SWITCH DEVICE, HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SWITCH DEVICE

Abstract

A switching device for a high-voltage circuit breaker includes at least two switches for ascertaining states of apparatuses of the switching device via a monitoring system. The at least two switches are connected together in series and/or in parallel and can be connected together to exactly one input of the monitoring system. A high-voltage circuit breaker includes the switching device and the monitoring system, which is and/or includes a data acquisition, data processing, data storage and/or data transmission unit, in particular with digital-analog and/or analog-digital converters. A method for operating the switching device provides the at least two switches connected in series and/or in parallel, and forwards the state of the apparatuses via an input, in particular via exactly one input of the monitoring system, in the form of electric variables, in particular a voltage.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A switching device for a high-voltage circuit breaker, the switching device comprising: apparatuses of the switching device; and at least two switches for ascertaining states of said apparatuses of the switching device via a monitoring system; said at least two switches being connected to one another in at least one of a series circuit or a parallel circuit and being configured to be connected together to exactly one input of the monitoring system.

15. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein each of said at least two switches is an auxiliary switch replicating the state of a respective one of said apparatuses, in particular of a respective breaker unit.

16. The switching device according to claim 15, wherein said apparatuses include breaker units, and each of said auxiliary switches replicates the state of a respective one of said breaker units.

17. The switching device according to claim 15, wherein said apparatuses include mechanical connection elements, and said at least two switches are each configured to be actuated by a respective one of said mechanical connection elements.

18. The switching device according to claim 17, wherein said mechanical connection elements are elements of a kinematic chain.

19. The switching device according to claim 17, wherein said apparatuses include breaker units, and said mechanical connection elements are connection elements of said breaker units.

20. The switching device according to claim 14, wherein said apparatuses include breaker units and spring mechanisms for driving said breaker units, and said at least two switches are motor end position switches each replicating the state of a respective one of said spring mechanisms.

21. The switching device according to claim 20, which further comprises: tensioning wheels each associated with a respective one of said at least two switches, said tensioning wheels having at least one of cams or recesses; motors each configured for tensioning a respective one of said spring mechanisms through a respective one of said tensioning wheels; and each of said switches configured to be tripped by at least one of said cams or said recesses.

22. The switching device according to claim 21, wherein each of said switches is configured to be tripped by at least one of one cam or one recess of a respective one of said tensioning wheels.

23. The switching device according to claim 22, wherein each of said recesses is formed in a periphery of a respective one of said tensioning wheels.

24. The switching device according to claim 21, wherein said at least two switches are exactly three switches, and each of said switches is associated with at least one of a respective breaker unit or a respective spring mechanism or a respective motor for tensioning a respective spring mechanism.

25. The switching device according to claim 24, wherein said three switches are each one switch per respective pole of the high-voltage circuit breaker.

26. The switching device according to claim 14, which further comprises at least one of a relay or a contactor configured to change between said series circuit and said parallel circuit of said at least two switches.

27. The switching device according to claim 26, wherein said at least one of said relay or said contactor has opener and closing contacts configured to be switched to change between said series circuit and said parallel circuit of said at least two switches.

28. A high-voltage circuit breaker, comprising: a switching device according to claim 14; and a monitoring system, said monitoring system including or being at least one of a data acquisition or data processing or data storage or data transmission unit.

29. The high-voltage circuit breaker according to claim 28, wherein said monitoring system has at least one of digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters.

30. The high-voltage circuit breaker according to claim 28, wherein said monitoring system includes a plurality of inputs being at least one of electrical or optical inputs, and at least one of said series circuit or said parallel circuit of said at least two switches is connected to one of said inputs.

31. The high-voltage circuit breaker according to claim 30, wherein said plurality of inputs are five inputs, and said at least two switches are three switches.

32. The high-voltage circuit breaker according to claim 28, wherein said monitoring system has inputs, and sensors for monitoring the state of the high-voltage circuit breaker are connected to said inputs of said monitoring system.

