A medium voltage load break switch includes a main contact and a knife. The knife is rotatable about a pivot point to connect to and be in contact with the main contact and to rotate about the pivot point to disconnect from and be spaced from the main contact. The load break switch also comprises a vacuum interrupter that has a fixed contact and a moveable contact. A lever rotates about a rotation point and a shaft of the moveable contact is aligned along an axis of the vacuum interrupter, and the shaft of the moveable contact is linked to the lever.

A switch including a first electrical terminal, the first electrical terminal including a blade pivotable between an open position and a closed position, and a rod extending from the first electrical terminal parallel to the blade. The switch further includes a second electrical terminal configured to receive the blade when in the closed position, the second electrical terminal including a vacuum interrupter, wherein the vacuum interrupter engages the rod when in the closed position. Rotating the first electrical terminal in a first direction causes the blade to disengage from the second electrical terminal at a first point, and further rotating the first electrical terminal in the first direction causes the rod to disengage from the vacuum interrupter at a second point.

A switching device, including: a main switch configured to be displaced between a closed position of a main circuit and an open position, a vacuum interrupter including: a fixed electrode, a mobile electrode, configured to be displaced between: a first, so-called closed, position and a second, so-called open, position, in which the electrodes are apart, a palette configured to make the mobile electrode switch over from the first position to the second position and comprising an electrically conductive plate, the main switch being configured to drive the palette via the plate, a connection wire electrically linking the plate and the mobile electrode, the wire being in electrical contact with a tube disposed in an accommodating recess of the plate,
wherein the accommodating recess comprises a wall exerting an elastic holding force on the tube.

A current switch including a main contact including an electrically conductive knife, and an electrically insulating element, fitted in a mobile manner on a first portion of electric line in order to alternatively follow an opening movement and a closing movement; a shunt branch including a first part electrically connected to a second portion of the line, including a vacuum interrupter configured to be actuated alternatively between an open state and a closed state, a second part fitted in a mobile manner on the first part and configured to actuate the vacuum interrupter. During the opening movement, the electrically conductive knife acts upon the second part in order to actuate the vacuum interrupter, and during the closing movement, the electrically insulating element acts upon the second part without actuating the vacuum interrupter).

A circuit interrupting device including a loop split interrupter for interrupting a loop split circuit with a high current and a low voltage and a quick whip interrupter for interrupting a charging circuit with a low current and a high voltage.

A switching system for switching an electrical device, comprising: a vacuum interrupter including a fixed electrode, and a mobile electrode, the mobile electrode configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The switching system further comprising an elastic return means configured to apply a driving force to the mobile electrode, and a retaining member for retaining the elastic return means, the retaining member configured to moves from a retention configuration, in which the elastic return means is immobilized, into a movement configuration, in which the elastic return means is released. The switching system is configured so that the mobile electrode moves from the closed position to the open position under the action of the elastic return means when the retaining member leaves its retention configuration.

The invention relates to a universal vacuum interrupter (UVI) (30) for an air disconnect switch (100) comprising a rotatable actuating arm (21) arranged for engagement by a corresponding contact (16), such as a roller, attached to the main blade (12) of an air disconnect switch (100). In particular, the actuating arm (21) comprises two rods (22) extending next to each other and adapted for receiving the corresponding contact (16) of the main blade (12) between them. The two rods (22) are movable to alter the distance between them but are biased together by biasing means (24), e.g. helical springs. As the corresponding contact (16) of a main blade (12) will be in engagement with both rods (22) during disconnection and reconnection of the air disconnect switch (100), arcing is thereby prevented. Preferably, the two rods (22) of the UVI (30) are made of aluminium.

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 vacuum interrupter includes a fixed arc contact and a movable arc contact reversibly movable along a corresponding translation axis between a coupled position with the fixed arc contact and an uncoupled position from the fixed arc contact. For each electric pole, the switching apparatus further includes a motion transmission mechanism operatively coupled to a contact shaft 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 method for assembling a switching apparatus for medium voltage electric systems is provided. The method includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, providing a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a support structure, a vacuum interrupter, a motion transmission mechanism, and an auxiliary contact. The method further includes providing a first semi-finished structure of the switching apparatus, where the first semi-finished structure includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, a first pole terminal and a first fixed contact electrically connected to the first pole terminal. The method further includes, for each electric pole of the switching apparatus, installing the mounting assembly on the first semi-finished structure.

A circuit interrupting device including a loop split interrupter for interrupting a loop split circuit, and a quick whip interrupter for interrupting a charging circuit.