Abstract: A hydraulic accumulator for providing pressurized fluid for a hydraulic system, includes a cylinder, a piston movably disposed in the cylinder defining a space in the cylinder on one side of the piston for pressurized fluid, and a mechanical spring device connected to the piston for generating pressure in the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A circuit breaker, in particular a high-voltage circuit breaker employing SF.sub.6 gas, possesses a fixed contact part, and a movable switching piece which is provided with a blast nozzle and can be actuated by a drive. During the process of tripping out, a compression space is rendered smaller to generate a flow of gas towards the blast nozzle and an arc produced during switching out by movement of a movable cylinder over a stationary piston head. In order to reduce the drive power, the compression space is surrounded by a coil for generating a magnetic field. The coil is capable of being switched into the current path in such a manner that, during the process of tripping out, current does not flow through the coil until disconnection has been effected at the main contact point. An auxiliary piston is located in the compression space. The auxiliary piston is capable of being driven by the magnetic field toward the contact point in order to render the compression space smaller.

Abstract: A high-voltage circuit breaker having a fixed contact and a movable contact also has a piston/cylinder system for generating a quenching gas flow to extinguish an arc during a switching action. The piston of the piston/cylinder system is connected to the movable contact. For the purpose of increasing the pressure in the quenching gas flow and for extending the blowing process, an auxiliary piston is provided on the opposite side of the fixed cylinder wall as the main piston. The auxiliary piston is driven in conjunction with the movable contact and the main piston of the piston/cylinder system in such a manner that it is moved in the first half of the circuit-breaking movement in opposition to the direction of movement of the main piston, and in the second half of the circuit-breaking movement in synchronism with the piston of the piston/cylinder system, into a circuit breaking position.

Abstract: A puffer piston circuit breaker has a stationary contact and a movable contact, of which at least the movable contact is tubular in shape. A piston-cylinder puffer assembly is fixedly connected with the movable contact for providing a flow of gas to extinguish the arc when the cylinder and the piston are displaced with respect to each other. In order to reduce the driving force required to actuate the moving parts to effect a flow of gas, a supplemental piston-cylinder assembly is also provided, the compression space of which is compressed by a helical spring device actuated by the current during a switching operation, such that additional quenching gas is supplied to the extinguishing flow. At least part of the current is commutated onto the spring during a switching action. The helical spring is securely clamped on one end and on the other end is fixedly connected with a movable piston of the supplemental piston-cylinder assembly.

Abstract: An electric switch, for use as a high-voltage circuit breaker, having a plurality of quenching chambers per switch pole, with each of the quenching chambers radially disposed in a common actuator shaft. The quenching chambers disposed in the common actuator shaft are then placed in a closed vessel having a toroidal shape.

Abstract: A circuit breaker assembly is provided with a pair of contact elements defining therebetween an arc site across which an arc is struck upon separation of the contacts to break the circuit within which the breaker is connected. A compressed gas contained within a quenching chamber is caused to flow across the quenching site to quench the arc upon breaking of the contact. A pair of electrodes located within an auxilliary gas chamber operate to strike a second arc simultaneously with the circuit breaking operation in order to increase pressure in the auxiliary chamber thereby providing auxiliary power to enhance the circuit breaking operation and quenching of the main arc.