Abstract: A medium or high voltage electrical device and method of maintaining the composition of an insulating gas mixture in a medium or high voltage electrical device, where the device comprises a sealed chamber, said sealed chamber comprising electrical components; a gas mixture ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing of electrical arcs produced in this chamber, wherein the gas mixture comprises at least one insulating gas and at least one dilution gas; and a receptacle, said receptacle comprising an opening, at least one wall, wherein at least one wall is a heatable wall, and wherein said receptacle is positioned to receive liquefied gas; the device further comprising a heating element for heating the heatable receptacle wall; and a dielectrically and thermally insulating layer located between the heatable receptacle wall and the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric arc-blast nozzle (5) for a circuit breaker comprising a middle portion (7) forming a throat defining internally an axial passage (13) for interrupting an electric arc, and two end portions (9, 11) extending on either side of the middle portion (7) and being designed to receive respective arcing contacts (1) and (3) that are movable axially relative to each other. The middle portion (7) and the two end portions (9, 11) are made of a same dielectric material obtained from a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer matrix, at least one inorganic filler and micro-capsules of liquid heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile. The invention also relates to a circuit breaker including such a nozzle (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric arc-blast nozzle (5) for a circuit breaker comprising a middle portion (7) forming a throat defining internally an axial passage (13) for interrupting an electric arc, and two end portions (9, 11) extending on either side of the middle portion (7) and being designed to receive respective arcing contacts (1) and (3) that are movable axially relative to each other. The middle portion (7) and the two end portions (9, 11) are made of a same dielectric material obtained from a composition comprising a fluorocarbon polymer matrix, at least one inorganic filler and micro-capsules of liquid heptafluoro-iso-butyronitrile. The invention also relates to a circuit breaker including such a nozzle (5).

Abstract: A medium-voltage or high-voltage electrical device comprising a sealed enclosure in which are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer and a gaseous medium ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing electrical arcs, the gaseous medium comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas, the thickness of the solid dielectric layer being less than 1 mm and being produced from a material comprising a polyepoxide or polyurethane resin optionally containing a filler or aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A method and a facility for filling a high- or medium-voltage gas-insulated electrical apparatus in which the insulating gas comprises a mixture of heptafluoroisobutyronitrile ((CF3)2CFCN) and carbon dioxide. The method and the facility using a mixture of (CF3)2CFCN and CO2 in pressurised liquid form which is heated to a temperature no lower than the critical temperature of the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to medium- or high-voltage, gas-insulated electrical apparatus (10) comprising: a hermetically sealed chamber (12) filled with a dielectric gas, the gas containing at least one of fluoronitrile, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen or dioxygen; at least two electrical contacts (16, 20) arranged coaxially with a main axis (A) of the chamber (12), of which at least one (20) can move axially inside the chamber (12) between a closed position in which the two contacts (16, 20) are in electrical contact with one another and an open position in which the contacts (16, 20) are located at a distance from one another; and a cut-off mechanism (14) for extinguishing the electric arc that forms between the two contacts (16, 20) as the at least one moving contact (20) moves from the closed position into the open position. The cut-off mechanism is of the rotating arc type.

Abstract: A medium-voltage or high-voltage electrical device comprising a sealed enclosure in which are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer and a gaseous medium ensuring electrical insulation and/or extinguishing electrical arcs, the gaseous medium comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile and a dilution gas, the thickness of the solid dielectric layer being less than 1 mm and being produced from a material comprising a polyepoxide or polyurethane resin optionally containing a filler or aluminum oxide.

Abstract: A method and a facility for filling a high- or medium-voltage gas-insulated electrical apparatus in which the insulating gas comprises a mixture of heptafluoroisobutyronitrile ((CF3)2CFCN) and carbon dioxide. The method and the facility using a mixture of (CF3)2CFCN and CO2 in pressurised liquid form which is heated to a temperature no lower than the critical temperature of the mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to medium- or high-voltage, gas-insulated electrical apparatus (10) comprising: a hermetically sealed chamber (12) filled with a dielectric gas, the gas containing at least one of fluoronitrile, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen or dioxygen; at least two electrical contacts (16, 20) arranged coaxially with a main axis (A) of the chamber (12), of which at least one (20) can move axially inside the chamber (12) between a closed position in which the two contacts (16, 20) are in electrical contact with one another and an open position in which the contacts (16, 20) are located at a distance from one another; and a cut-off mechanism (14) for extinguishing the electric arc that forms between the two contacts (16, 20) as the at least one moving contact (20) moves from the closed position into the open position. The cut-off mechanism is of the rotating arc type.

Abstract: A self-blast electric interrupter device, such as a circuit breaker or a disconnector, the device comprising: a first contact and a second contact that are movable between a closed position in which they press against each other, and an open position in which they are spaced apart from each other; and an arc-control chamber surrounding the two contacts in order to define a space that is closed in the closed position. At least one of the contacts includes a central channel opening out towards the other contact in order to enable gas coming from the arc-control chamber during an opening stage to be discharged. According to the invention, the other contact carries an insulating member that ablates under the effect of an electric arc forming in the arc-control chamber in order to give rise to a large and fast increase of pressure within the chamber.

