Abstract: A vacuum interrupter includes a first contact carrier; a first contact piece; a second contact carrier; and a second contact piece; wherein the first contact piece is connected to the first contact carrier; wherein the second contact piece is connected to the second contact carrier; wherein a shape of the first contact piece is different to a shape of the second contact piece and/or a material of the first contact piece is different to a material of the second contact piece; wherein in a deactivated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to hold the first contact piece spaced from the second contact piece; and wherein in an activated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to bring the first contact piece and the second contact piece into contact with one another.

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: An inner compartment for medium voltage gas insulated switchgears includes: at least one inner compartment; and a housing. The inner compartment, or in case of several inner compartments, an inner of the inner compartment, or one of the inner compartments, is provided on an inner wall surface thereof at least partially with an insulating layer.

Abstract: A fixation system in use for medium or high voltage switching poles, insulators, circuit breakers, or general devices includes: an insulating housing provided with holes, in which screws are screwed into, in order to fix the device on a support, or a further housing. Inner surfaces of the holes are covered with a conductive layer or layers covering the inner surfaces at least partly. The conductive layers extend toward outside the holes. The conductive layers are conductively connected or connectable to ground potential.

Abstract: A medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole includes: a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; a movable contact of the interrupter; and a threaded drive element. The movable contact is configured to move along a longitudinal axis of the interrupter. A centre axis of the drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the interrupter. When in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated from one another. When in a closed configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are in contact with one another. Rotation of the drive element about its centre axis in a first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration. Rotation of the drive element about its centre axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

Abstract: An earthing module for a switchgear includes: a cylinder; a piston; a stored energy unit; and at least one photovoltaic cell. The cylinder connects to a part of a switchgear at earth potential. The piston moves within the cylinder from a standby position to a released position along an axis of the cylinder. When in the released position, the piston is in electrical connection with the cylinder. The stored energy unit is located within or associated with the earthing module such that activation of the stored energy unit moves the piston from the standby position to the released position. One or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell activates the stored energy unit based on radiation from an electrical arc of the switchgear impinging upon the one or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A method for operating a medium voltage circuit breaker or recloser comprising at least one electric pole, each including a movable contact and a fixed contact, being in a closed or an open position after switching operations of the medium voltage circuit breaker or recloser, and an electromagnetic actuator, includes: monitoring a travel curve of the movable contact, the travel curve being derived by an evaluation of a shape of an applied current and a shape of an applied voltage using a mathematical representation of the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A short circuit current detection device for a medium voltage or high voltage switchgear includes: a reed contact; and a holder for holding the reed contact, the holder being mountable with a defined orientation to a conductor of the switchgear. At a location where the holder is mounted, the conductor has a longitudinal axis. The conductor enables a current to flow through the conductor in a direction of the longitudinal axis. The holder positions the reed contact with respect to the longitudinal axis such that when a magnitude of the current flow through the conductor exceeds a threshold current value the reed contact closes.

Abstract: An earthing module for a switchgear includes: a cylinder; a piston; a stored energy unit; and at least one photovoltaic cell. The cylinder connects to a part of a switchgear at earth potential. The piston moves within the cylinder from a standby position to a released position along an axis of the cylinder. When in the released position, the piston is in electrical connection with the cylinder. The stored energy unit is located within or associated with the earthing module such that activation of the stored energy unit moves the piston from the standby position to the released position. One or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell activates the stored energy unit based on radiation from an electrical arc of the switchgear impinging upon the one or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medium voltage switching apparatus. The medium voltage switching apparatus includes one or more electric poles, each electrically coupleable with a corresponding electric line; for each electric pole, a fixed contact and a movable contact, the movable contact being reversibly movable between a decoupled position from the fixed contact and a coupled position with the fixed contact, the movable contact moving from the decoupled position to the coupled position during an closing manoeuvre of the switching apparatus and moving from the coupled position to the decoupled position during an opening manoeuvre of the switching apparatus; and actuating means adapted to actuate the movable contacts of the one or more electric poles. A control unit is adapted to select and carry out a selectable control routine in response to receiving an input signal at an input arrangement corresponding to the selectable routine.

