A current switch including a main contact including an electrically conductive knife, and an electrically insulating element, fitted in a mobile manner on a first portion of electric line in order to alternatively follow an opening movement and a closing movement; a shunt branch including a first part electrically connected to a second portion of the line, including a vacuum interrupter configured to be actuated alternatively between an open state and a closed state, a second part fitted in a mobile manner on the first part and configured to actuate the vacuum interrupter. During the opening movement, the electrically conductive knife acts upon the second part in order to actuate the vacuum interrupter, and during the closing movement, the electrically insulating element acts upon the second part without actuating the vacuum interrupter.

An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes: a vacuum valve accommodated in a tank having a cylindrical shape; a movable-side shield installed on a movable side of the vacuum valve; a movable-side main contact point having a tubular shape to cover the vacuum valve and the movable-side shield from radially outside; a contact point driver that moves the movable-side vacuum contact point and the movable-side main contact point in conjunction with each other; and an insulating rod that transmits a force to the contact point driver. The contact point driver includes: a low gas pressure section lever connected to a contact via a contact pressure applier that applies a contact pressure to the contact; a rotary seal shaft fixed to the low gas pressure section lever; and a high gas pressure section lever fixed to a portion of the rotary seal shaft exposed to the high gas pressure section.

An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

A solid-dielectric switch includes a visible disconnect assembly having an open state and a closed state. A molded housing at least partially encases the visible disconnect assembly. At least a portion of the molded housing forms a molded one-piece wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. An aperture in the molded one-piece wall extends between the inner surface and the outer surface of the wall. A viewing window is disposed in the aperture and molded into the molded wall. The viewing window includes a lens, wherein the viewing window has an outer edge that is embedded within the molded one-piece wall with the outer edge extending into the molded one-piece wall between the inner surface and the outer surface of the molded one-piece wall.

An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

An anti-bounce dampener assembly for dampening the closing impact force between vacuum interrupter contacts. The dampener assembly includes a dampening spring positioned within a contact adapter, a guide tube extending through the contact adapter and the spring, where the guide tube is coupled to a fixed contact stem, and a bolt extending through the guide tube and being rigidly secured to the fixed contact stem. An impact force caused when the vacuum interrupter contacts contact each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed causes the fixed contact stem, the guide tube, the bolt and the vacuum interrupter to move against the bias of the spring and dampen the impact force. A flexible strap is electrically coupled to the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter, and flexes when the stem moves so as to maintain electrical coupling between the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter.

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.

An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.