A switchgear system operable at voltages up to 27 kV includes an enclosure containing atmospheric air and a loadbreak module disposed within the enclosure. The loadbreak module includes a loadbreak module housing made of a solid dielectric material, a vacuum interrupter enclosed within the loadbreak module housing and having a fixed contact and a movable contact, and an interchange electrically connected to the movable contact. The vacuum interrupter is operable to selectively break or establish an electrical pathway between the interchange and a terminal in response to movement of the movable contact relative to the fixed contact. The switchgear system further includes a bushing coupled to the enclosure and a disconnect switch electrically connected in series between the loadbreak module and the bushing. The disconnect switch includes a disconnect switch housing made of a solid dielectric material.

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 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 circuit breaker includes a frame and first, second and third single-phase vacuum interrupters and first, second and third magnetic actuators connected to respective single-phase vacuum interrupters. Each of said magnetic actuators is configured to receive an open or close signal and in response, actuate the respective vacuum interrupter connected thereto into an open or closed circuit condition. Each magnetic actuator includes a fixed core, a plurality of permanent magnets surrounding the fixed core, and a movable core received within the fixed core. A controller is connected to each of the first, second and third magnetic actuators and generates the open or close signal to a respective magnetic actuator to open or close one or more of the first, second and third single phase interrupters.

A circuit breaker includes a frame having an interior compartment and an outer surface and a bushing opening. A circuit interrupter is mounted within the interior compartment. A terminal bushing is received within the bushing opening and has a lower terminal end extending into the housing and electrically connected to the circuit interrupter. An outer flange forms a bushing seat positioned adjacent the outer surface. An upper gasket is received against the outer flange. A seal pocket is formed by a bushing opening, upper gasket and outer surface of the terminal bushing. A dynamic seal is contained within the seal pocket and compressed an amount sufficient to provide elasticity and a compression height for dynamic loading of the upper gasket.

A circuit breaker includes a frame defining a housing having an interior compartment and a circuit interrupter. An actuator is connected to the circuit interrupter and configured to actuate the circuit interrupter into closed and open breaker positions. An indicator is connected to the actuator and movable between first and second positions corresponding to the respective closed and open breaker positions. A first indicator surface has first indicia indicative that the circuit interrupter is in the closed breaker position and a second indicator surface having second indicia indicative that the circuit interrupter is in the open breaker position. An opening is formed on the housing and aligned with the indicator to expose for view the respective first or second indicia when the circuit interrupter is in the respective closed or open breaker position.

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 switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly including a vacuum bottle having an upper portion and a lower potion, a sleeve surrounding the vacuum bottle, a dielectric material surrounding the sleeve, a first terminal electrically coupled to the upper portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly, and an interchange coupled to a lower portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly. The dielectric material is molded around the sleeve and around at least a portion of the first terminal or the interchange. In some embodiments, the sleeve is molded around the vacuum bottle. In other embodiments, the sleeve may be otherwise positioned (i.e., by sliding a pre-formed sleeve) around the vacuum bottle.

A vacuum interrupter tube contains at least one insulating body, a fixed contact, a fixed contact flange, a moving contact having a longitudinal axis, a moving contact flange, and a bellows. The fixed contact is stationarily arranged in the fixed contact flange. The moving contact is moveably guided and the moving contact is moveably secured to the moving contact flange by the bellows. The bellows is secured to the moving contact flange by a first bellows end and the bellows is secured to the moving contact by a second bellows end. Therein the vacuum interrupter tube is protected against the deformation of at least one of the fixed contact flange and the moving contact flange due to an ambient pressure of the vacuum interrupter tube of over two bar by a stiffened fixed contact flange and/or a stiffened moving contact flange.