current carrying path and defining an open circuit during normal operation of the interrupter;
• means for directing electrical current through the first current carrying path and no current through the second current carrying path;
• means for forming and expanding an arc in the first current carrying path into contact with a conductor of the open circuit section electrically around the resistive element to transfer the electrical current through the second current carrying path via the variable resistive element;
• and
• means for transitioning the variable resistive element from a first resistance to a second resistance higher than the first resistance to interrupt current through the first and second current carrying paths of the interrupter.