Abstract: A method for operating a drive of a vacuum interrupter in opening mode includes: dividing an opening movement of at least one movable contact into serial phases, an opening phase, and an isolating phase, driven in at least two different velocities. In the opening phase a velocity of the opening movement is lower than in the isolating phase.

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: An actuator for a medium voltage circuit breaker or recloser includes: at least one movable contact with a contact stem, driven by an electromagnetic drive or a motor drive; and a spring, the spring being positioned in a kinematic chain between the drive and the at least one movable contact or contact stem. An arrangement of the at least one movable contact and the electromagnetic drive or motor drive is coupled to a detection unit for detecting a micromotion activation in order to register an actual movability and availability of the electromagnetic drive or motor drive of the at least one movable contact without changing an actual switch position itself.

Abstract: A medium voltage circuit breaker includes: vacuum interrupters; and a drive, the drive being provided with a magnetic actuator with a yoke, and an anchor. At least the yoke or the anchor includes a movable part, the movable part of the drive being coupled to a movable part of a switch, and the yoke being provided with an actuation coil. The actuation coil can be driven actively by activation with electrical energy. The yoke is provided with at least one passive coil, which is coupled with the actuation coil only inductively, and with at least one permanent magnet, arranged inside or at the yoke, by which magnetic flux will be further concentrated and/or enhanced towards an airgap to the anchor.

Abstract: An electrical connection for medium and high voltage switchgears includes an electrical terminal of a switchgear. An electrical contacting surface of the electrical terminal as first current carrying part is electrically connected with a contacting surface of an external electrical connector part as second current carrying part via a connecting system. The connecting system includes a stretch-bolt function, which is integrated in one of the current carrying parts. The stretch bolt function is provided with a male screw thread at the extending end, which is configured to be screwed into a female threaded hole of the second current carrying part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medium voltage switching apparatus. The medium voltage switching apparatus comprises: one or more electric poles, each electrically coupleable with a corresponding electric line; for each electric pole, a fixed contact and a movable contact, said movable contact being reversibly movable between a decoupled position from said fixed contact and a coupled position with said fixed contact, said movable contact moving from said decoupled position to said coupled position during an closing manoeuvre of the switching apparatus and moving from said coupled position to said decoupled position during an opening manoeuvre of the switching apparatus; actuating means adapted to actuate the movable contacts of said one or more electric poles. The switching apparatus is operatively coupled with or comprises a control unit to control said actuating means.

Abstract: An inner compartment for medium voltage gas insulated switchgears includes: at least one inner compartment; and a housing. The inner compartment, or in case of several inner compartments, an inner of the inner compartment, or one of the inner compartments, is provided on an inner wall surface thereof at least partially with an insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for operating a drive of a vacuum interrupter in opening modus includes: dividing an opening movement of at least one movable contact into serial phases, an opening phase, and an isolating phase, driven in at least two different velocities. In the opening phase a velocity of the opening movement is lower than in the isolating phase.

Abstract: A fixation system in use for medium or high voltage switching poles, insulators, circuit breakers, or general devices includes: an insulating housing provided with holes, in which screws are screwed into, in order to fix the device on a support, or a further housing. Inner surfaces of the holes are covered with a conductive layer or layers covering the inner surfaces at least partly. The conductive layers extend toward outside the holes. The conductive layers are conductively connected or connectable to ground potential.

Abstract: A method for operating a medium voltage circuit breaker or recloser comprising at least one electric pole, each including a movable contact and a fixed contact, being in a closed or an open position after switching operations of the medium voltage circuit breaker or recloser, and an electromagnetic actuator, includes: monitoring a travel curve of the movable contact, the travel curve being derived by an evaluation of a shape of an applied current and a shape of an applied voltage using a mathematical representation of the electromagnetic actuator.