Abstract: A connector for electrical and mechanical connection to an overhead conductor (1) and for constituting the female portion of a telescopic isolating switch suitable for co-operating electrically with a male portion (6) of said switch. The connector includes the improvement whereby it comprises a plurality of metal conductors (17) which are curved and regularly disposed in such a manner as to define meridians of a substantially spherical surface, the top ends of said conductors being fixed to a metal block (2A-2B) which is electrically connected and mechanically fixed to said overhead conductor. The bottom ends of said curved metal conductors each include a rectilinear portion (7A) which is inclined relative to the vertical in such a manner as to define an inlet cone for the male connector portion, followed by a hairpin bend portion having two arms, one of which serves as a contact finger for making electrical contact with the male connector portion.

Abstract: This telescopic isolating switch is made from nestable tubular members (10, 11', 12') including a base member (10) connected to an electrical connection point, intermediate members (11', 12'), and an end member supporting an electrical contact. Each intermediate member (11', 12') contains two pulley wheels (110, 111) fixed close to respective ends thereof, together with an endless loop (114) passing over the two pulley wheels (110, 111) inside the member and attached at two diametrically opposite points (116, 117) to the ends of the two adjacent members (10, 12'). The lower pulley wheel (110) of the intermediate member (11') which is adjacent to the base member (10) being driven through the base member (10) by means of a gear system slidingly engaged on a rotary fluted shaft (104) which is fixed inside the base member (10) and which is driven by a drive motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for winding and unwinding a flexible rod, said apparatus including a drum (20) on which the rod (9) is wound, said drum being disposed between two parallel plates (32, 33) and being mounted on a shaft (21) set in spherical bearings (24), said shaft (21) forming an angle of two to eight degrees with the perpendicular to the plane of the drum, the periphery of said drum having a groove which defines, with a band (43) surrounding the end surface of the drum, a volume (44) enclosing the rod, said volume having a rectangular cross-section whose small side is slightly larger than the diameter of the rod. The apparatus has application to driving the components of a telescopic disconnector switch.