US Patent 11430615 Multiple hammer blow vacuum interrupter weld breaking

A method for separating welded contacts in a magnetically actuated switch assembly that includes providing multiple actuator hammer blows to the contacts. The method includes causing the contacts to close using, for example, a manual actuation device and detecting a high current condition that occurs when the contacts are closed. The method further includes electrically actuating the actuator to open the contacts in response to detecting the high current condition and determining that the contacts have not opened in response to the actuator being actuated because they are welded together. The method also includes electrically actuating the actuator to close the contacts when it is determined that they are welded together and again electrically actuating the actuator to open the contacts.