Abstract: The invention relates to a center break switch having a contact system for electrical current conduction and bus transfer switching. The contact system includes two moving contacts. One of the two moving contacts includes a finger contact and the other moving contact includes a first contact. Each moving contact includes a contact for bus transfer switching, wherein one of the two contacts includes a spherical contacting element, and the other contact includes a rectangular contacting element. The spherical contacting element and the rectangular contacting element engage during switching for the bus transfer, and stay in contact when the finger contact is engaged with the first contact for electrical current conduction.

Abstract: A meter socket is provided for watt-hour meters. The meter socket comprises a block assembly mounted at a center of the meter socket, a bypass mechanism situated in the bottom portion of the block assembly and a plurality of clamp jaws. The block assembly includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The bypass mechanism includes a plurality of rotary bypass blades coupled to a lever arm. Each clamp jaw includes a clamp jaw assembly that includes a jigsaw mechanism situated in the top portion of the block assembly. The jigsaw mechanism includes a copper jaw bus, a contact plate, a jaw spring, a bypass spring, a compression spring, a shoulder screw, a rivet or one or more fasteners. Each clamp jaw further includes a clamp jaw bypass mechanism that includes a jaw opening formed between the copper jaw bus and the jaw spring to receive a rotary bypass blade of the plurality of rotary bypass blades of the bypass mechanism.

Abstract: An exemplary movable contact for an electric switch having a first contact blade and a second contact blade. Each of the first contact blade and the second contact blade includes an assembly hole. The movable contact having an assembly pin wherein the assembly pin includes a separation portion having a diameter greater than the assembly holes of the first and second contact blades thereby keeping the first and second contact blades separated from each other. The assembly pin includes a contact blade portion on each side of the separation portion for insertion to the assembly holes of the contact blades.

Abstract: A contact arrangement is provided, e.g. of the type that functions as a wiping contact for a moving contact such as a pivotally mounted switch blade in an electrical power distribution switch. The contact arrangement in an illustrative embodiment includes spaced apart contact members that are biased toward each other to define predetermined contact pressure/force characteristics with respect to the interposed moving contact. The contact members in a preferred embodiment include predetermined contact areas and predetermined structural features to minimize deformation due to magnetic forces experienced in the presence of high currents. The structural features are also arranged to define current paths that increase the contact pressure. In a particular embodiment the contact areas are formed on the contact members so as to minimize the size of the moving contact.

Abstract: A pressure switch device and method of forming the device is disclosed. The switch has a hinge terminal having a fixed end of a blade apparatus pivotally attached thereto, a jaw terminal adapted to receive a free end of the blade apparatus at a receiving portion, the blade apparatus having two blades fastened together and a spacer between the blades. Pairs of cams at either end of the blades rotate to engage protrusions in order to create a pressure lock. The pressure is enhanced by a spring washer. A connecting link attached one of each pair of cams, a drive link attached to the blades and connecting link, and a drive shaft cooperate to open and close the switch such that the switch may be first placed in a closed position, and then locked by further rotation of the drive shaft as the cam protrusions engage. The drive shaft is spring loaded to create torsional force which must be overcome to rotate the drive shaft in either direction.

Abstract: The invention solves the problem of loss of contact between jaws of a stationary contact with a switchblade of a knife switch when the switchblade undergoes lateral motion, as for example, under the influence of electromagnetic forces during short circuit conditions. A jaw for a switch has a base, a pair of electrically conducting jaws for accepting a blade of a switch between the jaws, a pin mounted in a hole passing through the base; retention springs mounted on the pin and producing force against the jaws so as to maintain electrical contact between the jaws and the switchblade, wherein the pin may slide in the hole in the base so that the jaws may follow lateral motion of the switchblade.

Abstract: A bounce- and weld- resistant contact assembly includes a pair of spaced contact plates with facing contacts on their ends. A switch blade is rapidly movable into and out of engagement with the contacts. The contacts are convexities coined into the plates which add no mass to the plates. Thus, the natural frequency of the plates is maximized and the magnitude of oscillation of the plates, when the contacts are rapidly engaged by the blade, is minimized. Legs on leaf springs act against concavities formed in the plates opposite the convexities. The legs conformally nestle in the convexities so that their frictional engagement therewith and the spring force co-act to quickly damp the high frequency, low magnitude oscillations of the plates. The low mass coined contacts also permit close spacing of the plates to maximize magnetic forces thereon due to current flow therethrough. These forces aid the spring and the leg-concavity friction in quickly damping oscillations of the plates.