Medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole

A medium voltage switching system, comprising:

• a first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a first fixed contact of a first vacuum interrupter;
• a first movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a first threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the first movable contact is configured to move along a first longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• a first center axis of the first threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis of the first threaded drive element in a first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a second fixed contact of a second vacuum interrupter;
• a second movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a second threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the second movable contact is configured to move along a second longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• a second center axis of the second threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis of the second threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a third fixed contact of a third vacuum interrupter;
• a third movable contact of the third vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a third threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the third movable contact is configured to move along a third longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• a third center axis of the third threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis of the third threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• wherein:
• the first, second, and third circuit breaker switching poles are configured to be driven by a single motor such that simultaneous rotation of each threaded drive of each switching pole is configured to transition each switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration,
• rotation of the threaded drive element of the first and second switching poles in the first direction is configured to transition each switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the threaded drive element of the third switching pole in the second direction is configured to transition the switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration.

A medium voltage switching system, comprising:

• a first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a first fixed contact of a first vacuum interrupter;
• a first movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a first threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the first movable contact is configured to move along a first longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• a first center axis of the first threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis of the first threaded drive element in a first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a second fixed contact of a second vacuum interrupter;
• a second movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a second threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the second movable contact is configured to move along a second longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• a second center axis of the second threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis of the second threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a third fixed contact of a third vacuum interrupter;
• a third movable contact of the third vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a third threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the third movable contact is configured to move along a third longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• a third center axis of the third threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis of the third threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration,
• wherein:
• the first, second, and third circuit breaker switching poles are configured to be driven by a single motor such that simultaneous rotation of each threaded drive of each switching pole is configured to transition each switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• at least one of the switching poles comprises a fourth threaded drive element comprising an additional section to extend a length of the first, second, and third threaded drive elements in the direction of the center axis of the first, second, and third threaded drive elements.

A medium voltage switching system, comprising:

• a first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the first medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a first fixed contact of a first vacuum interrupter;
• a first movable contact of the first vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a first threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the first movable contact is configured to move along a first longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• a first center axis of the first threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the first fixed contact and the first movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis of the first threaded drive element in a first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the first threaded drive element about the first center axis in a second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the first switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the second medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a second fixed contact of a second vacuum interrupter;
• a second movable contact of the second vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a second threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the second movable contact is configured to move along a second longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• a second center axis of the second threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the second fixed contact and the second movable contact are in contact with one another,
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis of the second threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and
• rotation of the second threaded drive element about the second center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the second switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration;
• a third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole, wherein the third medium voltage circuit breaker switching pole comprises:
• a third fixed contact of a third vacuum interrupter;
• a third movable contact of the third vacuum interrupter;
• and
• a third threaded drive element,
• wherein:
• the third movable contact is configured to move along a third longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• a third center axis of the third threaded drive element is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the third vacuum interrupter,
• when in an open configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are separated from one another,
• when in a closed configuration the third fixed contact and the third movable contact are in contact with one another,
• the switching pole further comprises a threaded pushrod connected to the movable contact,
• a thread of the threaded pushrod is configured to engage with a thread of the threaded drive element,
• rotations of the threaded drive element are configured to move the threaded pushrod along the center axis of the threaded drive element, and wherein the threaded pushrod is configured not to rotate as the threaded drive element rotates,
• an outer surface of the threaded pushrod comprises a groove extending in an axial direction of the threaded pushrod,
• the groove is configured to engage with a fixed pin such that axial movement of the threaded pushrod leads to the fixed pin moving within the groove,
• rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis of the third threaded drive element in the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the open configuration to the closed configuration, and rotation of the third threaded drive element about the third center axis in the second direction counter to the first direction is configured to transition the third switching pole from the closed configuration to the open configuration.