Abstract: A communication system controlled motorized in-line high voltage air break disconnect switch with a lock out system including a communication device remote controlled lock out. Also a mechanical lock out is provided if a battery that powers the remote controlled lock out is not functioning or other unforeseen problems cause a failure of the switch or the remote controlled lock out to operate. The remote controlled lock out when operative can prevent the switch from operating the motor when the remote controlled lock out is actuated. The motorized switch typically includes the motor having a worm drive shaft carrying a hookstick eye ring. The remote controlled lock out includes a locking gear mounted on the drive shaft. A lockout lever having a locking tooth is provided that engages or disengages the locking gear when appropriately actuated by the remote control to lock or unlock the switch blade drive motor.

Abstract: A high- or medium-voltage circuit breaker, in which a movable contact (1) is moved in sliding in order to separate stationary contacts (11, 12) from its sliding surface (2). In accordance with the invention, the stationary contacts (11, 12) have switching portions (9) that separate from the movable contact more or less simultaneously as a result of a setback (19) in the movable contact (1), thereby causing two simultaneous switching arcs to appear (14, 15), which arcs are extinguished much more quickly than a single arc, before the current is transferred to the conventional arcing contacts (5). This disposition enables the stationary contacts (11, 12) and their environment to be less exposed to damage.

Abstract: A high voltage relay device according to the present invention includes fixed contacts, a movable contact provided at one side of the fixed contacts and contactable with or separated from the fixed contacts, fixed-side arc electrodes coupled to the fixed contacts, and a movable-side arc electrode coupled to one side of the movable contact and contactable with or separated from the fixed-side arc electrodes when the movable contact is brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contacts, whereby a generation of arc from primary electrodes when current flows and is cut off can be prevented so as to enhance reliability of the primary electrodes, and also usage of specialized materials may result in reduction of material costs.

Abstract: A switching device includes a contact system having a movable contact to be moved along a movement direction, a stationary contact and an improved arc quenching device with a configuration for generating a magnetic field formed in a plane perpendicular to the movement direction and an electrode configuration having a first electrode conductively connected to the movable contact and a second electrode conductively connected to the stationary contact. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in such a way that an electric field can be generated between the first electrode and the second electrode perpendicularly to the direction of movement and perpendicularly to the magnetic field.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a shutter lock assembly for a circuit breaker cassette having a shutter coupled to a shutter rod is provided. The shutter lock assembly includes a lock plate assembly configured to couple to the circuit breaker cassette and an actuation mechanism having a first end coupled the lock plate assembly. The actuation mechanism is configured to actuate the lock plate assembly to lock the shutter of the circuit breaker cassette in a closed position.

Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes: an enclosure; a stationary contact arm fixedly installed within the enclosure; a movable contact arm installed to be moved within the enclosure such that it is brought into contact with or separated from the stationary contact arm; a cam reciprocating between closing and opening positions to move the movable contact arm; and an actuator moving the cam, wherein the cam includes first and second cam surfaces, and when the cam moves to an opening position by the actuator, movement acceleration of the movable contact arm by the first cam surface is greater than movement acceleration by the second cam surface and a movement distance of the movable contact arm by the first cam surface is smaller than a movement distance by the second cam surface.

Abstract: An arc extinguishing apparatus for a ring main unit includes: a housing; a plurality of fixed contactor assemblies fixed to be protruded toward the center in the housing and formed by inserting a permanent magnet for arc extinguishing by a magnetic force between a pair of main circuit fixed contacts; a plurality of earthing fixed contactors fixed to be protruded toward the center in the housing and installed to be spaced apart from the fixed contactor assemblies at a predetermined angle; a 3-phases common rotational shaft installed to be rotatable at the center of the housing; and a rotatable movable contactor assembly having a plurality of puffer guide plate sections having openings with a narrow opening width to accelerate the velocity of flow of insulating gas to extinguish arc by blowing it, and rotatable to a circuit closing position, an earthing position, and a circuit opening position.

