An apparatus switches a direct current in a high-voltage line. The apparatus contains a multiplicity of switching units, which are arranged so as to form a series circuit in the high-voltage line. Each switching unit in this case contains a switching element and a surge arrester arranged in a parallel circuit with the switching element, the threshold voltage of the surge arrester being higher than a rated voltage of the switching element. A sum of the rated voltages of the switching elements corresponds at least to an operating voltage of the high-voltage line. The switching elements are mechanical switches, and each mechanical switch contains a contact arrangement having two disconnectable contact pieces and is configured to build up an arcing voltage on disconnection of the contact pieces with a magnitude which is higher than the rated voltage of the mechanical switch.

A circuit breaker having at least one capacitor assembly connected in parallel across a contact of the circuit breaker. The capacitor assembly can be housed with the contact within a sealed enclosure of the circuit breaker. The enclosure can be configured to house an insulating medium that is configured to reduce or quench an arc(s) that may form at least when the contact of the circuit breaker is displaced from a closed position to an open position. The capacitor assembly, which includes a transient recovery voltage (TRV) capacitor, can be configured to delay terminal fault and short line fault TRV and the rate of rise of the initial TRV (ITRV) that can appear across the open contact of the circuit breaker.

A switch for switching power to a load of a vehicle may be described. In an example, the switch may include a number of members configured to move between switch positions in a predefined order such that a load and a power source are electrically coupled or electrically decoupled via the switch based on the predefined order. In particular, a first member may be configured to move to a first switch position and form a first electrically conductive path having a first electrical property. A second member may be configured to move to a second switch position and form a second electrically conductive path having a second electrical property different from the first electrical property. A third member may be configured to move the second member based on movement of the first member to the first switch position such that movement of the second member to the second switch position may occur based on the movement of the first member to the first switch position.

The invention relates to an electric switching device (10) for an energy accumulator in an electric vehicle, comprising a housing (20) inside which at least one switching section (30) that includes two input contacts (32a, 32b) and at least one output contact (34) is arranged, and a rotary component (40) which is mounted in such a way as to be rotatable relative to the housing (20) about a switching axis (42) between at least one OFF position (I), a series-connecting position (II), and an ON position (III); said rotary component (40) includes at least one conductor (44) which has at least two conductor contacts (44a, 44b) and which connects the first input contact (32a) in an electrically conducting manner to the output contact (34) in the series-connecting position (II) and connects the second input contact (32b) in an electrically conducting manner to the output contact (34) of the at least one switching section (30) in the ON position (III).

[Object] To provide a switching device in which it is possible to suppress an occurrence of an arc while preventing a contact welding of a switch.

[Solution] Provided is the switching device including: a first circuit breaker mechanism provided in a path of current output from a direct current power supply; a second circuit breaker mechanism that is provided in parallel with the first circuit breaker mechanism in the path of current output from the direct current power supply, and is connected and disconnected with a time lag from the first circuit breaker mechanism; a capacitor provided between the direct current power supply and the second circuit breaker mechanism; and a discharging unit that is connected in parallel with the capacitor. A disconnection speed when the first circuit breaker mechanism is disconnected and a capacitance of the capacitor are set such that a dielectric strength voltage rises faster than a rising speed of a charging voltage of the capacitor, in a case where resistance of a load that receives a supply of the current from the direct current power supply is minimal.

[Object] To provide a switching device in which it is possible to suppress an occurrence of an arc while preventing a contact welding of a switch.

[Solution] Provided is the switching device including: a first circuit breaker mechanism provided in a path of current output from a direct current power supply; a second circuit breaker mechanism that is provided in parallel with the first circuit breaker mechanism in the path of current output from the direct current power supply, and is connected and disconnected with a time lag from the first circuit breaker mechanism; a capacitor provided between the direct current power supply and the second circuit breaker mechanism; and a discharging unit that is connected in parallel with the capacitor. A disconnection speed when the first circuit breaker mechanism is disconnected and a capacitance of the capacitor are set such that a dielectric strength voltage rises faster than a rising speed of a charging voltage of the capacitor, in a case where resistance of a load that receives a supply of the current from the direct current power supply is minimal.

An electrical switch arrangement for electrically connecting a first electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor. The electrical switch arrangement includes a first circuit path having a first electrical resistance or impedance; and a second circuit path having a second electrical resistance or impedance that is lower than the first electrical resistance or impedance. The electrical switch arrangement is configured to provide a connection sequence for electrically connecting the first and second electrical conductors. During the connection sequence, the electrical switch arrangement moves from a first electrical connection state, sequentially through second and third electrical connection states, to a fourth electrical connection state.

An electrical switch arrangement for electrically connecting a first electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor. The electrical switch arrangement includes a first circuit path having a first electrical resistance or impedance; and a second circuit path having a second electrical resistance or impedance that is lower than the first electrical resistance or impedance. The electrical switch arrangement is configured to provide a connection sequence for electrically connecting the first and second electrical conductors. During the connection sequence, the electrical switch arrangement moves from a first electrical connection state, sequentially through second and third electrical connection states, to a fourth electrical connection state.

Exemplary embodiments include a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit. The device includes a first main terminal and a second main terminal, a first intermediate terminal connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance, a first arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal, a second intermediate terminal connected to the first intermediate terminal by a second impedance, the first intermediate terminal being connected in series between the first main terminal and the second intermediate terminal, a second arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, and a mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal.

Exemplary embodiments include a device for connecting and disconnecting a high-voltage circuit. The device includes a first main terminal and a second main terminal, a first intermediate terminal connected to the first main terminal by a first impedance, a first arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the first main terminal, a second intermediate terminal connected to the first intermediate terminal by a second impedance, the first intermediate terminal being connected in series between the first main terminal and the second intermediate terminal, a second arc quenching chamber arranged between the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal, and a mobile armature making it possible to connect, in the disconnection direction, the second main terminal on the one hand and, on the other hand and in succession, the first main terminal, the first intermediate terminal and the second intermediate terminal.