Abstract: A breaking chamber (1) for a medium- or high-voltage circuit breaker extending along a longitudinal axis (XX?) and comprising: a pair of arcing contact (4, 5), at least one (5) of which is movable along the longitudinal axis (XX?); an arc-blast nozzle (6); a blast chamber (7), having a volume V2 that is constant and that opens out inside the blast nozzle; a compression chamber (8), arranged substantially behind the blast chamber, and structures (73, 81) for putting the internal volume of the compression chamber (8) into communication with the internal volume of the blast chamber (7); and structures (14, 15, 50), disposed substantially behind the compression chamber (8), in order to deliver liquid, either into the compression chamber (8), or directly into the blast chamber (7).

Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention presents a resistance (30) in series with the circuit-breaker switch (20?); the resistance (30) is of fixed ohmic value that is about 104 times greater than the value of the resistance of the main circuit of the circuit-breaker. By means of this configuration, it is possible to use a vacuum chamber as the circuit-breaker switch (20?), and to dimension the main switch (10), which, de facto, breaks the current even for very high short-circuit currents, under more advantageous conditions.

Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention presents a compact structure. The axes of opening/closure of the change-over first switch (12, 14), of the circuit-breaker second switch (22, 24), and of the disconnector switch (32, 34) are such that an angle of 90° is present between two of them. Actuator means (40) associated with synchronization means (52, 54, 56, 58) make it possible to ensure that each switch is operated in a time-shifted manner by common control means.

Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention presents a resistance (30) in series with the circuit-breaker switch (20?); the resistance (30) is of fixed ohmic value that is about 104 times greater than the value of the resistance of the main circuit of the circuit-breaker. By means of this configuration, it is possible to use a vacuum chamber as the circuit-breaker switch (20?), and to dimension the main switch (10), which, de facto, breaks the current even for very high short-circuit currents, under more advantageous conditions.

Abstract: An alternator disconnector circuit-breaker of the invention presents a compact structure. The axes of opening/closure of the change-over first switch (12, 14), of the circuit-breaker second switch (22, 24), and of the disconnector switch (32, 34) are such that an angle of 90° is present between two of them. Actuator means (40) associated with synchronization means (52, 54, 56, 58) make it possible to ensure that each switch is operated in a time-shifted manner by common control means.

Abstract: A power station switch having high nominal current, the switch comprising a break chamber containing a dielectric gas under pressure and mounted inside a protective sheath which may optionally carry a general flow of cooling air, and a radiator/heat-exchanger situated outside said sheath and connected to said break chamber in which said gas under pressure is put into continuous circulation. Said gas under pressure as cooled in the radiator/heat-exchanger is returned to the break chamber via a metal case of the break chamber that is designed to be grounded.

Abstract: A three-position control apparatus has a control shaft secured to a Maltese cross provided with two drive slots and rotated from a determined angular position to an angular position from among two other determined angular positions. The Maltese cross is rotated in this way by one or the other of two studs fixed to a drive shaft and associated with a cam that is complementary to the Maltese cross. Rotation of the drive shaft is limited by the action of a fixed stop abutment which stops the rotation in each of the two rotation directions at the two chosen starting and finishing end positions, and by a complementary shaft-stopping mechanism that prevents the shafts from rotating from the determined intermediate position by interposing a stop element in the path that is followed by a projecting complementary element carried by one of the shafts as it rotates.

Abstract: A composite material tubular insulative jacket contains a dielectric gas under pressure and electrical switchgear and includes a metallic collar fixed to one end at least and provided with a member for fixing the collar to a support member. A seal is disposed between the support member and the jacket. A metallic insert is attached to this end of the jacket by an interference fit and by gluing, the seal being disposed between the insert and the support member.

Abstract: An interlock device using locks to prevent manual actuation of a switch having a handle inlet, and to allow the switch to be actuated manually in a certain sequence of operations determined by using keys for the locks, thereby enabling the switch to pass from a first switching position to a second switching position, the device comprising a first lock and a second lock each operable by means of at least one key capable of being withdrawn from the corresponding lock or of being engaged in said lock only when the lock is in its locked position, a set of cams whose rotation is tied to actuation of the switch and which act on the bolts of said locks to prevent the first lock from being operated so long as the second switch is not in its second switching position and to prevent the second lock being operated by its key as soon as the second switch no longer occupies its first switching position, both locks being disposed in such a manner that their respective bolts, when in the advanced position, close the handle

Abstract: A gas blast circuit breaker comprises a cylindrical metal or insulative enclosure filled with pressurized insulative gas, a fixed arc contact and a mobile assembly coupled to an operating member comprising a gas blast cylinder associated with a gas blast nozzle and cooperating with a piston, and a mobile arc contact carried by a tubular member inside the gas blast cylinder. The inside wall of the tubular member comprises a bottleneck whose cross-section is less than the inside cross-section of the tubular member and coaxial therewith. The minimum cross-section of the bottleneck has a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the inside cross-section of the mobile arc contact and equal to at least 0.75 times the diameter of the inside cross-section of the mobile arc contact. The operation of the circuit breaker is improved by increasing the gas pressure near the mobile arc contact by virtue of a particularly simple and low-cost arrangement.