A testing system includes a truck carrying a circuit breaker, a fixed contact, and an actuator piston connected to a movable contact. A test platform supports the truck in a contact testing position and includes a sensor circuit mounted on the test platform and positioned under the truck and aligned with the circuit breaker when the truck is on the test platform in the contact testing position. The sensor circuit is configured to acquire displacement data of the actuator piston when the movable electrical contact is moved between the open and closed positions. A controller is coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the displacement data and determine electrical contact erosion within the circuit breaker.

A testing system includes a truck carrying a circuit breaker, a fixed contact, and an actuator piston connected to a movable contact. A test platform supports the truck in a contact testing position and includes a sensor circuit mounted on the test platform and positioned under the truck and aligned with the circuit breaker when the truck is on the test platform in the contact testing position. The sensor circuit is configured to acquire displacement data of the actuator piston when the movable electrical contact is moved between the open and closed positions. A controller is coupled to the sensor circuit and configured to receive the displacement data and determine electrical contact erosion within the circuit breaker.

A self-blast electric interrupter device, such as a circuit breaker or a disconnector, the device comprising: a first contact and a second contact that are movable between a closed position in which they press against each other, and an open position in which they are spaced apart from each other; and an arc-control chamber surrounding the two contacts in order to define a space that is closed in the closed position.

At least one of the contacts includes a central channel opening out towards the other contact in order to enable gas coming from the arc-control chamber during an opening stage to be discharged. According to the invention, the other contact carries an insulating member that ablates under the effect of an electric arc forming in the arc-control chamber in order to give rise to a large and fast increase of pressure within the chamber.

A modular breaking unit with a holder-guiding assembly, wherein: the modular breaking unit includes a casing unit; a holder for holding a movable contact of the modular breaking unit is accommodated in the casing unit; the movable contact of the modular breaking unit is mounted on the movable contact holder; the holder-guiding assembly is installed in the casing unit and arranged to support and guide the movable contact holder to move between an open position and a closed position; the holder-guiding assembly is made of thermoplastic material; the movable contact holder is made of thermosetting plastic material. A contactor including at least one said modular breaking units.

A modular breaking unit with a holder-guiding assembly, wherein: the modular breaking unit includes a casing unit; a holder for holding a movable contact of the modular breaking unit is accommodated in the casing unit; the movable contact of the modular breaking unit is mounted on the movable contact holder; the holder-guiding assembly is installed in the casing unit and arranged to support and guide the movable contact holder to move between an open position and a closed position; the holder-guiding assembly is made of thermoplastic material; the movable contact holder is made of thermosetting plastic material. A contactor including at least one said modular breaking units.

A current switch including a main contact including an electrically conductive knife, and an electrically insulating element, fitted in a mobile manner on a first portion of electric line in order to alternatively follow an opening movement and a closing movement; a shunt branch including a first part electrically connected to a second portion of the line, including a vacuum interrupter configured to be actuated alternatively between an open state and a closed state, a second part fitted in a mobile manner on the first part and configured to actuate the vacuum interrupter. During the opening movement, the electrically conductive knife acts upon the second part in order to actuate the vacuum interrupter, and during the closing movement, the electrically insulating element acts upon the second part without actuating the vacuum interrupter).

A current switch including a main contact including an electrically conductive knife, and an electrically insulating element, fitted in a mobile manner on a first portion of electric line in order to alternatively follow an opening movement and a closing movement; a shunt branch including a first part electrically connected to a second portion of the line, including a vacuum interrupter configured to be actuated alternatively between an open state and a closed state, a second part fitted in a mobile manner on the first part and configured to actuate the vacuum interrupter. During the opening movement, the electrically conductive knife acts upon the second part in order to actuate the vacuum interrupter, and during the closing movement, the electrically insulating element acts upon the second part without actuating the vacuum interrupter).

A switching device for an on-board electrical system of an electrically driven motor vehicle includes an electromechanical switch which is designed to connect and interrupt a supply line of the on-board electrical system. The electromechanical switch has: a stationary first switching contact, a movable second switching contact, and an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element. In order to switch from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element moves the transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path acts mechanically on the second switching contact and moves the second switching contact toward the first switching contact. In order to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element applies, at the end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without further driving by way of the drive element.

A switching device for an on-board electrical system of an electrically driven motor vehicle includes an electromechanical switch which is designed to connect and interrupt a supply line of the on-board electrical system. The electromechanical switch has: a stationary first switching contact, a movable second switching contact, and an actuation unit which has a mechanical force-transmitting element and a drive element. In order to switch from an open switching state to a closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the drive element moves the transmitting element along a movement path, and the force-transmitting element moved along the movement path acts mechanically on the second switching contact and moves the second switching contact toward the first switching contact. In order to maintain the closed switching state of the electromechanical switch, the force-transmitting element applies, at the end of the movement path, a pressing force to the second switching contact for pressing against the first switching contact, without further driving by way of the drive element.

The present invention relates to a gripping group for a switch, changeover switch, disconnector or generally a power switch, said power switch being mounted inside an insulated switch body and comprising at least a movable contact providing an electrical connection, said gripping group being configured to grip said at least a movable contact of said power switch, wherein a modular structure comprising a plurality of caliper-like elements being parallelly mounted on a supporting frame and in turn including respective terminal finger elements being angularly movable one with respect to the other, mutually approaching and moving away in contrast with elastic returning means.