Patent ID: 8742278

Claim:
A switchgear device for breaking a direct current in at least one electric line whatever the direction of flow of current in said line, said device comprising: at least two connection terminals, a predefined even number of separable contact pairs, each pair comprising two contacts each electrically connected to one of said connection terminals, but without any direct mechanical links between the contacts of each pair of contacts, a number of arc chutes equal to said predefined even number, each arc chute being associated with a distinct pair of separable contacts, each arc chute comprising an arc formation chamber, an arc extinguishing chamber, and permanent magnets presenting a polarity capable of moving an electric arc to said arc extinguishing chamber when a current in an at least one electric line is flowing in a predefined direction, and a number of tripping mechanisms equal to said predefined even number, each tripping mechanism being associated with one of said pairs of separable contacts for separating the separable contacts of said one pair in response to an electric fault in the at least one electric line, said tripping mechanisms being connected to one another by any mechanical link enabling said pairs of separable contacts to be opened simultaneously, wherein said device is of modular type and comprises a number of modules equal to said predefined even number, each module comprising a separate case, having: one of said pairs of separable contacts, the arc chute associated with said one pair of separable contacts, the tripping mechanism associated with said pair of separable contacts, and a feeder terminal and an incomer terminal, each electrically connected, respectively, to one of said separable contacts.