An insulating rotary diaphragm for a vacuum interrupter (VI) electrical switch. The insulating diaphragm is designed for use in underground or pad-mounted VI switches where an external lever is rotated by a line worker to manually open the switch. A torsional insulating rod is coupled between a switch actuator and the external lever, and the diaphragm maintains constant contact with the insulating rod and an outer housing when the lever and rod are rotated, thus ensuring adequate isolation between the actuator and the lever. The diaphragm deforms torsionally when the lever and rod are rotated. This configuration allows the actuator to be at medium voltage, eliminates the need for a translational insulating rod between the medium voltage switch components and the lever, and thereby reduces the overall length of the VI switch.

An insulating rotary diaphragm for a vacuum interrupter (VI) electrical switch. The insulating diaphragm is designed for use in underground or pad-mounted VI switches where an external lever is rotated by a line worker to manually open the switch. A torsional insulating rod is coupled between a switch actuator and the external lever, and the diaphragm maintains constant contact with the insulating rod and an outer housing when the lever and rod are rotated, thus ensuring adequate isolation between the actuator and the lever. The diaphragm deforms torsionally when the lever and rod are rotated. This configuration allows the actuator to be at medium voltage, eliminates the need for a translational insulating rod between the medium voltage switch components and the lever, and thereby reduces the overall length of the VI switch.

An energy harvesting circuit for harvesting energy from a medium voltage power line. The energy harvesting circuit includes an input capacitor electrically coupled to the power line and storing power therefrom, and a flyback converter including a primary coil and a secondary coil. The harvesting circuit further includes a switching circuit electrically coupled in series with the primary coil and being operable to electrically connect and disconnect the input capacitor to and from the primary coil, where the switching circuit includes an input voltage regulation feedback circuit for regulating an input voltage provided to the switching circuit from the input capacitor. The harvesting circuit also includes an output capacitor electrically coupled to the secondary coil and the actuator, where the output capacitor is charged by the secondary coil when the switching circuit is closed to provide power to an actuator to close a vacuum interrupter.

A medium voltage switching pole includes: a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; a movable contact of the vacuum interrupter; a piston; at least one electrical contact; a first terminal; and a second terminal. The fixed contact is fixedly connected to the first terminal. The movable contact is fixedly connected to the piston. The piston moves within the second terminal along an axis. The at least one electrical contact makes an electrical connection between the piston and the second terminal. An outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the second terminal are arranged such that: when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated, at least one first radial line perpendicular to the axis extends through locations of the at least one electrical contact, and a first distance along the at least one first radial line extends from the outer surface.

A medium voltage switching pole includes: a fixed contact of a vacuum interrupter; a movable contact of the vacuum interrupter; a piston; at least one electrical contact; a first terminal; and a second terminal. The fixed contact is fixedly connected to the first terminal. The movable contact is fixedly connected to the piston. The piston moves within the second terminal along an axis. The at least one electrical contact makes an electrical connection between the piston and the second terminal. An outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the second terminal are arranged such that: when in an open configuration the fixed contact and movable contact are separated, at least one first radial line perpendicular to the axis extends through locations of the at least one electrical contact, and a first distance along the at least one first radial line extends from the outer surface.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes a ground tank, first and second vacuum interrupters, a link mechanism for opening and closing the vacuum interrupters and a link mechanism case housing the link mechanism and supported by an insulating support tube. An insulating operation rod for operating the link mechanism is provided through the insulating support tube and a side portion of the ground tank. An operation room is provided around the portion of the ground tank through which the insulating operation rod is inserted. A conversion mechanism for driving the insulating operation rod is arranged in the operation room. A space communicating with inner sides of bellows of the vacuum interrupters (including the inside of the link mechanism case and the inside of the insulating support tube) is filled with insulating gas of 0.3 MPa or lower. The other space is filled with insulating gas of higher pressure.

A vacuum circuit breaker includes a ground tank, first and second vacuum interrupters, a link mechanism for opening and closing the vacuum interrupters and a link mechanism case housing the link mechanism and supported by an insulating support tube. An insulating operation rod for operating the link mechanism is provided through the insulating support tube and a side portion of the ground tank. An operation room is provided around the portion of the ground tank through which the insulating operation rod is inserted. A conversion mechanism for driving the insulating operation rod is arranged in the operation room. A space communicating with inner sides of bellows of the vacuum interrupters (including the inside of the link mechanism case and the inside of the insulating support tube) is filled with insulating gas of 0.3 MPa or lower. The other space is filled with insulating gas of higher pressure.

A circuit breaker for connecting at least two line sections in an interruptible manner has at least one pair of vacuum tubes, each with a stationary switching contact and a movable switching contact. The switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are electrically connected in series. The movable switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are coupled to a common actuator and can be simultaneously switched by a movement of the actuator.

A circuit breaker for connecting at least two line sections in an interruptible manner has at least one pair of vacuum tubes, each with a stationary switching contact and a movable switching contact. The switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are electrically connected in series. The movable switching contacts of the vacuum tubes are coupled to a common actuator and can be simultaneously switched by a movement of the actuator.

In a vacuum container (1) of a vacuum interrupter (1A), an insulating cylindrical body (10) is sealed with a fixed-side flange (11a) on the fixed side in the axial direction, and is sealed with a movable-side flange (11b) on the movable side in the axial direction. In the fixed-side flange (11a) and the movable-side flange (11b), annular expansion portions (5a, 5b) are formed between middle portions (3a, 3b) and outer peripheral edge portions (4a, 4b), respectively. The annular expansion portions (5a, 5b) are respectively formed in annular shapes extending along the outer peripheries of the middle portions (3a, 3b), and in shapes expanding in the axial outer side direction of the vacuum container (1), such that an arch structural effect can be obtained.