Patent attributes
Electrical switchgear which combines, connected electrically in series, a visible disconnect switch (operated by a main switch actuator) and a circuit breaker module (which may also be termed an interrupter) including circuit breaker contacts which are opened and closed by an electrically-activated magnetic actuator and capable of interrupting fault currents. The magnetic actuator is stable in either a breaker-closed state or a breaker-open state without requiring electrical current flow through the magnetic actuator. An interlock is provided such that, as the main switch actuator begins to move from its switch-closed position to its switch-open position, the breaker-closed state is destabilized to open the circuit breaker contacts. An interlock is also provided such that the circuit breaker contacts cannot close while the visible disconnect switch is open.