Abstract: A multipolar electrical protection system including a plurality of devices for switching an electric current. Each switching device has a plurality of compartments each comprising an extinguishing chamber and a pair of separable electrical contacts that are connected to upstream and downstream connection terminals, the separable electrical contacts being movable between open and closed positions under the action of a tripping device. The switching devices are separate from one another, while the upstream terminals of each device are connected by a first connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential and the downstream terminals of each device are connected by a second connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential. The switching devices are controlled by one and the same common tripping device.

Abstract: A set of electrical protection devices with two levels that are connected in series, the first level including a circuit breaker that is referred to as the first or upstream circuit breaker and the second level including one or more circuit breakers referred to as second or downstream circuit breakers, which are connected in parallel with respect to one another.

Abstract: An electric switching unit comprises a casing and a plurality of arc extinguishing chambers formed inside the casing, each arc extinguishing chamber comprising a gas discharge orifice opening to outside the casing. The electric switching unit comprises a filtering device positioned outside the casing and comprising: a plurality of inlet openings placed on a lower region of the filtering device, each one being configured to collaborate fluidically with one of the said gas discharge orifices; an outlet opening placed on a lateral region of the filtering device; a common internal chamber which places the inlet openings in fluidic communication with the outlet opening; and a filter located inside the internal chamber between the inlet openings and the outlet opening.

Abstract: This limiter pole (B) for a multipole DC electrical switch (2) comprises a compartment in which an input terminal and an output terminal for a direct electric current are provided, along with a first electrical contact connected to the input terminal and a second electrical contact connected to the output terminal, third and fourth electrical contacts connected to one another in series, the third and fourth contacts being capable of being moved simultaneously relative to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively, between a closed position, in which the first and third contacts and the second and fourth contacts make contact with one another so as to allow the direct electric current to flow between the input terminal and the output terminal, and an open position, in which said contacts are located away from one another, interrupting the flow of the current between the input terminal and the output terminal.

Abstract: A multipolar electrical protection system including a plurality of devices for switching an electric current. Each switching device has a plurality of compartments each comprising an extinguishing chamber and a pair of separable electrical contacts that are connected to upstream and downstream connection terminals, the separable electrical contacts being movable between open and closed positions under the action of a tripping device. The switching devices are separate from one another, while the upstream terminals of each device are connected by a first connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential and the downstream terminals of each device are connected by a second connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential. The switching devices are controlled by one and the same common tripping device.

Abstract: A set of electrical protection devices with two levels that are connected in series, the first level including a circuit breaker that is referred to as the first or upstream circuit breaker and the second level including one or more circuit breakers referred to as second or downstream circuit breakers, which are connected in parallel with respect to one another.

Abstract: A method includes detecting any light beam from 300 nm to 430 nm within the distribution system and, when this beam is detected, generating a signal indicating the presence of an internal arc inside the system; analyzing the characteristics of the light beam based on the signal and, if these characteristics meet required conditions for characterizing an internal arc fault, sending an internal arc fault signal, then; in the presence of an internal arc fault, attenuating its effects in the distribution system. Between the detecting and the analyzing, the visible and infrared portions of this beam are removed, these portions being likely to arise from ionized gases ejected by outlets of a low-voltage circuit breaker interrupting a short-circuit current. A protection device for carrying out this method includes a light detector associated with current-measuring sensors, and protection means including a main circuit breaker, a short-circuiter and a relay.

Abstract: An electric switching unit comprises a casing and a plurality of arc extinguishing chambers formed inside the casing, each arc extinguishing chamber comprising a gas discharge orifice opening to outside the casing. The electric switching unit comprises a filtering device positioned outside the casing and comprising: a plurality of inlet openings placed on a lower region of the filtering device, each one being configured to collaborate fluidically with one of the said gas discharge orifices; an outlet opening placed on a lateral region of the filtering device; a common internal chamber which places the inlet openings in fluidic communication with the outlet opening; and a filter located inside the internal chamber between the inlet openings and the outlet opening.

Abstract: This limiter pole (B) for a multipole DC electrical switch (2) comprises a compartment in which an input terminal and an output terminal for a direct electric current are provided, along with a first electrical contact connected to the input terminal and a second electrical contact connected to the output terminal, third and fourth electrical contacts connected to one another in series, the third and fourth contacts being capable of being moved simultaneously relative to the first and second electrical contacts, respectively, between a closed position, in which the first and third contacts and the second and fourth contacts make contact with one another so as to allow the direct electric current to flow between the input terminal and the output terminal, and an open position, in which said contacts are located away from one another, interrupting the flow of the current between the input terminal and the output terminal.

Abstract: A low-voltage multipolar circuit breaker includes a moulded housing including a main body that is divided into interior compartments, each associated with one pole of the circuit breaker, and a cover that is mounted on the main body covering a main face of the body. The circuit breaker includes, for each pole, electrical contacts that can be separated by a device of a switching mechanism and an arc-extinguishing chamber. For at least two of the poles, the main face includes an additional aperture, each placed directly above the spark guard of the corresponding pole and placing the arc-extinguishing chamber of this pole in communication with the interior volume delimited by the cover and the main face, and the cover is attached to the main body while leaving a peripheral opening between the cover and the main body, placing the interior volume in communication with the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: An extinguishing gas filtering device for an electric current switchgear with separable contacts, including an electric arc extinguishing chamber, includes, assembled together an inlet part for the extinguishing gases, made of a metal material and including an inlet aperture intended to be fluidically connected with an extinguishing gas outlet of the switchgear; an outlet aperture; a flared wall extending between the inlet and outlet apertures; a gas diffuser, which covers the outlet aperture, being planar in shape and including through-apertures; a filter made of porous metal foam, placed at the output of the gas diffuser.

