Remote controlled circuit breaker

摘要

A contact assembly (22) is adapted for use with a circuit breaker (12) that is set to open a circuit above a predetermined current load. The contact assembly (22) is adapted to reciprocate between a closed position to permit the flow of current through the circuit and an open position to prevent the flow of current. The contact assembly (22) is further adapted to resist unintended reciprocation from the closed position to the open position at current loads up to or exceeding the predetermined current load. The contact assembly includes a line side conductor (38) and a load side conductor (54). When in the closed position, a surface (42) of the line side conductor (38) extends proximal to a surface (56) of the load side conductor (54) and current flows in substantially the same direction along the line side and load side surfaces (42 and 56) to generate an electromagnetic attraction between the conductors (38 and 54) in order to resist unintended reciprocation of the contact assembly (22) from the closed position to the open position due to inherent repulsion forces present across the contact points (contact constriction forces). A circuit breaker assembly (10) and an automated control system (300) are also described.