33. The high-voltage circuit breaker according to claim 32, wherein said sensors are configured for measuring at least one of temperature, moisture, pressure, current or voltage, resistance or radiation.

34. A method for operating a switching device for a high-voltage circuit breaker, the method comprising: providing the switching device according to claim 14; using said at least two switches to replicate the states of said apparatuses of the switching device; and using said at least two switches, in at least one of said series circuit or said parallel circuit, to forward the states of said apparatuses through an input of a monitoring system.

35. The method according to claim 34, which further comprises forwarding the states of said apparatuses, as electrical variables or voltages, through exactly one input of the monitoring system.

36. The method according to claim 34, which further comprises combining said at least two switches as at least one of an OR combination through said parallel circuit or an AND combination through said series circuit.

37. The method according to claim 34, which further comprises providing said at least two switches as at least one of: end position switches each replicating the state of a spring mechanism as drive for a breaker unit, or switches connected in said parallel circuit as an OR combination having a voltage present at the input of the monitoring system until all of said spring mechanisms are tensioned, or switches connected in said series circuit as an AND combination having a voltage present at the input of the monitoring system until at least one of said spring mechanisms is tensioned, or switches interconnected and changed between said series circuit and said parallel circuit.

38. The method according to claim 37, which further comprises using a relay to change said at least two switches between said series circuit and said parallel circuit.

39. The method according to claim 38, which further comprises using said relay to change said at least two switches between said series circuit and said parallel circuit depending on tripping of the high-voltage circuit breaker.

Description

[0025] In the figures:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in series, for ascertaining states of apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c of the switching device 1 via a monitoring system 4, and

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in series, for ascertaining states of spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c via motor end switching contacts, able to be actuated via tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c with cams 10a, 10b, 10c, and

[0028] FIG. 3 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in series, analogous to the switching device of FIG. 2, wherein the tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c have recesses 11a, 11b, 11c instead of cams 10a, 10b, 10c, and

[0029] FIG. 4 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, analogous to the switching device 1 of FIG. 1, but with three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in a parallel circuit, and

[0030] FIG. 5 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention, analogous to the switching device 1 of FIG. 2, but with three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in a parallel circuit, and

[0031] FIG. 6 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention, analogous to the switching device 1 of FIG. 3, but with three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in a parallel circuit, and

[0032] FIG. 7 schematically shows a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in which a change takes place between the series and parallel circuit through opener contacts 13, 14.

[0033] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in series, for ascertaining states of apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c of the switching device 1 via a monitoring system 4. The series circuit is connected to a single input of the monitoring system 4, which is for example a Sensbox with 5 inputs, designed for example as a data acquisition, data processing, data storage and/or data transmission unit. The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are each for example connected to an associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c as apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c, the states of which need to be ascertained via the switching device 1. A connection is made in particular mechanically via mechanical connection elements 7a, 7b, 7c, which are or comprise for example elements of a kinematic chain of the high-voltage circuit breaker, and are designed to actuate the associated switches 2a, 2b, 2c upon state changes of the respective spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c as apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c.

[0034] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, for example in the form of auxiliary switch contacts, are electrically interconnected such that the status of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker is able to be combined and is able to be acquired by an, in particular exactly one, for example digital input of the monitoring system 4.

[0035] In FIG. 1, the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are connected in series and electrically connected to an input of the monitoring system 4. If the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c are closed by the mechanical drives, designed for example in the form of spring mechanisms 2a, 2b, 2c, then the switches 2a, 2b, 2c are closed by the mechanical connection elements 7a, 7b, 7c. An electric voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4 and represents the closed state of all of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c, and thus of the high-voltage circuit breaker. If at least one breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c is opened, then the corresponding switch 2a, 2b, 2c is also opened. By virtue of the series circuit and the associated AND combination of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c, there is no voltage at the input of the monitoring system 4. The state of at least one open breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c is thus indicated.