Abstract: A profiled arc splitter plate for a switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact is provided to increase electromagnetic attractive forces on the arc generated during contact separation. The plate (300) comprises a body (306) defining an operatively inverted substantially V-shaped recess having a center notch (302) provided at the vertex of the recess and at least one protrusion (304) defined on either side of the center notch (302) along the inclined side walls of the recess, the movable contact of the switch displaceable through the recess without contacting the inclined side walls, in a spaced apart manner from the protrusions (304) and the center notch (302). Chamfers 308 are provided at an end of the plate (300) proximal to the vertex of the recess to provide an exit for hot gases towards the vent of the arc chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contactors for unidirectional DC operation with permanent magnetic arc extinguishing. In addition to the blow magnets, the contactors are equipped with compensatory permanent magnets for compensating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the contact bridge in order to prevent contact levitation, i.e., an uncontrolled opening of the contacts that is due to a magnetic force generated by a strong current flowing through the contact bridge. To this end, the compensatory permanent magnets are arranged in the vicinity of the contact bridge and polarized in the opposite direction of the blow magnets. The magnetic field of the compensatory magnets and the current flowing through the contact bridge are generating a magnetic force that acts on the contact bridge and tends to keep the electrical contacts closed.

Abstract: An electric switch includes a movable contact, a stationary contact to be contacted by the movable contact, one or more quenching plates, and a permanent magnet for directing an arc, which is formed when the contacts are separated from each other, to the quenching plate. The quenching plate has a base portion and side portions extending away from the base portion. The permanent magnet is arranged such that the arc is directed towards one of the side portions of the quenching plate.

Abstract: A switch apparatus usable in a DC circuit employs a rotatable shaft having conductors that are removably connected with two or more pairs of contacts that are situated on line conductors and load conductors and that are connected in parallel by the conductors on the shaft. In rotating the shaft to open the switch, one pair of the contacts is electrically disconnected prior to electrical disconnection of the other pair of contacts. Further rotation of the shaft causes the other pair of contact to eventually become disconnected. Electrical arcs thus form only at the air gaps between the other pair of contacts and the conductor. Magnetic field elements in the form of permanent magnets are situated in the vicinity of the air gaps of only the other pair of contacts and apply Lorentz forces to the arcs to extinguish them.

Abstract: To provide an electric current switching apparatus having a fixed-side electrode unit and a movable-side electrode unit that are arranged to align central axes thereof with each other and to face each other, in which a movable contact provided in the movable-side electrode unit reciprocates on the central axis to contact or separate from a fixed-side contact provided in the fixed-side electrode unit, thereby switching electric current flowing through these electrode units, the electric current switching apparatus including a plurality of permanent magnets that are provided in at least one of the fixed-side electrode unit and the movable-side electrode unit, that have bodies arranged on the central axis to align magnetizing directions thereof with the central axis, and that are arranged to cause same poles of adjacent ones of the permanent magnets to face each other as if butting with each other.

Abstract: A switching device for direct current applications having a first switching chamber for a first current path and a second switching chamber for a second current path, each current path having a switching contact arrangement having a first and second contact, wherein both the contacts, switched-on, come into contact with each other and, switched-off, are kept out of contact with each other by the creation of an isolation gap; a current path having an extinguishing device to extinguish an arc created between the contacts; an arc driver arrangement, arranged in one of the two switching chambers, and which creates a magnetic field at least in the area of the switching contact arrangement for the relevant current path that drives the arc into the relevant extinguishing device.

Abstract: A direct current arc chute includes a ferromagnetic base having first and second ends; first and second ferromagnetic side members disposed from the respective first and second ends; a third ferromagnetic member disposed from the base intermediate the side members and having an end portion opposite the base; and first and second magnets on the respective first and second members have a magnetic polarity facing the third member. A first arc chamber is between the first and third members; and a second arc chamber is between the second and third members. The first magnet and first member extend away from the first end and beyond the end portion, and toward the second magnet and second member after the end portion. The second magnet and second member extend away from the second end and beyond the end portion, and toward the first magnet and first member after the end portion.

Abstract: To promptly extinguish an arc generated between contacts with a simple and inexpensive structure without negatively influencing the spring property of a movable contact piece. A contact switching mechanism includes a fixed contact piece with a fixed contact and a movable contact piece with a movable contact which faces the fixed contact in a contactable manner. At least either one of the contact pieces is provided with an extension which extends toward the contact of the remaining contact piece.

