Abstract: A device for monitoring partial discharges in an AC electrical network, the monitoring device being mounted in a switching apparatus provided with a vacuum bottle connected to one phase of the AC network. The monitoring device includes a partial discharge detector positioned facing the vacuum bottle and an electronic processing unit receiving a first signal representative of the partial discharges detected by the capacitive sensor and receiving a second signal representative of the voltage of the electrical network. The processing unit includes discriminating means which are capable, according to the first signal and the second signal, of determining whether the partial discharges originate from a loss of vacuum in the vacuum bottle or originate from another cause external to the vacuum bottle.

Abstract: A device for monitoring vacuum quality of a vacuum circuit breaker, the device including at least one rigid assembly including a first stationary conductive surface that is separated by an insulating layer from a second stationary conductive surface that is grounded. The assembly forms a first capacitor having a fixed value, the first stationary conductive surface being arranged opposite an electrically active portion of the vacuum circuit breaker to form, together with the portion, a second capacitor, and an electronic circuit for measuring a variation in voltage of the first capacitor that is representative of a change in state of the vacuum of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A device for monitoring vacuum quality of a vacuum circuit breaker, the device including at least one rigid assembly including a first stationary conductive surface that is separated by an insulating layer from a second stationary conductive surface that is grounded. The assembly forms a first capacitor having a fixed value, the first stationary conductive surface being arranged opposite an electrically active portion of the vacuum circuit breaker to form, together with the portion, a second capacitor, and an electronic circuit for measuring a variation in voltage of the first capacitor that is representative of a change in state of the vacuum of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A device for monitoring partial discharges in an AC electrical network, the monitoring device being mounted in a switching apparatus provided with a vacuum bottle connected to one phase of the AC network. The monitoring device includes a partial discharge detector positioned facing the vacuum bottle and an electronic processing unit receiving a first signal representative of the partial discharges detected by the capacitive sensor and receiving a second signal representative of the voltage of the electrical network. The processing unit includes discriminating means which are capable, according to the first signal and the second signal, of determining whether the partial discharges originate from a loss of vacuum in the vacuum bottle or originate from another cause external to the vacuum bottle.

Abstract: A device for detecting vacuum loss in a vacuum breaking apparatus that includes an enclosure having a first part at least partially of insulating material, closed at its opposite ends by end-plates, and housing fixed and mobile electrodes. A second part of the enclosure is insulating material at least partially around the first part, this second part is an over-molding of electrically grounded conductive shielding at least a part of its outer surface. This first strip of over-molding faces both the first part and one of the electrodes, thereby providing two capacitances in series, namely, a vacuum capacitance between the electrode and the inner surface of the first part, and a solid capacitance between the inner surface of the first part and the first strip, and means for measuring change of current value in the first strip, which corresponds to a vacuum loss inside a vacuum breaking apparatus.

Abstract: A cartridge having at least three shields including a mid-potential shield between two contacts and at least one partial shield between a mid-potential shield and one of the contacts, the distance between the mid-potential shield and the contacts being such that the electric field present at the edge of the contact extends from the contact to the partial shield surrounding it, or vice-versa from the partial shield to the contact, depending on the polarity of the voltage.

Abstract: A device for detecting vacuum loss in a vacuum breaking apparatus that includes an enclosure having a first part at least partially of insulating material, closed at its opposite ends by end-plates, and housing fixed and mobile electrodes. A second part of the enclosure is insulating material at least partially around the first part, this second part is an over-molding of electrically grounded conductive shielding at least a part of its outer surface. This first strip of over-molding faces both the first part and one of the electrodes, thereby providing two capacitances in series, namely, a vacuum capacitance between the electrode and the inner surface of the first part, and a solid capacitance between the inner surface of the first part and the first strip, and means for measuring change of current value in the first strip, which corresponds to a vacuum loss inside a vacuum breaking apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for assembly by brazing an end cover onto a cylindrical body, said end cover presenting a circular peripheral rim via which said cover is brazed onto a part of one of the end surfaces of the cylindrical body, this device being characterized in that the above-mentioned cover is shaped in such a way that, on the above-mentioned end surface of the cylindrical body, the circular peripheral part of the above-mentioned cover exerts a compressive stress, after brazing, on substantially the whole contact area between the end surface of the cover and the end surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for assembly by brazing an end cover onto a cylindrical body, said end cover presenting a circular peripheral rim via which said cover is brazed onto a part of one of the end surfaces of the cylindrical body, this device being characterized in that the above-mentioned cover is shaped in such a way that, on the above-mentioned end surface of the cylindrical body, the circular peripheral part of the above-mentioned cover exerts a compressive stress, after brazing, on substantially the whole contact area between the end surface of the cover and the end surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly method by reactive brazing of a first metallic element such as an end cover plate of a vacuum cartridge with a second element such as the cylindrical body of said cartridge, said second element comprising an ion-covalent oxide at least at the surface by means of an alloy called added alloy designed to constitute a liquid brazing alloy designed to wet the two respectively metallic and ion-covalent oxide surfaces to be assembled of the above-mentioned two elements, said brazing alloy containing titanium and said metallic element containing nickel.

Abstract: A method for fixing an element to a part of an electrical apparatus may include interposing an extender between the element and the part, where the extender is able to exert forces on the element and the part to position the element with respect to the part and/or to secure the element in position with respect to the part, by friction between one side of the extender and the element and between another side of the extender and the part, and to ensure positioning and/or securing of the element with respect to the part prior to final fixing, and to perform final fixing by performing two welding operations respectively between the element and the extender and between the extender and the part.

