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: An arc mitigation apparatus includes an arc mitigation device and a solar cell. The arc mitigation device is configured to be mounted to a low-, medium-, or high-voltage switchgear. The arc mitigation device is configured to stop or limit current flow within at least one part of the low-, medium-, or high-switchgear when activated. The solar-cell is configured to be located within a compartment of the low-, medium-, or high-voltage switchgear. The solar-cell is configured to cause the arc mitigation device to activate due to radiation from an electrical arc of the switchgear impinging upon the solar-cell.

Abstract: A three-position disconnector switch includes a platform, a power in contact, a power out contact, an earthing contact, and a piston. In a first position, the piston contacts the power out contact and the power in contact. In a second position, the piston contacts the power out contact. In a third position, the piston contacts the power out contact and the earthing contact. The piston moves along an axis to transition between the different switch positions. The power in contact is mounted to the platform, the power out contact is mounted to the platform, and the earthing contact is mounted to the platform.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals, first and second interrupters, an interconnection part, an actuator, an operating rod, and a lever system. The first terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter. The second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter and the interconnection part is configured to be in electrical connection with a movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is configured to provide a current path between the movable contacts. In a transition from an open state to the closed state, the actuator is configured to move the operating rod to move the second end of the first non-linear lever arm and the second end of the second non-linear lever arm.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals, first and second vacuum interrupters, an interconnection part, an actuator, an operating rod, and a lever system. The first terminal is connected to a fixed contact of the first vacuum interrupter. The second terminal is electrically connected to a fixed contact of the second vacuum interrupter. The interconnection part is associated with a movable contact of the first and second vacuum interrupters when the circuit breaker is in a closed state. A first end of a first lever arm is coupled to the movable contact, and a second end is coupled to the operating rod. When transitioning from an open to a closed state, the actuator moves the operating rod to move the second end of the first lever arm and the second end of the second lever arm.

Abstract: A switching apparatus including one or more electric poles. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus includes a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal, a ground terminal, and a plurality of fixed contacts spaced apart one from another. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a movable contact and a vacuum interrupter. The movable contact is reversibly movable about a corresponding rotation axis. The vacuum interrupter includes a movable arc contact reversibly movable along a corresponding translation axis. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a motion transmission mechanism operatively coupled to a contact shaft solidly coupled to the movable arc contact. The motion transmission mechanism is actuatable by the movable contact to cause a movement of said movable arc contact along said translation axis, when said movable contact moves about said rotation axis.

Abstract: A switching apparatus is provided herein. The switching apparatus includes: (i) a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal and a ground terminal, (ii) a first contact arrangement including a first fixed contact member and a first movable contact member, (iii) a second contact arrangement including a second fixed contact member and a second movable contact member, (iv) a vacuum chamber wherein the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are enclosed and can be coupled or decoupled, and (v) an electrically conductive coupling lever pivoted on the second movable contact member and reversibly movable about a second rotation axis.

Abstract: A circuit breaker pole for low voltage or medium voltage operation includes: a main body section; a first end section; and a second end section. The first end section is fixedly connectable to a wall of an enclosure. The second end section is fixedly connectable to the wall of the enclosure.

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 three-position disconnector switch includes a platform, a power in contact, a power out contact, an earthing contact, and a piston. In a first position, the piston contacts the power out contact and the power in contact. In a second position, the piston contacts the power out contact. In a third position, the piston contacts the power out contact and the earthing contact. The piston moves along an axis to transition between the different switch positions. The power in contact is mounted to the platform, the power out contact is mounted to the platform, and the earthing contact is mounted to the platform.

Abstract: A switching apparatus is provided herein. The switching apparatus includes: (i) a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal and a ground terminal, (ii) a first contact arrangement including a first fixed contact member and a first movable contact member, (iii) a second contact arrangement including a second fixed contact member and a second movable contact member, (iv) a vacuum chamber wherein the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are enclosed and can be coupled or decoupled, and (v) an electrically conductive coupling lever pivoted on the second movable contact member and reversibly movable about a second rotation axis.

Abstract: A three-position disconnector switch includes: an earthing contact; a power out contact; a power in contact; a first piston; and a second piston. In a connected switch position the first piston makes an electrical connection with the power out contact and the second piston makes an electrical connection with the power out contact and the power in contact. In a disconnected switch position the first piston makes an electrical connection with the power out contact and the second piston makes an electrical connection with the power out contact. In an earthed switch position the first piston makes an electrical connection with the earthing contact and with the power out contact and the second piston makes an electrical connection with the power out contact.

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: A three-position disconnector switch includes an earthing contact, a power out contact, a power in contact, a piston, and a threaded rod. A length of the piston is such that in a first switch position an outer surface of a wall of the piston makes an electrical contact between the power out contact and the power in contact. The length of the piston is such that in a second switch position the outer surface of the wall of the piston does not make an electrical contact with either the earthing contact or the power in contact. The length of the piston is such that in a third switch position the outer surface of wall of the piston makes an electrical contact between the earthing contact and the power out contact. The piston includes an inner threaded section configured to engage with the threaded rod.

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 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: 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.