Abstract: A DC circuit breaker having an arc blowout device according to the present invention comprises: a fixed contact; a movable contact operating so as to make contact with or separate from the fixed contact; an operation part for driving the movable contact; and a blowout device which provides a magnetic field in a direction crossing the arc generated when the movable contact is separated, wherein the blowout device includes: a pair of core plates arranged side by side on both sides of the movable contact and the fixed contact; core rods integrally connected to the core plates, respectively, and having symmetrical shapes to each other; and a blowout coil coupled to one of the core rods.

Abstract: Electromagnetic actuators capable of generating a symmetrical bidirectional force are disclosed. The electromagnetic actuators include a housing made of a ferromagnetic material and a shaft made of a magnetically inert material movable along an axis within the housing. In one type of actuator, captive permanent magnets are arranged on opposite interior end walls of the housing and an electromagnetic coil is mounted on a central portion of the shaft. The electromagnetic coil is capable of generating a force when energized that causes linear displacement of the shaft in either direction along its axis depending on the direction of current through the electromagnetic coil. In another type of actuator, captive electromagnetic coils are arranged on opposing inner end walls of the housing, and a permanent magnet is mounted on a central portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A circuit interruption device includes a conductive element configured to be coupled to a circuit, a contact arm configured to move with respect to the conductive element between a first position and a second position, and a biasing element configured to apply a biasing force on the contact arm to maintain contact between the contact arm and the conductive element when the contact arm is in the first position, wherein the contact arm is configured such that a current flow through the contact arm causes an electromagnetic repulsive force to act on the contact arm in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Abstract: To promptly extinguish an arc generated between contacts with a simple and inexpensive structure without negatively influencing the spring property of a movable contact piece. A contact switching mechanism includes a fixed contact piece with a fixed contact and a movable contact piece with a movable contact which faces the fixed contact in a contactable manner. At least either one of the contact pieces is provided with an extension which extends toward the contact of the remaining contact piece.

Abstract: A copper-based winding implementing a copper-based winding of diameter that is typically greater than 90 mm, designed to generate a magnetic field in an electrical contact for a medium-voltage vacuum circuit-breaker. The winding is constituted by a hollow cylinder including helical slots about its longitudinal axis and opening out both into the hollow and to the exterior of the cylinder, winding in which the space between two consecutive slots that form a turn is empty of material and the width of each initial slot is less than 1 mm.

Abstract: A current limiting power switch has a monolithic stationary conductor with a conductor section that mounts fixed contacts that engage moving contacts on moving contact fingers to form a reverse current loop with the contacts closed. A terminal section projects transversely from one end of the conductor section and an arc runner section extends from the other end. The tapered arc runner has a generally laterally centered tapered area that gathers the arcs and urges them along a raised rib on the arc runner to an arc chute. A reinforcing rib running from the back of the conductor and arc runner sections to the terminal section resists distortion of the monolithic stationary conductor by the high temperatures and closing and electromagnetic forces during interruption.

Abstract: An electrical switch for electrical tools having an electric motor operated by a DC voltage. The switch comprises a contact system including a stationary contact and a switching contact, an operating element which acts on the switching contact to initiate a process for switching the contact system between an on-position and an off-position and a shield that quenches an arc that occurs between the stationary contact and the switching contact during the switching process. A movable slide is operatively connected to the operating element and has the switching contact arranged thereon. During the process of switching the switching contact from the on-position to the off-position, the shield is moved to an area located between the stationary contact and the switching contact. During the process of switching the switching contact from the off-position to the on-position, the shield is moved from the area located between the stationary contact and the switching contact.

Abstract: A current-interrupting section of a molded case circuit breaker includes fixed contact shoes and a rotary bridge-type contact shoe held in a contact shoe holder. A pair of pressure springs is assembled in the contact shoe holder to press the rotary contact shoe to the fixed contact shoes. The pressure spring is torsion coil springs and have U-shaped offset arm portion drawn out from the center of the coil. A pair of the torsion coil springs is arranged above and under the rotary contact shoe. Furthermore, legs of the torsion coil springs at ends are hooked to sidewalls of the contact shoe holder. The offset arm portions at the center of the torsion coil springs engage the rotary contact shoe at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotational center of the rotary contact shoe.

Abstract: A switch device for switching an electrical connection between two connection parts is disclosed. Conventional switch devices comprise a contact lever having a switch contact, the flow of current taking place by way of the contact lever when the switch device is closed. To achieve a rapid switching process, a low mass inertia of the contact lever is required. However, this generally leads to a lower current capacity. By arranging the lever-side switch contact on a separate electrical connection device, it becomes possible to separate the function of current conduction from the function of contact guidance. Since the contact lever therefore no longer performs any current-conducting function, it may be optimized in mechanical respects exclusively.

Abstract: A switch comprises a long, slender stationary contact means and a movable contact means moving between an open position and a closed position. The contact zone of the contact means is separated from the electrical connection zone by a slot which opens out on the side where the movable contact means are situated in the open position. The depth of the slot is sufficient so that, when opening takes place, the current lines passing through the contact means are curved and run approximately parallel to the flank of the slot. This arrangement prevents the foot of the electrical arc from being directed towards the free end of the contact means, away from the arc extinguishing chamber.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having at least one cassette for receiving a conductive path. The conductive path is partially looped upon itself so that a first portion and a second portion of the conductive path are in a facially spaced relationship and the portions partially define an area for receiving a ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material is insulated from the first portion and a support structure provides support for the first portion at two positions and the area is positioned in between these positions.

