A switching device comprising first and second body parts and a first operating device for moving the body parts into a closed state. A piezoelectric actuator is coupled to each body part and is operable to move the body parts part away from one another. The switching device may be incorporated into an actuator for operating the vacuum interrupter of a vacuum circuit breaker.

In general, the subject matter of the disclosure relates to an orientation agnostic battery placement device. Connecting a battery in a reversed polarity configuration may cause the battery-powered electronic devices to not work or in some cases may even cause damage to the device itself. The disclosed orientation agnostic battery placement device includes a latch relay device that includes a first latch switch that electrically connects the first and second terminals of a battery compartment to the positive and negative electrical power connections of a load circuitry associated with the battery-powered electronic device respectively when the battery received within the battery compartment is in a first orientation and a second switch that electrically connects the first and second terminals of the battery compartment to the negative and positive electrical power connections of the load circuitry respectively when the battery received within the battery compartment is in a second orientation.

An actuation device for a relay includes a base element, a drive rod movable relative to the base element, and an actuation element moving the drive rod from a first position to a second position. The actuation element has a film made of an electroactive polymer.

A switching device comprising first and second body parts and a first operating device for moving the body parts into a closed state. A piezoelectric actuator is coupled to each body part and is operable to move the body parts part away from one another. The switching device may be incorporated into an actuator for operating the vacuum interrupter of a vacuum circuit breaker.

A switch comprises a first elastic element, an actuator-element mechanically coupled to a first side of the first elastic element, and a first switching conductor, mechanically coupled to a second side of the first elastic element. The switching conductor is configured for moving between a first conductor position and a second conductor position. The actuator-element is configured from moving between a first actuator-element position and a second actuator-element position separated by a predefined actuator-element lift, thereby moving the first side of the first elastic element. The first elastic element moreover is configured for converting a movement of the first side of the first elastic element by the predefined actuator-element lift into the movement of the second side of the first elastic element with a predefined elastic force.

A switch comprises a first elastic element, an actuator-element mechanically coupled to a first side of the first elastic element, and a first switching conductor, mechanically coupled to a second side of the first elastic element. The switching conductor is configured for moving between a first conductor position and a second conductor position. The actuator-element is configured from moving between a first actuator-element position and a second actuator-element position separated by a predefined actuator-element lift, thereby moving the first side of the first elastic element. The first elastic element moreover is configured for converting a movement of the first side of the first elastic element by the predefined actuator-element lift into the movement of the second side of the first elastic element with a predefined elastic force.

In general, the subject matter of the disclosure relates to an orientation agnostic battery placement device. Connecting a battery in a reversed polarity configuration may cause the battery-powered electronic devices to not work or in some cases may even cause damage to the device itself. The disclosed orientation agnostic battery placement device includes a latch relay device that includes a first latch switch that electrically connects the first and second terminals of a battery compartment to the positive and negative electrical power connections of a load circuitry associated with the battery-powered electronic device respectively when the battery received within the battery compartment is in a first orientation and a second switch that electrically connects the first and second terminals of the battery compartment to the negative and positive electrical power connections of the load circuitry respectively when the battery received within the battery compartment is in a second orientation.