[0036] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in series, for ascertaining states of the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c and/or states of motors 8a, 8b, 8c for tensioning the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c, via a monitoring system 4. The series circuit, analogously to FIG. 1, is connected to a single input of the monitoring system 4, wherein the monitoring system 4 is for example a Sensbox with 5 inputs, designed for example as a data acquisition, data processing, data storage and/or data transmission unit.

[0037] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are for example designed as motor end switch contacts or included therein. The motors 8a, 8b, 8c are designed to tension the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c via mechanical elements, in particular transmission parts and/or elements of a kinematic chain that comprise tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c. In this case, in FIG. 2, the tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c have cams 10a, 10b, 10c, for example in the form of bulges on the circumference of the respective tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, which actuate the respective switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular upon reaching the end position of the respective motor 8a, 8b, 8c when the associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is fully tensioned. In FIG. 3, the tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c, rather than cams 10a, 10b, 10c, have recesses 11a, 11b, 11c, for example in the form of cutouts on the circumference of the respective tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, which actuate the respective switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular upon reaching the end position of the respective motor 8a, 8b, 8c when the associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is fully tensioned.

[0038] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular designed as motor end switch contacts, are electrically interconnected such that the status of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c of the high-voltage circuit breaker is combined and is able to be acquired by an, in particular exactly one, for example digital input of the monitoring system 4.

[0039] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the position of the respective spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is indicated by a cam 10a, 10b, 10c on the associated tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c.

[0040] The switches 2a, 2b, 2c, for example in the form of motor end switch contacts, are designed as opener contacts that are connected in series. In this configuration, a voltage is present at the monitoring system 4 or at the input of the monitoring system 4 only until one of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c is tensioned, and the current path is thus opened.

[0041] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the status of each individual spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is monitored by the switches 2a, 2b, 2c. In the exemplary embodiment, the information about only one fully tensioned pole of the high-voltage circuit breaker is put through when only one of the three spring mechanisms 2a, 2b, 2c is fully tensioned. The switches 2a, 2b, 2c are embodied as a closer contact and connected in series and thus constitute an AND combination. The series circuit is electrically connected to the input of the monitoring system 4. When a spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is not fully tensioned, the corresponding switch 2a, 2b, 2c is actuated by the circumference of the tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c and the current path through the corresponding switch 2a, 2b, 2c is closed. A voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4 until the current path is interrupted. The current path is opened when one of the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c is tensioned, the switch 2a, 2b, 2c or end position switch drops into the respective recess 11a, 11b, 11c in the tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, and the actuation of the switch 2a, 2b, 2c is thus canceled. If the current path of only one switch 2a, 2b, 2c is interrupted, then the AND combination is interrupted and no voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4.

[0042] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in a parallel circuit, for ascertaining states of apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c of the switching device 1 via the monitoring system 4. The parallel circuit is connected to a single input of the monitoring system 4, wherein the monitoring system 4 is for example a Sensbox with 5 inputs, designed for example as a data acquisition, data processing, data storage and/or data transmission unit. The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are for example each connected to an associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c as apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c, the states of which need to be ascertained via the switching device 1. A connection is made in particular mechanically via mechanical connection elements 7a, 7b, 7c, which are or comprise for example elements of a kinematic chain of the high-voltage circuit breaker, and are designed to actuate the associated switches 2a, 2b, 2c upon state changes of the respective spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c as apparatuses 3a, 3b, 3c.

[0043] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, for example in the form of auxiliary switch contacts, are electrically interconnected such that the status of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c and/or breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker is able to be combined and able to be acquired by an, in particular exactly one, for example digital input of the monitoring system 4.

