# US 2022/0037097 A1 · Hybrid switching apparatus of the withdrawable type > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0037097 A1 - Document ID: US20220037097A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/349,983 - Filed: 2021-06-17 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-28 - Assignees: ABB AB - Applicants: ABB S.p.A. - Inventors: Luca Raciti; Pierangelo Bolognini; Luca Omati - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220037097A1 ## CPC - H01H 9/548: {Electromechanical and static switch connected in series} - H01H 9/542: {Contacts shunted by static switch means} - H01H 71/123: {using a solid-state trip unit (circuits H02H)} - H01H 33/46: Interlocking mechanisms - H01H 2009/544: {the static switching means being an insulated gate bipolar transistor, e.g. IGBT, Darlington configuration of FET and bipolar transistor} - H01H 2071/124: {with a hybrid structure, the solid state trip device being combined with a thermal or a electromagnetic trip} - H02B 11/12: with isolation by horizontal withdrawal - 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) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ## Abstract A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; and a controller implementing control strategies directed to increase the safety of the withdrawal manoeuvres of said first and second switching units. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids comprising: one or more first and second line terminals electrically connectable to corresponding first and second line conductors of an electric line, respectively; a first switching unit having one or more first electric poles, each first electric pole comprising a first pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding first line terminal, a second pole contact and one or more solid-state switches electrically connected to said first and second pole contacts and adapted to operate in a conduction state or in an interdiction state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said solid-state switches are in a conduction state, and an open condition, in which said solid-state switches are in an interdiction state, wherein said first switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said first pole contacts are coupled with said first line terminal, and a withdrawal condition, in which said first pole contacts are uncoupled from said first line terminals; a second switching unit having one or more second electric poles, each second electric pole comprising a third pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second pole contact of the first switching unit, a fourth pole contact electrically connectable to a corresponding second line terminal and electric contacts electrically connected to said third and fourth pole contacts and adapted to operate in a coupled state or on an uncoupled state to allow or interrupt a current flow, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly switchable between a closed condition, in which said electric contacts are in a coupled state, and an open condition, in which said electric contacts are in an uncoupled state, wherein said second switching unit is reversibly movable between an insertion condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are coupled with said second line terminals, and a withdrawal condition, in which said fourth pole contacts are uncoupled from said second line terminals; a controller adapted to control the operation of said switching apparatus; a power supply stage adapted to receive an external power supply; said controller is configured to control said first and second switching units, so that both said first and second switching units are in an open condition, when said power supply stage is subject to a fault condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to command said first switching unit and said second switching unit to switch to or remain in an open condition, in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The switching apparatus, according to claim 2, further comprising a power supply sensing means adapted to provide sensing signals indicative of the operating conditions of said power supply stage to said controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The switching apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to control said first and second switching units, so that said first and second switching units operate in combination according to the following operating configurations: a first operating configuration corresponding to a closed state of said switching apparatus, in which both said first and second switching units are in a closed condition; or a second operating configuration corresponding to a stand-by state of said switching apparatus, in which said first switching unit is in an open condition and said second switching unit is in a closed condition; or a third operating configuration corresponding to an open state of said switching apparatus, in which both said first and second switching units are in an open condition; wherein said controller is configured to control said first and second switching units, so that said first and second switching units are in said third operating configuration, when said power supply stage is subject to a fault condition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The switching apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said controller is configured to command said first switching unit and said second switching unit to switch to or remain in said third operating configuration, in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The switching apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein when said first and second switching units operate in combination according to said first operating configuration, said controller commands said first and second switching units to switch to said second operating configuration and subsequently to switch to said third operating configuration in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The switching apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein when said first and second switching units operate in combination according to said second operating configuration, said controller commands said first and second switching units to switch to said third operating configuration in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The switching apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein when said first and second switching units operate in combination according to said third operating configuration, said controller commands said first and second switching units to remain in said third operating configuration in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising a first actuating arrangement adapted to actuate said first switching unit at least during a withdrawal manoeuvre of said first switching unit, upon activation by a user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising a second actuating arrangement adapted to actuate said second switching unit at least during a withdrawal manoeuvre of said second switching unit, upon activation by a user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises an interface section including one or more input ports adapted to receive input commands indicative of a desired operating state for said switching apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The switching apparatus, according to claim 11, further comprising a human-machine interface in communication with said interface section, said human-interface being adapted to provide said input commands upon an interaction with a user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The switching apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said interface section is capable of receiving said input commands from a remote computerized device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said controller is included in said first switching unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The switching apparatus, according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply sensing means adapted to provide sensing signals indicative of the operating conditions of said power supply stage to said controller. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The switching apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to control said first and second switching units, so that said first and second switching units operate in combination according to the following operating configurations: a first operating configuration corresponding to a closed state of said switching apparatus, in which both said first and second switching units are in a closed condition; or a second operating configuration corresponding to a stand-by state of said switching apparatus, in which said first switching unit is in an open condition and said second switching unit is in a closed condition; or a third operating configuration corresponding to an open state of said switching apparatus, in which both said first and second switching units are in an open condition; wherein said controller is configured to control said first and second switching units, so that said first and second switching units are in said third operating configuration, when said power supply stage is subject to a fault condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The switching apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein when said first and second switching units operate in combination according to said third operating configuration, said controller commands said first and second switching units to remain in said third operating configuration in response to receiving sensing signals indicative of a fault condition of said power supply stage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The switching apparatus, according to claim 6, further comprising a first actuating arrangement adapted to actuate said first switching unit at least during a withdrawal manoeuvre of said first switching unit, upon activation by a user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The switching apparatus, according to claim 18, further comprising a second actuating arrangement adapted to actuate said second switching unit at least during a withdrawal manoeuvre of said second switching unit, upon activation by a user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The switching apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said interface section is capable of receiving said input commands from a remote computerized device.