Abstract: An actuating mechanism for a circuit breaker includes a first piston movable in a first cylinder, against the force of a first compressible member, by admitting hydraulic fluid, and a second piston movable in a second cylinder, against the force of a second compressible member, by admitting hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic fluid can transferred from the second cylinder into the first cylinder via an interconnecting fluid passage, and released from the first cylinder via an outlet fluid passage. The first piston is arranged to be connected to a circuit breaker in a switchgear so as to open and close it. Importantly, the first piston is directly mechanically connected to the first compressible member, ensuring that all the energy stored in the compressible member is available to open the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A lattice structure is composed of intersecting longitudinal elements and transverse elements, e.g. wires, strands, ropes, rods and/or profiles, with intersection points allocated to the longitudinal elements and transverse elements. The longitudinal elements and transverse elements, extending in unifold and/or multifold fashion, are connected to one another at least in the intersection points, in particular via twisting, passing into one another and/or knotting with one another.

Abstract: A spring arrangement for operating a high and medium voltage circuit breaker comprising a cylindrical housing having a main axis, an actuation rod, a coil spring arranged in the cylindrical housing, coupled with the rod, and a coupling arrangement coupling an end of the spring with an end of the rod, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises an articulation for guiding an end of the rod in rotation with respect to the second end of the spring around a second axis perpendicular to said main axis and comprises sliding means for the translational guiding of the second end of the rod along said main axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator circuit for actuating a circuit breaker controller, the circuit being characterized in that it comprises two branches in parallel between two terminals and in that the first branch includes only a first coil; the second branch includes a second coil having impedance that is lower than the first, in series with a switch controlled by a switch circuit.

Abstract: An enclosure for the operating mechanism of a circuit breaker, this mechanism including a main shaft and secondary shafts, and a spring to actuate the mechanism. This enclosure includes a parallelepiped base having an open face and including a bottom wall opposite to its open face, this bottom wall having holes to receive bearings carrying the shafts; a supporting part including a main wall to be mounted at the open face of the base, the main wall including holes to receive bearings carrying the other extremities of the shafts; a cover to close the supporting part.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive unit for a high and medium voltage circuit breaker comprising of a main shaft being rotatable around its main axis between a first position corresponding to a closed state of the circuit breaker and a second position corresponding to an opened state of the circuit breaker, elastic means for driving the main shaft in rotation towards the second position, and releasable means for preventing the rotation of the main shaft from the second position towards the first position, wherein the releasable means comprise retention pawl which removably engages the main shaft and which, when engaged, enables the main shaft to rotate towards the second position but prevents its rotation from the second position towards the first position.

Abstract: A lattice structure is composed of intersecting longitudinal elements and transverse elements, e.g. wires, strands, ropes, rods and/or profiles, with intersection points allocated to the longitudinal elements and transverse elements. The longitudinal elements and transverse elements, extending in unifold and/or multifold fashion, are connected to one another at least in the intersection points, in particular via twisting, passing into one another and/or knotting with one another.

Abstract: A undervoltage release circuit comprising a solenoid and a spring, the solenoid acting against the spring and being connected to a trip-latch which trips a circuit-breaker as soon as a control voltage drops under a voltage level, characterized in that it comprises a voltage determining device and a switching element controlled by a command signal, the switching element being connected in series with the solenoid, the voltage determining device comprising means for measuring the control-voltage and means for generating a signal according to the control voltage measured, the signal according to the control voltage measured constituting the command signal so that the switching element is closed when the control voltage measured is equal or higher than the voltage level and opened as soon as the control voltage is less than the voltage level.

Abstract: A spring arrangement for operating a high and medium voltage circuit breaker comprising a cylindrical housing having a main axis, an actuation rod, a coil spring arranged in the cylindrical housing, coupled with the rod, and a coupling arrangement coupling an end of the spring with an end of the rod, wherein the coupling arrangement comprises an articulation for guiding an end of the rod in rotation with respect to the second end of the spring around a second axis perpendicular to said main axis and comprises sliding means for the translational guiding of the second end of the rod along said main axis.

Abstract: An enclosure for the operating mechanism of a circuit breaker, this mechanism including a main shaft and secondary shafts, and a spring to actuate the mechanism. This enclosure includes a parallelepiped base having an open face and including a bottom wall opposite to its open face, this bottom wall having holes to receive bearings carrying the shafts; a supporting part including a main wall to be mounted at the open face of the base, the main wall including holes to receive bearings carrying the other extremities of the shafts; a cover to close the supporting part.