[0044] In FIG. 4, the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are connected in a parallel circuit and electrically connected to an input of the monitoring system 4. If the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c are closed by the mechanical drives, for example designed in the form of spring mechanisms 2a, 2b, 2c, then the switches 2a, 2b, 2c are closed by the mechanical connection elements 7a, 7b, 7c. An electric voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4 and represents the closed state of at least one of the three breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c. If all of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c are opened, then all of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c are also opened. By virtue of the parallel circuit and the associated OR combination of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c, only now is no voltage present at the input of the monitoring system 4. The state of a completely open high-voltage circuit breaker is thus indicated.

[0045] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a switching device 1 according to the invention for a high-voltage circuit breaker, having three switches 2a, 2b, 2c in a parallel circuit, for ascertaining states of the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c and/or states of motors 8a, 8b, 8c for tensioning the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c, via a monitoring system 4. The parallel circuit, analogously to FIG. 4, is connected to a single input of the monitoring system 4, which is for example a Sensbox with 5 inputs, designed for example as a data acquisition, data processing, data storage and/or data transmission unit.

[0046] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c are for example designed as motor end switch contacts or included therein. The motors 8a, 8b, 8c are designed to tension the spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c via mechanical elements, in particular transmission parts and/or elements of a kinematic chain that comprise tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c. In this case, in FIG. 5, analogously to FIG. 2, the tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c have cams 10a, 10b, 10c, for example in the form of bulges on the circumference of the respective tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, which actuate the respective switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular upon reaching the end position of the respective motor 8a, 8b, 8c when the associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is fully tensioned. In FIG. 6, analogously to FIG. 3, the tensioning wheels 9a, 9b, 9c, rather than cams 10a, 10b, 10c, have recesses 11a, 11b, 11c, for example in the form of cutouts on the circumference of the respective tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, which actuate the respective switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular upon reaching the end position of the respective motor 8a, 8b, 8c when the associated spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is fully tensioned.

[0047] The three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, in particular designed as motor end switch contacts, are electrically interconnected such that the status of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c of the high-voltage circuit breaker is combined and is able to be acquired by an, in particular exactly one, for example digital input of the monitoring system 4.

[0048] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, the position of the respective spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is indicated by a cam 10a, 10b, 10c on the associated tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c. The switches 2a, 2b, 2c, for example in the form of motor end switch contacts, are designed as opener contacts that are connected or interconnected in a parallel circuit. In this configuration, a voltage is present at the monitoring system 4 or at the input of the monitoring system 4 only until the last of the three spring mechanisms 6a, 6b, 6c is tensioned and the current path is thus opened.

[0049] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the information about a non-fully tensioned high-voltage circuit breaker that is thus not ready for switching is put through when only one of the three spring mechanisms 2a, 2b, 2c is not fully tensioned. The status of each individual spring mechanism 2a, 2b, 2c is monitored by the switches 2a, 2b, 2c. The switches 2a, 2b, 2c are embodied as a closer contact and connected in parallel with one another and thus constitute an OR combination. This parallel circuit is electrically connected to an, in particular to exactly one, for example digital input of the monitoring system 4. In the case of a non-fully tensioned spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c, the corresponding switch 2a, 2b, 2c is actuated by the circumference of the tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c, and the current path is closed through the corresponding switch 2a, 2b, 2c or end switch. A voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4. The current path is opened when the spring mechanism 6a, 6b, 6c is tensioned, the switch 2a, 2b, 2c drops into the recesses on the circumference of the respective tensioning wheel 9a, 9b, 9c and the actuation of the switch 2a, 2b, 2c is thus canceled. If the current path of each switch 2a, 2b, 2c is interrupted, then the OR combination is interrupted and no voltage is present at the input of the monitoring system 4.

[0050] In order to make a generally applicable statement about the state of the high-voltage circuit breaker using just one input of the monitoring system 4 or to identify a fault in the desired switching operation, it is necessary to switch between a series and parallel circuit of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c on the basis of the current switching operation. A corresponding switching device 1 according to the invention that allows switching over between a series and parallel circuit of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c is illustrated in FIG. 7. To this end, a contactor and/or relay 19 is used. This contactor 19 is connected in parallel with the on triggers 12a, 12b, 12c of the drives. This parallel circuit may be interrupted by an opener contact 17 of the contactor 19.

