Abstract: A bus bar connection which electrically interconnects switchboard sections by at least one electrical connection element, the bus bar connection including bellows which can be mounted between the switchboard sections, can be filled with insulting gas, and surround the electrical coupling element of the bus bar connection in a gas-tight manner.

Abstract: In order to reduce the breaking energy of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker, the interrupting chamber (10) contains two contacts (12, 14) mounted to move in opposite directions, actuated via a single device (20, 30). The two contacts (12, 14) are driven in opposite directions by a cylindrical cam (22) having slots (26, 28) that co-operate with fixed rods (32, 42), each of which is connected to a respective one of the contacts (12, 14): the profiles of the slots (26, 28) make it possible to manage the speed and the amplitude of the movement of the second contact (14) relative to the main contact (12) without requiring any complex design.

Abstract: This electrical switchgear has an interrupting chamber enclosing an interrupting gas (G) substantially devoid of SF6 and of CF4, and a first arcing contact (10) and a second arcing contact (18), the two arcing contacts moving causes an electric arc (26) to strike, while at least one irradiation wall (22) is provided that is suitable for being reached by the electric arc. At least two component materials that are part of at least one element selected from the interrupting gas, the first and second arcing contacts, and the or each irradiation wall, are suitable for decomposing under the effect of the electric arc, so as to form decomposed species (e1, e2) suitable for combining in the interrupting chamber, in order to form at least one new gaseous species (G1), before the electric arc is extinguished, the dielectric properties of said at least one new gaseous species being superior to the dielectric properties of said interrupting gas (G).

Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention includes a cylindrical cam (40) for optimizing the sequence for opening/closing the switch-over first switch (10), the circuit-breaker second switch (20), and the disconnector third switch (30). The cam (40) has a cylindrical wall in which three slots (42), and preferably three pairs of slots, of different shapes, are defined; an end element of an element driving a respective one of the switch contacts is mounted to slide in each slot.

Abstract: A first switch (10) has a first pair of contacts (12, 14) that are mounted to move relative to each other in translation. A circuit-breaker second switch (20) has a second pair of contacts (21, 24) that are mounted to move relative to each other in translation, the second switch (20) being put in parallel with the first switch (10). A disconnector third switch (30) has a third pair of contacts (32, 34) that are mounted to move relative to each other. Synchronization means (50, 50?) make it possible, while breaking is taking place, for the contacts of the first switch (10) to separate before the contacts of the second switch (20) separate, the contacts of the second switch themselves separating before the third contacts (32, 34) separate fully. The synchronization means are actuated by a servomotor (40).

Abstract: An electrical contact member, suitable for electrically interconnecting two conductive members in series, which members can move relative to each other and are part of an electrical apparatus. The electrical contact includes a strength-imparting base layer made of an electrically conductive material, and a coating layer formed from metallic silver and configured to come into contact with the two electrically conductive members. The coating layer has a micro-structure formed by pure silver crystals, with a presence of nodules made of silver and of an additional metallic material formed by at least one additional metal that is different from silver.

Abstract: An insulating tube (18) located between the main contacts (12b, 14b) and the arcing contacts (12a, 14a) of an interrupting chamber (10) of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker makes it possible to modify the distribution of the equipotential lines (V) during breaking. Thus, it is possible to reduce the electric field on the contacts, and thus to improve the breaking and the dielectric strength in the open position. The insulating tube (18) can also serve for transmitting movement between the contacts (12, 14) for triggering the circuit-breaker.

Abstract: In order to reduce the breaking energy of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker, the interrupting chamber (10) contains two contacts (12, 14) mounted to move in opposite directions, and actuated via a single device (20). The two contacts (12, 14) are surrounded by an insulating casing (18) of tubular shape, coupled in fixed manner to the main contact (12). The contacts (12, 14) are actuated by a device having a lever (24) in which each lever arm is coupled to a link, one of the links (32) being secured to the insulating casing (18) and the other link (34) being secured to the second contact (14). The guiding of the drive tube (18) on the main contacts (12b, 14b) makes it possible to improve breaking by keeping clean gas between said main contacts.

Abstract: A device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor with a rotary output shaft and being connected to power supply means and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. The actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.

Abstract: A hybrid on-load tap changer, for use in high voltage alternating current power transmission, including a selector and a diverter having two legs defining respective current paths. Each leg includes a pair of opposed first and second semiconductor switches. The hybrid on-load tap changer also includes a controller configured to switch on one of the first or second semiconductor switches of a given leg at a predetermined point within the alternating current cycle so as to commutate off a desired semiconductor switch in the other leg.

Abstract: The control device comprises a vacuum first item of switchgear (1) which includes a pair of contacts (5, 6) that can be separated for interruption purposes. It also includes a main drive shaft (2) for actuating a second item of switchgear (10) immersed in a gaseous insulating fluid (G2) contained at a determined pressure (P2), and further includes an auxiliary shaft (4) to enable a moving contact (5) of the first item of switchgear (1) to be driven. The auxiliary shaft (4) passes in leaktight manner through a wall (7A, 7?) which separates the volume of gaseous insulating fluid (G2) from another volume (V1) of fluid (G1) at a lower pressure, the difference between the respective pressures (P2, P1) of the two fluids (G2, G1) procuring a certain force (Fp) which is applied to said auxiliary shaft (4) and which participates in said contact pressure force.

