Patent ID: 8564389

Claim:
An electromagnetic circuit interrupter for a high voltage direct current (DC) aircraft power distribution system, comprising: a single pole contact device comprising a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, wherein each of the first contact and the second contact is movable; a contact mechanism coupled to each of the first contact and the second contact and configured to move each of the first contact and the second contact to separate the first and second electrical contacts by a first predetermined distance for a predetermined time so as to sustain an arc between the first and second electrical contacts; wherein the contact mechanism is further configured to move the first contact and the second contact to separate the first and second electrical contacts by a second predetermined distance after the predetermined time so as to extinguish the arc; wherein the contact mechanism is further configured to move the first contact and the second contact together to directly reconnect the first and second electrical contacts without any intermediate contact separation stages; and wherein said first predetermined distance is less than said second predetermined distance.