[0051] A respective closer contact of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c of the three drives is furthermore connected in parallel. The resultant network is supplemented by opener contacts 13 and 14 of the contactor 19 such that the parallel circuit of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c is able to be interrupted and is thus turned into a series circuit.

[0052] A further closer contact 16 of the contactor 19 forms a series circuit with an opener contact 18 of the off actuation and with the parallel circuit of in each case one further auxiliary switch closer contact of the three phases 15a, 15b, 15c. This series circuit, when one of the three mentioned auxiliary switch closer contacts 15a, 15b, 15c and the closer contact 16 of the contactor 19 are closed, connects the contactor 19 to the supply voltage.

[0053] In the switched-off state of the high-voltage circuit breaker, all of the closing contacts of the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c that represent the state of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker are normally open. In order to be able to unambiguously identify this state, the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c have to be connected in parallel. This parallel circuit is formed by the closed opener contacts 13 and 14 of the contactor 19. When the high-voltage circuit breaker is switched on, the on triggers 12a, 12b, 12c have an electric voltage applied to them and the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c are closed. Since the opener contact 17 of the contactor 19 is closed, the contactor 19 is also supplied with voltage. The contactor 19 thereby draws and closes the closer contact 16, which supplies the contactor 19 with voltage through the series connection to the parallel-connected closer contacts of the auxiliary switches 15a, 15b, 15c, since the closer contacts of the auxiliary switches 15a, 15b, 15c are closed. The contactor 19 latches even when the voltage pulse for the on triggers is not present. The actuated contactor 19 furthermore opens its opener contacts 13 and 14, as a result of which the closer contacts of the switches 2a, 2b, 2c are connected in series. It is thereby possible to unambiguously identify that each of the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c that represent the state of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker is closed.

[0054] In the subsequent off switching operation, the latching of the contactor 19 is triggered by the opener contact 18 of the off actuation or by the parallel circuit, connected in series therewith, of the closer contacts of the auxiliary switches 15a, 15b, 15c. The contactor 19 thereby drops. Its opener contacts 13 and 14 close and the series circuit of the closer contacts of the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, which represent the state of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker, is turned into a parallel circuit. If a breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c does not switch on, the contactor 19 still draws and still latches, because at least one of the other two parallel-connected auxiliary switch contacts 15a, 15b, 15c is closed. The parallel circuit of the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, which represent the state of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker, is thus turned into a series circuit. This series circuit however does not carry any electric voltage to the input of the monitoring system 4 because it is opened, interrupted by the open switch 2a, 2b, 2c of the non-functional breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0055] The monitoring system 4 thus indicates an on command, but does not identify the corresponding signal at the input. A fault is thus output.

[0056] If a breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c does not switch off, the latching of the contactor 19 is still interrupted and it still drops because the opener contact 18 of the off actuation opens the current path. The series circuit of the three switches 2a, 2b, 2c, which represent the state of the breaker units 5a, 5b, 5c of the high-voltage circuit breaker, is thus turned into a parallel circuit. This parallel circuit carries the electric voltage to the input of the monitoring system 4, because it is closed by the closed switch 2a, 2b, 2c of the non-functional breaker unit 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0057] The monitoring system 4 thus indicates an off command, but does not identify the missing signal at the input. A fault is thus output.

[0058] In the case of high-voltage circuit breakers, known from the prior art, each end switch is electrically connected to in each case one input of the monitoring system. Three inputs of the monitoring system are thus occupied, and the actual signal interpretation is performed in the monitoring system.

[0059] Rather than this, the switching device 1 according to the invention, as described above, has the effect that part of the signal interpretation, specifically the combination, for example in the form of AND or OR, in particular interchangeably between AND and OR, is achieved through the wiring or interconnection of the end switches or switches 2a, 2b, 2c. The number of required inputs on the monitoring system is thereby reduced, and free inputs remain. The free inputs may be used for other tasks, in particular for the connection of sensors, for example temperature, pressure, moisture, current and/or voltage sensors.

