Abstract: An electrode arrangement of a vacuum circuit breaker for making and breaking electrical connection. The electrode arrangement has: a pair of contact members which are adopted for making contact to and release from each other by relatively moving to and from each other along a predetermined direction; a pair of electrically conductive bars being connected to the above pair of contact members, respectively, for providing electric conduction to the contact members; and a magnetizing device with a magnetic body for generating magnetic field parallel to the predetermined direction between the contact members. The magnetic body is composed of an iron alloy comprising 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of carbon and iron. The iron alloy may further contain at least one of manganese and silicon.

Abstract: In an insulated type switchgear device in which a pair of arc electrodes are separably disposed in an opposing manner in a vacuum tube, and having a movable conductor extending from a back face of a movable one of the arc electrodes to the outside of the vacuum tube, the pair of arc electrodes are designed to be separated through a rotation of the movable conductor around a predetermined main axis.

Abstract: A switch for switching large currents and large charges includes an anode separated from a cathode with a cylindrical trigger electrode located around the anode and the gap. The cathode is of a metal such as zinc, cadmium, tin or magnesium. During operation, a suitable potential applied to the trigger electrode causes a main discharge to occur between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: The interlock control for a circuit breaker and a disconnector comprises a moving bar for opening or closing the circuit breaker and a displacement rod for displacing a disconnector rod to open or close the disconnector. The moving bar is driven by an arm which is secured to an outlet shaft and which is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to the outlet shaft, and the displacement rod is driven via an L-shaped piece which is movable about an axis that is substantially parallel to the outlet shaft, the arm driving the L-shaped piece during a second opening or closing stage of the circuit breaker via a wheel which is fixed to the arm and which slides in a notch of the L-shaped piece. The outlet shaft makes it possible to achieve interlocking by means of a single control, thereby providing a high level of reliability and of safety.

Abstract: The generator circuit breaker includes synchronization means for separating its main contacts before its arcing contacts are separated. It has a lever which is hinged at one of its ends to a fixed contact piece and which is constrained to move firstly with the moving main contact and secondly with the moving arcing contact by means of a spring, and with a ramp having two horizontal levels interconnected by a sloping intermediate portion, the ramp serving as a sliding support for a trigger member which prevents or authorizes movement of the moving arcing contact. This organization makes it possible for the moving contacts to be synchronized mechanically in simple and single manner.

Abstract: In a vacuum type switch gear device an L shaped stationary and movable conductors arrangement, a transitive portion from one spiral arc groove to a neighboring another spiral arc groove on the surface of a movable electrode defined by the terminating end portion of the one spiral groove, the starting end of the adjacent neighboring other spiral groove and the outer circumferential edge portion of the movable electrode is arranged in a substantially overlapping relationship in a vertical direction with the movable conductor. Thus an adverse effect of a current loop flowing through the movable conductor against an arc generated between movable and stationary electrodes is limited to thereby improve the circuit breaking performance.

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: Heat sinks are placed on the contact stems of a vacuum interrupter between the vacuum bottle and junctions with the terminal conductors to lower the temperature of these junctions. The heat sinks are formed by a stack of thin laminations having central openings with inwardly directed tabs which bite into and secure the laminations to the stems. The laminations have aligned slots forming axial passages for cooling air. Preferably, the slots are enclosed to eliminate sharp peripheral edges to reduce the potential for flash over. In one embodiment, the slots are not formed by removing material but by bending it out of the plane of the lamination to maximize heat radiating surface area and to generate turbulent cooling air flow for increased cooling efficiency. An axially extending peripheral lip can provide axial spacing between laminations.

Abstract: In an insulated type switching device, during rotation of a movable conductor 19 around a pivotal axis 35 between a stationary conductor 16 and a ground conductor 17 all of which are disposed in a vacuum vessel 12, the movable conductor 19 uninterruptedly takes four positions of closing position Y.sub.1, opening position Y.sub.2, disconnecting position Y.sub.3 and grounding position Y.sub.4, thereby a series of switching operations can be performed uninterruptedly, the operation and handling thereof are facilitated as well as the size of the insulated type switching device is reduced.