Abstract: A shaft for an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker, this shaft comprising a splined axle carrying cams intended to cooperate with other parts of the mechanism, this shaft being intended to be carried by ball bearings and to be connected to an actuating member of the circuit breaker to move it. According to the invention, the shaft comprises a cast part comprising the cams and comprising seats for the ball bearings at each of its extremities, this cast part being having at its center a splined hole to receive the splined axle.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for tripping a circuit-breaker, the operating mechanism comprising a coil having a first terminal and a second terminal, means for generating a first electric impulse, and means for creating, from the first electric impulse, a second electric impulse delayed from the first electric impulse and applied between the first terminal and the second terminal of the coil, characterized in that the means for creating the second electric impulse comprise a delaying circuit and a switch connected in series with the coil, the delaying circuit having an input connected to an output of the means for generating a first electric impulse and an output which delivers the second electric impulse, said second electric impulse being a command signal of the switch.

Abstract: The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring controller for high- or medium-voltage electric switchgear, the controller having a free-wheel coupling device between a crank handle or a motor and the drive shaft (1) for driving a switch contact of the switchgear and respectively providing coupling while the spring(s) (11) is/are being loaded and decoupling while the spring(s) is/are being released. The free-wheel mechanical device is incorporated in a toothed wheel (2) of the controller and includes at least one pawl (7, 70) meshing or not meshing with an inner set of teeth (4) of the toothed wheel (2).

Abstract: A circuit breaker has a stationary contact and a movable contact, and an actuator device for actuating it comprises a rigid drive shaft (8) that drives the movable contact, first resilient means for driving the movable contact, and a torsion bar (2) for driving the drive shaft, the torsion bar (2) being suitable for being deformed in twisting in order to assist the resilient means during an initial period while opening the contacts of the circuit breaker. The torsion bar (2) is housed inside the drive shaft (8). A first end (4) of the torsion bar (2) is constrained to turn with a ring (10). A second end (6) of the torsion bar (2) is constrained to turn with the drive shaft (8).

Abstract: The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring controller for high- or medium-voltage electric switchgear, the controller having a free-wheel coupling device between a crank handle or a motor and the drive shaft (1) for driving a switch contact of the switchgear and respectively providing coupling while the spring(s) (11) is/are being loaded and decoupling while the spring(s) is/are being released. The free-wheel mechanical device is incorporated in a toothed wheel (2) of the controller and includes at least one pawl (7, 70) meshing or not meshing with an inner set of teeth (4) of the toothed wheel (2).

Abstract: A circuit breaker has a stationary contact and a movable contact, and an actuator device for actuating it comprises a rigid drive shaft (8) that drives the movable contact, first resilient means for driving the movable contact, and a torsion bar (2) for driving the drive shaft, the torsion bar (2) being suitable for being deformed in twisting in order to assist the resilient means during an initial period while opening the contacts of the circuit breaker. The torsion bar (2) is housed inside the drive shaft (8). A first end (4) of the torsion bar (2) is constrained to turn with a ring (10). A second end (6) of the torsion bar (2) is constrained to turn with the drive shaft (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator circuit for actuating a circuit breaker controller, the circuit being characterized in that it comprises two branches in parallel between two terminals and in that the first branch includes only a first coil; the second branch includes a second coil having impedance that is lower than the first, in series with a switch controlled by a switch circuit.

Abstract: With an apparatus for the shock absorption of rope structures, in particular for rockfall, land slide and snow barriers, at least one intermediate piece (1; 1?) deformable by tensile forces is provided which is accommodated within a rope subjected to tension. The intermediate piece (1, 1?) comprises one or more longitudinal elements (7, 8, 20) which can respectively be in the form of a strip, bar, wire, rope and/or strand. The longitudinal element or elements (7, 8, 20) are connected by their one end (7a, 8a; 20a) to the one rope end. On the other hand, they are guided about a deflection element (10; 10?) connected to the other rope end. Means are provided by means of which the deflection angle of the longitudinal element or elements formed upon loading the intermediate piece (1, 1?) is substantially sustained. The shock absorption characteristics can thus be better defined and optimised.