An electrical switch, in particular for high voltages and/or high currents, includes a contact unit which includes at least two contact, a switching element and a drive for the switching element. The drive is designed such that it can move the switching element from an initial position into an end position. The switching element is accelerated during an acceleration phase directly or indirectly by the drive and it passes subsequently through a free movement phase until it has reached the end position.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprises a vacuum interrupter operable between a closed state and an open state, and an actuator. The actuator comprises a piezoelectric driving element that is expandable and contractable along an expansion axis in response to an electrical input signal. The actuator further comprises a mechanical amplifying structure extendable along an actuation axis and being mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric driver such that expansion or contraction of said piezoelectric driving element causes the amplifying structure to extend or retract along the actuation axis. The mechanical amplifying structure is coupled to the vacuum interrupter for operating the vacuum interrupter between said closed and open states.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprises a vacuum interrupter operable between a closed state and an open state, and an actuator. The actuator comprises a piezoelectric driving element that is expandable and contractable along an expansion axis in response to an electrical input signal. The actuator further comprises a mechanical amplifying structure extendable along an actuation axis and being mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric driver such that expansion or contraction of said piezoelectric driving element causes the amplifying structure to extend or retract along the actuation axis. The mechanical amplifying structure is coupled to the vacuum interrupter for operating the vacuum interrupter between said closed and open states.

A drill motor racking apparatus for remote operation of a circuit breaker is disclosed. The drill motor racking apparatus comprises: a racking adapter, wherein the racking adapter is adapted to be engaged by and secured in a racking mechanism of a circuit breaker; a gearbox having an input and an output; a flexible shaft cable having a first end and a second end, wherein the racking adapter is connected to the first end of the flexible shaft cable and wherein the gearbox is incorporated between the flexible shaft cable and the racking adapter to provide a torque multiplication required to rack the circuit breaker; and a drill adapter adapted to be engaged by and secured in a drill, wherein the drill adapter is attached to the second end of the flexible shaft cable. A method of using the drill motor racking apparatus is also disclosed.

A switch assembly includes a switch, and a servo drive system for the switch. The servo drive system includes a motor configured to drive the switch; a power section configured to supply power to the motor; and a controller embodied as a programmable safety controller configured to actuate the power section depending on a desired value.

The present disclosure provides light switch modules and methods of implementing a light switch module for a lighting control system. The light switch modules include a light switch actuator including an actuation surface. The light switch actuator is movable to connect an electrical flow path and to activate a tactile display housed in the light switch actuator. One or more tactile motions are applied on the actuation surface of the light switch actuator for selecting a lighting setting from among a plurality of lighting settings using the tactile display.

The present disclosure provides light switch modules and methods of implementing a light switch module for a lighting control system. The light switch modules include a light switch actuator including an actuation surface. The light switch actuator is movable to connect an electrical flow path and to activate a tactile display housed in the light switch actuator. One or more tactile motions are applied on the actuation surface of the light switch actuator for selecting a lighting setting from among a plurality of lighting settings using the tactile display.

A breaker includes a tank, first to third fixed contacts provided inside the tank, first to third movable contacts that are provided inside the tank and are movable, and first to third operation devices provided outside the tank to move the first to third movable, respectively. The first to third operation devices respectively include first to third torsion bars serving as a driving source to move the first to third movable contacts, respectively.

A breaker includes a tank, first to third fixed contacts provided inside the tank, first to third movable contacts that are provided inside the tank and are movable, and first to third operation devices provided outside the tank to move the first to third movable, respectively. The first to third operation devices respectively include first to third torsion bars serving as a driving source to move the first to third movable contacts, respectively.

A circuit breaker includes a pole unit with a first and second electrodes. A linkage also extends from the pole unit. A linear actuator is operably connected to the pole unit. A Thomson coil or other high-speed actuator is also operably connected to the linkage. When the circuit breaker is closed, no gap is provided between them. To open the electrodes, the high-speed actuator first acts on the linkage by moving the linkage at a speed that is greater than a speed by which the linear actuator can move the linkage. The linear actuator can then actuate and increase a distance between the electrodes. A gap is provided between the pole unit and at least one of the actuators when the breaker is closed. This gap is reduced or eliminated when the breaker is open.