An electric current knife switch comprising a puffer de-latching mechanism

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric current switch comprising a compressed gas device (126) having a movable piston (128) in a volume (130) housing gas compressible by the piston, the compressed gas being ejected from a nozzle (108) towards a fixed contact assembly, the piston is mechanically coupled to the contact lever via a de-latching mechanism (132; 301; 402; 502; 610) configured to decouple the motion of the piston from the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the earth position.

Description

[0001] AN ELECTRIC CURRENT KNIFE SWITCH COMPRISING A PUFFER DE¬

[0002] LATCHING MECHANISM

[0003] Field of the Invention

[0004] The present invention relates to an electric current switch.

[0005] Background

[0006] Electric switches for medium- and high voltage switchgear are subject to electric arcing during current interruption and contact making events. Suppressing the arcs is important to protect the electric switch itself and electric devices connected to the electric switch.

[0007] Effects of arcs may be suppressed by appropriate material selection of arcing contact areas of the connecting parts of the electric switch that can withstand and reduce the arcing. Further, arc-extinction can be provided by application of an appropriate gas onto the arc using a so-called puffer.

[0008] A puffer often includes a piston that moves in a puffer volume for building up a gas pressure for subsequent ejection onto the arc region. The movement of the piston is coupled to the movement of one of the connecting parts of the switch so that the arc-extinction can be synchronized with the interruption of the electric current, i.e. , when the switch is in an open position.

[0009] However, it is desirable to also allow for the moving electric connecting part of the switch to also reach a third position beyond the open position, while still allowing efficient arc-extinction.

[0010] Summary

[0011] In view of the above-mentioned and other drawbacks of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric current switch that at least partly alleviates the deficiencies with prior art.

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electric current switch comprising: a housing; a contact lever comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the contact lever is rotatable at a pivot point at the distal end, the contact lever comprising a lever main contact area and a lever arcing contact at the proximal end; a fixed contact assembly configured to receive the contact lever in a closed position of the contact lever, the fixed contact assembly comprising a fixed main contact and a fixed arcing contact, the fixed contact assembly being fixed relative the housing accommodating the fixed contact; the contact lever is configured to rotate about the pivot point between the closed position, an open position, and an earth position where the contact lever is in contact with an earthed contact, the electric current switch further comprising a compressed gas device having a movable piston in a volume housing gas compressible by the piston, the compressed gas being ejected from a nozzle towards the fixed contact assembly, the piston is mechanically coupled to the contact lever via a de-latching mechanism configured to decouple the motion of the piston from the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the earth position.

[0013] The present invention is at least partly based on the realization that a de-latching mechanism allows the contact lever to decouple from the motion of the puffer piston once the contact lever has reached the open position or at least away from the closed position. In this way, the contact lever can rotate freely towards the earthed position where it contacts an earthed contact element.

[0014] Furthermore, decoupling the contact lever from the puffer piston allows for designing the puffer volume so that a large, or even maximum gas pressure can be achieved at the right time, that is, at the moment of current interruption. Thus, the puffer can be designed so that the puffer piston has reached to or at least near the bottom of the puffer volume during the electric current interruption phase. If the puffer piston is not decoupled from the contact lever at this time, the contact lever would not be allowed to move further to the earthed position.

[0015] The de-latching mechanism may be configured in various ways as will be laid out herein. However, the de-latching mechanism includes a mechanism which locks the motion of the puffer piston to contact lever when it moves from the closed position towards the open position. Once the contact lever has rotated through a given rotation angle corresponding to the motion from the closed position to the open position, the locked motion is released and the contact lever moves without causing the puffer piston to move further in the puffer volume.

[0016] It is often the case that the de-latching mechanism includes a locking interface comprising at least one surface that rotates with the contact lever and that is engaged or in contact with a surface coupled to the puffer piston. The connection or engagement between the surfaces is such that when the contact lever rotates it causes the puffer piston to also move inside the puffer volume. However, after a predetermined rotation angle of the contact lever, the connection or engagement between the surface that rotates with the contact lever and the surface coupled to the puffer piston is released or interrupted, whereby the puffer piston is no longer caused to move when the contact elver rotates about its pivot point.

[0017] The housing provides an assembly base for the electric switch. The pivot point is preferably fixed in relation to the housing.

[0018] In the closed position of the contact lever, an electric current may pass between the lever main contact area and the fixed main contact. In the open position, the contact lever and the fixed contact are not in contact whereby an electric current may not pass between them.

[0019] In the closed position, the lever main contact area mate with the fixed main contact.

[0020] The gas may for example comprise at least one background gas component selected from the group consisting of CO2, O2, N2, H2, air, N2O, in a mixture with a hydrocarbon or an organo fluorine compound. For example, the cooling gas may comprise dry air or technical air. The cooling gas may in particular comprise an organofluorine compound selected from the group comprising of: a fluoroether, an oxirane, a fluoramine, a fluoroketone, a fluoroolefin, a fluoronitrile, and mixtures and / or decomposition products thereof. In particular, the cooling gas may comprise as a hydrocarbon at least CH4, a perfluorinated and / or partially hydrogenated organofluorine compound, and mixtures thereof. The organofluorine compound is preferably selected from the group comprising of: a fluorocarbon, a fluoroether, a fluoroamine, a fluoronitrile, and a fluoroketone; and preferably is a fluoroketone and / or a fluoroether, more preferably a perfluoroketone and / or a hydro fluoroether, more preferably a perfluoroketone having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms and even more preferably a perfluoroketone having 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. In particular, the perfluoroketone is or comprises at least one of: C2FsC(O)CF(CF3)2 or dodecafiuoro-2-methylpentan-3-one, and CF3C(O)CF(CF3)2 or decafluoro-3- methylbutan-2-one. The cooling gas preferably may comprise the fluoroketone mixed with air or an air component such as N2, O2, and / or CO2. Another possible cooling gas is SFe. The cooling gas may comprise air or an air component such as N2, O2, and / or CO2 without the fluoroketone.

