Pulsed interrupter and method of operation

An interrupter system, comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• a piston movably located at a first position and electrically coupled with both the first electrode and the second electrode establishing a closed state, wherein the piston comprises an electrical conductor that electrically couples with the first electrode and the second electrode providing an electrically conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode when in the closed state;
• an impulse force launcher configured to, when activated, induce a force on the piston causing the piston to move away from the electrical coupling with the first electrode and the second electrode such that the electrical conductor is no longer electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode and establishing an open circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode defining an open state;
• and
• a piston control system comprising a piston arresting system cooperated with the piston and configured to control a deceleration of the piston following the movement of the piston induced by the impulse force launcher such that the piston is not electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode when in the open state.

An interrupter system, comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• a first chamber;
• and
• a piston movably positioned within the first chamber and configured to move along at least a portion of a length the first chamber;
• wherein the piston comprises an electrical conductor configured to establish an electrically conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode when the piston is in a first position providing a closed state, and the electrical conductor is further configured to induce movement of the piston along at least a portion of the length of the first chamber in response to an electromagnetic pulse causing the piston to move away from the first position such that the electrical conductor is no longer electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode causing a transition from the closed state to an open state wherein there is no longer an electrically conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode.

An interrupter system, comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• a chamber;
• a piston positioned within the chamber, wherein the piston comprises an electrical conductor configured to electrically couple with both the first electrode and the second electrode and to establish an electrical path between the first electrode and a second electrode when the piston is in a first position establishing a closed state, and wherein the piston is configured to move along at least a portion of the chamber such that the piston is no longer electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode such that there is no longer an electrical path between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• a guard ring electrically coupled with the first electrode, wherein the guard ring comprises a conductive body formed in substantially a ring shape and is positioned to be electrically proximate to and extend circumferentially about at least a portion of the electrical conductor of the piston when the piston is in the first position.

An interrupter system, comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode;
• a chamber;
• a piston positioned within the chamber, wherein the piston is configured to electrically couple with both the first electrode and the second electrode establishing an electrical path between the first electrode and a second electrode when the piston is in a first position establishing a closed state, and wherein the piston is configured to move along at least a portion of the chamber such that the piston is no longer electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode such that there is no longer an electrical path between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a gas within the chamber;
• and
• a valve cooperated with the chamber, wherein the valve is biased closed and configured to open in response increased pressure on the gas caused by the movement of the piston away from the first position and to at least dissipate kinetic energy of the piston as it moves away from the first position.

A method of interrupting an electrical current, the method comprising:

• positioning a piston comprising a conductor in a first position such that a conductor of the piston is in contact with electrical contacts providing a conductive path between a first electrode and a second electrode;
• detecting a condition in excess of a threshold;
• driving the piston away from the electrical contacts breaking the conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode and establishing an open state;
• controlling a deceleration of the piston as it is driven away from the electrical contacts;
• and
• arresting movement of the piston at a second position separate from the first position such that the piston is not electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode when in the second position while maintaining the piston in a position to be returned to the first position.

A method of interrupting an electrical current, the method comprising:

• positioning a piston in a first position electrically coupled with a first electrode and a second electrode with the piston establishing an electrically conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode when in the first position providing a closed state;
• inducing a magnetic field pulse proximate the piston while in the first position driving the piston away from the first position and the electrical coupling with the first electrode and the second electrode establishing an open state such that the piston is no longer electrically coupled with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode and breaking the electrically conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• and
• controlling movement of the piston as the piston is being driven away from the first position.

A method of interrupting an electrical current, the method comprising:

• positioning a piston comprising a conductor in a first position such that the conductor of the piston is in contact with electrical contacts that are electrically coupled with first and second electrodes and providing a conductive path between the first electrode and a second electrode;
• driving the piston away from the electrical contacts breaking the conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode and establishing an open state;
• and
• activating closing control to drive the piston to return the piston to the first position when a threshold condition is satisfied such that the conductor of the piston contacts the electrical contacts and reestablishing the conductive path between the first electrode and the second electrode and the closed state.