Abstract: A device for short-circuiting an electrical installation that includes at least two electrical conductors, the device including at least two connection terminals, each configured to be connected to a respective electrical conductor, an electromechanical unit configured to establish a short-circuit between the connection terminals, and at least one resistive element configured to connect one of the connection terminals to the corresponding electrical conductor. Each resistive element includes a first connection end connected to the corresponding connection terminal and a second connection end configured to be connected to the corresponding electrical conductor. The resistive element has an impedance, and variation in a value of the impedance is less than 1 m? for a temperature of the resistive element of 0° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: A multipolar electrical protection device has a disconnecting block with separable contacts containing at least one movable contact finger, a switching mechanism able to move the contact fingers, and an electronic tripping system that drives the mechanism. The protection device has a pyrotechnic actuation system including: a pyrotechnic actuator; firing pins positioned facing the contact fingers and each able to be moved to a pressed position in which it pushes a contact finger; a motion transmission system for transforming the movement of a mobile part of the pyrotechnic actuator to the deployed position thereof into a simultaneous movement of all of the firing pins to the pressed position. The tripping system is able to activate a pyrotechnic actuator when it detects an electrical fault.

Abstract: An electrical circuit breaker with separable electrical contacts includes a fixed electrical contact, a mobile electrical contact, that can be displaced between open and closed positions and including several electrical contact fingers, arranged aligned along a row and that can be displaced relative to the mobile electrical contact, several bearing members, each associated with a contact finger to exert a force on this contact finger in order to displace it. The bearing members associated with the contact fingers situated in lateral end zones of the row exhibit a higher stiffness than the bearing members associated with the contact fingers situated in a central part of the row.

Abstract: An arc extinguishing gas filtering device for electrical current switchgear includes a porous central body including longitudinal channels and transverse channels which fluidically connect the longitudinal channels together, the longitudinal channels having a bent form; and a tight outer skin which surrounds the central body and which includes inlet orifices and outlet orifices, each longitudinal channel extending between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, the outer skin and the central body forming a rigid part in a single piece produced in a metallic material.

Abstract: A multipolar electrical protection device has a disconnecting block with separable contacts containing at least one movable contact finger, a switching mechanism able to move the contact fingers, and an electronic tripping system that drives the mechanism. The protection device has a pyrotechnic actuation system including: a pyrotechnic actuator; firing pins positioned facing the contact fingers and each able to be moved to a pressed position in which it pushes a contact finger; a motion transmission system for transforming the movement of a mobile part of the pyrotechnic actuator to the deployed position thereof into a simultaneous movement of all of the firing pins to the pressed position. The tripping system is able to activate a pyrotechnic actuator when it detects an electrical fault.

Abstract: A low-voltage multipolar circuit breaker includes a moulded housing including a main body that is divided into interior compartments, each associated with one pole of the circuit breaker, and a cover that is mounted on the main body covering a main face of the body. The circuit breaker includes, for each pole, electrical contacts that can be separated by a device of a switching mechanism and an arc-extinguishing chamber. For at least two of the poles, the main face includes an additional aperture, each placed directly above the spark guard of the corresponding pole and placing the arc-extinguishing chamber of this pole in communication with the interior volume delimited by the cover and the main face, and the cover is attached to the main body while leaving a peripheral opening between the cover and the main body, placing the interior volume in communication with the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: A method includes detecting any light beam from 300 nm to 430 nm within the distribution system and, when this beam is detected, generating a signal indicating the presence of an internal arc inside the system; analyzing the characteristics of the light beam based on the signal and, if these characteristics meet required conditions for characterizing an internal arc fault, sending an internal arc fault signal, then; in the presence of an internal arc fault, attenuating its effects in the distribution system. Between the detecting and the analyzing, the visible and infrared portions of this beam are removed, these portions being likely to arise from ionized gases ejected by outlets of a low-voltage circuit breaker interrupting a short-circuit current. A protection device for carrying out this method includes a light detector associated with current-measuring sensors, and protection means including a main circuit breaker, a short-circuiter and a relay.

Abstract: An extinguishing gas filtering device for an electric current switchgear with separable contacts, including an electric arc extinguishing chamber, includes, assembled together an inlet part for the extinguishing gases, made of a metal material and including an inlet aperture intended to be fluidically connected with an extinguishing gas outlet of the switchgear; an outlet aperture; a flared wall extending between the inlet and outlet apertures; a gas diffuser, which covers the outlet aperture, being planar in shape and including through-apertures; a filter made of porous metal foam, placed at the output of the gas diffuser.

Abstract: An air circuit breaker includes two separable electrical contacts connected to electric current input and output terminals; and a chamber for quenching an electric arc, including a stack of splitter plates that are spaced apart from one another, and lateral walls placed on either side of the stack and including a thermosetting-resin impregnated polyamide woven and being devoid of glass fibres. The quenching chamber furthermore includes protective elements made of crosslinked polyamide, the elements being placed in junction zones between the lateral walls and holding plates, the protective elements covering corners of the splitter plates, which corners are adjacent to the lateral walls, so as to separate these corners of the splitter plates from the electrical contacts.