# US 12,763,553 B2 · Compact switching apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,553 B2 - Document ID: US12763553B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/609,244 - Filed: 2024-03-19 - Published: 2024-10-03 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2024-03-19 - Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Applicants: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Inventors: Dinant Heilersig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763553B2 ## CPC - H02B 1/20: Bus-bar or other wiring layouts, e.g. in cubicles, in switchyards (installations of bus-bars H02G5/00) - H01H 33/662: Housings or protective screens - H01H 33/6661: {Combination with other type of switch, e.g. for load break switches (H01H33/143, H01H33/6662 take precedence)} - H02B 13/01: with resin casing - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A switching apparatus and a switching system are provided. The switching apparatus comprises an insulating housing comprising a housing wall, a disconnector disposed inside the insulating housing and at least partially surrounded by the housing wall, an insulated branch busbar disposed outside the insulating housing, such that part of the housing wall is disposed between the disconnector and the insulated branch busbar, an insulated connection element passing through the housing wall connecting the second end of the disconnector to the insulated branch busbar, and an insulated phase busbar connected to the branch busbar. The switching system comprises a plurality of switching apparatuses. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air-insulated switching apparatus comprising: an insulating housing, the insulating housing comprising a housing wall; a disconnector disposed inside the insulating housing and at least partially surrounded by the housing wall, the disconnector having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the disconnector receives power from a power supply; an insulated branch busbar disposed outside the insulating housing, such that part of the housing wall is disposed between the disconnector and the insulated branch busbar; an insulated connection element passing through the housing wall and connecting the second end of the disconnector to the insulated branch busbar; and an insulated phase busbar connected to the branch busbar. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulated branch busbars comprise conductive busbars that are entirely surrounded by an insulating material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the disconnector comprises a moveable conductive element that forms a conductive path between the first and second ends of the disconnector when the moveable conductive element is in a closed position and which disconnects the first and second ends of the disconnector when the moveable conductive element is in an open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a ground contact disposed within the insulating housing and electrically connected to ground, wherein, when the disconnector is in the open position, the second end of the moveable conductive element is in contact with the ground contact. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a circuit breaking device disposed between the first end of the disconnector and the power supply. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 5, wherein the circuit breaking device comprises a vacuum interrupter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one shielding element disposed around an end of the disconnector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 7, wherein the housing is formed of a plastic material or epoxy. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 8, wherein the insulated connection element comprises a bushing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 9, wherein the branch busbars are surrounded by an insulating thermoplastic elastomer material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises an opening to allow air to flow into and out of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A switching system comprising a plurality of apparatuses each configured according to the apparatus of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The switching system of claim 12, wherein the insulating housings of the respective switching apparatuses of the plurality of switching apparatuses all have the same shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The switching system of claim 13, wherein the branch busbars of the respective switching apparatuses of the plurality of switching apparatuses all have a different shape to each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The switching system of claim 14, wherein the branch busbars of the respective switching apparatuses of the plurality of switching apparatuses extend in mutually different directions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an actuator configured to move the disconnector between a closed position and an open position, wherein the actuator is configured to move the disconnector to the open position after the circuit breaking device is moved to an open position of the circuit breaking device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The air-insulated switching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulated connection element comprises a conductive element surrounded by a bushing, wherein the insulated branch busbar comprises a branch busbar and an insulating thermoplastic elastomer material entirely surrounding a conductive material of the branch busbar, and wherein the insulated phase busbar comprises a phase busbar and an insulating thermoplastic elastomer material entirely surrounding a conductive material of the branch busbar.