Abstract: A switching device includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which have a first connection and a second connection, whereby the first connections are arranged on the first side of the switching device and the second connections on the second side of the switching device, each current path has at least one contact pair, that has a first contact and a second contact, whereby at least the second contact is arranged on a contact member that is movable to the first contact and whereby in the switched-on status of the switching device, both the contacts are in contact with each other, each contact pair has at least one extinguishing device, whereby the extinguishing devices of both the current paths are arranged in a direction from the first connections to the second connections, behind one another and at least partly covering each other.

Abstract: A switch for polarity-independent direct current operation includes fixed contacts, each including a first contact area. A movable bridge contact with second contact areas is configured to form an electrically conducting connection between the contact areas in an ON state and to separate the contact areas in an OFF state. A magnetic field exerts a magnetic force on an arc occurring between the contact areas when the OFF state is generated. Quenching chambers are provided to quench arcs with a first current direction. A first arc deflector plate extends from each of the quenching chambers toward the first contact area and a second arc deflector plate extends toward the second contact area for removing the arc into the quenching chambers. Each movable bridge contact includes two bridge plates which extend around each of the first contact areas so as to quench arcs in a second direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a current switch including a blade-type movable contact configured to extend in a radial direction from a pivoting center and reciprocatingly move such that a free end of the movable contact draws a pivoting track, a fixed contact including energizing members separated from the movable contact and arranged to be opposed to and substantially in parallel to each other on both sides across a pivoting surface of the movable contact and an outer frame configured to cover at least the periphery of the energizing members, a movable arc contact provided in the movable contact, fixed arc contacts provided in the fixed contact, and permanent magnets arranged on the inside of the fixed contact or the movable contact to generate a magnetic field that crosses an arc generated between the movable arc contact and the fixed arc contacts.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator circuit for high-voltage switchgear for a vacuum circuit breaker, including at least one permanent magnet and at least one coil connected in series with a transistor switch, and an electromechanical switch connected in series with the transistor switch and the coil. The first electromechanical switch and the transistor switch have an open default state, such that the electromechanical switch closes at an instant that precedes an instant of closing of the transistor switch, and such that it is returned to the open state once the transistor switch has returned to the open state. Such a magnetic actuator circuit may find application for putting a medium and/or high voltage apparatus into and out of circuit.

Abstract: A system comprising a circuit interrupter configured to interrupt flow of current through a circuit during an over current condition, wherein the circuit interrupter comprises two contacts configured to remain in contact when a current flowing through the two contacts is less than a threshold value, a tripping mechanism configured to separate the two contacts when the current equals or exceeds the threshold value, and at least one of either a permanent magnet or an electrode configured to extinguish an electric arc formed between the two contacts of the circuit interrupter when the two contacts are separated, wherein the circuit interrupter does not include an arc chute.

Abstract: An arc chute including an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing plates, an arc formation chamber defined by first and second side walls or cheeks, and a system for removing gases generated when an electric arc forms in the chute, that include a removal duct behind the second cheek and connected to an exchange space. The arc extinguishing chamber includes permanent magnets, at least a part of the magnets being behind the first cheek, and the gas removal system includes an opening formed partially in the second cheek and exiting outside the arc chute. A circuit breaker may include such an arc chute.

Abstract: An electromechanical circuit breaker for establishing and breaking the current in a main circuit includes a fixed contact element and a moving contact element, which in a first position are in electrical contact with each other for carrying the current of the main circuit, the moving contact element being adapted to be displaced to a second position in which it is separated from the fixed contact element so that the current in the main circuit is cut off. The circuit breaker is provided with a blow-out device including a magnetizing coil traversed by a magnetizing current for producing a magnetic field adapted to drive an arc generated by the separation of the two contact elements into an arc extinction element.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes two arc runners, two contacts in electrical communication with the respective runners, a movable contact having two portions respectively cooperating with the contacts to provide closed and open contact positions, and two arc chambers each including two ends, a longitudinal axis therebetween, and arc plates between the ends. A magnet assembly cooperates with the arc chambers to establish a generally unidirectional magnetic field normal to the axes, normal to a first direction of a first arc between one contact and the first portion as it moves away from the closed toward the open contact position, and normal to an opposite second direction of a second arc between the other contact and the second portion as it moves away from the closed toward the open contact position. The magnetic field causes one arc to enter one arc chamber depending upon current flow direction between the contacts.

