Abstract: A circuit interrupter has first and second contacts that are actuatable relative to each other between a closed position wherein a power source and a load are in electrical communication and an open position wherein the power source and the load are not in electrical communication. An arc extinguisher is also provided for extinguishing an arc that develops in the vicinity of the contacts. An electromagnetic coil, when energized, generates a magnetic field that permeates an area where the arc develops, the magnetic field urging the arc toward the arc extinguisher regardless of a polarity of the contacts. An auxiliary switch is operably connected to the contacts, such that upon movement of the contacts relative to each other from the closed position toward the open position, the auxiliary switch is activated so as to energize a circuit feeding power to the electromagnetic coil, thereby generating the magnetic field.

Abstract: An exemplary electric switch mounting arrangement includes a housing and a stationary contact to be mounted to an aperture in a wall of the housing. The arrangement having a compensation component within the interior area of the aperture for allowing stationary contacts of two different sizes to be mounted to the aperture, which compensation component includes one or more projections formed on the housing or the stationary contact and/or one or more recesses formed on the housing or stationary contact for receiving the one or more projections.

Abstract: A switching device, in particular a circuit breaker, is disclosed including a switching shaft for mounting a rotary contact link. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the rotary contact link has at least one groove-shaped longitudinal cutout, arranged within and along the transversely running cutout in relation to the switching shaft. Two grooves, which are arranged radially opposite one another, with in each case a bend or arcuate profile are provided in the cutout of the switching shaft, the respective two ends of the grooves being positioned radially further outward than the respective central region thereof. In each case one groove is connected to the at least one groove-shaped longitudinal cutout via a transverse bolt guided there between. At least one prestressed spring element is provided which pushes the respective transverse bolt radially outward.

Abstract: A switching device, in particular a power switching device, has two pairs of series-connected switching contacts for interrupting a conducting path and at least one quenching packet, disposed near the pairs of switching contacts, for quenching the arcs occurring when the conducting path opens. The pairs of switching contacts are arranged such that their opening paths are substantially mutually parallel or antiparallel. The pairs of switching contacts are connected in series such that the same current flowing in both arcs flows spatially in the same direction. The quenching packet is disposed in the area between the opening paths.

Abstract: A U-shaped magnetic plate is positioned on the side of a movable contact shoe opposite to a fixed contact shoe, and the tips of the respective legs of the magnetic plate face via a gap the movable contact shoe in a closed condition of the movable contact shoe. A magnetic plate is attached to the surface of the movable contact shoe at the side of the fixed contact, so that the magnetic plates form a closed magnetic circuit surrounding the movable contact shoe. If a high current, such as short circuit current, flows, a magnetic flux passing through the closed magnetic circuit induces an attractive force between the upper end surfaces of the U-shaper magnetic plate and the end surface of the magnetic plate. Accordingly, the movable contact shoe is rapidly opened to quickly interrupt the current, before a signal from an overcurrent trip apparatus operates an opening and closing mechanism. The opening speed of the movable contact shoe is increased when high current flows.

Abstract: A arcing chamber housing is disclosed for a circuit breaker with a double turning contact breaker. The arcing chamber housing (1) is composed of two housing modules (2, 3) and an extinguishing chamber (19) is arranged in the area of the fixed contact pieces (6, 7) to extinguish the arcs which are formed between the contact pieces of the double turning contact breaker. In order to obtain a arcing chamber housing (1) which is easy and economical to produce, with extinguishing chambers (19) which have a reproducible extinguishing behavior once the arcing chamber is assembled, the two housing modules (2, 3) are substantially L-shaped parts whose inner marginal surfaces (4, 5) face each other. The first parts (17, 18) of the housing, which correspond to the first branches of the L-shaped housing modules (2,3), are designed as extinguishing chambers (19). Also disclosed are the housing modules (2, 3) used to produce such a arcing chamber housing.

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: An electrical contact assembly including a pair of first contact arms, each having a terminal end portion, a tip end portion and first contacts fixed to said tip end portions, and a second contact arm arranged opposite the first contact arms and having a tip end portion provided with a lengthened bridge contact. Either the pair of first contact arms or the second contact arm is moveable and the other one is stationary, respectively. Upon actuation of the moveable contact arm or arms, a current path is closed between the first contact arms via said bridge contact. Further, a pair of arc runner strips is provided at opposed lateral edges of either the pair of first contact arms or of the second contact arm. Each of the arc runner strips has a free end projecting toward a facing area of the second contact arm or the first contact arm, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical switch device with separable contacts is provided with a shunt conductor adapted to receive one end of the arc that is struck when the contacts separate after it has jumped a dielectric gap. The shunt conductor determines an interim arc current path in which is a current limiter device.

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.