Abstract: A contact member for electrical switching devices, in particular contactors, having a linear power supply conductor and an arc runner disposed at a distance from the contact face of the linear power supply conductor. The arc runner has a U-shaped design having an unattached end which receives the electric arc. The unattached end is in the same plane as the contact face of the power supply conductor. The U-shaped portions of the arc runner are displaced in parallel and laterally away from the contact face of the linear power supply conductor. The attached end of the U-shaped arc runner is sued to secure the arc runner. For this purpose, a groove is introduced into a block-shaped power supply conductor. A segment, joined to the attached end of the arc runner, is inserted into this groove for securing purposes.

Abstract: A distribution class recloser comprises puffer type, compressed-gas circuit interrupters and a spring stored energy operating mechanism. The interrupter includes a single pair of elongated and axially aligned contacts, one of which is moveable and includes a plurality of flexible contact fingers for engagine the stationary contact. The contacts include arcing tips formed on the terminus portions thereof for conducting arcing current. Additionally, the contact fingers on the moveable contact include raised, wedge-shaped electrical connections. When the moveable contact engages the stationary contact, the raised connections flex the fingers outward so as to cause the arcing tips of the moveable contact to move out of contact with the stationary contact to allow the raised electrical connections to carry the continuous current.

Abstract: A switch provided with a negative pressure chamber which is actuated in association with the separating operation of a movable contact. The negative pressure chamber is connected to a means for supplying a fluid to the negative pressure chamber so as to suppress the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber during the initial stage of the separaating operation of the movable contact.

Abstract: In a circuit breaker in which an interrupting device, a resistor device and a capacitor device are connected in parallel, a shield device is arranged to shield the interrupting device and the resistor device and comprises a first shield for shielding the stationary main contact and stationary resistor contact and a second shield for shielding the movable main contact and movable resistor contact. Each of the first shield and the second shield comprises a large shield portion and a small shield portion, and the small shield portions are arranged between the large shield portions. The small shield portion terminates in the vicinity of the top of the main contact and of the top of the resistor contact. The small shield portion comprises wide portions situated substantially in the direction of an axis joining centers of the main contact and resistor contact and narrow portions situated substantially in the direction perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A metal-clad, compressed gas-blast circuit-breaker (1) with a gas-filled housing (2) and with an interrupter unit (3), which is supported, insulated in the housing (2), has at least one insulating drive rod (26) coupled to the switching contact (20) to actuate a movable switching contact (20). This drive rod (26), which is connected to the interrupter unit (3), extends through a controlling element (5), which takes up and guides the flow of the switching gases at the time of the switching-off operation, as well as through a hollow post insulator (4) connected to the controlling element (5). The controlling element (5) allows only a portion of the switching gases to pass through in the direction of at least one drive rod (26) and diverts the remaining portion in an at least radial direction. In this manner, the pressurization of the drive rod (26) and the post insulator (4) by the switching gases is reduced.

Abstract: A normally open pressure responsive switch having upper and lower housings with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The housings each include a body with a hollow center portion and the lower housing has a contact in the center portion extending externally of the member. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally out of engagement with the contact. When pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. An elastomeric sealing member is mounted in the upper housing and has a neck portion received in the hollow center portion, an integrally attached flange biased against the electrically conductive member and lower housing and an integrally attached lobe extending above the upper housing to seal off the hollow center portion when the switch is mounted at a switch receiving seat.

Abstract: An arc spinner interrupter includes a first fixed electrical contact and a ring electrode coupled to the fixed contact through a field coil surrounding the ring electrode. A second electrical contact has an arm which moves along a path perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis for selective connection with the fixed contact. The arm may have a generally L-shaped configuration including an angled portion that extends in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis and a conductor extends toward the angled portion through the ring electrode along the central longitudinal axis. The conductor has an inner axial end that is spaced slightly from the angled portion of the arm when the arm is moved to a position intersecting the central longitudinal axis so that a grading function is carried out on the electrostatic field surrounding the angled portion of the arm. This grading function serves to limit the stress exerted by the electrostatic field adjacent the angled portion of the arm section.

Abstract: A contact arrangement is provided for a medium- or high-voltage switch including two contact surfaces that are generally parallel and relatively movable via a predetermined path between open and closed positions. During closing, the two contact surfaces define predetermined areas of relative engagement between the two contact surfaces. The movement along the predetermined path during contact engagement generally defines a first direction. The two contact surfaces are arranged relative to each other and the first direction such that, during closing, the relative engagement between the two contact surfaces defines a locus along each contact surface that is non-parallel to the first direction.

Abstract: A contact configuration (1) for low-voltage circuit-breakers has main and arcing contacts (6, 17; 10; 21) as well as arcing horns (22, 23) for transferring an arc into an arc quench chamber. Additional arc conducting pieces (30; 40) take over partial arcs that can occur on the main contacts (6; 17) when the contact configuration (1) is highly stressed, and carry them over to the corresponding arcing horn (22). The arc conducting pieces (30; 40) are designed more or less as angular, one-piece, stamped, flexural parts, whereby an arc conducting shank (36), which originates at a base shank (31) used for mounting is linked up at a sharp angle to the arcing horn (22).

Abstract: Breaker units (3, 4) of three-phases are enclosed in a common container (25). The three-phase breaker units and lead conductors (27a, 28a) connected to both ends of the breaker units are arranged on imaginary straight lines that are in parallel each other nearly passing through vertexes of an equilateral triangle. A common operation unit (7) for driving the three-phase breaker units is accommodated outside the container (25) and juxtaposed at a position opposed to one side (28b-28c) of the equilateral triangle. A zero-phase sequence current transformer (ZCT) is provided surrounding the lead conductors of three phases outside the container.