Abstract: A switch device includes first and second contacting portions including first and second fixed contacting portions, first and second movable contacting portions and first and second break contacting portions, respectively, the first fixed contacting portion and the second fixed contacting portion being configured to be electrically connected to one of a power source and an electronic device while the first movable contacting portion and the second movable contacting portion are configured to be electrically connected to the other of the power source and the electronic device; and a first magnet and a second magnet configured to generate magnetic fields between the first fixed contacting portion and the first movable contacting portion and between the second fixed contacting portion and the second movable contacting portion, respectively.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter for cooling and quenching an electrical arc having a housing with a first contact and a second contact movable with respect to the first contact. An arc splitter is located in an arcing chamber, and an arc runner is located near the second contact. The arc runner has an arc strap facing toward the first contact, a first wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from the arc strap, a second wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from to the arc strap and opposite the first wall. The arc runner generates a magnetic force on the arc forcing the arc toward the arc splitter.

Abstract: A magnetic interrupter consisting of a stationary and moving butt contacts that open an electric circuit in dielectric gas (e.g., SF6) contained in a sealed, pressurized insulating housing. One or both of the contacts contain a magnet with poles spaced apart in a radial plane perpendicular to the axial direction to spin the arc in the radial plane about the center of the contacts. Permanent magnets may be used to spin the arc so that the magnetic field is not affected by the magnitude of the arcing current, which makes the magnetic interrupter suitable for interrupting currents below fault level currents. One or both of the magnets may also be a field coil and a permanent magnet may be used in combination with a field coil.

Abstract: A switching device for direct-current applications includes a housing having a first wall and a second wall, a plurality of receiving areas for respective mutually substantially parallel current paths disposed in the housing. Each of the current paths has a respective stationary switching contact element and a respective movable switching contact element, the movable switching element being actuatable into a closed position and into an open position so as to form a respective air break, the respective movable switching contact elements being actuatable simultaneously. The switching device includes a plurality of arc-quenching devices associated with the current paths and disposed next to each other, and at least one magnet. The at least one magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field so as to generate a deflection force on the arcs so as to deflect the respective arcs toward at least one of the respective arc-quenching devices.

Abstract: Method of using a material including a conductive metal matrix and magnetic entities representing between 8 and 80% by weight of the material and including hard magnetic phases, the magnetic entities being non-magnetized but capable of being magnetized in an average orientation defined by the direction of a magnetic field applied to the material, in order to blow an electric arc between two electrical contact pads, at least one of which includes the material.

Abstract: An arc chute comprising an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing plates and an arc formation chamber bounded by a first and second flange, said arc chute being equipped with permanent magnets arranged behind at least the first flange, in which the arc formation chamber comprises: an enhanced induction section where the arc is propelled towards the arc extinguishing chamber by a first part of the permanent magnets, and a diverting section where the arc is diverted towards the first flange by a second part of the permanent magnets, the magnetic field in the longitudinal mid-plane generated by the second part being substantially weaker than that generated by the first part. A circuit breaker comprising separable contacts and the previously described arc chute.

Abstract: An arc chute comprising: an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing plates, an arc formation chamber delineated by a first cheek and a second cheek, and gas removal means to remove the gases generated when an electric arc forms, comprising a removal duct arranged behind the second cheek and connected to at least one exchange space, wherein the arc extinguishing chamber comprises permanent magnets, at least a part of said magnets being arranged behind the first cheek, and the gas removal means comprise an opening formed partially in the second cheek and opening out outside the arc chute. A circuit breaker comprising the arc extinguishing chamber described above.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed relay is provided having two circuits therein.