[0021] A nozzle may be fixedly attached to the fixed contact assembly to ensure that the cooling gas is provided towards an arc root. Further, with the nozzle attached to the fixed contact assembly, a more compact electric switch is provided compared to having the nozzle be arranged separately from the fixed contact assembly.

[0022] The earth contact may be fixed in relation to the housing. Thus, the contact lever is rotatable to three positions, while the earth contact, the fixed contact, and the nozzle are fixed in relation to the housing.

[0023] The fixed contact and the earth contact may be stationary with respect to the pivot point when the contact lever moves between the earthed position, the closed position, and the open position.

[0024] Preferably, the de-latching mechanism is configured to decouple the motion of the piston from the contact lever at a predetermined rotation angle of the contact lever around its pivot point. The predetermined rotation angle corresponds to the rotation angle required to rotate the contact lever from the closed position to the open position.

[0025] In embodiments, the de-latching mechanism may advantageously comprise: a spring-loaded arm pivotably attached to the contact lever, the spring loaded arm comprising a contact surface configured to be engaged with a receiving surface of a lock element coupled with the puffer piston, wherein a rotation of the contact lever from the closed position towards the open position causes the contact surface to push on the receiving surface whereby the puffer piston moves in the volume, a de-latching member comprising a step arranged so that the step engages with a rolling member attached to the spring-loaded arm to cause a pivoting motion of the spring-loaded arm about its pivot point, wherein the pivoting motion causes the contact surface to disengage from the receiving surface. This provides one robust yet relatively simple de-latching mechanism that only relies on mechanical moving parts.

[0026] In one embodiment, the de-latching mechanism may comprise two spring-loaded arms arranged in parallel on opposite sides of the contact lever, each of the spring-loaded arms having a respective rolling member arranged at a common rotation axis, and an axle mechanically connected to the spring- loaded arms at the common rotation axis, and a spring connected between the axle and a base of the contact lever, the spring biasing the spring-loaded arms so that the rolling members are pushed towards the de-latching member. Parallelly arranged spring-loaded arms provide for better mechanical stability of de-latching mechanism and also stronger locking in the engaged position between the contact lever and the puffer piston.

[0027] In another embodiment, the de-latching mechanism may comprise a hook on one end of a pivotable arm attached to the contact lever, and a disc element attached to the other end of the pivotable arm, the pivot point of the pivotable arm is located between the hook and the wheel, and the pivotable arm is spring loaded to push the hook away from the pivot point of the contact lever and the wheel towards a contact surface comprising a first portion and a second portion separated by a step, wherein, the puffer piston is coupled with a receiving surface which the hook is engaged with at least when the contact lever is in the closed position and moves towards the open position. This provides another one robust yet relatively simple de-latching mechanism that only relies on mechanical moving parts.

[0028] In one embodiment, when the contact lever is rotated about its pivot point, the disc element may travel along the contact surface, and by interaction with the step, the wheel is pushed away from the pivot point of the contact lever whereby the hook is moved towards the pivot point of the contact lever so that the hook is disengaged from the receiving surface. Interaction with the step conveniently arranged at the right rotation angle of the contact lever provides for reliable synchronization of the decoupling between the contact lever and the puffer piston.

[0029] In another embodiment, the de-latching mechanism may comprise: a spring-loaded hook attached to a rotatable shaft aligned with the pivot point of the contact lever, the spring is configured to push the hook away from the shaft, and a disc attached to the hook and being pushed by the spring towards a contact surface further away from the shaft, the contact surface comprising a first portion and a second portion separated by a step, the puffer piston is coupled to a receiving surface which the hook is engaged with at least when the contact lever is in the closed position and moves towards the open position. This provides another one robust yet relatively simple de-latching mechanism that only relies on mechanical moving parts.

[0030] Preferably a single spring-loaded hook is used thereby reducing the risk of mechanical failure.

[0031] In one embodiment, the contact surface is comprised in a flange attached to a wall of the housing. Accordingly, the de-latching mechanism is located a distance away from the contact lever which means its more easily accessible for e.g., maintenance purposes.

[0032] In one embodiment, when the contact lever is rotated about its pivot point, the wheel may travel along the contact surface, and by interaction with the step, the wheel and hook are pushed away from the shaft of the contact lever so that the hook is disengaged from the receiving surface of the puffer piston.

[0033] In another embodiment, the de-latching mechanism may comprise a pinching element attached to the contact lever that pinches to an element connected to the puffer piston, the pinching element comprising two legs each with an engaging side configured to pinch the puffer piston element and each with an actuation side, configured such that which when the actuation sides of the legs are pushed towards each other they cause the engaging sides to move away from each other and release the puffer piston element. This provides another one robust yet relatively simple de-latching mechanism that only relies on mechanical moving parts.

[0034] In embodiments, the piston may be pivotably attached about the same pivot axis as the contact lever.

[0035] In another embodiment, the de-latching mechanism may comprise an intermittent gear mechanism, where a first gear is attached to the contact lever to rotate about the pivot point and a second gear is attached the piston to rotate when the piston moves in the puffer volume, the amount of teeth on at least one of the gears corresponding to that the rotational coupling between the gears being interrupted when the contact lever reaches the open position. This provides another one robust yet relatively simple de-latching mechanism that only relies on mechanical moving parts.

