Patent ID: 7439744

Claim:
An apparatus comprising a stationary frame; a movable frame; an additional movable frame; a first electrode mounted to the stationary frame; a second electrode mounted to the movable frame; a third electrode mounted to the additional movable frame; an electromechanical device rigidly connected to the stationary frame and drivingly connected to the movable frame and to the additional movable frame to move the movable frame to move the second electrode into and out of contact with the first electrode, and to move the additional movable frame to move the third electrode into and out of contact with the first electrode; and a controller structured to operate the electromechanical device to move the second electrode into contact with the first electrode and to move the third electrode into contact with the first electrode, to receive data from at least one electrical measuring device providing an indication of initiation of at least one of an arc between the first electrode and the second electrode and an arc between the first electrode and the third electrode, to operate the electromechanical device to move the second electrode away from contact with the first electrode and move the third electrode away from contact with the first electrode, and to operate the electromechanical device to alter movement of the second electrode and the third electrode in response to receiving the indication of initiation.