Abstract: A relay contactor is provided and includes a shaft assembly comprising a plate, which is movable between an open position at which the plate is displaced from leads and a closed position at which the plate contacts the leads and an actuation system configured to selectively move the plate into the closed position. At least one of the shaft assembly and the actuation system is configured such that, as the plate moves into and away from the closed position, a movement of the plate relative to the leads comprises at least a non-linear, rotational or an abnormally linear component.

Abstract: An improved electrical contact alloy, useful for example, in vacuum interrupters used in vacuum contactors is provided. The contact alloy according to the disclosed concept comprises copper particles and chromium particles present in a ratio of copper to chromium of 2:3 to 20:1. The electrical contact alloy also comprises particles of a carbide, which reduces the weld break strength of the electrical contact alloy without reducing its interruption performance.

Abstract: The electrode material for a vacuum circuit breaker is produced by a method comprising a mixing step, a press sintering step, and a Cu infiltration step. In the mixing step, an Mo powder having a particle diameter of 0.8 to 6 ?m is homogeneously mixed with a thermite Cr powder having a particle diameter of 40 to 300 ?m in such a manner as giving a mixing ratio (Mo:Cr) of 1:1 to 9:1 and satisfying the weight relation Mo?Cr. In the press sintering step, the resultant mixture is pressure molded under a press pressure of 1 to 4 t/cm2 to give a molded article. Next, said molded article is sintered by maintaining the same at a temperature of 1100 to 1200° C. for 1 to 2 hours in an heating furnace to give a partially sintered article. In the Cu infiltration step, a thin Cu plate is placed on said partially sintered article and maintained at a temperature of 1100 to 1200° C. for 1-2 hours in a heating furnace so that Cu is liquid-phase sintered and infiltrated into the partially sintered article.

Abstract: Provided an electrical contact is cheap, excellent workability and lasts the effect of chopping current reduction. An electrical contact comprising a Cu matrix, and compounds Cu and low melting point metal which are dispersed in the Cu matrix, wherein a vapor pressure of the low melting point metal is more than 105 Pa at 1000° C., the compound has stoichiometric ratio which is the value of the low melting metal/Cu is greater than 0.5, and a longitudinal direction of the compound is oriented at an angle of 90°±10° to the contact surfaces. The method of the electrical contact is stretching mixture the Cu matrix with the compounds at 70-85% while heating, using as a contact surfaces of the electrical contact.

Abstract: A hybrid switch assembly is provided for a vacuum switch, such as for example a vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum envelope, a fixed contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope, and a movable contact assembly partially within the vacuum envelope and movable between a closed position in electrical contact with the fixed contact assembly and an open position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly. The hybrid switch assembly includes at least one radial magnetic field generating mechanism, such as for example a spiral contact or cup member, and a number of axial magnetic field generating mechanisms each comprising a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic member, such as for example, a horseshoe plate assembly. Each axial magnetic field generating mechanism is disposed within the vacuum envelope proximate a corresponding radial magnetic field generating mechanism.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in a vacuum interrupter is made by joining a first side of a substantially disk-shaped structure to an end of a substantially cylindrical coil segment, and joining an electrical contact to a second side of the disk-shaped structure. The disk-shaped structure has a higher resistivity than a resistivity of the coil segment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contact arrangement for a vacuum switch tube for low-voltage power switches. The aim of the invention is to reduce the contact force required to control short circuit currents. To this end, a twin-contact contact arrangement is used wherein every contact comprises a plurality of separate individual contacts having a defined spring rate. At least one of the contact bodies (4) is configured as a two-layer spiral contact with a lower layer consisting of a highly elastic material and an upper layer (7) consisting of a highly electroconductive material. A contact coat (9) consisting of a contact material is provided on the upper layer in the outer zone of every contact arm (10).

Abstract: An improved vacuum interrupter is disclosed. The vacuum interrupter includes a ring-shaped structure placed between a contact support structure and an electrical contact associated with the contact support structure. A resistivity of the ring-shaped structure is higher than that of the contact support structure, so that current traversing the ring-shaped structure on its way from the contact support structure to the electrical contact is evenly distributed. The ring-shaped structure may be fit into an end portion of the contact support structure, the end portion having an diameter less than an outer diameter of the support structure, but greater than an inner diameter of the support structure. Alternatively, the end portion may be used without the ring-shaped portion, in which case the electrical contact may be shaped to fit into the end portion.