[0036] In embodiments, the de-latching mechanism is configured to recouple the motion of the piston and the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the closed position. This advantageously allows for continued operation of the de-latching mechanism during the next electric current interruption.

[0037] In embodiments, the contact lever may be a knife contact, and the electric current switch may be a knife switch.

[0038] In embodiments, the electric current switch may comprise multiple contact levers and multiple respective fixed contact assemblies, each pair of contact lever and fixed contact assembly forming a phase, wherein at least two phases share one de-latching mechanism. Accordingly, the number of de- latching mechanism can be fewer than the number of phases in a multi-phase electric current switch. This advantageously allows for a more compact multiphase electric current switch.

[0039] In embodiments, the contact levers may be configured to rotate in separate planes, and wherein the de-latching mechanism for two phases is arranged between the planes. Advantageously, the contact levers or contact assemblies need not be redesigned since the de-latching mechanism is arranged between the phases. Furthermore, arranging the de-latching mechanism separate from the phases, i.e. , between the phases, reduces the impact of the de-latching mechanism on the dielectric picture of the phases.

[0040] In embodiments, the multiple contact levers may be attached to a rotatable shaft configured to cause rotation of the contact levers between the open, closed and earth positions of the contact levers. The shaft extends orthogonally to the rotation planes of the contact levers. Rotating the shaft means that the contact levers will be rotated in the same rotation direction as the shaft.

[0041] In embodiments, the de-latching mechanism may comprise a protruding member attached to the shaft and that protrudes axially away from the shaft, and a movable motion link arranged in an opening of a linkage member connected to the piston, the movable motion link is arranged to be in contact with a surface of the protruding member to transfer a rotation of the shaft to a motion of the piston via the linkage member, the movable motion link is movable axially away from the shaft by interaction with a stationary protrusion as the shaft is rotated in one direction, wherein the motion of the movable motion link cause the movable motion link to loose contact with the surface of the protruding member to allow rotation of the shaft while the motion of the piston is decouple from the motion of the contact lever. Preferably, the movable motion link lies freely in the opening and is kept in place in a pocket in the opening. Two plates may sandwich the movable motion link between them such that the movable motion link cannot fall out from the pocket. When the saft is rotated, the protruding member is also rotated and push on the movable motion link which is pinched between the protruding member and a surface in the pocket of the opening, thereby transferring the motion from the protruding member to the linkage member and thereby also the piston. Once the connection between the movable motion link and the protruding member is lost, the shaft can rotate without the piston moving further.

[0042] In embodiments, the protruding member is a step on a disc attached to the shaft, the movable motion link is a spring-biased link biased to have one end in contact with the surface of the step, the other end of the movable motion is in contact with a surface of the opening in the linkage member, and the disc is rotatably arranged in an opening in the linkage member, the stationary protrusion being a pin arranged protruding through the opening in the linkage member. Advantageously, the disc is rotatable in the opening of the linkage member. The shaft is arranged through the opening of the linkage member which comprises an circular portion connected with a pocket portion where the movable motion link is arranged. The movable motion link may be hookshaped.

[0043] In embodiments, the electric current switch may comprise three contact levers attached to one and the same shaft, and two discs attached to the shaft, and two linkage members with respective spring biased movable motion links, and one piston connected to both linkage members.

[0044] Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled person realizes that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0045] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0046] These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing an example embodiment of the invention, wherein:

[0047] Fig. 1A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0048] Fig. 1 B illustrates the example electric current switch in fig 1 A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0049] Fig. 1 C illustrates the example electric current switch in fig 1A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0050] Fig. 2A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0051] Fig. 2B illustrates the latching mechanism of the example electric current switch in fig 2A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention; Fig. 3A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0052] Fig. 3B illustrates the example electric current switch in fig. 3A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0053] Fig. 3C illustrates the example electric current switch in fig. 3A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0054] Fig. 4A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0055] Fig. 4B illustrates the example electric current switch in fig. 4A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0056] Fig. 4C illustrates the example electric current switch in fig. 4A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0057] Fig. 5A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0058] Fig. 5B illustrates the example electric current switch in fig. 5A in another one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0059] Fig. 6A illustrates an example multi-phase example electric current switch according to embodiments of the invention;

[0060] Fig. 6B illustrates an example multi-phase example electric current switch according to embodiments of the invention;

[0061] Fig. 7A illustrates an example electric current switch in one position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0062] Fig. 7B illustrates the example electric current switch in fig 7A in another position according to embodiments of the invention;

[0063] Fig. 7C illustrates the example electric current switch in fig 7A in another position according to embodiments of the invention; and

[0064] Fig. 7D illustrates the example electric current switch in fig 7A in another position according to embodiments of the invention.

[0065] Detailed Description of Example Embodiments

[0066] In the present detailed description, various embodiments of the present invention are herein described with reference to specific implementations. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the scope of the invention.

[0067] Fig. 1A illustrates an example electric current switch 100 in a closed position. The electric current switch 100 a knife switch often also referred to as a blade switch.

[0068] The electric current switch 100 comprises a housing 102 that accommodates a contact lever 104, a fixed contact assembly 106 and a set of nozzles 108 or which one is numbered.

[0069] The contact lever 104, sometimes referred to as a knife contact or blade contact, comprises a proximal end 110 and a distal end 112. The contact lever 104 is rotatable at a pivot point 114 at or near or at least closer to the distal end 112 than to the proximal end 1 10. As better seen in fig. 1 B, the contact lever 104 comprises a lever main contact area 116 and a lever arcing contact 118 at the proximal end 110.

