Abstract: A debris collection slot or groove formed near the exit of a vent channel in a circuit breaker. Debris is produced during a circuit interruption, causing the debris to travel into the vent channel toward an opening where it exits the circuit breaker. Too much accumulated debris can lead to a ground strike or a cross-phase condition. The debris collection groove, formed near the exit opening of the vent channel, has no significant effect on the internal pressure generated during the circuit interruption. Multiple grooves can be formed near the exit opening for trapping more debris. When the vent channel is bent, the grooves are positioned on the outer curve of the last bend of the vent channel to trap the higher-density debris traveling around the curve.

Abstract: A switch unit 200 for a voltage circuit breaker that includes a first switch contact 202a and a second switch contact 202b. The first switch contact 202a is movable between a first position in which the first switch contact 202a contacts the second switch contact and a second position in which the first and second switch contacts 202a, 202b are separated from each other. Further, a positioning element to position an arc chute 100 on the switch unit. The arc chute 100 includes at least two stacks 102, 106 of a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates 104, 104a, 104b, . . . , 104n, 108, 108a, 108b, . . . , 108n. The switch unit includes a first connection device 120, 230a capable to electrically connect the first switch contact 202a to a predetermined metal plate 104a selected of the most proximal 25% metal plates of the first stack 102.

Abstract: A switchgear includes an earthing and disconnecting switch which linearly moves and is switchable to a disconnecting and an earthing positions, a vacuum valve which performs closing and breaking of a current in a vacuum container producing vacuum inside, and a solid insulator with which the earthing and disconnecting switch and the vacuum valve are covered, therein the earthing and disconnecting switch and the vacuum valve are electrically connected, and closing and breaking of a current is performed in the vacuum valve.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter is provided. As a main shield and sub shields are installed in an overlapping manner, an equipotential distribution can be mitigated and thusly a dielectric strength can be enhanced. Also, as a curved portion is formed at each end of the shields, concentration of an electric field at an end of each shield can be prevented and accordingly an electric field value can be lowered. Consequently, the dielectric strength can be remarkably enhanced, resulting in an effective prevention of a dielectric breakdown.

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: A switchgear assembly includes a vacuum interrupt chamber and a short-circuiting system arranged in the vacuum interrupt chamber. To enable rapid switching with physically simple means, a vacuum area of the vacuum interrupt chamber in which a fixed contact piece is placed is subdivided via a membrane, which is provided with a breaking line and which can be penetrated by a moving piston system to the contact piece during switching. The switchgear assembly can be utilized in a low-voltage, medium-voltage or high-voltage assembly.

Abstract: A high-voltage power switch has a switch gap surrounded by a nozzle made of insulating material. The nozzle of insulating material is formed with a switching gas channel. The switching gas channel opens up into a storage volume. A flow steering apparatus is disposed within the storage volume. The flow steering apparatus has a switching gas entrance channel. An annular gap is formed between the wall in which the switching gas channel opens up and a switching gas entrance channel wall that borders the switching gas channel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a switching device with a vacuum interrupter chamber in which at least one moving contact piece is arranged. To considerably increase the switching rating and the dielectric strength, the disclosure proposes that two series-connected contact arrangements with a total of two contact levels which can be opened are arranged within a vacuum interrupter chamber.

Abstract: A three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly for power distribution systems comprises an outer case having at least one window, a plurality of internal disconnect switch assemblies, and a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies within the case. Each vacuum interrupter bottle switch is coupled in electrical series with a corresponding internal disconnect switch assembly. Because the open/closed state of a bottle switch is not directly observable owing to its sealed interior, a direct visible indication of the state of the three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly is provided by a visually detectable contact rod for each internal disconnect switch that is visible through the case window. To prevent potentially serious damage caused by arcing between the contacts of the internal disconnect switch, the internal disconnect switch is prevented from opening or closing when the bottle switches are closed. The case interior is preferably free of oil and/or SF6 gas.

Abstract: A very high voltage circuit breaker comprising, for each phase, at least two breaker chambers aligned with each other, each chamber including a pair of main contacts, a pair of arcing contacts that are stationary relative to the main contacts, and a nozzle for blowing out hot gases resulting from the breaking operations, the pairs of contacts being partly of complementary male and female forms, each comprising at least one movable contact, the nozzle being stationary relative to the movable main contact and arcing contact.

Abstract: A switching installation including a gas-filled enclosure, an input conductor, an actuator and a short-circuit device. The actuator is arranged to actuate the short-circuit device upon the occurrence of a first arc in the enclosure. The short-circuit device creates, upon being actuated, a short-circuit through the solid insulation between the input conductor and the enclosure or a separate ground point. The actuator can be arranged to react on an increase in pressure in the enclosure upon the occurrence of the first arc. The gas can be air or SF6. The short-circuit device can create, upon being actuated, the short-circuit through a section of a solid cable insulation isolating the input conductor from the enclosure.

