In a vacuum container (1) of a vacuum interrupter (1A), an insulating cylindrical body (10) is sealed with a fixed-side flange (11a) on the fixed side in the axial direction, and is sealed with a movable-side flange (11b) on the movable side in the axial direction. In the fixed-side flange (11a) and the movable-side flange (11b), annular expansion portions (5a, 5b) are formed between middle portions (3a, 3b) and outer peripheral edge portions (4a, 4b), respectively. The annular expansion portions (5a, 5b) are respectively formed in annular shapes extending along the outer peripheries of the middle portions (3a, 3b), and in shapes expanding in the axial outer side direction of the vacuum container (1), such that an arch structural effect can be obtained.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a grid influencing system for a power supply grid comprising: a current-conducting grid influencing component; and a vacuum circuit breaker including a vacuum circuit breaker tube containing an at least partly integrated pre-arcing device for actively generating an arc between two contacts.

Disclosed herein is a switching apparatus for medium voltage electric systems, said switching apparatus including one or more electric poles. For each electric pole, said switching apparatus includes: a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal, and a ground terminal; a first fixed contact member and a first movable contact member, said first fixed contact member being electrically connected to said first pole terminal and including a first fixed contact, said first movable contact member being electrically connected to said second pole terminal and including a first movable contact; a second fixed contact member and a second movable contact member, said second fixed contact member being electrically connected to said first pole terminal and including a second fixed contact, said second movable contact member including a second movable contact; a vacuum chamber, in which said second fixed contact and said second movable contact are enclosed; and a motion transmission mechanism.

An insulator that has particular application for enclosing a switching device, such as a vacuum interrupter. The insulator includes a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a plurality of ring-shaped sheds extending from the body between the top portion and the bottom portion. The sheds are asymmetrical in an axial direction such that an axial dimension of the sheds at one side towards the front of the switching device is shorter than an axial dimension of the sheds at an opposite side towards the rear of the switching device. The axial dimension of the sheds uniformly increases from the one side to the opposite side.

A method for determining an operational status of a switching device for switching an electrical unit including a first circuit and a second circuit, each circuit respectively including: a vacuum breaker including a fixed electrode and a mobile electrode; and a control device connected to the mobile electrode via an elastic device. The method including: for each of the first and second circuits, determining a transition instant at which the mobile electrode comes into contact with the fixed electrode; determining a difference between the transition instant of the first vacuum breaker and the transition instant of the second vacuum breaker; determining that the operational status is a first status known as “nominal synchronization” if the difference is less than a threshold; and determining that the operational status is a second status known as “abnormal synchronization” if the difference is greater than the threshold.

A method for determining an operational status of a switching device for switching an electrical unit including a first circuit and a second circuit, each circuit respectively including: a vacuum breaker including a fixed electrode and a mobile electrode; and a control device connected to the mobile electrode via an elastic device. The method including: for each of the first and second circuits, determining a transition instant at which the mobile electrode comes into contact with the fixed electrode; determining a difference between the transition instant of the first vacuum breaker and the transition instant of the second vacuum breaker; determining that the operational status is a first status known as “nominal synchronization” if the difference is less than a threshold; and determining that the operational status is a second status known as “abnormal synchronization” if the difference is greater than the threshold.

An electrical switching device, such as a high-speed switching device, has a damper and latching assembly. The assembly is configured to dampen the movement of a moving contact of the switching device as the moving contact translates from its closed position to its open position. The assembly also is configured to restrain the moving contact in its open position. The assembly stores at least some of the energy associated with the damping process, and uses the stored energy to assist in the release of the moving contact during the subsequent re-closing of the switching device.

A medium voltage load break switch includes a main contact and a knife. The knife is rotatable about a pivot point to connect to and be in contact with the main contact and to rotate about the pivot point to disconnect from and be spaced from the main contact. The load break switch also comprises a vacuum interrupter that has a fixed contact and a moveable contact. A lever rotates about a rotation point and a shaft of the moveable contact is aligned along an axis of the vacuum interrupter, and the shaft of the moveable contact is linked to the lever.

A medium voltage load break switch includes a main contact and a knife. The knife is rotatable about a pivot point to connect to and be in contact with the main contact and to rotate about the pivot point to disconnect from and be spaced from the main contact. The load break switch also comprises a vacuum interrupter that has a fixed contact and a moveable contact. A lever rotates about a rotation point and a shaft of the moveable contact is aligned along an axis of the vacuum interrupter, and the shaft of the moveable contact is linked to the lever.

A system for controlling a vacuum interrupter for a power diverter switch comprises a main driving shaft which is configured to drive the control cam. The system further comprises the vacuum interrupter which is configured to separate electrical contacts in a vacuum by use of a contact rod, and a transmission unit which is configured to transmit the force generated by the main driving shaft to the contact rod. The transmission unit comprises a plurality of rollable guiding elements and a lever mechanism which is coupled to both the control cam and the contact rod of the vacuum interrupter such that a rotation of the control cam generated by the main driving shaft causes a movement of the contact.