Abstract: A switching contact system of a low-voltage circuit breaker has a bus with cord-like flexible conductors attached thereto. The flexible conductors are accommodated between a connecting surface (30) of the bus (26) and an end piece (27), which is in contact with the connecting surface (30) of the bus (26) with at least two contact surfaces. The parts are connected by heat effect, such as soldering or electron beam welding.

Abstract: An electric switch (1), in particular for electric hand tools having an electric motor operated by means of direct current. The switch (1) possesses a contact system (9) consisting of a fixed contact (10) and of a switching contact (11), an actuating member (3) for triggering a switching operation between an "off" and an "on" position of the contact system (9) acting on the switching contact (11). The contact system (9) is assigned means (18), consisting of a shield (19), for extinguishing an arc generated between the fixed contact (10) and the switching contact (11) during the switching operation. The shield (19) can be moved together with the switching contact (11) in a coupled manner, during the operation to switch the switching contact (11) from the "on" to the "off" position the shield (19) being moved into the region located between the fixed and switching contacts (10, 11).

Abstract: A switch has at least one fixed and one moving contact located on a contact arm. The fixed contact is connected to a loop-shaped conductor segment, such that when current flows through the conductor segment, there is an electrodynamic magnetic force which acts on the contact arm. The force, above a specified current intensity, results in an opening movement of the contact arm. To open the moving contact more rapidly and in a simple manner the loop-shaped conductor segment is realized so that it is wound in a coil shape, and consists of at least two turns, and that the coil axis of the coil segment runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the contact arm.

Abstract: A circuit breaker contact arm (56) contains a straight elongate through-slot (112) that runs generally lengthwise of the contact arm and is closed at both lengthwise ends. Adjacent each slot, a respective side wall (106, 108) of a cross bar (58) contains a bent slot (114) having a knee (116). A respective cylindrical blow-open pin (118) passes through all three of these slots. A small helical coiled spring (120) occupies the contact arm through-slot and is compressed between the blow-open pin and the end of the contact arm slot that is proximate a cross bar/contact arm hinge pin (110). The spring is laterally confined by the adjacent side walls of the cross bar so as to remain in the contact arm slot about which the contact arm swings. The spring acts between the blow-open pin and the contact arm to bias the blow-open pin in a direction away from the cross bar/contact arm hinge axis.

Abstract: A DC circuit breaking device is provided for interrupting the transmission of direct currents to an electric power system by making external changes to an arc generated upon contacting or separation of contacts 11 and 12 in order to rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents. In a self-excited commuting DC circuit breaking device, coils 41 and 42 opposed to a fixed and a movable contact 11 and 12, respectively, are disposed around the outer circumferences of the contacts 11 and 12, and currents flowing through a commutation circuit or the contacts 11 and 12 are allowed to flow through the opposed coils 41 and 42 so as to apply magnetic fields to the neighborhood of an arc. This constitution provides the DC circuit breaking device with high performance that it can rapidly extend and vibrate arc currents to thereby interrupt direct currents.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a movable contact in a circuit interrupter includes a movable element that is displaced by gas pressure within the interrupter housing resulting from arcs generated during initial displacement of the movable element. The movable element may be a spanner extending between two stationary contacts. The apparatus may be configured as a three phase interrupter in which a single carrier or retainer is common to three power phase sections, and is displaced by interruption of a current carrying path for any one power phase section. The retainer may include a retaining pin which extends through the movable element. The movable element is biased into a conducting position and a head of the retaining pin contacts the movable element to hold it in a non-conducting position following a trip event.

Abstract: A contactor for switching electric current has a stationary contact and a movable contact which when driven by a solenoid moves into and away from abutment with the stationary contact. An arc chute includes a plurality of splitter plates which extend radially from a center point in a geometric arc around the stationary contact on a side that is opposite to the movable contact. A curved arc runner is connected to the stationary contact to guide an electrical arc travelling between the stationary contact and each of the splitter plates. An elongated arc runner is connected to the movable contact to guide the electrical arc between the movable contact and splitter plates at the ends of the geometric arc.

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 electromechanical switch of the contactor or circuit-breaker type with adjacent contacts, which are provided on respective mobile and fixed contact parts. This arrangement defines a narrow ionization slot which is maintained at the start of contact opening in order to cause a secondary arc to fire substantially perpendicular to the contact opening direction constituting a shunting arc to eliminate the time duration of the contacts and switch legs.

Abstract: A loadbreak switch is provided that utilizes a pivotally mounted movable jaw contact and a main stationary contact that is positioned in the middle of an arc runner. For operation at voltages 15 kV and above, the switch utilizes a shunt contact that bridges the arc runner and that is above and coplanar with the main stationary contact. A magnetic field is developed by the current that flows through a coil of wire disposed around the arc runner. This configuration when utilized in an environment of insulating gas, provides efficient extinguishing of arcs upon opening of the contacts. Further, the open jaw contact is easily visible to establish an open gap.

Abstract: A contact arrangement for a circuit breaker utilizes magnetic attraction between parallel conductors in the movable contacts to open the contacts during a short circuit, high current condition. An elongated, pivotable, main contact arm includes a movable main contact at a first end that engages a fixed main contact in a closed circuit position. An elongated, arcing contact arm, pivotable in the same plane as the main contact arm, includes a movable arcing contact at a first end that engages a fixed main contact in a closed circuit position. The contact arms are spring biased in the closed circuit position such that a gap is defined between the arms. An attractive electromagnetic force tends to keep the first end of the arcing contact arm in contact with the fixed arcing contact until after the main contact arm has lifted. A hinge assembly for the main contact arm and the arcing contact arm assists in opening the contacts during the high current condition.