[0070] The fixed contact assembly 106 is configured to receive the contact lever 104 in a closed position of the contact lever. The closed position is shown in fig. 1A. The fixed contact assembly 106 comprises a fixed main contact 120 and a fixed arcing contact 122 where the fixed contact assembly 106 is fixed relative the housing 102 accommodating the fixed contact 106.

[0071] The contact lever 104 is configured to rotate, that is, it is rotatable about the pivot point 114 between the closed position shown in fig. 1A, an open position shown in fig. 1 B, and an earth position shown in fig. 1 C where the contact lever 104 is in contact with an earthed contact 124.

[0072] The electric current switch 100 further comprises a compressed gas device 126 having a movable piston 128 in a volume 130 housing gas compressible by the piston 128.

[0073] The compressed gas being ejected from the nozzles 108 towards the fixed contact assembly 106. The piston 128 is mechanically coupled to the contact lever 104 via a de-latching mechanism 132 configured to decouple the motion of the piston 128 from the contact lever 104 when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the earth position.

[0074] The coupling between the contact lever 104 and the piston 128 is configured such that when the contact lever 104 moves from the closed position shown in fig. 1A towards the open position shown in fig. 1 B, the piston 128 moves with the contact lever 104 in a synchronized way. The movement of the piston in the volume 130 causes the piston to compress the gas inside the volume. The compressed gas is forced through piping or tubes 134 to the nozzles 108 whereby the gas is ejected towards the fixed contact assembly 106, at the location of the contact lever if it were in the closed position.

[0075] As the contact lever 104 moves from the closed position where it is in electrical and mechanical contact with the main contact 120, an arc often appears between the contact lever 104 and the arc contact 122. This arc is extinct by the gas pressurized by the piston 128 and ejected by the nozzles 108. The nozzle can be made of many different kinds of polymer materials or even metal.

[0076] Once the contact lever 104 reaches the open position shown in fig. 1 B, the arc is already extinct, and the piston motion has reached the end 136 of the volume. It is not desirable to increase the size volume 130 because it would hamper the performance of the compressed gas device 126 due to the reduction in pressure. Instead, the present invention provides several embodiments of a de-latching mechanism 132 that decouples the piston 128 motion from the motion of the contact lever 104 which allows the contact lever 104 to reach the earth position shown in fig. 1 C. In the earthed position, the contact lever 104 connects with the earth or ground contact 124, schematically depicted in the drawings.

[0077] The fixed main contact 120 and the earth contact 124 are stationary with respect to the pivot point 114 when the contact lever 104 moves between the earthed position, the closed position, and the open position. Generally, the contact lever 104 and the piston are the main moving parts of the electric current switch 100. The present disclosure presents several embodiments of a de-latching mechanism. The de-latching mechanism is arranged to in one state, couple the motion of the contact lever to the piston of the compressed gas device so that the move together. In this first state, one component fixed to the contact lever abuts against a component coupled to the piston. The mechanical and physical contact between the component of the contact lever and the component coupled to the piston causes the contact lever to push or pull the piston along with its motion. As the contact lever has rotated about its pivot point 114 or axis through a predetermined angle relative the orientation of the contact lever in the closed potion, the mechanical and physical contact between the component of the contact lever and the component coupled to the piston is relieved or lost. Thereby, the motion of the contact lever is de-coupled from the motion of the piston.

[0078] Generally, for embodiments herein, the de-latching mechanism is configured to recouple the motion of the piston and the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the closed position.

[0079] In one embodiment illustrated in figs. 1A-1 C, the electric current switch is in a closed position in fig. 1 A, in an open position in fig. 1 B, and in the earthed position in fig. 1 C.

[0080] Turning again to fig. 1A, the de-latching mechanism comprises an arm 137 that is pivotably attached to the contact lever 104 on a first side 104a. On the second side, opposite the first side 104a, a second arm 138 is pivotably attached at the same rotation axis as the first arm 137. The arms 137 and 138 are spring-loaded by a spring 140 which is mechanically coupled to the first arm 137 and the second arm 138 via a cross-bar or axle 142 attached to each of the arms 137, 138 at one end portion of the respective arms 137, 138. The axle 142, and the two arms 137 and 138 form an H-shape or horseshoe shape that wraps partly around the contact lever 104. Thus, the two spring-loaded arms 137 and 138 are arranged in parallel on opposite sides of the contact lever 104. The spring 140 biases the arms 137 and 138 towards the distal end 112 of the contact lever 104. The spring 142 may be connected between the axle 142 and a base of the contact lever 104. The spring-loaded arms 137 and 138 have similar features.

[0081] The spring-loaded arms 137, 138 comprise a contact surface 144 configured to be engaged with a receiving surface 146 of a lock element 148 coupled with the puffer piston 128. When the lock element 148 rotates about the pivot axis 114, it pulls or pushes the puffer piston 128 along with it through a linkage 150.

[0082] The lock element 148 comprises a step or protrusions on which the receiving surface 146 is located. The spring 140 is arranged to pull the arms 137, 138 towards the lock element 148 so that contact surfaces 144 of the arms 137, 138 lie along the same trajectory which means that, when the contact lever 104 is rotated towards the open position, the contact surface 144 abuts against the receiving surface 146 of the lock element 148. In other words, a rotation of the contact lever 104 from the closed position in fig. 1A towards the open position in fig. 1 B causes the contact surface 144 to push on the receiving surface 146 whereby the puffer piston 128 moves in the volume 130.