Abstract: A high voltage switch assembly includes a pair of electrically conductive contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) connectible in a power line from a high voltage source, and a portion of solid electrically insulating exposive material (3) forming an electrically insulating barrier extending between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e). On detonation of the explosive material at a point removed from the contacts a detonation wave is propagated from the detonation point through the explosive material (3), which as it passes between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) establishes electrical conduction therebetween to initiate a switch closing action, the gaseous products of detonation following behind the detonation wave being electrically insulating and breaking electrical conduction between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) to initiate a switch opening action.

Abstract: A wire wand is inserted into a pressure sensor perpendicular to the sensor's operating axis. The wire wand is fixed and adjustable at one end and driven at the other end by the sensor. The arrangement provides for deadband adjustment of a pressure switch.

Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker having a pair of movable contact arms arranged within a single pole utilizes a shunt clip between the movable contact arms to insure electrical continuity between the contact arms and the support base during intense short circuit interruption. A compression spring-driven camming arrangement insures good electrical connection between the circuit breaker contacts under steady quiescent operating conditions while preventing reclosing of the contacts during short circuit interruption.

Abstract: Vacuum interrupters having an improved axially movable terminal assembly are provided for use in vacuum circuit breakers or similar protective devices. The improved movable terminal assembly includes an axially movable but non-rotatable internal terminal portion in contact with an axially movable and rotatable external terminal portion adapted for connection in a vacuum circuit breaker or the like. This arrangement allows the external terminal portion to rotate and twist during installation or adjustment of the vacuum interrupter in a circuit breaker device and prevents transmission of torsional stress to the internal terminal portion.

Abstract: Direct current switching apparatus having two arc extinguishing chambers each comprising a pair of spaced conductors providing cooperable arc runners divergent toward a row of non-ferromagnetic splitter plates and a stationary contact conductively mounted on one conductor, the stationary contacts of respective chambers being mounted on respectively opposite conductors, corresponding conductors in respective chambers being conductively connected to each other and to power terminals of the apparatus, permanent magnets applying a magnetic field across the respective chamber for moving an arc within the chamber, ferromagnetic plates providing flux return paths to optimize and maximize the magnetic field, a movable contact extending into each chamber bridging the stationary contacts and movable to separate from the stationary contacts, drawing an arc therebetween in each chamber, the arc in one chamber bridging the pair of conductors within that chamber establishing a circuit comprising the arc between the conduct

Abstract: A medium-voltage electrical switch comprises contacts actuated by a connecting rod and crank system. Parallel to the main contacts there is arranged an arcing circuit comprising a cylindrical electrode disposed inside a coil and whose internal surface cooperates with a movable arcing contact. The mechanical link connecting the main contact to the arcing contact comprises a crank and connecting rod system comprising a flexible part formed by an aperture and a spring providing the contact pressure of the arcing contacts. In the open position of the switch, the connecting rod extends perpendicular to the crank and the flexible part is neutralized so as to hold the movable arcing contact without clearance in the open position despite the electrodynamic forces acting on it.

Abstract: A switch for as an electromagnetic contactor, a circuit breaker for wiring, an air circuit breaker and so on is provided. The switch comprises a fixed contact 8A joined to a fixed contactor 8, an movable contact 6A joined to a movable contactor 6 to face the fixed contact, a plurality of arc extinguishing metallic plates 13 arranged with predetermined distances and in parallel to the fixed contactor 8 at the side of the end portion of the movable contactor 6 and a commutation plate 15 placed at the opposite side of the fixed contactor so as to interpose the movable contactor.

Abstract: A high tension circuit breaker having a dielectric gas under pressure, the circuit breaker being of the type including at least one interrupting chamber comprising an insulating shell filled with the gas and containing a fixed assembly including a fixed main contact and a fixed arcing contact, a moving assembly including a moving main contact and a moving arcing contact, a blast cylinder opening out into a blast nozzle, and a pair of secondary contacts, the circuit breaker being characterized in that the blast cylinder is delimited by a first cylinder (5) constituting the moving arcing contact, a second cylinder (7) constituting the main moving contact, and a semi-moving first piston (14) carrying one of the secondary contacts, with the other secondary contact (31) being carried by a fixed tube (15) which, together with the first piston, an insulating tubular extension (5B) of the first cylinder (5), and a second piston fixed to the cylinder (5) and sliding along the fixed tube, delimits a second closed volum

Abstract: A high current direct current switch which has no significant arcing and which is capable of high rate repetitive operation. A collector member has a plurality of electrically conductive leaves which are arranged in a stack. All of the leaves in the stack have substantially the same outside area and the same thickness. However, leaves in the stack have various resistance-conductive paths and values. The leaves are arranged progressively so that leaves in the top portion of the stack have greater resistance values than leaves in the lower portion of the stack. The various resistance values are obtained by providing the leaves with openings therethrough which establish resistance-conductive paths through the leaves. Some of the leaves are electrically insulated from all of the other leaves. A rotor is positioned in engagement with the stack of leaves. The rotor is provided with an electrically conductive section and an electrically insulative section.

Abstract: A rotating arc circuit breaker comprising a pair of separable arcing contacts, a coil to set the arc in rotation, and an annular migration electrode. Guiding fins are arranged in the extinguishing chamber to slow down the rotation of the gas in a first peripheral zone, so as to generate a differential speed between the arc and the gas favoring the heat exchange in the second zone close to the breaking gap.