Abstract: An integrated contact for power switchgear, its arc proof component, magnetic field generating component and conductive component are set in an open container. The conductive component and the magnetic field generating component are mutually combined and set at the bottom of the container, the arc proof component is set on top of the combination of the conductive component and the magnetic field generating component. The conductive component passes through the center of the container, and from top to down, it equally divides the container; the magnetic field generating component is isolated by the conductive component and set at the other part of the container. The contact surface of the invention has multiple pole axial magnetic fields, the contact is suitable used for integrated contact for interrupting high volume current in arc extinguished chamber of vacuum interrupter. The invention belongs to electrical equipment field.

Abstract: An electric contact member has a texture wherein fire proof metal powder having the form of a flat plate is diffused in a matrix of a highly conductive metal. The flat surface is oriented in one direction and the surface in parallel with the flat surface of the fire proof metal powder is used as a contact point face.

Abstract: An electrode comprises an electrode main body having a porosity, and the conductivity of the electrode main body at its part ranging from the arc running face to a stated depth is made higher than the conductivity at the section or the conductivity at the part ranging from the back surface to a stated depth. This brings about an improvement in circuit-break performance of a circuit breaker and also prevents the arc running face of the electrode main body from deteriorating.

Abstract: Novel interrupter assembly designs utilizing saturable magnetic materials are disclosed and described. In certain embodiments of the invention the saturable magnetic materials are placed in the interrupter contact body and/or electrode. The inclusion of saturable magnetic materials in the interrupter assembly results in the redistribution of the magnetic flux within the interrupter contact assembly appropriate for the electrical current conditions being experienced within the assembly at any moment in time.

Abstract: A third electrode (8A) is soldered, via a support fitting (9) onto the inner surface of a support part (1a) which projects into the intermediate part of the inner surface of an insulation tube (1A). An arc generated between the fixed-side contact (5A) and the movable-side contact (5B) when the switch is opened is led from the outer periphery of the fixed-side contact (5A) via the third electrode (8A) to the movable-side contact (5B), in a so-called two-point switch, and the dielectric breakdown probability is thus reduced, particularly at low voltages. The third electrode may have its outer periphery exposed from the insulation tube and be used as one electrode when conditioning is carried out. By the use of this structure, the present invention is capable of meeting the demands for environmental protection and insulation reliability.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum valve used therein and electrodes for the vacuum valve, which can reduce the manufacturing cost while being of high performance and compact in size. The invention resides in a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum valve and electrodes for the vacuum valve, which are characterized in that fixed and movable electrodes each comprise arc electrodes, whose entire surfaces, mutually facing each other, are made of an alloy containing a refractory metal and a highly conductive metal, and electrode rods of a highly conductive metal supporting the respective arc electrodes, and that each arc electrode and the mating electrode rod are integrally formed by means of solid-phase diffusion bonding.

Abstract: A method for improving flux density in a vacuum valve, includes producing, with a vacuum valve, an axial magnetic field parallel to an arc generated between a movable and a stationary electrodes facing each other, and adjusting a magnitude of an axial flux density between the electrodes to increase gradually from a center area of the electrodes toward a circumferential area of each electrode. A point gives a maximum value (Bp) of the axial flux density at a location of and beyond 70% of a radius from the center of each electrode, and the maximum value (Bp) of the axial flux density in a radial line from the center to a circumferential end to be 1.4 to 2.4 times greater than a flux density of the center Bct of each electrode.

Abstract: {W—CuxSb-balance Cu} alloy is employed for contacts. As the anti-arcing constituent in the alloy W or WMo in a content of 65 to 85%, of grain diameter 0.4 to 9 &mgr;m is employed. As auxiliary constituent, CuxSb is employed, the content of the CuxSb being 0.09 to 1.4 weight %, the x being x=1.9 to 5.5, the grain diameter being 0.02 to 20 &mgr;m, and the mean distance between grains being 0.2 to 300 &mgr;m. As conductive constituent, Cu or CuSb solid solution is employed, the Sb content present in solid solution form in the CuSb solid solution being less than 0.5%. As a result, not only is dispersion of CuxSb, which is evaporated on subjection to arcing, reduced, but also generation of severe cracks, which have an adverse effect in terms of occurrence of restriking. Arcing at the contacts surfaces is prevented, suppressing dispersion and exfoliation of W grains.

