Abstract: A vacuum switch has a fixed electrode, a movable electrode facing the fixed electrode, an insulating cylinder, end plates covering both axial ends of the insulating cylinder, a vacuum chamber internally accommodating the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, and a solid isolation resin molded on the outside of the vacuum chamber, first coil springs, each of which is disposed around the outer circumference of one end plate while touching the end plate and an end face of the insulating cylinder, and second coil springs, each of which is united to one of the first springs and disposed around the outer circumference of the insulating cylinder so as to cover the angular part of the end face of the insulating cylinder, and the end plates, the end faces of the insulating cylinder, and the first and second coil springs are electrically connected.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for high voltage applications, including: at least one breaking unit, a supporting insulator having one end on ground potential and the other end on high voltage potential, and the end on high voltage potential is mechanically connected to the breaking unit, and a fiber optic sensor for sensing the current through the breaking unit. The supporting insulator is removably connected to the breaking unit. The sensor has an optic fiber coil arranged in the high voltage end of the supporting insulator, and the circuit breaker includes a mechanism for conducting current from the breaking unit to the sensor so that the current passes through the sensor coil.

Abstract: A charging handle is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing having an exterior, an interior and a recess extending from the exterior toward the interior, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a charging assembly. A first end of the charging handle is coupled to the charging assembly within the interior of the housing. The second end includes a finger pull. An elongated body extends between the first and second ends and includes first and second sides, and inner and outer surfaces. The charging handle is movable among first and second positions. The finger pull is disposed on the outer surface of the elongated body at or about the second end of the charging handle, and is readily accessible from all of the second end and the first and second sides of the charging handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to pushbutton actuators. More particularly, the invention encompasses a pushbutton 2 position twist release switch with integral LED and actuator. The invention also includes a pushbutton 3 position momentary switch with an integral LED and actuator. Another embodiment of the invention relates to a pushbutton 3 position maintained switch with an integral LED and actuator. The invention also includes various embodiments of the inventive pushbutton actuator of this invention. The inventive pushbutton also comprises a pushbutton knob that has ridges for the transmission and scattering of light for the LED in the module.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an insulator for positioning an electrical conductor in a gas chamber in a housing of a gas-insulated switchgear assembly, which comprises an electrically insulating disc-shaped carrier element with at least one cutout for passing through an electrical conductor. At least one notch for accommodating a clamp element is arranged on the outer circumference of the carrier element at least one point.

Abstract: A sheet switch module (21) including a circuit board (22), at least one key switch (25) mounted on one surface of the circuit board (22), a light-guiding sheet unit (30) covering one surface of the key switch (25), at least one LED (26) mounted on the circuit board (22) to enter light into the light-guiding sheet unit (30), the light-guiding sheet unit (30) being formed by a plurality of light-guiding sheets (31,32) at least parts of which are overlapped, the key switch (25) being illuminated by the LED (26) by way of plurality of light-guiding sheets (31,32).

Abstract: An improved circuit breaker having an improved shield apparatus provides protection to components that are internal to the circuit breaker during an arc event. A contact arm carrier assembly of the circuit breaker comprises a number of springs that bias a number of movable contacts that are disposed on contact arms into engagement and electrical connection with a stationary contact. The shield apparatus is disposed on a carrier housing of the contact arm carrier assembly and is situated adjacent the springs. A shield member of the shield apparatus is biased into engagement with the contact arms. When the circuit breaker is moved between the ON position and the OFF or TRIPPED positions, the shield of the shield apparatus moves between a retracted position and a deployed position, with the shield remaining in engagement with the contact arms and protecting the springs from damage in an arc event. In one embodiment, the shield member is formed of a material that generates gases when struck by an arc.

Abstract: An electronics enclosure and associated components form a self-contained, unitized assembly including control buttons and illuminated indicator elements, that can be mated as a single piece with an outer user interface control panel fascia. A front panel of the electronics enclosure provides a mounting location for various buttons and lighted indicators that will show through mating apertures provided in the control panel fascia. This may include light pipe collars and integral spring levers. Specially configured cup structures may be integrally molded at the ends of the spring levers to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. A mount of planar spring button pieces on the front enclosure panel, over the associated spring levers, results in an assembly incorporating two springs serving to bias the associated button to its return position, and eliminating any rattle or looseness of the parts.

Abstract: To control a switch apparatus having two interrupters, such as a busbar disconnector and a grounding disconnector, there is provided a rotary control shaft arranged away from, and at right angles to, the planes of straight line motion of the movable contacts, at least one disk cam fastened to the control shaft and having two distinct internal cam grooves, and two pairs of levers hinged to each other. One of the levers has one end hinged at a fixed point while its other end is hinged to the other lever, which is itself hinged to one of the movable contacts, a spigot being located between the two ends of each of the levers that has one end hinged at a fixed point, the spigot being engaged in one of the cam grooves so as to constitute a cam follower.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having an arc quenching system is provided. The quenching system includes an ablative device positioned within a chamber. On end of the ablative device includes an opening that receives a stationary contact. A movable contact arm travels within a channel between the closed position and an open position. When an abnormal operating condition is detected, the circuit breaker trips causing the contact arm to move. This generates a plasma arc that evaporates material from the ablative device. The evaporated material generates a pressurized gas that cools and quenches the plasma arc to improve the performance of the circuit breaker during undesired operating conditions such as a short circuit.