[0083] Furthermore, a de-latching member 152 comprises a step 154 arranged so that the step 154 engages with a rolling member 156 attached to the spring- loaded arm 137, 138 to cause a pivoting motion of the spring-loaded arm 137, 138 about its pivot point 141. The pivoting motion causes the contact surface 144 to disengage from the receiving surface 146. The rolling members are discshaped or wheel-shaped so that they roll on a curved portion 158 of the delatching member 152. Each of the spring-loaded arms 137, 138 have a respective rolling member 152 arranged at a common rotation axis defined by the axle 142 mechanically connected to the spring-loaded arms at the common rotation axis. The spring 140 between the axle 142 and the base of the contact lever 104 biases the spring-loaded arms 137 and 138 so that the rolling members 156 are pushed towards the de-latching member. In the closed state of the switch 100, the rolling members 152 are pushed towards the curved surface 158 along which the rolling members travel when the contact lever 104 rotates from the closed state towards the open state shown in fig. 1 B.

[0084] When the contact lever 104 is rotated and the lock-element 148 is pushed on by the arm 137, the lock element 148 rotates with respect to the de- latching member 152. In other words, the de-latching member 152 is fixated with respect to the lock element 148, both of which have a general circular shape.

[0085] As shown in fig. 1 B, in the open position of the switch 100, when the contact lever 104 has rotated through a predetermined rotation angle, the wheels 156 climb on a respective step 154 of the de-latching members 152, one for each wheel 156. The step 154 may comprise an inclination 159 (see fig. 1A) facing towards the curved surface 158 along which the wheel 156 approaches the step 154. When the wheels 156 climb the respective step 154, the spring is extended, and the spring force increases. Furthermore, the contact surface 144 of the arm 137, 138 slides along the respective receiving surface 146 until they lose contact which decouples the contact lever 104 from the lock element 148. As shown in fig. 1 C, this allows the contact lever 104 to rotate further without the lock element 148 and consequently also without the puffer piston 128 moving along with the contact lever 104. The contact lever 104 may then reach the earth contact 124.

[0086] If the contact lever 104 is rotated in the opposite direction back to the open position, the arms 136, 138 move back to the original position so that they can again engage with the receiving surface 146 during the next current interruption event.

[0087] The wheel 156 may be replaced by a fixed part which slides on the curved surface 158 and the step 154.

[0088] Fig. 2A-B illustrates another embodiment according to the present disclosure. In the electric current switch 200, the de-latching mechanism comprises a hook 202 on one end 204a of a pivotable arm 204 attached to the contact lever 104. The pivotable arm 204 comprises a contact surface 206 on the hook 202 which engages with the receiving surface 208 of the lock element 210. As above, the rotation of the lock element 210 is coupled to the motion of the puffer piston 128 in the volume 130.

[0089] The pivotable arm 204 is rotatable about its rotation axis 212 where it is attached to the contact lever 104. The hook 202 is on end 204a of the arm 204 and on the other end 204b opposite the pivot axis 212 is a wheel or disc 216 attached to the pivot arm 204.

[0090] The pivotable arm 204 is spring loaded to push the hook away 202 from the pivot point 114 of the contact lever 104 and the wheel 216 towards a contact surface 218 which is generally curved. The contact surface 218 comprises a first portion 218a and a second portion 218b separated by an inclined step 220.

[0091] When the contact lever 104 rotates further from the position shown in fig. 2A, the wheel 216 climbs the step 220 which causes the pivotable arm 204 to rotate clock-wise in fig. 2A to the position shown in fig. 2B.

[0092] The interaction between the wheel as it travels along the contact surface 218a and subsequently interacts with step 220 causes the wheel 216 to be pushed away from the pivot point 114 of the contact lever 104. This causes the hook 202 to move towards the pivot point 114 of the contact lever 104 so that the hook 202 is disengaged from the receiving surface 208.

[0093] In other words, in the initial closed state of the electric current switch 200, the spring pulls the wheel 216 closer to the pivot point 114 of the contact lever 104 compared to when the wheel has climbed the step 220. Since the hook is on the opposite side of the pivot axis 212 of the arm 204, the hook moves in the opposite direction compared to the wheel 216.

[0094] In the closed state, the hook 202 is engaged in a pocket or shoulder 222 of the lock element 210 where the contact surface 208 is located. When the hook moves 202 due to a rotation of the contact lever 104, it pushes the lock element 210 along with it which causes the puffer piston 128 to move in the volume 130, until the wheel 216 interacts with the step and the hook 202 is disengaged from the shoulder 222.

[0095] If the contact lever 104 rotated in the opposite direction back to the open position, the hook 202 moves back to the original position so that it can again engage with the receiving surface 208.

[0096] Figs. 3A-C illustrates an electric switch 300 according to a third embodiment. In fig 3A, the electric switch 300 is in a closed state, in fig. 3B, the electric switch is in an open state, an in fig. 3C the electric switch is in the earthed state, although the earth contact and the fixed contact assembly have been omitted in figs. 3A-3C.

[0097] The de-latching mechanism 301 comprises a spring-loaded hook 302 attached to a rotatable shaft 304. The rotatable shaft 304 rotates about axis 114 to move the contact lever 304 between its positions. The spring that loads the hook 302 biases the hook 302 away from the axis 114 and the shaft 304 and towards a contact surface 306 of flange 308 that is attached to a wall 310 of a housing for the switch 300.

[0098] The contact surface 306 comprises a first portion 306a and a second portion 306b separated by a step 312. The first surface portion 306a is closer to the shaft 304 and its rotation axis 114 than the second surface portion 306b.

