Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer-implemented method to assist a user in interacting with an electronic relay for electric power distribution grids. The method provides for identifying light signals emitted by one or more user-interface components of the user-interface panel of the electronic relay by processing images of said user-interface panel, which have been captured by the camera of a mobile computerized device. The method further provides for showing information, which describes the identified light signals emitted by said user-interface components on the display of said mobile computerized device.

Abstract: An arc chamber for a low voltage switching device including an insulating casing, having a first and a second lateral walls, a rear and a front wall, that defines an internal space housing a number or arc-breaking plates, a top wall of the casing having a discharge opening for venting off the gases from the internal space, the discharge opening being covered by a top cover. The arc chamber for a low voltage switching device includes a filter made of an open cell metal foam that is positioned at the discharge opening.

Abstract: In one aspect, a hybrid circuit protection device for current-limiting a fault current between a source and a load during a fault is provided. The hybrid circuit protection device includes an input configured to couple to the source, an output configured to couple to the load, a return configured to couple the source to the load, a main switch configured to selectively couple the input to the output, a switching network coupled in parallel with the main switch, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine that the main switch has opened in response to the fault current, where the fault current has an initial value, and activate the switching network to current-limit the fault current to less than the initial value during the fault.

Abstract: Described herein is a low voltage switching device including: one or more electric poles having one or more movable contacts and corresponding fixed contacts adapted to be coupled to or uncoupled from each other; a movable contact assembly including said movable contacts and a main supporting and operating shaft reversibly movable between a first contact position, at which said movable contacts and said fixed contacts are uncoupled, a second contact position, at which said movable contacts and said fixed contacts are coupled, and a third contact position, at which said movable contacts and said fixed contacts are coupled and kept pressed; an operating assembly including a handle mechanism having a handle adapted to be reversibly moved by a user or a motor operated actuator (MOE) between a first, open position and a second, closed position; and a driving assembly operatively connected to said operating assembly.

Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker includes at least one fixed contact, for each pole, which is electrically connected to a terminal for connection to an electric circuit, and a corresponding moving contact which is associable/separable with respect to the fixed contact by a rotation of the moving contact. The low-voltage circuit breaker further includes an arc chamber positioned in correspondence of the fixed contact, and a rotating contact supporting shaft common to all poles, which is functionally connected to an actuation mechanism of the circuit breaker, where the actuation mechanism includes a kinematic system operatively connected to an actuation lever for opening/closing operations and provided with opening springs and a tripping shaft for releasing the kinematic system and allowing its movement from a closed to an open position. The low-voltage circuit breaker further includes, for each pole, a quick acting trip device.

Abstract: A breaking device for interrupting current includes an electrically conducting outer member, an electrically conducting inner member arranged radially inside the outer member with respect to a breaking axis and an electrically insulating or semiconducting breaking member arranged radially between the outer member and the inner member with respect to the breaking axis, where the breaking member is arranged to move along the breaking axis from a starting position to a protruding position in which the breaking member protrudes from a space within the outer member for interrupting a current between the outer member and the inner member and the breaking member includes an inner tubular element and an outer tubular element, where the outer tubular element is joined to an outer surface of the inner tubular element thereby defining a recess between the outer tubular element and the inner tubular element.

Abstract: A method for guiding installation of an accessory device in a low voltage switching device having one or more mounting locations for one or more accessory devices using guided mounting means including an image acquisition device, a display, and processing means executing a guided mounting program for guiding installation of the accessory device in the low voltage switching device.

Abstract: A low and medium voltage electrical enclosure comprising a supporting structure which defines an internal space delimited by walls forming one or more compartments housing one or more electrical apparatuses. At least one of said walls is provided with one or more venting openings that put into communication said internal space with the outside of said low voltage electrical enclosure and/or one of said compartments with a second compartment. The venting openings are provided with a cover closing a corresponding venting opening in a first—closed—operating condition at first predetermined temperatures and the enclosure is provided with an actuating device adapted to open said cover in a second—open—operating condition at second predetermined temperatures.

Abstract: A low and medium voltage electrical enclosure comprising a supporting structure which defines an internal space delimited by walls forming one or more compartments housing one or more electrical apparatuses. At least one of said walls is provided with one or more venting openings that put into communication said internal space with the outside of said low voltage electrical enclosure; the venting openings are provided with a cover closing a corresponding venting opening in a first—closed—operating condition. The enclosure is provided with an actuating device adapted to open said cover in a second—open—operating condition in case of arc fault inside said internal space; said actuating device comprises an actuating mechanism having a Shape Memory Alloy-based (SMA-based) actuating element having a first dimension at first predetermined temperatures reversibly changeable into a second dimension at second predetermined temperatures.

