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 novel electric power interrupter is provided, the interrupter comprising concentric springs and interlocking hooks for opening and closing the interrupter. The electric power interrupter further comprises a housing over a vacuum chamber and an electrically insulating layer around the vacuum chamber, a fixed section and a moving section. The butt contact of the fixed section is stationary, while the butt contact of the movable section moves towards and away from the fixed section. A toggle mechanism is provided for operating the movable section to open or close the interrupter. The present invention provides a better voltage dissipation and reduces the risk of electrical arcs forming outside the interrupter.

A switching device includes: two interrupter units connected in series; at least one drive unit for moving at least one contact; and two control capacitors, each of which is connected in parallel with the interrupter units. At least one control capacitor has mechanically movable components for changing the capacitance, and at least one of these components is mechanically coupled to the drive unit.

An electrical switching device includes a kinematic chain, a first encapsulation housing, a movable switching contact piece and a fixed switching contact piece. The movable switching contact piece is movable by the kinematic chain which penetrates the first encapsulation housing in a fluid-tight manner. The kinematic chain penetrates the first encapsulation housing in a linearly movable manner.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes: a vacuum valve that is insulated and supported inside a grounded tank; a movable-side frame connecting a lower end of a movable-side external conductor to a movable conductor; a stationary-side frame connecting a lower end of a stationary-side external conductor to a stationary conductor; a movable-side insulating support tube that supports the movable-side frame and insulates thereof from the grounded tank; a stationary-side insulating support tube that supports the stationary-side frame and insulates thereof from the grounded tank; a movable-side flange covering a movable-side end of the grounded tank; and a rubber piece on an inner peripheral surface of the movable-side flange. The movable-side insulating support tube is supported, at an end opposite from an end connected to the movable-side frame, by the movable-side flange via the rubber piece and is movable along an axis and a radius of an arc-extinguishing chamber.

A circuit breaker for connecting at least two line sections in an interruptible manner has at least one pair of vacuum tubes, each with a stationary switching contact and a movable switching contact. The switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are electrically connected in series. The movable switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are coupled to a common actuator and can be simultaneously switched by a movement of the actuator.

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 switching device having a pole assembly, a drive unit, and a kinematic linkage arrangement is provided. The pole assembly includes interrupter units operably connected via an interlink arrangement representing a circuit breaker and a grounding switch, respectively. The drive unit operates the interrupter units. The kinematic linkage arrangement includes at least a lever member operably connected to the interlink arrangement and the drive unit, a cam member rigidly connected to the drive unit, and an elastic member adjustably connected to the cam member. The kinematic linkage arrangement transfer a predefined torque to the drive unit to maintain the circuit breaker in an open state.

An earthing module for a switchgear includes: a cylinder; a piston; a stored energy unit; and at least one photovoltaic cell. The cylinder connects to a part of a switchgear at earth potential. The piston moves within the cylinder from a standby position to a released position along an axis of the cylinder. When in the released position, the piston is in electrical connection with the cylinder. The stored energy unit is located within or associated with the earthing module such that activation of the stored energy unit moves the piston from the standby position to the released position. One or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell activates the stored energy unit based on radiation from an electrical arc of the switchgear impinging upon the one or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

In an arrangement and a method for driving a movable contact of a vacuum interrupter in a high-voltage circuit breaker, an actuating rod forms an element of a kinematic chain of the high-voltage circuit breaker. A lever element can rotate about an axis and can be mechanically connected to a drive via a connection element. A coupling element is configured to mechanically movably couple the actuating rod and the lever element. The actuating rod and the coupling element each have a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes are situated substantially on a common axis at a point in time when a separating action of the vacuum interrupter occurs.