A commutating circuit breaker that works by progressively inserting increasing resistance into a circuit. This is done via physical motion of a shuttle that is linked into the circuit by at least one set of sliding electrical contacts on the shuttle (“shuttle electrodes”) that connect the power through the moving shuttle to a sequence of different resistive paths with increasing resistance; the motion of the shuttle can be either linear or rotary. A feature of the commutating circuit breaker is that at no point are the shuttle electrodes separated from the matching stationary stator electrodes so as to generate a powerful arc, which minimizes damage to the electrodes. Instead, the current is commutated from one resistive path to the next with small enough changes in resistance at each step that arcing can be suppressed. The variable resistance can either be within the moving shuttle, or the shuttle can comprise a commutating shuttle that moves the current over a series of stationary resistors. In either case, a “soft” opening of the circuit can be accomplished, with low switching transients, provided that the maximum step change of resistance is limited until the current is nearly extinguished. Commutating circuit breakers work equally well for DC or AC power.

A commutating circuit breaker that works by progressively inserting increasing resistance into a circuit. This is done via physical motion of a shuttle that is linked into the circuit by at least one set of sliding electrical contacts on the shuttle (“shuttle electrodes”) that connect the power through the moving shuttle to a sequence of different resistive paths with increasing resistance; the motion of the shuttle can be either linear or rotary. A feature of the commutating circuit breaker is that at no point are the shuttle electrodes separated from the matching stationary stator electrodes so as to generate a powerful arc, which minimizes damage to the electrodes. Instead, the current is commutated from one resistive path to the next with small enough changes in resistance at each step that arcing can be suppressed. The variable resistance can either be within the moving shuttle, or the shuttle can comprise a commutating shuttle that moves the current over a series of stationary resistors. In either case, a “soft” opening of the circuit can be accomplished, with low switching transients, provided that the maximum step change of resistance is limited until the current is nearly extinguished. Commutating circuit breakers work equally well for DC or AC power.

A mechanical switch that works by commutation of the current to an energy absorbing path or sequence of paths through at least one blocking semiconductor to open the circuit, wherein the commutation is caused by a sliding motion of at least one shuttle electrode over at least one stationary electrode.

A mechanical switch that works by commutation of the current to an energy absorbing path or sequence of paths through at least one blocking semiconductor to open the circuit, wherein the commutation is caused by a sliding motion of at least one shuttle electrode over at least one stationary electrode.

Surge arrester structure is provided for a dead tank circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a pole assembly with a first electrical terminal in a first bushing, and a second electrical terminal in a second bushing. The first terminal is electrically connected to a stationary contact and the second terminal is electrically connected to a movable contact. The surge arrester structure includes a surge arrester having first and second opposing ends. A first conductor structure electrically and mechanically connects the first end of the surge arrester with an end of the first terminal. A second conductor structure electrically and mechanically connects the second end of the surge arrester with an end of the second terminal. The surge arrester is electrically connected parallel with respect to the stationary and movable contacts so that the surge arrester can limit transient over voltages occurring across the contacts when the contacts are open.

A breaking device includes an interrupting section including interrupting units in which main interrupters, impedance circuits, and unit arresters are connected in parallel to each other, the main interrupters being connected in series, a resonant circuit section including a reactor, a capacitor, and a closing switch and connected in parallel to the interrupting section, and an all-point arrester connected in parallel to the interrupting section via the reactor. The clamping voltages of the unit arresters are equal among the interrupting units, and are in the range of 1.1 to 1.6 times the value obtained by dividing the clamping voltage of the all-point arrester by the number of the interrupting units connected in series in the interrupting section.

A breaking device includes an interrupting section including interrupting units in which main interrupters, impedance circuits, and unit arresters are connected in parallel to each other, the main interrupters being connected in series, a resonant circuit section including a reactor, a capacitor, and a closing switch and connected in parallel to the interrupting section, and an all-point arrester connected in parallel to the interrupting section via the reactor. The clamping voltages of the unit arresters are equal among the interrupting units, and are in the range of 1.1 to 1.6 times the value obtained by dividing the clamping voltage of the all-point arrester by the number of the interrupting units connected in series in the interrupting section.

An arrangement and a method have precisely one resistor stack for switching high voltages. The arrangement contains a switching device that has two contact devices, which are arranged in an insulator. The contact devices are separated from each other by a separation path, wherein the separation path can be bridged by a movable contact piece. One contact device is in contact with the resistor stack in a common housing. The common housing is formed by a direct coating of the resistor stack and the insulator.

An arrangement and a method have precisely one resistor stack for switching high voltages. The arrangement contains a switching device that has two contact devices, which are arranged in an insulator. The contact devices are separated from each other by a separation path, wherein the separation path can be bridged by a movable contact piece. One contact device is in contact with the resistor stack in a common housing. The common housing is formed by a direct coating of the resistor stack and the insulator.

A direct-current circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker unit and a circuit unit that generates an oscillating current. The circuit unit includes a capacitor and a reactor, a high-speed closer, and a lightning arrester. The circuit breaker unit and the high-speed closer are aligned in a first direction with a distance therebetween that is equal to or longer than a certain spatial distance. The capacitor and the lightning arrester are aligned in a second direction intersecting the first direction with a distance therebetween that is equal to or longer than the spatial distance. A combination of the circuit breaker unit with the high-speed closer and a combination of the capacitor with the lightning arrester are aligned in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction with a distance therebetween that is equal to or longer than the spatial distance.