How Medium Voltage Power Switches Safely Direct Electricity
A mechanical system for medium voltage power grids that uses a rotating contact and a series of levers to safely switch electricity between lines and ground.
Original patent title: “Medium voltage switching apparatus”
A mechanical system for medium voltage power grids that uses a rotating contact and a series of levers to safely switch electricity between lines and ground. Granted to ABB Schweiz AG in 2025 with 16 claims.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a heavy-duty switch used in medium-voltage power grids. It uses a rotating contact that can connect to different points, such as a power line or a ground terminal. When this rotating contact moves, it triggers a complex system of three interconnected levers. These levers are designed to physically move a contact inside a vacuum interrupter, which is a sealed chamber that safely breaks the electrical circuit without creating dangerous sparks. This ensures that the electrical connection is opened or closed in a precise, controlled sequence.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover switches that lack a vacuum interrupter for arc suppression.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on electronic or solid-state switching without the described mechanical lever linkage.
- Does not cover high-voltage transmission systems (typically above 35kV) that require different insulation and arc-quenching architectures.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The mechanism uses a single rotating contact to drive a complex three-lever system that coordinates both the electrical path switching and the mechanical operation of the vacuum interrupter.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Medium voltage switchgear panels in electrical substations
Industrial power distribution units
Grid-connected renewable energy distribution hubs
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Managing medium-voltage lines is critical for industrial power distribution and grid stability. This design simplifies the mechanical linkage required to operate a vacuum interrupter, potentially reducing the wear and tear on moving parts in harsh electrical environments. It represents a standard engineering refinement in the utility sector to improve reliability.
Filed
May 15, 2023
Granted
August 12, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
ABB Schweiz AG is the primary developer of this technology. Major competitors in the medium-voltage switchgear market, such as Siemens, Schneider Electric, and Eaton, maintain similar portfolios of mechanical switching apparatuses.
Market impact
This patent reinforces the trend toward integrated, compact switchgear designs. By combining the switching function and the vacuum interrupter actuation into a single mechanical assembly, it helps manufacturers reduce the physical footprint of electrical substations while maintaining high safety standards.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a heavy-duty switch used in medium-voltage power grids. It uses a rotating contact that can connect to different points, such as a power line or a ground terminal. When this rotating contact moves, it triggers a complex system of three interconnected levers. These levers are designed to physically move a contact inside a vacuum interrupter, which is a sealed chamber that safely breaks the electrical circuit without creating dangerous sparks. This ensures that the electrical connection is opened or closed in a precise, controlled sequence.
The clever bit
The mechanism uses a single rotating contact to drive a complex three-lever system that coordinates both the electrical path switching and the mechanical operation of the vacuum interrupter.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover switches that lack a vacuum interrupter for arc suppression.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on electronic or solid-state switching without the described mechanical lever linkage.
- Does not cover high-voltage transmission systems (typically above 35kV) that require different insulation and arc-quenching architectures.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$33K – $105K
Midpoint $66K · 16.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Rambaldini, S., Invernizzi, P., & Tassis, R. (2025). How Medium Voltage Power Switches Safely Direct Electricity (U.S. Patent No. 12,387,890). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12387890/raptor-reliability
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Medium Voltage Power Switches Safely Direct Electricity cover?
A mechanical system for medium voltage power grids that uses a rotating contact and a series of levers to safely switch electricity between lines and ground.
Who owns patent US 12387890?
ABB Schweiz AG owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 12, 2045, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Managing medium-voltage lines is critical for industrial power distribution and grid stability. This design simplifies the mechanical linkage required to operate a vacuum interrupter, potentially reducing the wear and tear on moving parts in harsh electrical environments. It represents a standard engineering refinement in the utility sector to improve reliability.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover switches that lack a vacuum interrupter for arc suppression.
Patent monitoring