An arrangement and a method for switching high currents include at least one vacuum switching path and at least one rated-current contact switching path. The at least two switching paths are electrically connected in parallel. One current path for a rated current is routed over at least one rated-current contact of said rated-current contact switching path, and a parallel current path for a short-circuit current is routed over at least one contact of a vacuum tube of the vacuum switching path.

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 vacuum circuit breaker includes a vacuum circuit breaker tube having a vacuum housing in which a contact system is disposed. The contact system includes two contacts which are movable relative to one another. An electrical pre-arcing unit having an ignition electrode in the vacuum housing is provided for igniting an arc along an arc current path.

The present disclosure provides a contact point monitoring device for a vacuum circuit breaker comprising: a fixed electrode which is fixed in an insulated container; a fixed contact point which is disposed at one end of the fixed electrode; a movable electrode which is installed in the insulated container and is movable in the upward or downward direction; a vacuum interrupter which is disposed at one end of the movable electrode and includes a movable contact point coming into contact with or separated from the fixed contact point; and a pushrod assembly which is coupled to the other end of the movable electrode and allows the movable electrode to move upwards or downwards.

Disclosed are example embodiments of a dead tank circuit breaker for protecting electrical components against electrical surges and other voltage anomalies such as transient overvoltages. The circuit breaker includes: one or more vacuum interrupters; a current bypass circuit electrically coupled to the one or more vacuum interrupters; a dead tank encasing and hermetically sealing the one or more vacuum interrupters and the current bypass circuit, wherein the dead tank is pressurized with a non-SF6 gas; and a controllable mechanism coupled to the one or more vacuum interrupters and to the current bypass circuit. The controllable mechanism is configured to actuate the one or more vacuum interrupters and the current bypass circuit to open or close a main circuit path such that any pre-strike arcing occurs on the current bypass circuit instead of the one or more vacuum interrupters.

Disclosed are example embodiments of a dead tank circuit breaker for protecting electrical components against electrical surges and other voltage anomalies such as transient overvoltages. The circuit breaker includes: one or more vacuum interrupters; a current bypass circuit electrically coupled to the one or more vacuum interrupters; a dead tank encasing and hermetically sealing the one or more vacuum interrupters and the current bypass circuit, wherein the dead tank is pressurized with a non-SF6 gas; and a controllable mechanism coupled to the one or more vacuum interrupters and to the current bypass circuit. The controllable mechanism is configured to actuate the one or more vacuum interrupters and the current bypass circuit to open or close a main circuit path such that any pre-strike arcing occurs on the current bypass circuit instead of the one or more vacuum interrupters.

The invention refers to a circuit breaker (300A) comprising a vacuum interrupter (301) for a gas insulated switchgear. Moreover, the invention refers to a gas insulated switchgear comprising at least one circuit breaker (300A) and/or a disconnector pole. The circuit breaker (300A) has a vacuum interrupter (301) comprising a first movable contact (302), a second stationary contact (303) and a first center axis (304). Moreover, the circuit breaker (300A) comprises a first insulator (305), a contact unit (306) arranged at the first insulator (305), wherein the first movable contact (302) can be moved towards the contact unit (306) so as to be connected to the contact unit (306), an electrical conducting unit (307) comprising a first side (308) and a second side (309), wherein the first side (308) and the second side (309) are opposite to each other, wherein the vacuum interrupter (301) is arranged at the first side (308) of the electrical conducting unit (307), and a second insulator (310) wherein the second insulator (310) is arranged at the second side (309) of the electrical conducting unit (307), wherein the second insulator (310) is connected to the second stationary contact (303), wherein the second insulator (310) has a second center axis (311), and wherein the second center axis (311) of the second insulator (310) is parallel to or collinear with the first center axis (304) of the vacuum interrupter (301).

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.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes a vacuum circuit breaker tube having a vacuum housing in which a contact system is disposed. The contact system includes two contacts which are movable relative to one another. An electrical pre-arcing unit having an ignition electrode in the vacuum housing is provided for igniting an arc along an arc current path.

A switch including a first electrical terminal, the first electrical terminal including a blade pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and a rod extending from the first electrical terminal parallel to the blade. The switch further includes a second electrical terminal configured to receive the blade when in the closed position, the second electrical terminal including a vacuum interrupter, wherein the vacuum interrupter engages the rod when in the closed position. Rotating the first electrical terminal in a first direction causes the blade to disengage from the second electrical terminal at a first point, and further rotating the first electrical terminal in the first direction causes the rod to disengage from the vacuum interrupter at a second point.