A gas circuit breaker including: a cylindrical tank; a stator fixed inside the tank; and a mover disposed so as to face the stator. The mover is movable between a closing position and a cutoff position, the mover is in contact with the stator when located in the closing position, and the mover is out of contact with the stator when located in the cutoff position. The stator includes: a stator-side main contact fixed inside the tank; a stator-side resistance contact having a ring shape surrounding the stator-side main contact; and a spring and a dashpot supporting the stator-side resistance contact from a direction opposite to a direction in which the stator-side resistance contact faces the mover. The mover includes: a mover-side main contact disposed so as to face the stator-side main contact; and a mover-side resistance contact disposed in such a way as to face the stator-side resistance contact.

A mechanical switch that works by commutation of the current to an energy absorbing path or sequence of paths through at least one blocking semiconductor to open the circuit, wherein the commutation is caused by a sliding motion of at least one shuttle electrode over at least one stationary electrode.

Surge arrester structure is provided for a dead tank circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a pole assembly with a first electrical terminal in a first bushing, and a second electrical terminal in a second bushing. The first terminal is electrically connected to a stationary contact and the second terminal is electrically connected to a movable contact. The surge arrester structure includes a surge arrester having first and second opposing ends. A first conductor structure electrically and mechanically connects the first end of the surge arrester with an end of the first terminal. A second conductor structure electrically and mechanically connects the second end of the surge arrester with an end of the second terminal. The surge arrester is electrically connected parallel with respect to the stationary and movable contacts so that the surge arrester can limit transient over voltages occurring across the contacts when the contacts are open.

A breaking device includes an interrupting section including interrupting units in which main interrupters, impedance circuits, and unit arresters are connected in parallel to each other, the main interrupters being connected in series, a resonant circuit section including a reactor, a capacitor, and a closing switch and connected in parallel to the interrupting section, and an all-point arrester connected in parallel to the interrupting section via the reactor. The clamping voltages of the unit arresters are equal among the interrupting units, and are in the range of 1.1 to 1.6 times the value obtained by dividing the clamping voltage of the all-point arrester by the number of the interrupting units connected in series in the interrupting section.

A charging protection and regulation device includes a matrix of Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) devices having multiple legs each including one or more PTC devices, a matrix of diodes having multiple legs and multiple types of diodes having different voltage drops, and a matrix of resistors having multiple legs each including a current limiting resistor. Each PTC device is thermally coupled to an ambient environment using a different amount of thermal coupling. Respective legs of the matrix of PTC devices, matrix of diodes, and matrix of resistors are electrically coupled together, and coupled to one or more electron storage devices. During conditions of overload or circuit fault, the PTC devices act as high resistance circuit interrupters. During conditions of light loading between input and output terminals, the different voltage drops across the diodes provide voltage regulation/current regulation such that a specified charge voltage is provided to electron storage devices.

A switching device includes: two interrupter units connected in series; at least one drive unit for moving at least one contact; and two control capacitors, each of which is connected in parallel with the interrupter units. At least one control capacitor has mechanically movable components for changing the capacitance, and at least one of these components is mechanically coupled to the drive unit.

A charging protection and regulation device includes a matrix of Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) devices having multiple legs each including one or more PTC devices, a matrix of diodes having multiple legs and multiple types of diodes having different voltage drops, and a matrix of resistors having multiple legs each including a current limiting resistor. Each PTC device is thermally coupled to an ambient environment using a different amount of thermal coupling. Respective legs of the matrix of PTC devices, matrix of diodes, and matrix of resistors are electrically coupled together, and coupled to one or more electron storage devices. During conditions of overload or circuit fault, the PTC devices act as high resistance circuit interrupters. During conditions of light loading between input and output terminals, the different voltage drops across the diodes provide voltage regulation/current regulation such that a specified charge voltage is provided to electron storage devices.

A circuit breaker system is disclosed in the present application. The circuit breaker system includes a housing to hold an electrical interrupter within an internal region separated from an external ambient region. The electrical interrupter includes at least a first pair of electrical contact elements that are movable between open and closed positions. A voltage limiter, such as a metal oxide varistor (MOV), is connected across the pair of electrical contact elements to receive and dissipate a transient voltage when the first pair of electrical contacts is moved from a closed position to an open position, thereby reducing undesired arcing and premature wear or erosion of certain electrical components.

A contact arrangement for a Pre-Insertion Resistor (PIR) wherein a control rod is arranged to move a movable contact, against the force of a biasing member, into temporary connection with a PIR. The control rod comprises a tulip with a plurality of resilient fingers and having a first diameter where it is able to mechanically couple to a latching ring on the movable contact, and a second diameter where the tulip is deformed with the fingers deflected inwards, once the resistance to movement exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the latching ring is able to pass over the tulip to decouple the movable contact from the control rod. The contact arrangement is particularly suited for a PIR arranged for connection in parallel to the interrupter of a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) circuit breaker.

Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for limiting transient over-voltages occurring across a circuit breaker. These embodiments include providing a middle tank portion. They further include providing a first portion coupled to a first side of the middle tank portion, and a second portion coupled to a second side of the middle tank portion. They further include providing a first high voltage terminal coupled to the first portion, and a second high voltage terminal coupled to the second portion. They further include providing a post insulator supported and extending from the middle tank portion. They further include providing a first surge arrester connecting the first high voltage terminal to a first connector extending from the post insulator, and a second surge arrester connecting the second high voltage terminal to a second connector extending from the post insulator.