Abstract: The gasket makes it possible for the apparatus, in particular the vacuum bottle, to be assembled and disassembled relatively easily and conveniently. It imparts high dielectric performance to the apparatus. The inside and the outside contact surfaces of the gasket are smooth, and, for example, each of them can be made up of two cylindrical portions (31A & 31B; 32A & 32B) of different concinnities. At least one of the side surfaces has an annular recess (35). Application to switchgear using vacuum bottles for operating at high and medium voltages.

Abstract: A method of evacuating hot gases produced in a current breaking operation by a high voltage circuit breaker (1) which comprises a metal outer tank (2) filled with insulating gas, a casing (3) having gas outlet ports (30) and arranged inside the metal outer tank (2), with which it is in communication via the said ports, characterized in that insulating gas (GI) is aspirated from inside the casing (3) in a direction parallel to the flow of the hot gases (GC) produced by the current breaking operation, so as to mix the gases inside the casing (3) before they are evacuated, through the said gas outlet ports (30) of the casing, into the interior of the metal outer tank (2). The invention also relates to an associated high voltage circuit breaker, which includes means (5) for aspirating insulating gas from the interior of the casing (3), in a direction parallel to the hot gas stream.

Abstract: In an electrical connection for high-voltage or medium-voltage switchgear, a bar (2) is inserted in a recess (6) provided with a projection (10). In the invention, the dimensions are established so that the axes (AA, BB) of the bar (2) and of the projection (10) can be inclined relative to each other. Spring-forming conductor elements (12, 14) establish the electrical connection even in the event of tilt. A high-performance electrical contact can thus be obtained compactly, which makes it possible to perform assembly/disassembly operations on electrical equipment without any additional element of the telescopic ferrule or separable bar type.

Abstract: A switch unit comprising a circuit breaker and a disconnector disposed in one plane and fixed to a metal casing. Common drive means comprise: a single insulating drive bar adapted to move in a straight line in the same plane as the plane of straight line movement of the movable contacts of the circuit breaker and disconnector; and at least one mechanical assembly mounted in the metal casing, at least part of the mechanical assembly being driven by the single insulating drive rod while permitting non-simultaneous straight-line movement of the two movable contacts.

Abstract: A highly temperature-stable capacitor for taking measurements on a high-voltage line, said capacitor having a high-voltage electrode (HT), an annular printed circuit (CI) surrounding said high-voltage electrode (HT) coaxially and having at least one electrically conductive track that forms a low-voltage electrode (BT), said capacitor being characterized in that the printed circuit (CI) also has at least one temperature-sensitive resistor (TH).

Abstract: A current interrupting chamber comprising a moving assembly movable axially between a start position and an end position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker, and comprising: a first compression chamber; a hollow drive tube having ports for bringing the interior of the drive tube into communication with the outside of the current interrupting chamber; a second compression chamber; and means for obstructing the ports of the drive tube as from the start position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker and up to an intermediate position which is reached between the position of separation of two arcing contacts from each other and the end position of an operation of opening the circuit-breaker.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new arrangement for synchronizing and the actuation of a set of three interrupters, two of which are disconnectors (5, 5a; 12, 12a) and one is a switch (16, 17), in a combined circuit breaker and disconnector (D) for an alternator The invention provides for fitting of an accessory shaft (8) for actuation purposes, which is specifically dedicated to the actuation of one of the two disconnecting interrupters (12, 12a) and to set it in rotation only over a final angle of rotation of a main shaft (1), which is itself dedicated to the actuation of the other disconnecting interrupter (5, 5a) and actuation of the switching interrupter (16, 17).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrical insulator (1) comprising a tube (3) surrounded by an insulating sheath (5) that may be smooth or provided with fins (7). The insulating sheath is composed of a filled, hardened, flexibilised, hydrophobic, cycloaliphatic epoxy resin containing from 25 to 75% by weight of mineral filler. The process for manufacturing this insulator comprises the steps consisting of installing the insulator tube or a precursor of the tube, in an electrical insulator mould possibly provided with fins, feeding the filled unhardened hydrophobic cycloaliphatic epoxy resin in the mould so as to form the sheath and the fins of the insulator around the said tube or its precursor, hardening the resin inserted in the mould so as to obtain the insulator, and extracting the insulator obtained from the mould. The electrical insulator according to the invention can be used in a high voltage application.

Abstract: A current-interrupting chamber (1) filled with a dielectric fluid (3) and including: a moving assembly (10) mounted to move axially between a position at the start of a circuit-breaker opening operation and a position at the end of a circuit-breaker opening operation, said moving assembly comprising: at least one first compression chamber (5) whose volume decreases between the start position and a position in which the first chamber (5) is open; at least one first arcing contact (8) designed to co-operate with a second arcing contact (7); and at least one second compression chamber (13), communicating with the first compression chamber (5), the volume of said second compression chamber decreasing between the start position and the end position, said second compression chamber being designed to inject fluid (3) into the first compression chamber (5), between the open position and the end position, when the pressure in the first chamber (5) is lower than the pressure in the second chamber (13).