Electrical switching device with a triple motion contact arrangement

An electrical switching device comprising a contact arrangement having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

• a first contact group with a first contact and a second contact and a second contact group with a third contact and a fourth contact,
• the first contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the third contact and/or the second contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the fourth contact, for closing and opening the contact arrangement,
• the first contact group is on one side of an arcing zone of a circuit breaker and the second contact group is on the other side of the arcing zone, when seen along the longitudinal axis,
• at least one mechanical coupling configured to transmit an actuation force to the second contact group and thereby move the second contact group,
• the at least one mechanical coupling configured to move the third contact and the fourth contact in such a way that speeds of the third contact and the fourth contact differ along at least a portion of a travel path of the third contact or along at least a portion of a travel path of the fourth contact,
• wherein the at least one mechanical coupling is a linkage having a first kinematic chain and a second kinematic chain, wherein the second kinematic chain is movably connected to the second contact group, and
• wherein the first kinematic chain has at least two levers, with a first lever of the first kinematic chain rotationally connected to a bearing and fixedly connected to a first lever of the second kinematic chain, and with an end lever of the first kinematic chain movably connected to an actuator of the electrical switching device for providing the actuation force transmitted to the second contact group by the mechanical coupling of the contact arrangement according to a predefined transmission ratio and/or speed curve.

A contact arrangement having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

• a first contact group with a first contact and a second contact, and a second contact group with a third contact and a fourth contact;
• the first contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the third contact and/or the second contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the fourth contact, for closing and opening the contact arrangement;
• at least one mechanical coupling configured to transmit an actuation force to the second contact group and thereby move the second contact group;
• the at least one mechanical coupling configured to move the third contact and the fourth contact in such a way that speeds of the third contact and the fourth contact differ along at least a portion of a travel path of the third contact or along at least a portion of a travel path of the fourth contact;
• wherein the at least one mechanical coupling is a linkage having a first kinematic chain and a second kinematic chain, wherein the first kinematic chain is movably connected to the first contact group in an electrically insulating manner and the second kinematic chain is movably connected to the second contact group;
• wherein the first kinematic chain has at least two levers, with a first lever of the first kinematic chain rotationally connected to a bearing and fixedly connected to a first lever of the second kinematic chain, and with an end lever of the first kinematic chain movably connected to the first contact group;
• wherein the second kinematic chain has at least two levers, the first lever of the second kinematic chain rotationally connected to the bearing and fixedly connected to the first lever of the first kinematic chain, and an end lever of the second kinematic chain movably connected to the second contact group;
• wherein the at least one mechanical coupling comprises a first linkage and a second linkage, and the end levers of the first kinematic chain of each one of the linkages are pivotably connected by end joints to the first contact group in such a way that they are moved by the first contact group simultaneously;
• and
• wherein the end joints of the end levers of the first kinematic chains perform a linear movement parallel to the longitudinal axis.

A contact arrangement having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

• a first contact group with a first contact and a second contact, and a second contact group with a third contact and a fourth contact;
• the first contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the third contact and/or the second contact interacting electrically and mechanically with the fourth contact, for closing and opening the contact arrangement;
• at least one mechanical coupling configured to transmit an actuation force to the second contact group and thereby move the second contact group;
• the at least one mechanical coupling configured to move the third contact and the fourth contact in such a way that speeds of the third contact and the fourth contact differ along at least a portion of a travel path of the third contact or along at least a portion of a travel path of the fourth contact;
• wherein the at least one mechanical coupling is a linkage having a first kinematic chain and a second kinematic chain, wherein the first kinematic chain is movably connected to the first contact group in an electrically insulating manner and the second kinematic chain is movably connected to the second contact group;
• wherein the first kinematic chain has at least two levers, with a first lever of the first kinematic chain rotationally connected to a bearing and fixedly connected to a first lever of the second kinematic chain, and with an end lever of the first kinematic chain movably connected to the first contact group;
• wherein the at least one mechanical coupling comprises one linkage and the second kinematic chain of the one linkage comprises two end levers, of which a first end lever is pivotably connected at one end by an end joint to the third contact and a second end lever is pivotably connected at one end by an end joint to the fourth contact;
• wherein the two end levers of the second kinematic chain are connected to a neighbouring lever of the second kinematic chain by a common joint;
• wherein the common joint connects one of the end levers of the second kinematic chain pivotably with the fourth contact, and the other end lever of the second kinematic chain is connected fixedly to the third contact and comprises a guide rail guiding the common joint;
• and
• wherein a difference between a transmission ratio of the first kinematic chain with one branch of the second kinematic chain and a transmission ratio of the first kinematic chain with another branch of the second kinematic chain is given by a shape of the guide rail.