Abstract: This cartridge comprises at least three shields comprising one shield called mid-potential shield inserted between the two contacts and at least one shield called partial shield inserted between said mid-potential shield and one of the contacts, the distance between said mid-potential shield and the contacts being selected such that the electric field present at the edge of the contact goes from the contact to the partial shield surrounding it (or vice-versa from the partial shield to the contact depending on the polarity of the voltage).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fixing an element to a part belonging to an electrical apparatus, this method consisting in interposing an extender between said element and said part, said extender being able to exert forces on the element and said part so as to position the element with respect to said part and/or to secure said element in position with respect to said part, by friction on the one hand between the extender and the element and on the other hand between the extender and said part, and to thereby ensure positioning and/or securing of said element with respect to said part prior to final fixing thereof, and to then perform the above-mentioned final fixing by performing two welding operations respectively between said element and the extender and between the extender and said part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cartridge for an electrical protection apparatus such as a switch or a circuit breaker, said cartridge comprising an enclosure of substantially cylindrical shape closed by two end plates, two contacts extending axially inside the enclosure, at least one whereof, called the movable contact, is connected to an operating mechanism and is mounted sliding between a closed position of the contacts enabling the current to flow and a position wherein the contacts are separated and form an electric arc between them, and a means for producing an axial magnetic field in the arc formation zone. This cartridge comprises at least one conducting shield fitted around the periphery of at least one of the contacts, said shield being shaped and arranged in such a way as to withstand the electric field arising from the recovery voltage imposed by the power system after breaking and to thus considerably reduce the electric field at the edge of said contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cartridge for an electrical protection apparatus such as a switch or a circuit breaker, said cartridge comprising an enclosure of substantially cylindrical shape closed by two end plates, two contacts extending axially inside the enclosure, at least one whereof, called the movable contact, is connected to an operating mechanism and is mounted sliding between a closed position of the contacts enabling the current to flow and a position wherein the contacts are separated and form an electric arc between them, and a means for producing an axial magnetic field in the arc formation zone. This cartridge comprises at least one conducting shield fitted around the periphery of at least one of the contacts, said shield being shaped and arranged in such a way as to withstand the electric field arising from the recovery voltage imposed by the power system after breaking and to thus considerably reduce the electric field at the edge of said contact.

Abstract: A vacuum cartridge, in particular for an electrical protection apparatus such as a switch or circuit breaker, comprising an enclosure of appreciably cylindrical shape closed by two end-plates, two contacts extending axially inside the enclosure, at least one of which contacts called the movable contact is connected to an operating mechanism and is slidingly mounted between a closed position of the contacts corresponding to a rest position of the apparatus and a position in which the arcing contacts are separated and form an electric arc between them, separation of the contacts resulting in breaking of the electrical circuit, and a means for producing an axial magnetic field for diffusion of the arc in the arc formation area. The cartridge comprises means for speeding up cooling of the contact material in liquid form flowing on the contact surface of said arcing contacts during breaking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum cartridge, in particular for an electrical protection apparatus such as a switch or circuit breaker, said cartridge comprising an enclosure of appreciably cylindrical shape closed by two end-plates, two contacts extending axially inside the enclosure, at least one of which contacts called the movable contact is connected to an operating mechanism and is slidingly mounted between a closed position of the contacts corresponding to a rest position of the apparatus and a position in which the arcing contacts are separated and form an electric arc between them, separation of the contacts resulting in breaking of the electrical circuit, and a means for producing an axial magnetic field for diffusion of the arc in the arc formation area. According to the invention, this cartridge comprises means for speeding up cooling of the contact material in liquid form flowing on the contact surface of said arcing contacts during breaking.

Abstract: A vacuum switch with an elongated cartridge comprising a cylindrical housing sealed by two end plates. Inside the cylindrical housing there are two arcing contacts, one stationary and one movable. The stationary contact is securedly affixed to one of the end plates, whereas the other movable contact is mounted to axially slide inside the cartridge. At least two portions of turn are mounted in parallel. Each portion has a first end electrically connected to one of the arcing contacts and a second end electrically connected to the current input strip of the contact. The first and second ends of each portion of turn are electrically connected by a branch-off designed to disperse a part of the main current trough the potions of turn during breaking.

Abstract: A vacuum switch has an elongated vacuum cartridge with a cylindrical enclosure blanked off by two end-plates, in which there are housed two arcing contacts respectively stationary and movable, and a coil designed to produce an axial magnetic field in the arc formation zone. The coil has one end arranged as a current conducting strip and an end electrically connected to one of the above-mentioned arcing contacts. The two ends of the coil are superposed and electrically connected, and a branch-off means, such as for example a magnetic circuit, is fitted between these two ends to branch off a part of the main current through the coil during breaking in order to create the axial magnetic field.

Abstract: An elongated vacuum cartridge having a cylindrical enclosure blanked off by two end-plates and housing a stationary arcing contact securedly united to one of the end-plates and a movable arcing contact mounted axially and slidingly inside the cartridge thereby providing a closed position and a separated position of the arcing contacts. An axial magnetic field in the arc formation zone is provided by a horizontal component of arcing current having an inclined trajectory with resect to the plane of the contact surfaces of the arcing contacts, the inclined trajectory being provided by angularly offset and alternating conductive and non-conductive sectors on the ends of each of the arcing contacts.