Abstract: A single-pole switching unit including electrical switching having two stationary contacts and a moving contact including a bridge having two ends each able to cooperate with a stationary contact. The moving contact includes a first branch and a second branch designed to connect the two stationary contacts, respectively and being movable relative to one another. The first branch is separated from the stationary contacts, while the second branch is still in contact with said stationary contacts when the contacts are opened. The second branch is in contact with the stationary contacts, while the first branch is separated from the contacts when the contacts are closed.

Abstract: A dampening mechanism for an electrical for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a draw-out circuit breaker, includes a mounting bracket coupled to the circuit breaker, a pivot member, at least one biasing element, and a damper. The circuit breaker is movable into and out of an installed position within a switchgear enclosure. The pivot member pivots between first and second positions corresponding to the circuit breaker not being fully installed and being disposed in the installed position, respectively. The biasing element biases the pivot member toward the first position. When the circuit breaker is moved toward the installed position, the second end of the pivot member engages at least one of a back panel and a ledge of the enclosure, thereby pivoting the pivot member toward the second position. When the pivot member is disposed in the second position, the damper is biased against the ledge of the enclosure to dampen undesired vertical motion of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing having an elongated pivot opening, a movable arm, a fixed contact and a movable contact mounted on the arm. The contacts and the arm cooperate to provide closed, pivot and open states. The pivot opening mounts a pivot end of the arm for pivotal and longitudinal movement. A solenoid includes a plunger coupled to the arm. The plunger moves between deactuating and actuating positions to provide the open and closed states, respectively. The plunger has a pivot position between the deactuating and actuating positions. The pivot end moves to a first longitudinal position in the pivot and open states, and moves to a second longitudinal position in the closed state. When the contacts are welded closed, the solenoid provides insufficient force to move the plunger to the deactuating position until after the pivot end moves at least substantially toward the first longitudinal position.

Abstract: A relay is provided for a transfer mechanism which transfers power between a utility source and a stand-by electrical generator. The relay incorporates contacts formed from two distinct materials. A backing portion of each contact is formed from copper and a contacting portion is deposited on the backing portion. The contacting portion is formed from tungsten. The arrangement of the contact minimizes the potential for failure of the transfer mechanism when the transfer mechanism is exposed to significant current and/or heating during operation thereof.

Abstract: Respective movable contacts of first and second switches are formed on branch portions of a single, resilient movable piece. Pressing portions of a manipulation shaft which is in link motion with a manipulation, lever push the branch portions of the movable piece at different manipulation positions, whereby the movable contacts are sequentially brought into contact with respective fixed contacts.

Abstract: A bus bar assembly includes an elongate body including three unitary portions. A first portion and a third portion are substantially co-planar and a second portion is unitarily offset from the first and third portions. A contactor tip is mounted to a top surface of both the first portion and the third portion. During closure of the bus bar assembly, the offset second portion causes the contactor tips to roll which helps expel contaminants that may have accumulated on the contactor tips.

Abstract: A switch integrally formed with a printed circuit board includes pairs of conductors printed on the board, a switch lever and a conductive sphere. The sphere is located in a hole in the lever and is held down against the conductors by a leaf spring which is riveted to the lever. The lever pivots relative to the board about a stud staked to the board. Each pair of conductors terminate at a depression within which the sphere rests to close the circuit between the pair of conductors.

Abstract: A contact device is provided with an additional mass member secured to a movable contactor carrying a movable contact capable of opening and closing contacts with a stationary contact, for providing to the movable contactor a mass acting in a direction perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the contactor. A rolling motion is thereby caused to occur in the movable contactor upon contact closing motion so that the movable contact can be prevented from being fusion-bonded to the stationary contact.

Abstract: A reciprocable push button achieves sequential switching (ON/OFF or ON/ON) through a simple coil spring and pivoted contact lever. The push button has depending legs that cooperate with camming means inside the switch case to swing the contact lever from side-to-side as it pivots between its limit positions. This compound contact lever action is achieved with the push button's straight line motion to provide this sequential switching function.

Abstract: Each swiveling yoke (3) of a movable element 1 includes a stem 16 concent with a shaft 6 around which moves the swiveling yoke 3 and connecting the two arms 17 between which a roller 4 is free to rotate about a shaft 11; the outer surface of the stem 16 acts as a friction surface for a friction piece 18 comprising an elastic blade 19, a bead 20 made of a good electrically conducting material and a cable 27 connected by a cable terminal 26. The elastic blade 19 rests on two cross-pins 22 and 24 inserted into insulating plates 23.

Abstract: An electric switch, for example a load switch or safety switch for low voltage, has at least one fixed contact member and two movable contact members, which form parallel current paths and which, in the closed position of the electric switch, are pressed against the fixed contact member on opposite sides thereof under the influence of contact pressure springs. Closing and opening are accomplished by means of a wedge-formed element which is displaceable between the movable contact members, said element being arranged on an operating member linearly displaceable between two end positions. The movable contact members are guided in the switch body in such a way that they move perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the operating member. The movable contact members are of elongated cross-section and have defined contact surfaces and break points.

Abstract: A snap switch comprises a control button, a control rod slidable with the control button via a spring, two pairs of contacts associated, respectively, with two pairs of terminals, the two contacts of each pair of contacts being connectable by resilient conducting means under the action of a setting spring fixed to the control rod and to these resilient conducting means. The two contacts of one pair of contacts are borne by two pivotable conducting plates, biased by resilient means for connecting the two contacts borne by the conducting plates to their respective terminals. The conducting plates can be pivoted under the action of the control button and against the action of the resilient biasing means for disconnecting the two contacts borne by the conducting plates from their respective terminals.

Abstract: A circuit breaker is provided with an elongated movable contact arm pivotally mounted at one of its ends, the movable contact secured to its other end, and the contact operating mechanism connected to the contact arm at a point intermediate the ends thereof. Breaking of contact welds is facilitated by constructing the contact arm pivot of a fixed pin which extends through an elongated slot in the contact arm so that during initial opening motion of the contact arm the latter will pivot about the point of engagement between the movable and stationary contacts as the slot moves relative to the pin and in this way a levered prying action is obtained to facilitate the breaking of welds formed between the contacts.

Abstract: A pressure-type containment device with an improved lid sealing feature is disclosed. A lid disk seats on a shoulder along the interior wall of a container mouth and is held in place by a fastening ring adapted to fit into the container mouth. A resilient gasket, such as an O-ring, is wedged between the fastening ring and the lid disk along the interior wall of the mouth. The margin of the fastening ring confronting the gasket is tapered to urge the gasket against the interior wall. A pressure increase within the container expanding the lid disk causes compression of the gasket, enhancing the seal.

Abstract: A contactor, relay, or other switch has stationary contacts and a movable crossbar which carries a movable contact member provided with movable contacts. The contact member has lost motion relative to the crossbar and is resiliently biased by a spring so that the crossbar can continue to move after the contacts have met the stationary contacts. The crossbar has oblique guide grooves engaging the contact member so that, during the further movement of the crossbar, the contact member is caused to move longitudinally while the movable and stationary contacts touch, thus producing a contact wiping action due to sliding of the contacts. The contact member also has an asymmetical cross section comprising a projection where, when the contacts are open, it touches the crossbar so that, in this condition, the contact member is laterally tilted.