Circuit breaker with capacitor discharge system

A circuit breaker adapted for use in a switchgear enclosure, comprising a support truck adapted to translate in relation of the switchgear enclosure, a first and a second contact member mounted on the support truck, a coil, a capacitor adapted to energize the coil, an armature adapted to move the second contact member in response to energization of the coil, a racking mechanism comprising a locking arm movable between a locked position wherein the locking arm is adapted to engage the switchgear enclosure, and an unlocked position wherein the locking arm is disengaged from the switchgear enclosure, and a capacitor discharge system comprising (i) a capacitor discharge circuit electrically coupled to the capacitor, (ii) a contact switch mechanically coupled to the support truck and electrically coupled to the capacitor discharge circuit and being movable between a first and a second position, (iii) a resistor electrically coupled to the capacitor discharge circuit, and (iv) a lever arm rigidly coupled to the locking arm and adapted to move the contact switch from the first to the second position when the locking arm is moved from the locked to the unlocked position, wherein the capacitor discharge system is adapted to electrically couple the capacitor and the resistor when the contact switch is in the second position.

A circuit breaker adapted for use in a switchgear enclosure, comprising a support truck, a contact member mounted on the support truck, a coil, a capacitor adapted to energize the coil, an armature adapted to move the contact member in response to energization of the coil, a racking mechanism adapted to move the support truck in relation to the switchgear enclosure and comprising a locking arm movable between a locked position wherein the locking arm is adapted to engage the switchgear enclosure, and an unlocked position wherein the locking arm is disengaged from the switchgear enclosure, and a capacitor discharge system comprising a resistor and a capacitor discharge circuit adapted to electrically couple the capacitor and the resistor in response to movement of the locking arm from the locked to the unlocked positions.

A method of removing a circuit breaker from a switchgear enclosure to minimize a possibility of personnel injury caused by contact with a capacitor of the circuit breaker, comprising:

• disengaging a locking handle of the circuit breaker from the switchgear enclosure and moving a contact switch of the circuit breaker to a closed position to establish electrical contact between the capacitor and a resistor by moving the locking handle from a locked to an unlocked position;
• and
• applying a force to the circuit breaker to urge the circuit breaker out of the switchgear enclosure.