[0060] In the case of monitoring systems in the form of a Sensbox, two digital inputs and three analog inputs are available. Only one input, in particular a digital input, has to be connected to the above-described switching device, as a result of which only one monitoring system for monitoring the states of the breaker units and/or the drives, in particular the spring mechanisms and/or motors, in particular tensioning motors, of the respective breaker units, is required. The in particular four free inputs of the monitoring system may be used for other tasks, thereby saving on expenditure and costs. When using a Sensbox according to the prior art, two digital inputs would be too few to monitor three end switches, and two Sensboxes or monitoring systems would be necessary, linked to higher expenditure and higher costs.

[0061] The exemplary embodiments described above may be combined with one another and/or may be combined with the prior art. For instance, for example one, two, three or more breaker units may be included in the high-voltage circuit breaker, and/or for example one, two, three or more spring mechanisms and/or drive motors, in particular for tensioning spring mechanisms, may be included, these in particular all being monitored by the switching device according to the invention in conjunction with the monitoring system. Instead of or in addition to breaker units, spring mechanisms and/or drive motors, other apparatuses may also be used, the states of which are able to be ascertained or monitored with or without the switching device according to the invention. For instance, surge arresters, disconnectors, grounders and/or vacuum tubes and contacts with a nominal and/or arcing contact piece may be used for example as apparatuses whose states are ascertained using the switching device according to the invention at an input of the monitoring system, in particular included in a high-voltage circuit breaker or a high-voltage switching device.

[0062] The apparatuses, for example spring mechanisms, motors and/or breaker units, whose states need to be ascertained using the switching device, are in particular mechanically connected to the switches via mechanical connection elements, which for example comprise elements of a kinematic chain, in order to ascertain states of the apparatuses. As an alternative or in addition, the connection may also be made electrically, electronically or through data transmission, in particular optically. The respective switch may in this case be actuated in particular electrically, electromagnetically and/or mechanically, for example following transmission and/or conversion of signals from the associated apparatus whose states need to be ascertained using the switching device.

[0063] It is also possible to use one, two or more switching devices according to the invention, for example two at two digital inputs of a monitoring system. Multiple identical or different types of apparatus, for example disconnectors and breaker units, may thereby for example be monitored independently of one another. Multiple high-voltage circuit breakers and/or other high-voltage devices, for example on a switch panel containing one or more switching devices according to the invention, may also be monitored. Additional sensors may alternatively or additionally be monitored, in particular by a monitoring system, connected to the switching device according to the invention. The switching operations of the switching devices may also be changed, for example supplemented by further switches for other tasks or, instead of using switches, components, in particular semiconductor components such as for example transistors, or integrated circuits may be used.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0064] 1 switching device [0065] 2a, 2b, 2c switch for ascertaining states of an apparatus of the switching device [0066] 3a, 3b, 3c apparatus of the switching device [0067] 4 monitoring system [0068] 5a, 5b, 5c breaker unit [0069] 6a, 6b, 6c spring mechanism [0070] 7a, 7b, 7c mechanical connection element, in particular elements of a kinematic chain [0071] 8a, 8b, 8c motor for tensioning a spring mechanism [0072] 9a, 9b, 9c tensioning wheel [0073] 10a, 10b, 10c cam of the tensioning wheel [0074] 11a, 11b, 11c recess in the tensioning wheel [0075] 12a, 12b, 12c on trigger of the drive [0076] 13 first opener contact for series circuit of the switches [0077] 14 second opener contact for series circuit of the switches [0078] 15a, 15b, 15c auxiliary switch [0079] 16 closing contact of the contactor [0080] 17 third opener contact, opener contact of contactor [0081] 18 fourth opener contact, opener contact of contactor at off actuation [0082] 19 relay/contactor