Patent ID: 8319136
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: H01H,H02B

Abstract:
1. A high-speed arc terminator for an electrical power distribution system, the arc terminator comprising: a sealed, evacuated housing, a controllable mechanical switch having first and second electrically conductive contacts enclosed within said housing and adapted to be coupled to said power distribution system outside said housing, at least one of said contacts being movable between an open position in which said contacts are separated by a gap, and a closed position in which said contacts engage each other, to divert fault current in said power distribution system to a low impedance path when an arcing fault is detected, a trigger conductor extending into said housing and having an exposed end near said gap between said contacts when said contacts are in said open position, and a high voltage source controllably coupled to said trigger conductor for supplying a high-voltage pulse to said trigger conductor in response to the detection of an arcing fault, said high-voltage pulse producing a secondary arc between said trigger conductor and at least one of said first and second conductive contacts within said gap to shunt fault current from said power distribution system across said gap, from one of said contacts to the other, before said contacts engage each other.