A system for isolating a fault in a direct current (DC) grid using thermionic arc extinction. The system includes a DC grid that includes a transmission line. The DC grid also includes a plurality of current interrupters disposed on the transmission line. Each of the plurality of current interrupters on the transmission line are electrically coupled to one another in series. At least one of the current interrupters includes a fixed terminal end and a moveable terminal end. Further, at least one of the current interrupters has an arc shield housing at least two arcing contacts. At least one of the arcing contacts comprises a first conducting material that has a first vaporizing point.

A power circuit breaker has a housing defining a first passage and a cross passage through the housing. A bus bar extends through the cross passage and is configured to transmit electric power and/or break transmission of the electric power through the housing. The bus bar includes at least an input section, a coin or center section, and an output section that are separable from each other. The housing aligns a solenoid piston within the first passage of the housing. The solenoid has a piston with two opposite ends, and one of the ends operates as a plunger to separate the sections of the bus bar when the solenoid is actuated. The plunger moves the coin or center section of the bus bar out of contact with the input section and the output section of the bus bar to break electrical transmission across the bus bar.

A switchgear system operable at voltages up to 27 kV includes an enclosure containing atmospheric air and a loadbreak module disposed within the enclosure. The loadbreak module includes a loadbreak module housing made of a solid dielectric material, a vacuum interrupter enclosed within the loadbreak module housing and having a fixed contact and a movable contact, and an interchange electrically connected to the movable contact. The vacuum interrupter is operable to selectively break or establish an electrical pathway between the interchange and a terminal in response to movement of the movable contact relative to the fixed contact. The switchgear system further includes a bushing coupled to the enclosure and a disconnect switch electrically connected in series between the loadbreak module and the bushing. The disconnect switch includes a disconnect switch housing made of a solid dielectric material.

A device for thermionic arc extinction via anode ion depletion. The device includes a body including an inner compartment. The inner compartment includes at least an arc shield housing at least two arcing contacts, wherein the two arcing contacts are zinc-plated. The at least two zinc-plated arcing contacts further comprise a thickness and contact area customized based on a desired corrosion time of the zinc, wherein the corrosion time corresponds to extinction of the arc. A sensor is associated with the device. The sensor is configured to operate the movement of the at least two arcing contacts.

A breaker includes a stationary contact, a movable contact, an operation device including a link portion liked to the movable contact and including an output lever rotatably supported, the operation device operating rotation of the output lever in accordance with a first control signal for a command for pulling out the movable contact and a second control signal for a command for inserting the movable contact, and an auxiliary contact to switch between turn-on and turn-off of an input of the first control signal and the second control signal to the operation device in conjunction with operation of the output lever, the auxiliary contact being able to be used in a circuit configuration to monitor a state of the operation device. The output lever rotates so as to operate a first link portion on a side toward a first direction with respect to a rotational center of the output lever.

A breaker includes a stationary contact, a movable contact, an operation device including a link portion liked to the movable contact and including an output lever rotatably supported, the operation device operating rotation of the output lever in accordance with a first control signal for a command for pulling out the movable contact and a second control signal for a command for inserting the movable contact, and an auxiliary contact to switch between turn-on and turn-off of an input of the first control signal and the second control signal to the operation device in conjunction with operation of the output lever, the auxiliary contact being able to be used in a circuit configuration to monitor a state of the operation device. The output lever rotates so as to operate a first link portion on a side toward a first direction with respect to a rotational center of the output lever.

A switching device having a pole assembly, a drive unit, and a kinematic linkage arrangement is provided. The pole assembly includes interrupter units operably connected via an interlink arrangement representing a circuit breaker and a grounding switch, respectively. The drive unit operates the interrupter units. The kinematic linkage arrangement includes at least a lever member operably connected to the interlink arrangement and the drive unit, a cam member rigidly connected to the drive unit, and an elastic member adjustably connected to the cam member. The kinematic linkage arrangement transfer a predefined torque to the drive unit to maintain the circuit breaker in an open state.

A gas circuit breaker 1 includes an insulation nozzle 23 that guides arc-extinguishing gas to an arc between a first arc contactor 21 and a second arc contactor 41 when a trigger electrode 31 becomes an opened state relative to the first arc contactor 21. The second arc contactor 41 has an opening 41a for spraying the arc-extinguishing gas, and the opening 41a is closed by the trigger electrode 31 in the first half of a current breaking action, and is opened by separation of the trigger electrode in the latter half of the current breaking action. An opening area of a first exhaust port 41b formed between the second arc contactor 41 and the insulation nozzle 23 for exhausting the arc-extinguishing gas is 0.2 times or more and two times or less of an opening area of the opening 41a of the second arc contactor 41.

A gas circuit breaker 1 includes an insulation nozzle 23 that guides arc-extinguishing gas to an arc between a first arc contactor 21 and a second arc contactor 41 when a trigger electrode 31 becomes an opened state relative to the first arc contactor 21. The second arc contactor 41 has an opening 41a for spraying the arc-extinguishing gas, and the opening 41a is closed by the trigger electrode 31 in the first half of a current breaking action, and is opened by separation of the trigger electrode in the latter half of the current breaking action. An opening area of a first exhaust port 41b formed between the second arc contactor 41 and the insulation nozzle 23 for exhausting the arc-extinguishing gas is 0.2 times or more and two times or less of an opening area of the opening 41a of the second arc contactor 41.

An electric current switch comprising: a housing; a contact lever including a proximal end and a distal end and is rotatable at a pivot point at the distal end, the contact lever including a lever arcing contact area and a lever arcing contact at the proximal end; a fixed contact assembly configured to receive the contact lever in a closed position of the contact lever, the fixed contact assembly including fixed main contacts and a fixed arcing contact, the fixed contact assembly being fixed relative the housing accommodating the fixed contact; the contact lever is configured to rotate about the pivot point between the closed position and an open position, the electric current switch further including a nozzle fixedly arranged to surround the position of the fixed arcing contact, the nozzle including at least one outlet to provide a flow of cooling gas towards the fixed arcing contact, the flow of cooling gas being in the proximal direction of the contact lever as when the contact lever in the closed position.