Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a circuit breaker includes a tank having a main portion for housing an interrupter assembly, a bushing insulator adhesively bonded to the tank, and an electrical conductor extending through the bushing insulator and electrically coupled to the interrupter assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for monitoring the fluidic contents of a tank. The tank includes a quick disconnect valve and an assembly includes a monitor device, such as, for example, a gas density monitor, a pressure monitor, a temperature monitor, etc., and a quick disconnect fitting. The monitor device is coupled to the quick disconnect fitting. The quick disconnect fitting is adapted to couple to the quick disconnect valve such that the interior of the quick disconnect fitting is in fluidic communication with the interior of the monitor device for reducing the chance of leakage upon connection/disconnection.

Abstract: A switching device facilitates access, repair, maintenance of the device during operation in a electrical substation, and minimizes real estate and equipment in the electrical substations. The device integrates air disconnect switches, preferably mounted atop each bushing. The device further comprises wheels, a removable rail system, and a staggered height arrangement of the switches on the bushing to allow translation of the device from a first position to an electrically isolated second position.

Abstract: A density monitoring assembly for use in monitoring the gas density within a high voltage circuit breaker tank is disclosed. The density monitoring assembly is coupled directly to an exterior surface of said tank and provides electrical signals indicative of the density of gas within the tank. The assembly comprises a cover that encloses the density monitoring device. The device itself is used to retain the cover. A ball valve and a shraeder type valve are provided to allow testing of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seismic damper for ground equipment such as high voltage breakers and disconnect switches. The disclosed seismic damper is reactive to low frequency seismic disturbances and provides damping in response to both upward and downward vertical forces. The seismic damper is adapted to be connected to such equipment without modifying the equipment. When the seismic dampers are connected to the equipment, the equipment's natural frequency in response to seismic disturbances is reduced. This reduction results from the particular use of a stacked ring compression spring and the particular configuration and assembly of the components of the seismic damper.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a combined interrupter disconnect switch is disclosed. The disconnect switch is operated by a slow speed linear motion of a mechanism pullrod. The interrupter, which is a component of the disconnect switch arm, is operated by a high speed linear motion of the same mechanism pullrod. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention comprises: an operating rod; a high speed operating mechanism connected to the operating rod; a sliding gear having an elongated gear face; a motor, rotatably connected to the sliding gear; a coupling gear drive having a longitudinally disposed threaded shaft and an external gear face, connected to the operating rod and meshed with said sliding gear; a threaded rod threaded into the threaded shaft of the coupling gear drive; and a drive rod connected to the threaded rod and to the mechanism pullrod. The high speed operating mechanism and motor respectively provide high speed and slow speed linear motion to the mechanism pullrod.

Abstract: The invention provides a high performance circuit breaker with an independent pole operation linkage and conical composite bushings. A mechanical linkage for independently opening and closing a plurality of associated switches is provided by the invention. The linkage comprises a plurality of connecting rods that provide the initial driving force to open or close the switch, cranks for opening and closing the contacts of respective switches, linking elements which couple together the connecting rods and the cranks, and a number of lever assemblies having a bearing ring interfaced thereto. The bearing rings provide a supportive interface between two linking element but permit the linking elements to rotate independently from one another. The lever assemblies also provide an interface for the connecting rods and linking element. According to a method of the present invention, a connecting rod is actuated in response to a signal to cause the lever assembly to pivot.

Abstract: A dead tank high voltage SF.sub.6 circuit breaker has a stationary cylinder SF.sub.6 puffer section, an arc generated SF.sub.6 pressure blast section, a moving arcing contact plug, and a moving open position shield. The contacts are operated by a reduced size operating mechanism which can be used for both 145 kV and 242 kV circuit breakers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floating shield for a high voltage bushing. Preferably the bushing is conically shaped and has a composite housing for substantially optimizing the electrical performance of the bushing according to the invention. The floating shield is preferably suspended within the bushing housing by a supporting insulator placed in a low electrical stress region of the bushing. In a preferred embodiment, the supporting insulator is disposed between a ground grading shield and the bushing housing. The composite housing preferably provides a protective inner tube made of a fiber reinforced material and an outer silicone rubber housing having weather sheds formed in a helix on the surface of the housing.

Abstract: A modular closing resistor assembly can be added in line with the interrupter assemblies of an extra high voltage circuit breaker and has a relatively short length. The resistor element consists of two stacks of disks which are disposed side by side and are electrically connected such that the alternate disks of each stack are connected in series with one another. The operating mechanism of the unit includes a linearly moving roller which engages a crank arm which is in turn pivotally connected to operate the movable closing resistor contact with a motion and with a variable mechanical advantage adapted to cause the resistor contacts to close at high speed just after the interrupter contacts close and to open after the interrupter contacts open.

Abstract: A release mechanism is triggered when the pressure differential on the siall of a sealed container reaches a predetermined threshold level at which the container either implodes or explodes to sufficiently decrease the spacing between the ends of the container and thereby achieve the release. False triggering due to percussion or shock waves may be precluded by disposing a shield about the sidewall.

