Abstract: An a-c series motor with a switching device for changing from motor to braking operation has a series circuit consisting of a capacitor and a charging diode associated therewith, in which, in order to avoid an additional resistor for limiting the charging current for the capacitor, the capacitor and the charging diode are connected in such a manner that the armature winding is shunted by the series circuit consisting of the capacitor and the charging diode, a switch contact being arranged between the center of this series circuit and the external terminal of the field winding, so that in motor operation, a series circuit consisting of the capacitor, the charging diode and the field winding is connected between the terminals of the a-c series motor and in braking operation, the armature winding in series with the field winding is shunted by the capacitor.

Abstract: A vacuum switch incorporating two contact elements arranged in an evacuated housing, the contact elements being in contact with one another in the closed condition of the switch and being separable from one another for cutting-off the current. As to the two contact elements at least one is movable in one direction. At least the movable contact element is secured to a support element which is movably guided in the direction of movement of such contact element and possesses a current terminal separate from the support element.