Abstract: A vacuum contactor has one connection terminal for the upper and lower end of each vacuum interrupter. At least the upper connection terminal has a metal member that is dimensioned essentially as a function of a current to be carried. A separate holder of insulating material is used to join the metal member to wall parts of an insulator body that accommodates the vacuum interrupters. In this manner, the distance between live parts and grounded parts of the vacuum contactor is increased and the reliability with respect to protecting against partial discharges and breakdowns is improved.

Abstract: An improved flexible connector for a circuit breaker. The flexible connector preferably, comprises a plurality of flexible sheets arranged in a stack. The stack defines an opening having an edge including at least one tab extending inwardly from the edge of the opening. The tabs are adapted to bend so that they make a secure interference fit with a movable contact so that current can flow directly from the movable contact into the flexible connector. A circuit interrupter system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible connector for connecting a movable contact of an electrical switch to a fixed electrical terminal. The flexible connector is a stack of flexible sheets of a conducting material. The flexible connector is constructed such that it can accommodate the movement of the movable contact. A circuit interrupter system, such as a vacuum circuit interrupter, and metal clad switchgear are also provided.

Abstract: A high voltage load interrupter including an oil switch and a vacuum switch, an oil switch operating handle for manual operation of the oil switch, and a vacuum switch operating handle for manual operation of the vacuum switch, in which the oil switch operating handle and the vacuum switch operating handle are so located with respect to each other that the oil switch operating handle cannot be moved to its "switch open" position unless the vacuum switch operating handle is in its "switch open" position and the vacuum switch operating handle cannot be moved to its "switch closed" position unless the oil switch operating handle is in its "switch closed" position.

Abstract: The invention discloses a vacuum contactor assembly for controlling current flow in a single or multi-phase electrical circuit wherein each phase of the electrical circuit is controlled by a single vacuum interrupter. The stem pressure or pressure exerted on the electrical contacts of each vacuum interrupter during and after closing may be individually adjusted to an optimum operating pressure. The individual interrupter stem pressure adjustment is accomplished by placing a spring and an adjustment nut on the stem screw between the operating arm and the interrupter stem. By adjusting the free length of the spring with the adjusting nut, the interrupter stem pressure may be controlled.

Abstract: A multiple electrode structure for a vacuum interrupter that encourages formation of a diffuse arc includes a pair of disk-shaped, confronting electrical contacts that are relatively movable between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position and that are enclosed by a vacuum envelope. Each contact has generally spiral-shaped arms defining slots therebetween. The slots gradually widen towards the periphery of the contacts. In addition, the contacts are rotated relative to each other such that the tip of each spiral arm of one contact faces a generally radially extending portion of a spiral arm of the other contact. A generally tubular metal vapor shield surrounds the contacts within the envelope and is electrically isolated from at least one of the contacts in the open circuit position. The design and orientation of the contacts increases the radial component of the self-induced magnetic fields generated by the current in the interrupter.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter with an enhanced radial magnetic field includes within a vacuum envelope a pair of confronting contacts that are relatively movable between an open circuit and a closed circuit position. The contacts, which can be the spiral-arm type or the slotted-cup type, are surrounded by a tubular metal vapor shield that is electrically isolated from at least one of the contacts in the open circuit position. Each contact is connected in series with a coil energized by the current in the interrupter and positioned proximate the non-confronting face of the contact, and with a current carrying terminal post extending outside the vacuum envelope. The current in the coils produces a radial magnetic field in the intercontact region that encourages a columnar arc between the contacts to move outward and attach to the vapor shield. This helps to promote a transition to a diffuse type of arc and allows for a more compact interrupter with greater interruption capability.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a circuit interrupter comprising a crank and lever pivotally interconnected by a resiliently yielding connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod assembly comprises a coil compression spring and first and second links slidably coupled together to compress the coil compression spring. Rotation of the crank in either direction causes the lever to drive the movable contact of the circuit interrupter into and out of engagement with the stationary contact. The coil compression spring is loaded under compression when the movable contact is driven into engagement with the stationary contact, storing and maintaining a mechanical static load on the movable contact for as long as the movable contact is engaged with the stationary contact.