Abstract: An arc chute comprising an arc extinguishing chamber formed by a stack of deionizing plates and an arc formation chamber bounded by a first and second flange, said arc chute being equipped with permanent magnets arranged behind at least the first flange, in which the arc formation chamber comprises: an enhanced induction section where the arc is propelled towards the arc extinguishing chamber by a first part of the permanent magnets, and a diverting section where the arc is diverted towards the first flange by a second part of the permanent magnets, the magnetic field in the longitudinal mid-plane generated by the second part being substantially weaker than that generated by the first part. A circuit breaker comprising separable contacts and the previously described arc chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contactor for direct current and alternating current operation with at least one contact point with a fixed contact and a movable contact, at least one permanent magnet, arranged adjacent to the contact point, for the generation of a permanent magnetic blowout field and at least one coil, arranged adjacent to the contact point, for the generation of an electromagnetic blowout field, for blowing an arc that is formed when opening the contact point into at least one arc chamber. A contactor is to be provided that allows a quick and reliable separation of the contacts and consequently also a quick and reliable extinguishing of the arcs and that allows a structure with a simple design and simple manufacture.

Abstract: The electromechanical circuit breaker is intended to establish and break the current in a main circuit (3, 4) and comprises a fixed contact element (5) and a moving contact element (6) which in a first position are in electrical contact with each other for carrying the current of the main circuit (3, 4). Said moving contact element (6) is adapted to be displaced to a second position in which it is separated from the fixed contact element (5) so that the current in the main circuit is cut off. The circuit breaker is provided with a blow-out device (2) comprising a magnetising coil (8) traversed by a magnetising current for producing a magnetic field (26) adapted to drive an arc generated by the separation of said two contact elements (5, 6) into an arc extinction means. The blow-out device (2) comprises electrodes (12) electrically connected to the magnetising coil (8) and adapted to cooperate with said arc in such a manner that the latter generates said magnetising current in the magnetising coil (8).

Abstract: The invention proposes an electrical service device, in particular line circuit breaker or motor circuit breaker, having a housing having connection means (20, 21) for the purpose of connecting busbars and/or connection lines on at least one end side, having at least one switching contact having a fixed and a movable switching contact piece, an arc (6) being produced in an arc prechamber area (5) between said fixed and movable switching contact pieces in the event of a disconnection, said arc entering a current-limiting arc-quenching device (7) via arc guide rails. Prechamber plates (9, 12) are arranged in the region of the arc prechamber area (5), return-flow channels (10, 13) being formed by said prechamber plates (9, 12) from the arc-quenching device (7) to the arc prechamber area (5) between the housing wall (2) and the prechamber plates (9, 12).

Abstract: A rotating arc fault-current interrupter, also known as an arc spinner interrupter, is provided that establishes an easily visible open gap via a movable blade member having a first portion for engaging a stationary main contact and a second portion formed by an arcing electrode for engaging an auxiliary contact associated with an arc spinner assembly. The geometry, orientation and placement of the auxiliary contact is such that during opening of the movable blade member, the arcing electrode remains engaged with the auxiliary contact after the blade member and the stationary main contact are separated from each other whereby current is transferred through the auxiliary contact into the arc spinner assembly, i.e. the current is commutated into the arc spinner assembly.

Abstract: A current interrupter (4) includes a current interrupting device (4) having at least one movable contact (71); an actuator (8) coupled to the movable contact (71) of the current interrupter (4); a feedback sensor (14) for monitoring movement of the actuator (8); and a control system (12) coupled to the feedback sensor (14) so as to receive information from the feedback sensor (14) concerning the movement of the actuator (8) and for controlling movement of the actuator (8) based on the information. The interrupter (4) further includes a memory (202) for storing a desired motion profile of the actuator (8); and a microprocessor (202) for comparing the movement of the actuator (8) with the desired motion profile and controlling movement of the actuator (8) based also on a comparison of the movement of the actuator (8) with the desired motion profile.

Abstract: A loadbreak switch is provided that utilizes a pivotally mounted movable jaw contact and a main stationary contact that is positioned in the middle of an arc runner. For operation at voltages 15 kV and above, the switch utilizes a shunt contact that bridges the arc runner and that is above and coplanar with the main stationary contact. A magnetic field is developed by the current that flows through a coil of wire disposed around the arc runner. This configuration when utilized in an environment of insulating gas, provides efficient extinguishing of arcs upon opening of the contacts. Further, the open jaw contact is easily visible to establish an open gap.