Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed gas switch with two contact pieces, a contact element by-passing the contact pieces when in the on position, and two isolating distances connected to each other in series. The second contact piece opposing the first isolating distance is arranged axially by an annular piston to be displaceable forming a switching chamber. The switching chamber is separated from the heating chamber by a bulkhead partition having a current-dependent valve, and the second isolating distance is produced after opening of a blowing hole located between the second contact piece and the contact element.

Abstract: In a gas-blast switch with a compression device to produce a quenching gas blast, in order to make the magnetic effect of the break current available already at the beginning of the cut-off movement, a compression chamber and a piston-cylinder system form an energy accumulator. A movable element of the piston-cylinder system is mechanically linked with an armature, which is axially moved by the magnetic field of a stator, which field is excited by the break current. The armature and the stator are arranged in such a way that the magnetic field already causes the armature to move.