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.

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.

An electrical short-circuiting device includes a fixed contact piece and a movable contact piece. The fixed and movable contact pieces are distanced from one another in a basic position and electrically conductively connected to one another in a short-circuit position. A drive transfers the movable contact piece from the basic position into the short-circuit position, and a trigger device includes an electrically driven actuator for triggering the drive.

The invention relates to a short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel, comprising a switching element which can be operated by the tripping signal of a fault detection device, two mutually opposite contact electrodes having power supply means, wherein contact can be made with said contact electrodes at an electrical circuit having connections at different potentials, furthermore, in at least one of the contact electrodes, a moving contact part which is under mechanical prestress and executes a movement to the further contact electrode in a manner assisted by spring force in the event of a short circuit, a sacrificial element as spacer between the contact electrodes and also having an electrical connection between the sacrificial element and the switching element on the one hand and one of the contact electrodes on the other hand, in order to cause current flow-induced thermal deformation or destruction of the sacrificial element in a targeted manner. According to the invention, the moving contact part is in the form of a hollow cylinder which is closed on one side and a spring for generating prestress is used in the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder is guided in a movable manner in a complementary cutout in the first contact electrode so as to form a sliding contact. In the region of the base of the closed hollow cylinder, the cylinder wall of said hollow cylinder is configured to turn into a cone on its outer circumferential side. Furthermore, starting from the base, a first pin-like extension which is situated opposite a second pin-like projection which is insulated from the contact electrodes is arranged in the interior of the hollow cylinder, wherein the sacrificial element, in the form of a bolt or screw, is arranged between the first and the second pin-like projection. A cutout which is matched to the external cone of the moving contact and has an internal cone is provided in the second contact electrode, wherein the external cone and internal cone form a bounce-free short-circuit contact region with a force-fitting and interlocking connection on account of the plastic deformation which occurs.

The invention relates to a short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel, comprising a switching element which can be operated by the tripping signal of a fault detection device, two mutually opposite contact electrodes having power supply means, wherein contact can be made with said contact electrodes at an electrical circuit having connections at different potentials, furthermore, in at least one of the contact electrodes, a moving contact part which is under mechanical prestress and executes a movement to the further contact electrode in a manner assisted by spring force in the event of a short circuit, a sacrificial element as spacer between the contact electrodes and also having an electrical connection between the sacrificial element and the switching element on the one hand and one of the contact electrodes on the other hand, in order to cause current flow-induced thermal deformation or destruction of the sacrificial element in a targeted manner. According to the invention, the moving contact part is in the form of a hollow cylinder which is closed on one side and a spring for generating prestress is used in the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder is guided in a movable manner in a complementary cutout in the first contact electrode so as to form a sliding contact. In the region of the base of the closed hollow cylinder, the cylinder wall of said hollow cylinder is configured to turn into a cone on its outer circumferential side. Furthermore, starting from the base, a first pin-like extension which is situated opposite a second pin-like projection which is insulated from the contact electrodes is arranged in the interior of the hollow cylinder, wherein the sacrificial element, in the form of a bolt or screw, is arranged between the first and the second pin-like projection. A cutout which is matched to the external cone of the moving contact and has an internal cone is provided in the second contact electrode, wherein the external cone and internal cone form a bounce-free short-circuit contact region with a force-fitting and interlocking connection on account of the plastic deformation which occurs.

A surge protective device (SPD) module includes a module housing, first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing, a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, and a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing. The GDT includes a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal. The fail-safe mechanism includes: an electrically conductive shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position; a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position; and a meltable member. The meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member. In the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT.

A surge protective device (SPD) module includes a module housing, first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing, a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, and a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing. The GDT includes a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal. The fail-safe mechanism includes: an electrically conductive shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position; a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position; and a meltable member. The meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member. In the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT.

Power receiving/distributing equipment is composed of a switchgear incorporated for each major electric path section, wherein, when arc fault occurs on an electric path to which a circuit breaker is connected, a high-speed closing device closes to detour arc current so as to flow to a ground conductor, thereby eliminating arc at a fault electric path portion. The high-speed closing device is connected to one pole or both poles of a breaking portion of the circuit breaker, and is incorporated into an insulating support member on a corresponding pole electric path so as to be able to be drawn as a whole.

Power receiving/distributing equipment is composed of a switchgear incorporated for each major electric path section, wherein, when arc fault occurs on an electric path to which a circuit breaker is connected, a high-speed closing device closes to detour arc current so as to flow to a ground conductor, thereby eliminating arc at a fault electric path portion. The high-speed closing device is connected to one pole or both poles of a breaking portion of the circuit breaker, and is incorporated into an insulating support member on a corresponding pole electric path so as to be able to be drawn as a whole.

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.