An actuator for circuit interrupter has a stationary magnetic boss, a movable magnetic armature and a drive rod. The drive rod is aligned on an axis of the circuit interrupter. The drive rod has two stable positions, circuit interrupter closed and circuit interrupter open. The drive rod has a surface that the armature contacts to move the drive rod from the circuit interrupter closed position to the circuit interrupter open position. In the circuit interrupter closed position, the armature and the surface are separated by a pre-travel distance. The armature is to move towards the stationary magnetic boss and contact the surface, to initiate a circuit interrupter disconnecting motion of the drive rod with a transfer of momentum to the drive rod.

A breaker mechanism for an electrical circuit breaker is disclosed, the breaker mechanism including a spring, a latching mechanism and an actuating element, with which a breaker shaft of the electrical circuit breaker is actuated for breaking (OFF position) or making (ON position) the electric current. In an embodiment, the actuating element is actuated in the direction of the ON position when making the electric current, and the spring is thereby tensioned. Further, the latching mechanism releases the energy of the spring for actuating the breaker shaft of the electrical circuit breaker when the ON position is reached.

A spring operated actuator for an electric switching apparatus including an actuator spring and a rotary air damper. The damper has components that are rotatable relative to each other and is arranged to decelerate the actuating movement during an end portion. The damper has a toroidal working chamber with internal wall surfaces formed by two circumferential housing parts. They are rotatable relative to each other and are meeting each other such that a first and a second gap are formed. There is a seal between the two housing parts, which bridges the respective gap. The seal has a first circumferential seal at the first gap and a second circumferential seal at the second gap. At least one of the first and second seals includes a sealing body fitted in a groove formed in the internal walls of at least one housing part.

Actuator and electric switching apparatus including a spring to provide movement of the apparatus and a rotary air damper. The damper is arranged to decelerate the spring during at least an end portion of movement. The damper has a toroidal working chamber formed by two circumferential housing parts rotatable relative to each other. Each housing part has internal walls which together define the working chamber. The first housing part has a rotatable displacement wall, sealingly rotatable in the working chamber. The second housing part has a stationary end wall of the working chamber. The second housing part has one recess in its internal walls. The recess is located less than 90 ahead the end wall as seen is the rotational direction of the displacement wall at an actuating movement. The recess has an extension in the circumferential direction that is larger than the effective thickness of the displacement wall. Alternatively the recess is on the first housing part.

A spring operated actuator for an electric switching apparatus including an actuator spring and a rotary air damper. The damper has components that are rotatable relative to each other and is arranged to decelerate the actuating movement during an end portion. The damper has a toroidal working chamber with internal wall surfaces formed by two circumferential housing parts. They are rotatable relative to each other and are meeting each other such that a first and a second gap are formed. There is a seal between the two housing parts, which bridges the respective gap. The seal has a first circumferential seal at the first gap and a second circumferential seal at the second gap. At least one of the first and second seals includes a sealing body fitted in a groove formed in the internal walls of at least one housing part.

A circuit breaker system having an electrical contact system, the electrical contact system includes one or more electrical contacts that are movable between a closed and an open position via a rechargeable spring loaded operating mechanism. An air motor recharging system includes an air motor operably coupled to the operating mechanism for recharging a closing spring. The air motor recharging system further comprises a solenoid valve that, when in an open position, supplies pressurized air to the air motor from a pressurized air storage tank at a preferred operating pressure sufficient to enable the air motor to drive a charging shaft and gear assembly to recharge a closing spring. The circuit breaker system further comprises an air compressor to delivers compressed air to the air storage tank to fill and maintain the storage tank at a preferred storage pressure.

Actuator and electric switching apparatus including a spring to provide movement of the apparatus and a rotary air damper. The damper is arranged to decelerate the spring during at least an end portion of movement. The damper has a toroidal working chamber formed by two circumferential housing parts rotatable relative to each other. Each housing part has internal walls which together define the working chamber. The first housing part has a rotatable displacement wall, sealingly rotatable in the working chamber. The second housing part has a stationary end wall of the working chamber. The second housing part has one recess in its internal walls. The recess is located less than 90 ahead the end wall as seen is the rotational direction of the displacement wall at an actuating movement. The recess has an extension in the circumferential direction that is larger than the effective thickness of the displacement wall. Alternatively the recess is on the first housing part.

A mounting structure for an energy storage assembly of a circuit breaker comprises an energy storage lever and an energy storage spring, wherein one end of the energy storage lever is an energy storage end which is connected with the energy storage spring, and the other end of the energy storage lever is a driving end. An external force can be applied to the driving end, such that the energy storage lever rotates around a lever fulcrum in the middle of the energy storage lever, thereby extruding the energy storage spring at the energy storage end to finish energy storage. One end of the energy storage spring is connected and mounted with the energy storage lever, and the other end of the energy storage spring is mounted in a base support. An energy storage mounting shaft which can be considered as a rotating fulcrum is also arranged in the middle of the energy storage lever. The driving end is stressed, such that the energy storage lever rotates around the energy storage mounting shaft. The mounting structure for the energy storage assembly of the circuit breaker, which is provided by the present invention, is simple in mounting process, stable in connection structure and high in assembly accuracy.

A switchgear driving device has a rod coupled to a movable electrode; an operation piston connected to the rod; and an operation cylinder in which an operation piston slides. A main control valve controls the pressure of the hydraulic oil in the operation cylinder. A turning-on pressure accumulation piston slides inside a turning-on pressure accumulation chamber; and a turning-on pressure accumulation spring imparts a driving force to the turning-on pressure accumulation piston to pressurize the hydraulic oil within the turning-on pressure accumulation chamber. A turning-off pressure accumulation piston slides inside a turning-off pressure accumulation chamber. A turning-off pressure accumulation spring imparts a driving force to the turning-off pressure accumulation piston to pressurize the hydraulic oil in the turning-off pressure accumulation chamber. A spring case accommodates the turning-on pressure accumulation spring and the turning-off pressure accumulation spring, wherein the turning-off pressure accumulation spring is arranged inside the turning-on pressure accumulation spring.

A circuit breaker system having an electrical contact system, the electrical contact system includes one or more electrical contacts that are movable between a closed and an open position via a rechargeable spring loaded operating mechanism. An air motor recharging system includes an air motor operably coupled to the operating mechanism for recharging a closing spring. The air motor recharging system further comprises a solenoid valve that, when in an open position, supplies pressurized air to the air motor from a pressurized air storage tank at a preferred operating pressure sufficient to enable the air motor to drive a charging shaft and gear assembly to recharge a closing spring. The circuit breaker system further comprises an air compressor to delivers compressed air to the air storage tank to fill and maintain the storage tank at a preferred storage pressure.