Title: Pulsed interrupter and method of operation

Abstract

Some embodiments provide interrupter systems comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a piston movably located at a first position and electrically coupled with the first and second electrodes establishing a closed state, the piston comprises an electrical conductor that couples with the first and second electrodes providing a conductive path; an electromagnetic launcher configured to, when activated, induce a magnetic field pulse causing the piston to move away from the electrical coupling with the first and second electrodes establishing an open circuit between the first and second electrodes; and a piston control system comprising a piston arresting system configured to control a deceleration of the piston following the movement of the piston induced by the electromagnetic launcher such that the piston is not in electrical contact with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode when in the open state.

Inventors:

Drake, Joel Lawton; Kratz, Robert

Issue Date:

Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 2015

Research Org.:

General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1183897

Patent Number(s):

9054530

Application Number:

13/870,615

Assignee:

General Atomics (San Diego, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01H - ELECTRIC SWITCHES

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02H - EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01H - ELECTRIC SWITCHES

H01H3/222 - {using electrodynamic repulsion}
H01H33/285 - {using electro-dynamic repulsion
H01H33/302 - {for fluid insulated switchgear, wherein the insulating fluid is also the working fluid}
H01H9/542 - {Contacts shunted by static switch means}

H - ELECTRICITY H02 - GENERATION H02H - EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS

H02H3/26 - responsive to difference between voltages or between currents

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DOE Contract Number:  

AR0000234

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

42 ENGINEERING; CIRCUIT PROTECTION; INTERRUPTER SYSTEMS