Abstract: A venting assembly is provided for an arc chute of an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing and separable contacts. An arc and ionized gases are generated in response to the separable contacts tripping open. The arc chute includes a plurality of arc splitters each having first and second opposing sides, an interior passage, and an exterior. The venting assembly includes a first portion coupled to the first side of at least one of the arc splitters and including a venting segment with first venting apertures. A second portion is coupled to the second side and includes a second venting segment having second venting apertures. The first and second venting segments are spaced from the exterior of the arc splitters to form first and second cooling chambers for cooling the ionized gases. The first and second venting apertures vent the ionized gases.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum circuit breaker. As a plurality of components of main circuit units are integrally formed as one module by molding using epoxy, the main circuit units are easily fabricated, and assembly errors are prevented. Since the main circuit units are arranged to be symmetrical to each other based on a driving unit, an insulation distance between a switchgear and the main circuit units can be obtained without increasing a size of the switchgear. This may allow the main circuit units to be easily arranged at the right side or at the left side according to an installation state of the switchgear.

Abstract: A gas-insulated switchgear assembly having a first module and a second module, which each have a gas area, which is in the form of a pressure vessel, is filled with an insulating gas and has at least two phase conductors. The first module is connected to the second module such that the first gas area and the second gas area are hydraulically separated from one another by an insulating body, while the phase conductors in the first module are electrically connected to the phase conductors at the same electrical potential in the second module. The at least two phase conductors in the first module can be electrically connected to the at least two phase conductors at the same electrical potential in the second module, in each case via a detachable plug connection.

Abstract: Illuminated button assemblies are provided that can be secured to a mounting surface by any of a locking member such as a snap tab, a securing member such as a nut, or a combination of both. The securing member is adapted to enclose the locking member when it is fully secured. A variety of illumination assemblies are similarly sized and shaped such that they can be interchanged within the same assembly housing. A switch and the illumination assembly are directly connected to the assembly housing without the need for a lamp holder.

Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a housing containing a trip mechanism, a handle coupled to the trip mechanism and movable between on and off positions, and a lock-off mechanism capable of holding the handle in its off position. The lock-off mechanism includes a bracket adapted to be mounted on the circuit breaker housing adjacent the movable handle, and a slide mounted on the bracket for movement parallel to the movement of the handle when the handle is moved from the off position to the on position. The slide projects into the path of movement of the handle for engaging the handle, and the bracket and the slide form openings that register with each other when the projecting portion of the slide is proximate the handle in the off position. The registered openings are sized and shaped to receive the shackle of a padlock for locking the slide to the bracket, and thus locking the handle in the off position.

Abstract: A switch of a device having a longitudinal axis, and comprising a switching element parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device, a hollow body defining an interior cavity in which the switching element is movably disposed to define a switch-making position at a first longitudinal position and a switch-breaking position at a second longitudinal position, a biasing element imparting a variable longitudinal bias to the switching element to place the switching element in one of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position until an external force imparted to the switching element exceeds the longitudinal bias causing the switching element to move to the other of the switch-making position and the switch-breaking position, and an electrically-conductive contact coupled to the switching element and defining a switch-making state when the switching element is in the switch-making position and a switch-breaking state when the switching element is in the switch-breaking position.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure, a plurality of circuit breaker sub poles, each enclosed within a chamber of the enclosure, and a plurality of arc chutes, each installed on one of the chambers enclosing the circuit breaker sub poles.

Abstract: A keypad assembly includes a support member, a key switch, a keycap and a resilient member. The key switch is fixed on the support member, and includes a triggering portion. The keycap is located opposite to the triggering portion. The support member and the key switch are located between the keycap and the resilient member. The resilient member interconnects the keycap and the support member. The resilient member is elastically deformed via resisting the triggering portion when the key switch is not triggered.

Abstract: A modular terminal that has a terminal housing, a busbar composed of two sections, two terminal elements for connecting a conductor to each section of the busbar, and an isolating blade which is pivotally mounted in the terminal housing. The two sections are interconnected in a first position of the isolating blade while being disconnected from each other in a second position of the isolating blade. The ends of the sections of the busbar which face away from the terminal elements are bent in such a way that the end of the first section of the busbar contacts the isolating blade in an upper contact zone while the end of the second section (4) of the busbar contacts the isolating blade in a lower contact zone in the first position of the isolating blade.