Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a puffer volume (9) and at least one overpressure valve (16) for discharging gas from the puffer volume (9), if the pressure therein exceeds a given threshold. The overpressure valve (16) is formed by a piston (17) and a spring (19) as well as by a cavity (18) in the stationary support body (10) of the moveable contact assembly (2). The overpressure valve (16) is of compact and simple design, has low hysteresis and large cross-section.

Abstract: The invention secures superior performance by restraining carbon generation also when using as an arc extinguishing medium a gas comprising the element C and having a global warming potential lower than that of SF6 gas. A fixed contact section and a movable contact section are arranged opposite each other inside a sealed container filled with an insulating gas. A fixed arc contact and a movable arc contact are provided in the fixed contact section and the movable contact section. The insulating gas is a mixed gas of a gas comprising the element C, as the main constituent, and other gases. The presence of O2 gas in the mixed gas has the effect of restraining the amount of carbon generated. Adding H2 to the mixed gas has the effect of enhancing arc extinguishing performance, compensating for the diminished performance derived from not using actively the thermal energy of the arc.

Abstract: A control knob is supported on a switch base via a first pivotal shaft. A movable contact holder holds a movable contact and is supported on the switch base via a second pivotal shaft substantially parallel with the first pivotal shaft. The movable contact holder is formed with first and second arms between which a sliding surface is formed. A control plunger sliding on the sliding surface is slidably fitted to the control knob. A return spring urges the control plunger in a direction to abut on the sliding surface. The control plunger is arranged such that, when the control knob tilts to the first and second operating positions, the tip end of the control plunger moves on the sliding surface to left and right sides with respect to a plane extending between axes of the first and second pivotal shafts, and such that the repulsive force of the return spring constantly urges the control knob toward the first operating position.

Abstract: An emergency push-button includes a housing that, in turn, includes at least one guide surface and an actuator supported by the housing. The actuator may be reciprocable along a generally linear axis between an actuated position and a released position. The actuator has at least one indicator window located thereon. The emergency push-button may further include an indicator disposed proximal to the actuator head and being biased for movement therewith. The indicator may include an indicator surface that has indicia thereon that provides status of the emergency push-button and that is configured to be selectably viewable through the indicator window of the actuator head. The indicator further includes at least one arm extending therefrom that is engageable with the at least one guide surface.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a vacuum container accommodating at least a pair of movable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, wherein the movable contacts are capable of taking three positions, the switchgear being a double-break three-position type switch having breaking and disconnecting functions.

Abstract: An operating device for an electrical appliance, for example a cooking appliance, is provided with a deformable metallic control panel, underneath which an electret microphone cartridge is disposed. The membrane of the microphone cartridge can be coupled to the lower side of the control panel by means of an elastomer. When pressure is exerted on the control panel by a user pressing on the operating field and causing it to deflect, the membrane of the electret microphone is moved, which in turn causes movement in the microphone and causes a signal that can be evaluated as the operating input by a user.

Abstract: Exemplary vacuum fault interrupters are described.

Abstract: A three-pole apparatus, configured to be installed in a cubicle of an electric substation, comprises an air-insulated three-pole disconnector and a three-pole circuit breaker. The air-insulated three-pole disconnector is configured to isolate an electric line leaving the cubicle. The three-pole circuit breaker is configured to perform line protection functions. The three-pole apparatus comprises a casing comprised of insulating material and internally housing, at least partially, the three-pole circuit breaker. The casing is not sealingly closed and contains air. The circuit breaker comprises three vacuum circuit-breaker modules; the disconnector comprises three single-pole disconnector devices. Each of the single-pole disconnector devices in turn comprises a contact movable linearly from a service position into a disconnection position. Each of the contacts, when it is in its service position, projects at least partially from the casing.

Abstract: In order to reduce the breaking energy of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker, the interrupting chamber (10) contains two contacts (12, 14) mounted to move in opposite directions, actuated via a single device (20, 30). The two contacts (12, 14) are driven in opposite directions by a cylindrical cam (22) having slots (26, 28) that co-operate with fixed rods (32, 42), each of which is connected to a respective one of the contacts (12, 14): the profiles of the slots (26, 28) make it possible to manage the speed and the amplitude of the movement of the second contact (14) relative to the main contact (12) without requiring any complex design.

Abstract: A latch-release actuating apparatus includes a switch element, a base member, and a cover member. The switch element is depressed via the cover member. In the latch-release actuating apparatus, a key top member and the cover member are formed to be long to extend horizontally from an upper region of the push button. The key top member is arranged on a back surface of the cover member so that a longitudinal direction of the key top member coincides with a longitudinal direction of the cover member. Furthermore, claws and retaining portions to which the claws are retained are arranged between the base member and both longitudinal ends of the key top member, thereby constituting a regulating unit for restricting separation of the key top member from the push button when the claw abuts on the retaining portion.

Abstract: A switchgear operating mechanism for reciprocatively driving a movable contact of a switchgear so as to shift the switchgear between an open state and a closed state. In the closed state, a roller pushes a leading end of a latch in the direction substantially toward the rotation center of the latch. In a state where the switchgear operating state is shifted from the closed state to the open state, a lock lever is pulled so as to allow the latch to be rotated in the opposite direction to the biasing direction of a latch return spring to release an engagement between the roller and the leading end of the latch, which causes the opening spring to discharge its energy to rotate the sub-shaft.

