Abstract: A switch for use in electric power includes a fixed contact, a moving contact performing a switching operation with respect to the fixed contact, a cylinder working with the moving contact, a piston slidably provided in the cylinder, a buffer chamber which is surrounded by the cylinder and the piston, and is filled with an arc-extinguishing gas, and a second insulating nozzle mounted to an end of the cylinder on the side of the fixed contact, wherein the arc-extinguishing gas in the buffer chamber is sprayed through the nozzle on an arc generating between the fixed contact and the moving contact at an opening time of the moving contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating negatively charged species has a cathode and an anode which are disposed in a vacuum vessel facing each other. A constricted arc having a sufficiently large arc current is generated in an arc space between the anode and the cathode, thereby generating negatively charged species of various types of metals, semiconductors, and gases.

Abstract: A switchgear comprises in a housing containing an arc extinguishing gas, a pair of separable contacts defining therebetween an arcing region in which an electric arc is generated when the contacts are separated. A cylindrical wall and an insulating nozzle are provided for defining a gas storage chamber around the stationary contact communicated with the arcing region for storing the arc extinguishing gas increased in pressure by heat from the arc. The insulating nozzle defines an opening through which the movable contact movably extends and through which the pressurized arc extinguishing gas flows. Around the arcing region a magnet is disposed for generating a magnetic field in the opening of the gas storage chamber for rotating and elongating the electric arc generated in the arcing region upon current interruption.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter comprises a pair of mutually detachable contacts;a cylinder-piston negative pressure device for providing a negative pressure by detaching said contacts; anda suction guide for feeding the arcing formed by the detaching operation of said contacts, into said cylinder-piston negative pressure device.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical member includes a compression chamber and a reservoir partitioned by a circumferential step disposed on its inner wall surface and filled with an arc-extinguishing fluid. A piston loaded with a spring forms stationary contact and is slidably fitted into the compression chamber while the reservoir is connected to the exterior of the cylindrical member through a flared hole in an electrically insulating nozzle. A movable contact loosely extends through the nozzle to engage separably the piston. The stationary contact may be disposed in the reservoir while the piston serves as an arc contact. The spring may be replaced by a tulip-shaped member on the piston forced into a recess on the free end of the movable contact and leaving it upon the piston engaging the step.

Abstract: A switch comprises an envelope including a pressure increasing compartment filled with an arc extinguishing fluid. A slit extends through one longitudinal side of the envelope to communicate with the compartment. A movable contact member having a flat cross section normally extends through the slit to block substantially the slit until the movable member engages a stationary contact member outside of the slit. The arc extinguishing fluid increases in pressure in response to heat of an electric arc established across the separated contact member and delivered through the slit to be perpendicular to the arc axis.

Abstract: An outer arc extinguishing compartment is disposed coaxially with an inner arc extinguishing compartment and partly projects under one end thereof. A movable contact member extends through both compartments and separably engages a stationary contact member located within the inner compartment. A plurality of arc suppressors of spindle-shaped cross section are disposed at equal angular intervals in the projecting portion of the outer compartment adjacent to and about the movable contact member to extend axially and radially of the latter. The circumferential minimum distance between the arc suppressors is smaller than the diameter of a positive column of an electric arc struck across both contact members.