Switch for high voltage and/or current

1. Electrical switch comprising

a housing ( 2 ) divided into a first section ( 2 ′) forming a first compartment for taking up at least one switching device ( 3 ) and an associated actuator device ( 4 ), and a second section ( 2 ″) forming a second compartment for connecting of at least one phase to the switching device ( 3 ),

where at least the first section ( 2 ′) of the housing ( 2 ) is pressure sealed and filled with oil under a pressure of at least 10 bar,

where the first section ( 2 ′) comprises at least one first compensator ( 5 ) for regulating the oil volume in the first section ( 2 ′) of the housing ( 2 ),

and where the second section ( 2 ″) comprises at least one second compensator ( 6 ) for regulating the oil volume in the second section ( 2 ″) of the housing ( 2 ).

2. Switch according to claim 1 , where the second section ( 2 ″) of the housing ( 2 ) is pressure sealed encapsulated and filled with oil under a pressure of at least 2 bar.

3. Switch according to claim 1 , where the pressure in the first section ( 2 ′) of the housing ( 2 ) is substantially the same as the pressure in the second section ( 2 ″) of the housing ( 2 ).

4. Switch according to claim 1 , where the pressure in the first section ( 2 ′) of the housing ( 2 ) is bigger than the pressure in the second section ( 2 ″) of the housing ( 2 ).

5. Switch according to claim 1 , where said at least one switching device ( 3 ) comprises a contact chamber ( 7 ) with three stationary, electrical conductive contact elements ( 81 , 82 , 83 ) for said at least one phase ( 10 ), and a piston ( 9 ) in the contact chamber ( 7 ), the piston ( 9 ) being of an insulating material is in its one end ( 9 A) connected with at least one actuator device ( 4 ) and comprises a moveable, electrical conductive contact element ( 11 ) for said at least one phase ( 10 ), which in a first stable position of the piston ( 9 ) establishes contact between a first ( 81 ) and a middle ( 82 ) of the three contact elements ( 81 , 82 , 83 ), and which in a second stable position of the piston ( 9 ) establishes contact between the middle ( 82 ) and a second ( 83 ) of the three contact elements ( 81 , 82 , 83 ).

6. Switch according to claim 5 , where said at least one actuator device ( 4 ) comprises a driving mechanism ( 14 ) and a spring mechanism ( 15 ) for quick movement of the piston ( 9 ) in said at least one switching device ( 3 ) from the first stable position to the second stable position and vice versa, where driving power for the driving mechanism ( 14 ) is produced by means of at least one of the following: hydraulic, electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, manual or other suitable driving power, and where power in the spring mechanism ( 15 ) is achieved by means of any suitable accumulating power source.

7. Switch according to claim 5 , where the three stationary, electrical conductive contact elements ( 81 , 82 , 83 ) are ring-shaped and are arranged on the inside of the contact chamber ( 7 ) which is also ring-shaped, and the moveable, electrical conductive contact element ( 11 ) is substantially sleeve-shaped and fastened around the piston ( 9 ) approximately in its middle area.

8. Switch according to claim 5 , where a hold and release device ( 16 ) holds back the piston ( 9 ) and ensures that enough spring power is accumulated within the hold and release device in order to make the piston movement, and releases the piston ( 9 ) and allows it make its quick switching movement, driving the stationary, electrical conductive contact elements ( 11 , 81 , 82 , 83 ) of the switching device from the first stable position to the second stable position and vice versa, the device ( 16 ) being made by use of permanent magnets or electromagnets or other mechanical hold and release mechanism.

9. Switch according to claim 5 , comprising three switching devices ( 3 ) for use in three-phase systems, where one ends of the pistons ( 9 ) are jointly connected with said at least one actuator device ( 4 ).

10. Switch according to claim 1 , where a wall ( 12 ) dividing the first ( 2 ′) and second ( 2 ″) section of the housing ( 2 ), comprises means ( 13 ) for fluid communication between said at least one first compensator ( 5 ) in the first compartment in the housing ( 2 ) and the at least one second compensator ( 6 ).

11. Switch according to claim 10 , where the wall in the second ( 2 ″)section of the housing ( 2 ) comprises second means ( 33 ) for fluid communication between the compensator in the second compartment and the surroundings.

12. Switch according to claim 1 , comprising three switching devices for use in three-phase systems, where the three switching devices are connected in parallel and arranged in such a way that they form a common switching mechanism ( 3 ′) having one common contact chamber ( 7 ′) with three stationary, electrical conductive contact elements ( 81 ′, 82 ′, 83 ′) for each ( 10 ′) of the three phases, and one common piston ( 9 ′) in the common contact chamber ( 7 ′), comprising a moveable, electrical conductive contact element ( 11 ′) for each ( 10 ′) of the three phases.

13. Switch according to claim 1 , where the first section ( 2 ′) of the housing ( 2 ) is filled with a switching oil, and the second section ( 2 ″) of the housing ( 2 ) is filled with another type of oil.

14. A method of using the switch according to claim 1 underwater, where pressure in the housing ( 2 ) is at least the same as water pressure in the surroundings.