Abstract: In a vacuum switching device having first and second contacts, the first contact only is composed wholly or partly of a combination of at least a high-conductivity material and an arc-resistant material, e.g. chromuim, tungsten or tungsten carbide, and/or an anti-weld material, e.g. bismuth, antimony, tellurium or lead, while the second contact lacks the arc-resistant and anti-weld material. Metal vapor produced by the first contact during arcing is deposited on the opposing surface of the second contact to form a thin layer of high-conductivity and arc-resistant and/or anti-weld material which then dominates the properties of the arc and allows a low chopping current and/or an enhanced anti-weld performance of the contacts to be achieved without the expense of having both contacts of the same composition at manufacture.

Abstract: A vacuum valve which has a contact material having a constituent of high electrical conductivity such as Cu and an anti-arcing constituent including Cr in which particles whose particle size is in the range 0.1.about.150 .mu.m represent at least 90 volume %, and a ratio defined by the formula (.alpha..sub.900 -.alpha..sub.50).times.100/(.alpha..sub.900) for this contact material has a value of 8-12% and is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the contact material .alpha..sub.50 is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the contact material at 50.degree. C. The formation of channels generated at the interfaces of the Cr particles and the Cu matrix after undergoing the brazing step is suppressed, enabling the static withstand-voltage, contact resistance, and the breaking performance characteristics of the vacuum valve to be stabilized.

Abstract: A vacuum circuit interrupter has a coil for generating an axially oriented magnetic field to maintain an electric arc in a diffuse rather than columnar mode upon opening of the interrupter. At least one of two electrodes having abuttable disc shaped contacts is movable along an axis relative to the other and can be forced by an external mechanism to open. The electrodes are carried in a housing with an electrical insulator between opposite end mountings that support the electrodes with the contacts in an evacuated enclosure. One of the electrodes is an assembly including a rigid supporting member attached to one of the contacts and extending a length along the axis. A coil is wrapped circumferentially around the supporting member along this length, providing a conductive path to generate the axial magnetic field. The supporting member comprises a less-conductive path (e.g., a stainless steel sleeve) and the coil is more conductive (e.g., copper), providing a durable and inexpensive structure.

Abstract: A contact electrode for a vacuum interrupter including a conductive component having at least one selected from the group consisting of copper and silver, and an arc-proof component with a melting temperature of more than 1500.degree. C. In the contact electrode, a gradient A/X of a quantity of a composition component of the contact electrode on a surface or the contact electrode is 0.2-12 volume %/mm. Where, X1 is one point on the line of any radius R1 on the surface of the contact electrode, X2 is another point on the line of the radius R1 on the surface of the contact electrode, and X is a gap between the one point X1 and the another point X2 measured by mm, where X=X2-X1, and X2>X1 .gtoreq.0.

Abstract: A vacuum switch having a fixed side electrode unit and a movable side electrode unit mounted in a vacuum vessel. Each electrode unit includes an arc electrode, an arc electrode supporting member for supporting the arc electrode, a coil electrode and a conducting rod. Joining portions between the arc electrode and the arc electrode supporting member, the coil electrode and the conducting rod are integrally and directly formed metallurgically by solid phase diffusion using a hot isostatic process. A vacuum circuit breaker may be constructed incorporating the vacuum switch.

Abstract: A contacts material for a vacuum valve including an arc-proof constituent including at least one selected from the group of chromium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium and yttrium, an auxiliary constituent including at least one selected from the group of tantalum, niobium, tungsten and molybdenum and a conductive constituent including at least one selected from the group of copper and silver. In the contacts material, an amount of the arc-proof constituent is from 10% to 70% by volume, a total amount of the arc-proof constituent together with the auxiliary constituent is not more than 75% by volume and an amount of the conductive constituent is the balance.