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 three-position vacuum switch for realizing external grounding of a load side by using a bridge switch overcomes the problems in the prior art that load side grounding is realized depending on the opening and closing of a vacuum arc extinguishing chamber, a misoperation easily occurs because an operator cannot see the grounding situation intuitively, and when an operating mechanism machine has a problem, it needs to have a grounding line plugged in externally, which cause inconvenient operations with huge safety risks, a complicated structure and relatively high cost, characterized in that a bridge grounding switch is provided on the other side of the three-position vacuum switch to realize external grounding of the load side via the bridge grounding switch.

A DC circuit breaker includes: a mechanical switch provided on an electrical path through which a direct current flows; and a semiconductor switch connected in parallel with the mechanical switch. The mechanical switch includes a gas disconnector and a vacuum circuit breaker connected in series. Normally, the direct current flows through the mechanical switch. When interrupting the direct current, the vacuum circuit breaker is made nonconductive to allow the direct current to be commutated to the semiconductor switch, and subsequently the gas disconnector and the semiconductor switch are made nonconductive. A vacuum circuit breaker having a low withstand voltage can be used.

A “five-prevention” interlocking pole type high-voltage switchgear includes a pole bracket, embedded poles, and spring and earthing isolated switch operating mechanisms; every three poles are arranged in a row on the bracket, the spring operating mechanism is joined with the switch operating mechanism through the chamber door interlocking piece and mechanism interlocking piece; the chamber interlocking piece, mechanism interlocking piece and door lock plate are joined, the door lock plate is opposite the opening semi-axis pinch plate in the spring operating mechanism and the door lock plate is set with a door lock pin. Chamber interlocking piece movement is used to open or close the switch operating mechanism crank operation hole and corresponds to the start of close brake operation and limit brake of opening pinch plate in the spring operating mechanism and the limiting and opening of the opening semi-axis and cable chamber door in the spring operating mechanism.

Devices, methods and techniques are disclosed to interrupt a fault current in a high-voltage direct-current circuit. In one example aspect, a device includes a mechanical switch including a pair of contacts configured to be positioned apart upon activation of the circuit breaker, and a photoconductive component connected in parallel with the mechanical switch. The photoconductive component is configured to establish a current upon activation of the circuit breaker. The photoconductive component comprises a crystalline material positioned to receive a pulsed light signal from a laser light source, and a pair of electrodes coupled to the crystalline material and configured to allow an electric field to be established across the crystalline material to generate the current.

A visible disconnect switch (VDS) interlock assembly is provided. The VDS interlock assembly is movable between a CBA, first lockout position, wherein a CBA second contact assembly cannot move when a VDS second contact assembly is in a first position, and a VDS, second lockout position, wherein a VDS second contact assembly cannot move when the CBA second contact assembly is in a second position. Further, the VDS interlock assembly is placed in an open position in between where the CBA, first lockout position and the VDS, second lockout position; from the open position the VDS interlock assembly may be moved into one of the CBA, first lockout position or the VDS, second lockout position.

Disclosed are a disconnecting switch and an earthing switch for a gas insulated switchgear capable of implementing three positions by a single operator and may have a stable interpolarity contact.

According to the present invention, the size of a gas-insulated switchgear may be reduced by operating a disconnecting switch and an earthing switch by a single operator, and implementing three positions.

A switching system for switching an electrical device, comprising: a vacuum interrupter including a fixed electrode, and a mobile electrode, the mobile electrode configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The switching system further comprising an elastic return means configured to apply a driving force to the mobile electrode, and a retaining member for retaining the elastic return means, the retaining member configured to moves from a retention configuration, in which the elastic return means is immobilized, into a movement configuration, in which the elastic return means is released. The switching system is configured so that the mobile electrode moves from the closed position to the open position under the action of the elastic return means when the retaining member leaves its retention configuration.

This invention involves composite embedded-pole and its operating principles, including an insulating cylinder which has upper and lower cavities, and one of its ends tightly connects a sealed cap. As for the upper cavity, there is an outlet block on the left end, a spacing-set pair of static conductive blocks which bond with each other in the middle, and a grounding block on the right. Parts of the left static conductive block inserts into the left of the lower cavity. The lead screw in the upper cavity is for rotary location with one end stretching out the sealed cap. The lead screw, spirally connects with moving contact set that matches with outlet block, static conductive block, and grounding block forming a 3-bonding-position. There is a vacuum interrupter in the lower cavity, whose static contact bonding with the left static conductive block, and the outer end of the moving contact flexibly couples with the left of the insulating pull rod. What's more, the flexible coupling bonds with one end of the lower outlet rod which is embedded in the lower part of the insulating cylinder. The right end of insulating pull rod stretches out the sealed cap while operating. This invention of EP is suitable for switchgears, with small volume, convenient and reliable installation and operation.

A group-operated switching system for multi-phase electrical transmission lines including a number of inline axial switches for opening and closing circuits to control electrical flow through the transmission lines. The switches include axially mounted load break vacuum interrupters and are mechanically and electrically isolated from each other and from a control box. The control box communicates with the inline switches via RF communications. Power for the switch electronics and operations can be provided from line power, a battery, or a capacitive source.