A switching apparatus is provided herein. The switching apparatus includes: (i) a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal and a ground terminal, (ii) a first contact arrangement including a first fixed contact member and a first movable contact member, (iii) a second contact arrangement including a second fixed contact member and a second movable contact member, (iv) a vacuum chamber wherein the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are enclosed and can be coupled or decoupled, and (v) an electrically conductive coupling lever pivoted on the second movable contact member and reversibly movable about a second rotation axis.

A manual opening mechanism for use with an isolation switch of a circuit interrupter is fully integrated into the circuit interrupter. The manual opening mechanism includes a rotating handle that is accessible from the front panel of the circuit interrupter. Rotating the handle applies force to the centerline of the isolation switch drive shaft, which prevents uneven loading and thus optimizes robustness during manual opening of the isolation switch. In addition, the handle has an ergonomic design, and is proportioned to minimize the force that an operator must apply to the handle in order to open the isolation switch.

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.

A circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter. The interrupter includes a first movable electrode to which a first contact is connected and a second movable electrode to which a second contact is connected. The interrupter is operable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the first contact and the second contact are separated by a contact gap distance. In the closed state, the first contact and the second contact touch each other. The circuit breaker includes an ultrafast actuator operatively connected to each of the first and second movable electrodes. The ultrafast actuator is configured to change the vacuum interrupter from the closed state to the open state by simultaneously moving the first contact in a first direction along a first distance portion of the contact gap, and the second contact in a second direction along a second distance portion of the contact gap.

A compact vacuum interrupter has an insulator element, a moving contact connection, a fixed contact connection, a moving contact, and a fixed contact. The moving contact has a moving contact rod and a moving-contact contact element. The fixed contact has a fixed contact rod and a fixed-contact contact element. The moving contact is formed with a material that is mechanically stronger than a material of the fixed contact.

A switching apparatus including one or more electric poles. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus includes a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal, and a ground terminal. The switching apparatus further includes a plurality of fixed contacts spaced apart one from another, a movable contact, which is reversibly movable about a corresponding rotation axis according to opposite first and second rotation directions, so that said movable contact can be coupled to or uncoupled from one or more of the above-mentioned fixed contacts, a vacuum interrupter including a vacuum chamber, in which a fixed arc contact and a movable arc contact are enclosed and can be coupled or separated, and a motion transmission mechanism operatively coupled to the movable arc contact of said vacuum interrupter.

A switching apparatus including one or more electric poles. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus includes a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal, a ground terminal, and a plurality of fixed contacts spaced apart one from another. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a movable contact and a vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter includes a fixed arc contact and a movable arc contact reversibly movable along a corresponding translation axis between a coupled position with the fixed arc contact and an uncoupled position from the fixed arc contact. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a motion transmission mechanism operatively coupled to a contact shaft coupled to the movable arc contact. The motion transmission mechanism is actuatable by the movable contact to cause a movement of said movable arc contact along said translation axis, when said movable contact moves about said rotation axis.

A switching apparatus including one or more electric poles. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus includes a first pole terminal, a second pole terminal, a ground terminal, and a plurality of fixed contacts spaced apart one from another. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a movable contact and a vacuum interrupter. The movable contact is reversibly movable about a corresponding rotation axis. The vacuum interrupter includes a movable arc contact reversibly movable along a corresponding translation axis. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a motion transmission mechanism operatively coupled to a contact shaft solidly coupled to the movable arc contact. The motion transmission mechanism is actuatable by the movable contact to cause a movement of said movable arc contact along said translation axis, when said movable contact moves about said rotation axis.

A method for assembling a switching apparatus for medium voltage electric systems is provided. The method includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, providing a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a support structure, a vacuum interrupter, a motion transmission mechanism, and an auxiliary contact. The method further includes providing a first semi-finished structure of the switching apparatus, where the first semi-finished structure includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, a first pole terminal and a first fixed contact electrically connected to the first pole terminal. The method further includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, installing the mounting assembly on the first semi-finished structure.

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.