Abstract: Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a composite overwrap for mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. A dielectric buffer layer is provided to fill voids or discontinuities in the overwrap.

Abstract: A thin switch having a small floor area easy to be manufactured is provided. A switch includes a base including at least one switching fixed contact point exposed from a bottom surface and a concave part having at least one pair of opposing side walls; an operation lever pivotally supported by the side walls of the base; a slider slidably arranged on the bottom surface of the base for sliding while being guided by the opposing side walls of the base when pushed by a cam part of the operation lever; and a conductive coil spring arranged on the bottom surface of the base so as to extend and contract with push and release by the slider, including an arm part on a first end side arranged to be slidable on the bottom surface of the base and arranged so as to contact and separate with respect to the switching fixed contact point. A shaft center of the coil spring is arranged parallel to a moving direction of the slider.

Abstract: A puffer-type gas blast circuit breaker is capable of restraining reduction in creepage insulation resistance of an insulating support and an insulating rod due to insulating gas of high temperature. An electrode section is mounted on a stationary member supported on an insulating support, and a stationary side arc contact and moving side arc contact are disposed facing each other to contact and separate; a hollow piston rod and an insulating rod are connected to the moving side arc contact, and inserted in a stationary member body portion; and a gas flow blocking member is mounted on an end of the piston rod to prevent an insulating gas heated and coming to the stationary side from getting into the insulating rod side. The stationary member body portion is formed cylindrical so that a gap between the body portion of the stationary member and the gas flow blocking member is minimized.

Abstract: A pneumatic micro electro mechanical system switch includes a substrate, a pneumatic actuating unit disposed on the substrate; the pneumatic actuating unit having a plurality of variable air cavities communicating such that when one of the plurality of variable air cavities is compressed, the rest are expanded; a signal line having a plurality of switching lines, each of which passes through a corresponding one of the plurality of variable air cavities and has switching ends disposed in a spaced-apart relation with each other in the corresponding one of the plurality of variable air cavities; a movable switching unit to connect the first and the second switching ends of each of the plurality of switching lines if one of the plurality of variable air cavities is compressed; and a driving unit to drive the pneumatic actuating unit so as to selectively compress the plurality of variable air cavities.

Abstract: A gas insulating switchgear equipped with a grounding switchgear of the invention includes a sealing vessel that fills an insulation gas, a main circuit-switching fixed electrode that is fixed to the sealing vessel, a movable electrode that comes in contact with the main circuit-switching fixed electrode, a grounding-switching fixed electrode capable of conducting current, and a driving device that drives the movable electrode, thereby driving the movable electrode. The main circuit-switching fixed electrode and the grounding-switching fixed electrode are linearly arranged in a longitudinal direction of the movable electrode, and the driving device drives linearly the movable electrode to three positions of a closed-circuit position, an open-circuit position, and a grounding position, and holds the movable electrode.

Abstract: This electrical switchgear has an interrupting chamber enclosing an interrupting gas (G) substantially devoid of SF6 and of CF4, and a first arcing contact (10) and a second arcing contact (18), the two arcing contacts moving causes an electric arc (26) to strike, while at least one irradiation wall (22) is provided that is suitable for being reached by the electric arc. At least two component materials that are part of at least one element selected from the interrupting gas, the first and second arcing contacts, and the or each irradiation wall, are suitable for decomposing under the effect of the electric arc, so as to form decomposed species (e1, e2) suitable for combining in the interrupting chamber, in order to form at least one new gaseous species (G1), before the electric arc is extinguished, the dielectric properties of said at least one new gaseous species being superior to the dielectric properties of said interrupting gas (G).

Abstract: A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source provides a night light feature on a user interface adapted to be provided in an opening of a traditional-style faceplate. The user interface comprises a frame, a pushbutton actuator, and an intensity actuator. Actuations of the pushbutton actuator change an internal switch mechanism between an open position and a closed position. A source of illumination, mounted internally to the dimmer switch and offset longitudinally from the switch mechanism, illuminates the pushbutton actuator and an elongated slot of the intensity actuator when the lighting load is off to provide the night light feature. The dimmer switch further comprises a plurality of lenses operable to redirect the light from the source of illumination towards the pushbutton actuator and the elongated slot.

Abstract: A pyromechanical disconnecting device, in particular for battery shutoff in a motor vehicle include a housing (1) in which there is arranged a conductor bus (11) that is designed to be severable by a cutting chisel (12) at a predetermined cut point, the cutting chisel being capable of being accelerated by the propellant gases of an ignition element (2). In order to facilitate assembly it is proposed that the housing (1) be extruded around the ignition element (2), which in this way forms one structural unit with the housing (1).

Abstract: A multidirectional switch (1) comprises an insulative housing (2), a first fixed contact (31) and a third fixed contact (33), a first moveable contact (41) and a second moveable (42) contact disposed above the first fixed contact (31) and the third fixed contact (33), an operation member (5) mounted on the first moveable contact (41) and defining a second pressing portion (53). The second pressing portion (53) presses the second moveable contact (42) in order to make the second moveable contact (42) contact with or separate from the third fixed contact (33). The first moveable contact (41) always contacts with the first fixed contact (31). The second moveable contact (42) is integrated with the first moveable contact (41) and distributed around the first moveable contact (41).