Abstract: An operating mechanism for opening and closing at least two contacts simultaneously is provided. The operating mechanism includes a base frame and a bridge body having an elongate contact surface with a length and a width. The elongate contact surface is configured to extend in a length direction over and be in contact with operating rods of the at least two contacts. The operating mechanism further includes a first reaction arm extending substantially parallel to the length of the elongate contact surface and a second reaction arm extending parallel to the first reaction arm and at a distance of the first reaction arm in the direction perpendicular to the elongate contact surface. The operating mechanism also includes a rod mechanism of two links and a cam arranged on a shaft.

Abstract: A switching device comprising first and second body parts and a first operating device for moving the body parts into a closed state. A piezoelectric actuator is coupled to each body part and is operable to move the body parts part away from one another. The switching device may be incorporated into an actuator for operating the vacuum interrupter of a vacuum circuit breaker.

Abstract: A disconnector for use in a switchgear structured to electrically connect between a power source and a load includes a pair of disconnector blades spaced apart by a distance and having a first end structured to selectively receive and form an electrical connection with a busbar contact and a second end structured to electrically couple to the load, and a pair of magnetic plates mechanically connected to inner surfaces of the pair of disconnector blades and structured to bias the pair of disconnector blades toward each other.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a pole unit with a first and second electrodes. A linkage also extends from the pole unit. A linear actuator is operably connected to the pole unit. A Thomson coil or other high-speed actuator is also operably connected to the linkage. When the circuit breaker is closed, no gap is provided between them. To open the electrodes, the high-speed actuator first acts on the linkage by moving the linkage at a speed that is greater than a speed by which the linear actuator can move the linkage. The linear actuator can then actuate and increase a distance between the electrodes. A gap is provided between the pole unit and at least one of the actuators when the breaker is closed. This gap is reduced or eliminated when the breaker is open.

Abstract: A membrane circuit structure having a plurality of switch regions includes first, second and third membranes and a spacer layer. The second membrane is beneath the first membrane, and a lower surface of the second membrane is provided with a conductive pattern in at least one of the switch regions. The spacer layer is disposed between the first and second membranes. The third membrane is beneath the second membrane, and an upper surface of the third membrane is provided with first and second trigger portions separated from each other in the at least one of the switch regions, and the conductive pattern is able to be in contact with the first and second trigger portions, so that the first and second trigger portions are able to be electrically connected to each other through the conductive pattern.

Abstract: In a sleeve for a gas nozzle, a sleeve main body and a sleeve end face is formed at least in part by a wear protection element which is fastened to the sleeve main body and which is composed of a more wear-resistant material than the sleeve main body adjoining the sleeve end face, an inner and/or an outer beveled portion of the sleeve end face are formed at least in part by the wear protection element.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving a solenoid, and related method, are described. A power supply charges one or more capacitors to a high voltage level sufficient to over-drive the solenoid. A switch is connected to the one or more capacitors and the solenoid. When the switch is on, the switch connects the one or more capacitors to the solenoid. When the switch is off, the switch disconnects the one or more capacitors from the solenoid. Control circuitry turns the switch on, and turns the switch off in response to sensing current through the solenoid reaches a defined maximum current.

Abstract: Switching device with closable contacts and an extinguishing chamber which is associated with the contacts and has a first extinguishing area and a second extinguishing area arranged directly adjacent to the first extinguishing area, the first extinguishing area and the second extinguishing area being spatially separated from each other by a partition wall, and the switching device being configured in such a way that a switching arc which is generated when opening the contacts is always blown away from the point where it is generated in one of the two extinguishing areas by means of an arc blowing means of the switching device and is caused to be extinguished, whereas the respective other of the two extinguishing areas is not used for extinguishing, characterized in that the partition wall between the first extinguishing area and the second extinguishing area has at least one overflow opening which connects the first extinguishing area to the second extinguishing area in such a way that plasma which is genera

Abstract: A switch for medium voltage applications is provided. The switch comprises a vacuum interrupter having a fixed contact, a movable contact movable in a first direction to and away from the fixed contact between a closed position and an open position, and a drive rod arranged to the movable contact for moving the contact between the closed position and the open position. The switch further comprises a changeover switch having a first terminal body, a second terminal body, an elongated pole body, and an operating rod. The elongate pole body is hinged with a first end to the first terminal body and rotatable between a connected position in which the second end of the pole body is in direct electrical contact with the second terminal body and a disconnected position in which the second end is disconnected from the second terminal body.