[0099] The puffer piston 128 is connected to a receiving surface 314 formed in a cavity or hole or on one side of a bar onto which the hook 302 is engaged at least when the contact lever 104 is in the closed position and moves towards the open position. As long as the hook 302 is engaged with the receiving surface 314, the rotation of the contact lever also moves the puffer piston as illustrated by the displacement of the contact lever 104 and the puffer piston from the position in fig. 3A to the position in fig. 3B.

[0100] However, as best seen in fig. 3B, as the hook 302 slides or rolls with its wheel 318 through the step 312, the spring pushes the hook 302 away from the axis 114 so that the hook 302 disengages from the receiving surface 314. Consequently, the contact lever 104 motion is de-coupled from the puffer piston motion. In other words, when the contact lever 104 is rotated about its pivot point 114, the wheel 318 travels along the contact surface 306, and by interaction with the step 312, the wheel 318 and hook 302 are pushed away from the shaft 304 of the contact lever so that the hook is disengaged from the receiving surface of the puffer piston.

[0101] If the contact lever is moved from the earthed position in fig. 3C and back so that the hook 302 travels through the step again, the hook 302 engages in the cavity or hole or on one side of a bar where the receding surface is to move the puffer piston back to the start position in fig. 3A. Figs. 4A-C illustrates yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the de-latching mechanism 402 comprises a pinching element 404 attached to the contact lever 104. The pinching element comprises two spring loaded legs 404a, 404b attached to opposite sides of the contact lever 104 meaning on opposite sides of the rotation plane of the contact lever 104.

[0102] An engaging side 406a, 406b of the legs 404a, 404b pinch onto a puffer piston element 410 connected to the puffer piston 128. As the contact lever 104 moves towards the open position shown in fig. 4B from the initial closed position shown in fig. 4A, the pinching element with its legs 404a, 404b are pinched onto the puffer piston element 410 so that the puffer piston 128 moves synchronously with the contact lever. At a predetermined rotation angle, the contact lever 104 reaches parallel dielectric shields 414 which the contact lever 104 moves in-between. An actuation side 416a, 416b of the legs 404a, 404b opposite the engaging side 406a, 406b of the legs 404a, 404b interacts with the parallel dielectric shields 414 such that the actuation sides 416a, 416b of the legs 404a, 404b are pushed towards each other, see figs. 4B-C, they cause the engaging sides 406a, 406b to move away from each other and release the puffer piston element 410.

[0103] As the contact lever 104 is rotated back towards the closed position the pinching element 404 again pinches onto the puffer piston element 410.

[0104] In the above embodiments, the piston 128 is preferably pivotably attached about the same pivot axis 114 as the contact lever 104.

[0105] Now turning to figs. 5A-B illustrating yet another embodiment. Here, the de-latching mechanism comprises an intermittent gear mechanism 502. A first gear 504 is attached to the contact lever 104 to rotate about the pivot point 114 and a second gear 506 is attached the piston 128 to rotate when the piston moves in the puffer volume 130. The amount of teeth on at least one of the gears 504, 506 corresponding to that the rotational coupling between the gears being interrupted when the contact lever 104 reaches the open position. The nozzle and arcing contacts of the fixed contact assembly and the contact lever described herein may be dimensioned and shaped in various ways and are not limited to the specific configuration shown in the drawings.

[0106] Further, the nozzle 108 may be made from a suitable material appropriate for medium voltage applications. Example materials include Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), and Fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) Further example materials for the nozzle include Carbon-Hydrogen- polymers like PP, POM, PA, PMMA etc.

[0107] Fig. 6A-B illustrates a multi-phase electric current switch 600 according to embodiments of the invention. The multi-phase electric current switch 600 comprises multiple contact levers 104 and multiple respective fixed contact assemblies 602 and an earth contact 620. Each pair of contact lever 104 and fixed contact assembly 602 form a phase, wherein at least two phases share one de-latching mechanism 610. In this specific example, three phases 612a- c share two de-latching latching mechanisms 610.

[0108] The contact levers 104 are attached to the shaft 614 that is rotatable for moving the contact levers 104 between their open, closed and earth positions. The contact lever 104 is connected to the fixed contact assembly 602 in the closed position and with the shared earth contact 620 in the earth position. The rotation of the contact levers 104 are in separate planes, the planes being parallel. The de-latching mechanism 610 for two phases is arranged between the planes. In this way, the de-latching mechanism 610 is not substantially affected by electric field produced during current interruption which enables the parts of the de-latching mechanism 610 to be made from metallic materials such as steel.

[0109] The piston 128 that is movable in the volume 130 as described above, is connected to the de-latching mechanisms 610 via two linkage members 616. A nozzle 618 connected to the volume via hoses 619 or pipes is arranged at the fixed contact assembly 602 of each phase.

[0110] Dielectric plates 622 (see fig. 6B) are arranged on opposite sides of each de-latching mechanism 610. This has multiple advantages such as shielding between phases from the hot conductive gases produced during current interruption between the contact lever 104 and the fixed contact assembly 602. In addition, the dielectric plates 622 provide mechanical support to the delatching mechanism, for example to ensure that a movable motion link 634 is maintained in an opening 636 in the linkage member 616, describe in more detail below. Two dielectric plates 622 sandwich one de-latching mechanism 610. In this way, the movable motion link 634 and its spring (see below figs. 7A-D) is prevented from falling out from the opening 636. In fig. 6B one dielectric plate is omitted to better show the de-latching mechanism 610.

[0111] Fig. 7A-D illustrates a sequence of decoupling the contact lever motion from the piston 128 according to an embodiment.

