A high voltage electric disconnect switch having a rotatable switch blade in operative arrangement with a rotatable high voltage electrical insulator. A rotating bearing assembly in operative supporting arrangement with a rotatable shaft. The bearing assembly containing corrodible ball bearing assemblies including associated corrodible ball bearing races. The rotatable insulator is operatively mounted to the rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft has a lower rotatable shaft portion contacting the corrodible ball bearing assemblies housed within a sealed housing of the bearing assembly. An air permeable hydrophobic membrane mounted in a membrane assembly is mounted in an aperture of the housing to eliminate condensing humidity within the housing, thereby preventing corrosion of the corrodible ball bearings and races, freezing water, and lubrication degradation by keeping the surfaces dry to prevent switch failure.

A high voltage electric disconnect switch having a rotatable switch blade in operative arrangement with a rotatable high voltage electrical insulator. A rotating bearing assembly in operative supporting arrangement with a rotatable shaft. The bearing assembly containing corrodible ball bearing assemblies including associated corrodible ball bearing races. The rotatable insulator is operatively mounted to the rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft has a lower rotatable shaft portion contacting the corrodible ball bearing assemblies housed within a sealed housing of the bearing assembly. An air permeable hydrophobic membrane mounted in a membrane assembly is mounted in an aperture of the housing to eliminate condensing humidity within the housing, thereby preventing corrosion of the corrodible ball bearings and races, freezing water, and lubrication degradation by keeping the surfaces dry to prevent switch failure.

Contact assemblies are described herein having certain components, or portions thereof, that are formed integral to one another to reduce the complexity of manufacturing, improve the operation characteristics, and increase operational reliability of devices using the contact assemblies. New shapes to features and components of the contact assemblies are also disclosed, with the shapes providing the desired operational characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are also directed contactors or fuses (i.e., electrical switching devices) utilizing the contactor assemblies according to the present invention, and to electrical circuits and systems utilizing the electrical switching devices according to the present invention.

Contact assemblies are described herein having certain components, or portions thereof, that are formed integral to one another to reduce the complexity of manufacturing, improve the operation characteristics, and increase operational reliability of devices using the contact assemblies. New shapes to features and components of the contact assemblies are also disclosed, with the shapes providing the desired operational characteristics. Embodiments of the invention are also directed contactors or fuses (i.e., electrical switching devices) utilizing the contactor assemblies according to the present invention, and to electrical circuits and systems utilizing the electrical switching devices according to the present invention.

A high-voltage circuit breaker system has a rapid disconnection function that results in an opening, closing, and reopening movement of a contact system. A circuit breaker having the contact system and a drive system that is mechanically connected to the contact system. The drive system includes a drive unit and, in addition to the drive unit, a drive shaft that is designed as a crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected to a mobile contact of the contact system via a push rod, and the cycle of opening, closing, and reopening movement of the contact system results from a unidirectional rotational movement of the crankshaft.

A high-voltage circuit breaker system has a rapid disconnection function that results in an opening, closing, and reopening movement of a contact system. A circuit breaker having the contact system and a drive system that is mechanically connected to the contact system. The drive system includes a drive unit and, in addition to the drive unit, a drive shaft that is designed as a crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected to a mobile contact of the contact system via a push rod, and the cycle of opening, closing, and reopening movement of the contact system results from a unidirectional rotational movement of the crankshaft.

Switch gear for interconnecting a plurality of power transmission lines including a number of high voltage switches arranged in three phase unitized relationship for routing power. The switches are each pre-mounted on a transverse beam which is operatively attached between two oppositely disposed longitudinal parallel beams forming a unitized switch assembly with a common base structure with a transformable parallelogram outer perimeter which may be attached in the field to a support structure. The outer perimeter of the common base structure of the unitized assembly transformable common base can be transformed with a power actuator from a rectangular configuration to a rhomboid configuration that permits the width of the unitized assembly to be reduced so that the assembly can be transported by truck to an installation site and then the switch assembly may be transformed back to the rectangular configuration with the final width for installation at the site.

Switch gear for interconnecting a plurality of power transmission lines including a number of high voltage switches arranged in three phase unitized relationship for routing power. The switches are each pre-mounted on a transverse beam which is operatively attached between two oppositely disposed longitudinal parallel beams forming a unitized switch assembly with a common base structure with a transformable parallelogram outer perimeter which may be attached in the field to a support structure. The outer perimeter of the common base structure of the unitized assembly transformable common base can be transformed with a power actuator from a rectangular configuration to a rhomboid configuration that permits the width of the unitized assembly to be reduced so that the assembly can be transported by truck to an installation site and then the switch assembly may be transformed back to the rectangular configuration with the final width for installation at the site.

A system and method for connecting supply power to motor control components includes use of a motor control center subunit with moveable supply power contacts. After a motor control center subunit is secured into a motor control center compartment, the supply power contacts may be advanced to engage supply power buses. For disconnection, the supply power contacts may be retracted and isolated from the buses before physical removal of the subunit.

A system and method for connecting supply power to motor control components includes use of a motor control center subunit with moveable supply power contacts. After a motor control center subunit is secured into a motor control center compartment, the supply power contacts may be advanced to engage supply power buses. For disconnection, the supply power contacts may be retracted and isolated from the buses before physical removal of the subunit.