Abstract: An enclosure for a circuit breaker that includes a particle trap that is integrated into at least one foot of the enclosure. The enclosure can be configured to house a circuit interrupter and seal a dielectric insulating medium within an interior region of the enclosure. The particle trap can include an opening that extends through at least an inner side of a wall of the enclosure and into an adjacent foot such that the opening is in fluid communication with the interior region of the enclosure. Additionally, the opening of the particle trap can radially extend within both the wall of the enclosure and the foot between a first side and a second side of the particle trap.

Abstract: A bi-stable mechanism for a vacuum interrupter. The bi-stable mechanism includes an actuator; and a cam pivotable by the actuator, the cam moving a moveable contact. Wherein a bellows assembly is positioned above a vacuum bottle and coupled to a housing. The bellows assembly includes an outer cylindrical shell surrounding an opening spring, a spring plate, a contact spring, and a bellows. The bellows assembly reciprocates the moveable contact to prevent arcing between a pair of contacts and biasing the pair of contacts apart from each other.

Abstract: A medium voltage switching pole includes: a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; a movable contact of the vacuum interrupter; a piston; at least one electrical contact; a first terminal; and a second terminal. The fixed contact is fixedly connected to the first terminal. The movable contact is fixedly connected to the piston. The piston moves within the second terminal along an axis. The at least one electrical contact makes an electrical connection between the piston and the second terminal. An outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the second terminal are arranged such that: when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated, at least one first radial line perpendicular to the axis extends through locations of the at least one electrical contact, and a first distance along the at least one first radial line extends from the outer surface.

Abstract: A locking device for an electrical charging device of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric or hybrid vehicle. The locking device is equipped with a movable bolt element, which is provided for releasably locking a charging plug in a charging socket of the electrical charging device. In addition, the movable bolt element can be moved at least into the positions “unlocked” and “locked.” Furthermore, a motor-driven drive is realized, which is provided for moving the bolt element. According to the invention, the bolt element can be moved into a third “self-locked” position beyond the “locked” position, which can be reached by means of the drive and in which unlocking is impossible without the drive.

Abstract: A high-voltage power switch, preferably with a dead tank design, contains: a switching unit that has a switching device and an actuation element that is axially movable in relation to a longitudinal axis of the switching device to actuate the switching device and a closing resistor unit that has a closing resistor arrangement and an adjusting element that is axially movable in relation to a longitudinal axis of this closing resistor arrangement to actuate the closing resistor arrangement. The actuation element is coupled to the adjusting element in order to move the latter. Accordingly, the longitudinal axis of the switching unit and the longitudinal axis of the closing resistor unit are spaced apart, and the actuation and adjusting elements are coupled by a coupling device of the high-voltage power switch.

Abstract: A contact unit for a switching device includes: a first fixed contact; a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first arc extinguishing chamber, a second arc extinguishing chamber, and a third arc extinguishing chamber; and an arc guiding system. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the contact unit. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the contact unit. The first and the second arc extinguishing chamber and the arc guiding system in coordination with each other extinguish a first arc.

Abstract: A splitter plate for an arc extinguishing chamber in a switching device, the splitter plate including a base portion; a pair of arms extending from the base portion; a recess for a movable contact defined between the arms; and a slot in each arm; wherein the recess is arranged between the slots. An arc extinguishing chamber for a switching device is also provided. A switching device for breaking an electric current, the switching device including a plurality of splitter plates or an arc extinguishing chamber is also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a grid influencing system for a power supply grid comprising: a current-conducting grid influencing component; and a vacuum circuit breaker including a vacuum circuit breaker tube containing an at least partly integrated pre-arcing device for actively generating an arc between two contacts.

Abstract: A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.

Abstract: A movable contact mechanism of a double-breakpoint circuit breaker comprises a front static contact having a first contact point at the rear end, a rear contact assembly having a connecting plate with a rear static contact at the front end, and a movable contact which are placed in the horizontal direction, wherein an insertion slot is formed in the front end of the rear static contact the front contact end of the movable static is equipped with a second contact point matched with the first contact point, and the rear insertion end of the movable contact is inserted into or separated from the insertion slot and the opening or closing stroke of the first contact point and the second contact point is greater than the stroke that the rear insertion end of the movable contact is inserted into or separated from the insertion slot.

Abstract: In an embodiment a switching device includes at least one stationary contact in a switching chamber containing a gas comprising H2 and one movable contact in the switching chamber, wherein the switching chamber has a switching chamber wall and a switching chamber base, and wherein the switching chamber at least partially comprises a polymer material configured to release hydrogen when heated.