[0112] Fig. 7A illustrates the contact lever 104 as it is rotating clock-wise in the figure by a rotation of the shaft 614. The de-latching mechanism 610 comprises a protruding member 630 attached to the shaft 614. The protruding member 630 protrudes axially away from the shaft 614 forming a step 630. A movable motion link 634 is arranged in an opening 636 of the linkage member 616 connected to the piston 128. In this position, the movable motion link 634 is arranged to be in contact with a surface 640 of the protruding member 630 to transfer a rotation of the shaft 614 to a motion of the piston 128 via the linkage member 616.

[0113] The opening where the movable motion link 634 lies is a pocket 636 where one end 634b of the movable motion link 634 rests on a shoulder 644 in a sub-pocket of the linkage member 616. When the contact lever 104 is rotated by the shaft 614, the surface 640 of the protruding member 630 which also rotates apply a force to one end 634a of the movable motion link 634. The ends 634a-b of the movable motion link 634 are now pinched between the step 630 and the surface of the opening 636 at the shoulder 644 in the linkage member 616. This means that the rotation of the shaft 614 will transfer a motion, via the step 630, and the movable motion link 634 to the linkage member 616 of the piston 128. The piston 128 thus moves in the volume 130 to compress the gas therein.

[0114] The movable motion link 634 need not be attached to the linkage member 616. Instead, the dielectric plates 622 ensure that the movable motion link 634 does not fall out from the opening 636 by closing the opening 636 from both sides.

[0115] In the illustrated embodiment, the protruding member is a step 630 on a disc 631 attached to the shaft 614. The movable motion link 634 is a spring- biased link biased by the spring 633 to have one end 634a in contact with the outer circumference of the disc 631 . The other end 634b of the movable motion link is in contact with a surface of the opening in the linkage member, here in the sub-pocket or shoulder 644.

[0116] The spring 633 is placed in a cut-out 637 in the opening 636 and is in contact with and apply a force to a surface 639 opposite the one end 634a of the movable motion link 634.

[0117] The disc 631 is rotatably arranged in an opening 635 in the linkage member 616. The opening 635 and the opening 636 are connected and form a joint opening.

[0118] Turning to fig. 7B, wherein the movable motion link 634 has moved axially away from the shaft 614 by interaction with a stationary protrusion 650. The stationary protrusion 650 is fixed to the dielectric disc 622 such that the movable motion link 634, the disc 631 , and the linkage member 616 can move relative the stationary protrusion 650. The movable motion link 634 comprises a curved or inclined surface 652 facing towards the shaft 614 and that interacts with the stationary protrusion 650 as the shaft 614 is rotated in the shown clockwise direction. The motion of the movable motion link 634 caused by the stationary protrusion 650 protruding into the opening 636 and engaging with the curved surface 652 cause the movable motion link 634, or more precisely the end 634a of the movable motion link 634 to lose contact with the surface 640 of the step 630. This means that the force transfer from the shaft 614 to the linkage member 616 is interrupted and the rotation of the shaft 614 can continue while the motion of the piston 128 is decoupled from the motion of the contact lever 104. The disc 631 is thus now free to rotate in the opening 635 of the linkage member 616.

[0119] Fig 7C illustrates the decoupling sequence when the shaft 614 and contact lever 104 have rotated further. The one end 634a of the hook-shaped or L-shaped spring biased movable motion link 634 is decoupled from the step 630 which has moved away from the one end 634a of the movable motion link 634. The disc 635 rotates relative to the linkage member 616, which means that the contact lever 104 rotates while the piston 128 is stationary. The stationary pin 650 is engaged with the curved or inclined surface 652 of the movable motion link 634 which maintains the movable motion link in the withdrawn position, with no contact with the surface 640.

[0120] Fig. 7D shows the earth position where the contact lever 104 is in contact with the earth contact 620.

[0121] For a three-phase switch, it may comprise three contact levers 104 attached to one and the same shaft 614, and two discs 631 attached to the shaft 614, and two linkage members 616 with respective spring biased movable motion links 634, and one piston 128 connected to both linkage members 616.

[0122] Even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.

[0123] Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electric current switch (100;200;300;400;600) comprising: a housing (102); a contact lever (104) comprising a proximal end (110) and a distal end (112), the contact lever is rotatable at a pivot point (114) at the distal end, the contact lever comprising a lever main contact area (116) and a lever arcing contact (118) at the proximal end; a fixed contact assembly (106) configured to receive the contact lever in a closed position of the contact lever, the fixed contact assembly comprising a fixed main contact (120) and a fixed arcing contact (122), the fixed contact assembly being fixed relative the housing accommodating the fixed contact; the contact lever is configured to rotate about the pivot point between the closed position, an open position, and an earth position where the contact lever is in contact with an earthed contact (124), the electric current switch further comprising a compressed gas device (126) having a movable piston (128) in a volume (130) housing gas compressible by the piston, the compressed gas being ejected from a nozzle (108) towards the fixed contact assembly, the piston is mechanically coupled to the contact lever via a de-latching mechanism (132; 301 ; 402; 502; 610) configured to decouple the motion of the piston from the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the earth position.

2. The electric current switch according to claim 1 , wherein the de-latching mechanism is configured to decouple the motion of the piston from the contact lever at a predetermined rotation angle of the contact lever around its pivot point.

3. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the de-latching mechanism comprises: a spring-loaded arm (136, 138) pivotably attached to the contact lever, the spring loaded arm comprising a contact surface (144) configured tobe engaged with a receiving surface (146) of a lock element (148) coupled with the puffer piston, wherein a rotation of the contact lever from the closed position towards the open position causes the contact surface to push on the receiving surface whereby the puffer piston moves in the volume, a de-latching member (152) comprising a step (154) arranged so that the step engages with a rolling member (156) attached to the spring-loaded arm to cause a pivoting motion of the spring-loaded arm about its pivot point, wherein the pivoting motion causes the contact surface to disengage from the receiving surface.

4. The electric current switch according to claim 3, wherein the de-latching mechanism comprises two spring-loaded arms arranged in parallel on opposite sides of the contact lever, each of the spring-loaded arms having a respective rolling member arranged at a common rotation axis, and an axle (142) mechanically connected to the spring-loaded arms at the common rotation axis, and a spring connected between the axle and a base of the contact lever, the spring biasing the spring-loaded arms so that the rolling members are pushed towards the de-latching member.

5. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the de-latching mechanism comprises: a hook (202) on one end of a pivotable arm (204) attached to the contact lever, and a wheel (216) attached to the other end of the pivotable arm, the pivot point of the pivotable arm is located between the hook and the wheel, and the pivotable arm is spring loaded to push the hook away from the pivot point of the contact lever and the wheel towards a contact surface (218a) comprising a first portion (218a) and a second portion (218b) separated by a step (220), wherein,the puffer piston is coupled with a receiving surface (208) which the hook is engaged with at least when the contact lever is in the closed position and moves towards the open position.

6. The electric current switch according to claim 5, wherein, when the contact lever is rotated about its pivot point, the wheel travels along the contact surface, and by interaction with the step, the wheel is pushed away from the pivot point of the contact lever whereby the hook is moved towards the pivot point of the contact lever so that the hook is disengaged from the receiving surface.

7. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the de-latching mechanism comprises: a spring-loaded hook (302) attached to a rotatable shaft (304) aligned with the pivot point of the contact lever, the spring is configured to push the hook away from the shaft, and a wheel (218) attached to the hook and being pushed by the spring towards a contact surface (306) further away from the shaft, the contact surface comprising a first portion and a second portion separated by a step, the puffer piston is coupled to a receiving surface (314) which the hook is engaged with at least when the contact lever is in the closed position and moves towards the open position.

8. The electric current switch according to claim 7, wherein the contact surface is comprised in a flange (308) attached to a wall of the housing.

9. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein, when the contact lever is rotated about its pivot point, the wheel travels along the contact surface, and by interaction with the step, the wheel and hook are pushed away from the shaft of the contact lever so that the hook is disengaged from the receiving surface of the puffer piston.

10. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, comprising a pinching element (404) attached to the contact lever that pinches to an element (410) connected to the puffer piston, the pinching element comprising two spring loaded legs (404a, 404b) each with an engaging side (406a, 406b) configured to pinch the puffer piston element and each with an actuation side (408a, 408b), configured such that which when the actuation sides of the legs are pushed towards each other they cause the engaging sides to move away from each other and release the puffer piston element.11 . The electric current switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston is pivotably attached about the same pivot axis as the contact lever.

12. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the de-latching mechanism comprises an intermittent gear mechanism (502), where a first gear (504) is attached to the contact lever to rotate about the pivot point and a second gear (506) is attached the piston to rotate when the piston moves in the puffer volume, the amount of teeth (508) on at least one of the gears corresponding to that the rotational coupling between the gears being interrupted when the contact lever reaches the open position.

13. The electric current switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the de-latching mechanism is configured to recouple the motion of the piston and the contact lever when the contact lever moves from the open position towards the closed position.

14. The electric current switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed contact and the earth contact are stationary with respect to the pivot point when the contact lever moves between the earthed position, the closed position, and the open position.

15. The electric current switch according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact lever is a knife contact, and the electric current switch is a knife switch.

16. The electric current switch according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising multiple contact levers (104) and multiple respective fixed contact assemblies (602), each pair of contact lever and fixed contact assembly forming a phase (612a-c), wherein at least two phases share one de-latching mechanism.

17. The electric current switch according to claim 16, wherein the contact levers are configured to rotate in separate planes, and wherein the de-latching mechanism (610) for two phases is arranged between the planes.

18. The electric current switch according to any one of claims 16 or 17, wherein the multiple contact levers are attached to a rotatable shaft (614) configured to cause rotation of the contact levers between the open, closed and earth positions of the contact levers.

19. The electric current switch according to claim 18, the de-latching mechanism comprising a protruding member (630) attached to the shaft and that protrudes axially away from the shaft, and a movable motion link (634) arranged in an opening (636) of a linkage member (616) connected to the piston (128), the movable motion link is arranged to be in contact with a surface (640) of the protruding member to transfer a rotation of the shaft to a motion of the piston via the linkage member, the movable motion link is movable axially away from the shaft by interaction with a stationary protrusion (650) as the shaft is rotated in one direction, wherein the motion of the movable motion link causes cause the movable motion link to lose contact with the surface of the protruding member to allow rotation of the shaft while the motion of the piston is decoupled from the motion of the contact lever.

20. The electric current switch according to claim 19, the protruding member is a step on a disc (631 ) attached to the shaft, the movable motion link is a spring- biased link biased to have one end (634a) in contact with the surface of the step, the other end of the movable motion link is in contact with a surface (644) of the opening in the linkage member, and the disc is rotatably arranged in an opening (635) in the linkage member, the stationary protrusion being a pin arranged protruding through the opening in the linkage member. 21 . The electric current switch according to claim 20, comprising three contact levers attached to one and the same shaft, and two discs attached to the shaft, and two linkage members with respective spring biased movable motion links, and one piston connected to both linkage members.

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