Abstract: Power circuit breaker apparatus having a novel trip valve on the pneumatic operating mechanism for reducing air consumption of the pneumatic breaker operating mechanism. The novel trip valve includes the addition of a valve stem extension to the trip valve shaft disposed in a sliding fit with an exhaust port to the trip valve actuating cylinder which together provide for quick elimination of compressed air from the trip valve actuating cylinder at a predetermined time during the operation of the breaker mechanism. Positive positioning of the breaker contact and rapid closing of the trip valve at a predetermined time is effectuated thereby reducing air consumption while providing a fail-safe air cushion to the driving piston of the pneumatic mechanism to insure positive positioning of the breaker contacts.

Abstract: A power circuit breaker has a novel trip valve on the pneumatic operating mechanism for reducing air consumption of the breaker pneumatic operating mechanism. The novel trip valve includes the addition of a valve stem extension to the trip valve shaft disposed in a sliding fit with an exhaust port to the trip valve actuating cylinder which together provide for quick elimination of compressed air from the trip valve actuating cylinder at a predetermined time during the operation of the breaker mechanism. Positive positioning of the breaker contact and rapid closing of the trip valve at a predetermined time is effectuated, thereby reducing air consumption while providing a fail-safe air cushion to the driving piston of the pneumatic mechanism to insure positive positioning of the breaker contacts.

Abstract: An electric switch includes a pair of separable contacts operable between open and closed positions with respect to each other. An operator shaft is utilized for moving one of the contacts, and the operator shaft has attached thereto at the opposite end an operator piston which is disposed within an operator cylinder. A chemical operator is utilized for generating a hot gas within the operator cylinder and against the operator piston to cause movement thereof.

Abstract: An improved circuit-interrupter of either the vacuum-type, or of the compressed-gas type, is provided having a shunting capacitance around, or electrically paralleling, the separable power contacts of the main power interrupter. In series with the said electrically-shunting capacitance is capacitor-isolating disconnecting switch, which interrupts the residual capacitance current at a subsequent point in time following the interruption of the main-power current in the main-power interrupting unit.The present invention may be applied not only to vacuum interrupters, but also to compressed-gas circuit-interrupters of either the double-pressure gas type, or the single-pressure gas type, such as the so-called "puffer" gas type, creating gas flow by relative piston-and-cylinder operation.

Abstract: An improved pneumatic operating mechanism construction is provided including the usual stationary operating cylinder with a movable reciprocally-operable driving piston member movable therewithin, and having an extremely-fast pneumatic valve-device cooperable with a movable valve-sealing member attached to, and carried by, the driving side of the movable driving piston. Additionally, a valve-piston bore is provided internally within the stationary valve-housing member, within which reciprocally pneumatically operates the movable valve piston.An exhaust-port opening is provided being pneumatically communicating to the region interposed between the movable valve piston and the movable valve-sealing member, which is carried by the movable driving piston. The result is an extremely-fast valve action providing for high-pressure operating fluid, such as compressed air, for example, to be provided to the driving face of the movable driving piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the utilization of a surge tank in the pneumatic line interconnecting the high-pressure reservoir with the pneumatic control valve controlling the operation of a driving, or operating piston reciprocally operable within a surrounding operating cylinder to operate a circuit-breaker. Preferably, the volume of the surge tank is roughly of the order of the piston-displacement volume traveled by the driving piston in its opening tripping movement of the circuit-breaker, when the mechanism is used to open the circuit-breaker. However, the mechanism may also be used, if desired, to effect closing of the circuit-breaker.

Abstract: A multi-pole high-power circuit-interrupter is provided having a common operating mechanism, and having independent pole operation by associating with each of the several pole-units its own independent collapsible latching means, which may be very quickly released upon a tripping operation associated with the respective pole-unit to which said latch is individually connected.Another important feature of the invention, is an overlapping toggle arrangement, in which the toggle is overlapped in the closed-circuit position of the circuit-interrupter, and may be very quickly released to an extended unlatched position, for example, by an electromagnetically-operated tripping device, such as a repulsion coil, for example.

Abstract: An improved puffer-type, compressed-gas, circuit-interrupter is provided having an improved separable contact structure with resilient stationary contact fingers biased inwardly upon the movable tubular venting arcing contact, the latter moving with a movable operating cylinder over a relatively-fixed piston structure, and carrying an insulating nozzle therewith. The movable tubular venting arcing contact is disposed upstream of the movable nozzle structure, and does not impede the gas flow through the nozzle structure, as generated by the relative movement of the operating cylinder over the relatively-fixed piston structure.

Abstract: An improved puffer-type compressed-gas circuit-interrupter is provided having double-flow gas-flow conditions occurring in opposite directions within the arcing region, and providing thereby adaptability for high-current interrupting duty.Additional features moreover include a relatively-stationary tubular arcing contact for improved venting of the hot arcing gases, secondary circumferentially-disposed movable contact fingers making contacting engagement with said tubular stationary venting arcing contact improved main contact structure.