Abstract: A pole actuation booster mechanism for a four-poles low voltage circuit breaker, which includes: a first operating member adapted to be operatively connected to the operating shaft of the circuit breaker and moving together with said shaft during its rotation from an open position to a closed position, and vice-versa, of said circuit breaker over a range of movement having a first, a second and a third portion of movement, the first operating member having a first operating end; an operating assembly including at least an elastic element operatively connected to a lever, the first operating member being disengaged from said operating assembly during the first portion of its movement and engaged with the lever during the second and third portions of its movement.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including a first switching unit having one or more first electric poles, each first electric pole being electrically connectable with a corresponding first line conductor of an electric line and including one or more solid-state switches adapted to operate in a conduction state or in an interdiction state to allow or interrupt a current flow, and a second switching unit having one or more second electric poles, each second electric pole being electrically connectable with a corresponding second line conductor of said electric line and electrically connected in series with a corresponding first electric pole of said first switching unit. The switching apparatus further includes a controller implementing a robust control logic to the operation of said first and second switching units.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a first fixed contact and a first movable contact which can be switched between a closed status and a tripped status, a signaling device for signaling when the circuit breaker is in a tripped status, a trip actuator movable from an initial position to an end-stroke position when the first movable contact is switched from the closed status to the tripped status, a tripping bar which is connected to the first movable contact so as when the trip actuator moves from the initial position, the tripping bar moves and triggers switching of the first movable contact from the closed status into the tripped status, and a trip member having a single-piece shaped body, which includes a first portion actuated by the trip actuator, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a third portion spaced apart from the first and second portions.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; and a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units.

Abstract: A low voltage contact assembly including a rotating support having a body adapted to rotate around a rotation axis and supporting at least a first couple of movable contacts that can be coupled to/uncoupled from corresponding first fixed contacts by rotation around said rotation axis. The first couple of movable contacts include a first and a second movable contacts housed in the rotating support. The low voltage assembly further includes a pressure exerting device having a pressing bar operatively coupled to the first and second elongated contact body and transversally placed with respect to the rotation plane of the first and second elongated contact bodies.

Abstract: A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units.

Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker comprising one or more electrical poles, each of said poles having an internal space with a contact area and an arc extinguishing area, a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly being positioned in said contact area, said movable contact assembly being movable between a closed position in which it is into contact with said fixed contact assembly and an open position in which it is spaced apart from said fixed contact assembly, an arc chamber comprising a plurality of substantially parallel arc-breaking plates made of a ferromagnetic material being positioned in said arc extinguishing area. The low-voltage circuit breaker is characterized in that said arc chamber further comprises at least one arc-breaking plate which is at least partially made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: A breaking device for interrupting current, the breaking device including an electrically conducting outer member; an electrically conducting inner member arranged radially inside the outer member with respect to a breaking axis; and an electrically insulating or semiconducting breaking tube arranged radially between the outer member and the inner member with respect to the breaking axis, the breaking tube being arranged to move along the breaking axis from a starting position to a protruding position in which the breaking tube protrudes from a space within the outer member for interrupting a current between the outer member and the inner member by means of the breaking tube.

Abstract: A low voltage switch pole including an insulating casing defining an internal space with a contact area and an arc extinguishing area, a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly being position in the contact area, the movable contact assembly being movable between a closed position in which it is into contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open position in which it is spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly, an arc chamber including a plurality of substantially parallel metallic plates being position in the arc extinguishing area, wherein fixed contact assembly is provided with a contact support, a contact surface contacting the movable contact assembly in the closed position and positioned on the contact support, and a conductive expansion plate positioned on the contact support and extending toward the arc chamber, and wherein the fixed contact assembly is provided with a gasifying plate which is directly mounted on the conductive expansion plate.

Abstract: A terminal clamp cover device for low voltage circuit breakers, in particular for molded case circuit breakers, having one or more phases, each provided with a terminal for the electrical connection of the circuit breaker, a clamp for the connection of the terminal to an electrical circuit and a vent opening to discharge the gases produced in the circuit breaker during opening/closing operations. The device includes an insulating body that covers the clamp, the insulating body being provided on at least one portion of its outer surface with a plurality of heat dissipating elements. A low voltage circuit breaker, in particular a low voltage molded case circuit breaker, including a device of the type described also forms part of the application.