RECLOSER APPARATUS

A recloser apparatus is provided with an enclosure or tank (40) in which a current interrupter assembly (49) is disposed that includes a pair of relatively movable contacts (50, 54) movable between a closed, current-carrying position and an open, current-interrupting position. An opening assembly (60) is included for opening the contacts to the current-interrupting position and a closing assembly (66), including a high voltage solenoid coil (61) and plunger (116) moves one of the contacts (54) to the closed, current-carrying position. An operating assembly (43) is manually accessible from outside the tank (40) and includes an operating arm (44) which is movable between an upper, intermediate and lower position, and a contact closing circuit for initiating operation of the contact closing assembly (66) when the operating arm (44) is manually moved to the upper position. When manually moved to the lower position, the operating arm (44) actuates the contact opening assembly (60) and locks out the closing assembly (66) so as to prevent subsequent movement of the contact (54) to the closed position until the operating arm (44) is moved manually from the lower position. A sensor (46) is provided for sensing a fault current experienced by the apparatus and a control assembly (47) actuates the contact opening assembly (60) in response to a sensed fault current and alternately actuates the closing and opening assemblies (66, 60) for a predetermined number of opening cycles in response to a further sensed fault current. The control assembly (47) also actuates automatic movement of the operating arm (44) to the lower position once the closing and opening assemblies (66, 60) have been actuated for the predetermined number of opening cycles such that the operating arm (44) serves as a signal that the recloser is locked out.