Abstract: A high-voltage circuit breaker includes two arcing contacts, which are capable of moving relative to one another along an axis, an insulating nozzle, a heating volume for accommodating quenching gas, a heating channel, and an overpressure valve. The pressure of the quenching gas is based on the energy of a switching arc, which is formed when the breaker opens and generates arcing gas, and the heating channel opens out, with axial alignment, into the heating volume. The heating channel connects an arc zone, and the overpressure valve limits the pressure of the quenching gas by opening a relief duct, which opens out into an expansion space. In high-current switching, the pressure of the arcing gases in the arc zone is limited, and the quality of the quenching gas stored in the heating volume is improved, due to the relief duct having an outflow section extending in the radial direction.

Abstract: An operation lever comprises a main section, a cover section and a photoconductor. While the photoconductor is overlaid on the main section, sliding protrusions of the cover section are inserted into guide grooves formed in the periphery of the main section, the cover section is slidingly pushed to insert a tip end section of the cover section inside an overhanging fringe of the main section. An engaging protrusion and an engaging pawl of the cover section are engaged with the main section to assemble the operation lever.

Abstract: A switch has a supporting terminal assembled to a base, a movable contact piece, made of a band-shaped conductive material bent to a substantially J-shaped cross section, having a movable contact at one end and having an intermediate portion rotatably supported by a rotation receiving portion of the supporting terminal, a plunger accommodated so as to be movable up and down in an internal space formed by fitting a housing to the base, and a coil spring including a forced dissociation bent portion at one end and being rotatably supported by the plunger. The plunger is moved up and down to slidably move one end of the coil spring while pressure contacting the other end edge of the movable contact piece to invert the movable contact piece and contact or separate the movable contact to and from a fixed contact, and to lock a distal end of the forced dissociation bent portion to the other end edge of the movable contact piece and exert a shear force on the movable contact of the movable contact piece.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a pivoting arc barrier that is interposed between the moving contact arm axis of motion and the moving contact, so that arc gasses are deflected away from the contact arm structure. The pivoting arc barrier pivots in a complimentary motion path with that of the moving contact arm so that an arc shield face is interposed between the contact separation arc generated around the moving contact and the remaining arm structure to which the moving contact is affixed throughout the range of contact arm operational motion. The pivoting arc barrier moves independently of the moving contact arm and advantageously does not increase the contact arm mass or bulk swept volume through its range of motion.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a rotary handle. More particularly, the invention encompasses a deliberate action rotary handle. The invention further includes an extended drive-plate deliberate action rotary handle, such that to turn on a component, such as, a circuit breaker, requires a deliberate manual action by the user. If a deliberate action is not taken by a user but the handle is accidentally pushed then the handle does not engage with a drive shaft and the handle moves to an outer edge of a drive plate thus preventing the engagement of the handle with the other components to turn on the component.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit breaker includes a movable-side conductor that is tubular and comprises an inside cavity. A movable side contact case includes a chamber which communicates with a space on a non-vacuum side of a bellows. The chamber is isolated from a space filled with insulating gas in a ground tank by a sealing device. The chamber communicates with an outside atmosphere through the inside cavity of the movable-side conductor.

Abstract: A gear-link type key switch including a pair of link members on a base panel, wherein the key switch has a constitution in that the pair of link members are not disengaged when a key top is attached to the link members. Furthermore, the key switch alleviates the need for an undesired attaching method because of its structure, when a key top is attached to the link members. In order to prevent the pair of link members from disengaging in an anteroposterior direction, wall members are provided on the base panel of the key switch. The wall members arranged on opposite sides of a contact section of the link members, abutting the outside of pivoting shafts, are made by cutting the plate member of the base panel and pulling up the cut plate member, and are an integral part of the plate member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arc extinguishing device of circuit breaker for manual motor starter capable of swiftly extinguishing and discharging an arc generated by a fault current flowing into a motor circuit during an interruption operation of a circuit breaker, thereby enhancing the performance of interruption.

Abstract: A multimeter includes a case having a rotary selector knob for selecting a multimeter function. A circuit board defining multiple switching terminals thereon is located in the case. A rotary switch assembly is operatively coupled to the selector knob. The rotary switch assembly has a plurality of contact pairs which selectively complete a galvanic connection across predetermined pairs of switching terminals. The rotary switch assembly further includes first and second switch members located in opposition on respective sides of the circuit board. Each of the switch members has at least one of the contact pairs.

Abstract: The preset invention includes a circuit board wired to connect at least one common terminal and a plurality of signal terminals to form multiple instruction switches and an annular click member. Each of the instruction switches has an elastic contact element built with a return force. The circuit board has a plurality of displacement portions. The annular click member has actuating portions corresponding to and engageable with the displacement portions such that the annular click member is movable up and down relative to the circuit board to form a normal position and an instruction generating position. When the annular click member receives a force and is moved to the instruction generating position, a contact depresses the elastic contact element to store the return force When the force is released from the annular click member it is pushed by the return force of the elastic contact element to the normal position.