A switch (10), particularly a disconnecting switch (10) for high direct currents and alternating currents at high voltages, can be transferred from a conducting position into a disconnecting position. The switch (10) is includes a housing (12), a first contact (28), a second contact (30), a switching piston (24) guided by the housing (12) with a connecting element (22), which establishes an electrical connection in the connecting position between the first contact (28) and the second contact (30). The housing (12) defines an interior space surrounding the connecting element (22). The connecting element (22) extends at least partially in the interior space (18) and is filled with an insulating medium (20), and the switch is designed such that a mechanical movement of the switching piston (24) transfers the switch (10) from the connecting position into the disconnecting position. The switching piston (24) mechanically impacts the connecting element (22) such that the electrical connection between the first contact (28) and the second contact (30) is interrupted in at least one disconnecting location.

An electromagnetic testing assembly to predict a usable life of an installed vacuum interrupter in the field, which can include an electromagnetic testing device connected to a flexible magnetic field coil to generate a potential in a vacuum interrupter in an installation, magnetically monitor ion flow across one or more gaps in the vacuum interrupter, and apply trend data, tube chart information, and an algorithm to predict the usable life.

An electrical switching device including an input connection land, an output connection land, and a connection member that is capable of switching between a closed position allowing an electric current to flow between the input and output connection lands and an open position preventing the flow of the current between the input and output connection lands. The electrical switching device includes an accelerometer that is capable of measuring a component of an acceleration of the switching device when switching the connection member between the closed and open positions and a control configured to estimate, on the basis of an acceleration measurement signal delivered by the accelerometer, a duration of switching of the connection member between the closed and open positions, and to determine wear on the switching device on the basis of the estimated switching duration.

A three-terminal nano-electro-mechanical field-effect transistor (NEMFET) includes a source electrode, a gate electrode, a drain electrode and a nanoelectromechanically suspended channel bridging the source electrode and the drain electrode. The nanoelectromechanically suspended channel includes a moveable nanowire and a dielectric coating on a surface of the nanowire facing the gate electrode. A thickness of a gap between the nanowire and the gate electrode is determined by a thickness of the dielectric coating.

[Object] To be capable of promptly performing a switching operation of a switch.

[Solving Means] In a switching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology, a movable electrode includes a first movable electrode piece, a second movable electrode piece, and a movable contact point. A first fixed electrode includes first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first and second fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the first movable electrode piece disposed between the first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first fixed electrode piece facing the first movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the second fixed electrode piece and the first movable electrode piece. A second fixed electrode includes third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the second movable electrode piece disposed between the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third fixed electrode piece facing the second movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the fourth fixed electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece. A first fixed contact point is in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode. A second fixed contact point is in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode.

Several features are disclosed that improve the operating performance of MEMS switches such that they exhibit improved in-service life and better control over switching on and off.

Provided is a connection unit including an electromagnetic relay and a bus bar connected to the electromagnetic relay. In such a connection unit, a first bus bar connected to a first fixed contact terminal is disposed facing one surface of a movable touch piece located on an opposite side of the movable touch piece from the other surface of the movable touch piece in a contact-making and breaking direction, with a gap provided between the first bus bar and the movable touch piece in the contact-making and breaking direction, the first bus bar extends in a direction that intersects the contact-making and breaking direction and in which a first movable contact and a second movable contact of the movable touch piece are arranged, and at least part of the first bus bar lies over the movable touch piece in plan view in the contact-making and breaking direction.

A method for diagnosing an operating state, i.e., wear, of a contactor which includes a processing unit directing voltage control means; an, actuating coil; means for measuring an electric characteristic of the actuating coil; and a diode in parallel with the coil and the measuring means; the method including creating, for a specific contactor design, a plurality of variation curves of an electric characteristic of the coils of such contactors, over a drop-out period, by testing said contactors by sending a drop-out order fixing a drop-out voltage across the coil; after the drop-out order, repeatedly measuring the electric characteristic of the coil during a drop-out period; later sending a diagnostic drop-out order fixing the same drop-out voltage across the terminals of an actuating coil of a subject contactor being diagnosed; then measuring the same electric characteristic of the subject coil during a drop-out period; identifying a measured value of that characteristic of the subject coil, then comparing that measured value with the variation curves of the plurality of contactors of the same design, thereby diagnosing a state of wear of the subject contactor.

A power relay for a vehicle has a housing and two connecting bolts that are introduced into the housing so as to contact a load current circuit. The power relay further having a coil assembly that is arranged in the housing, the coil assembly contains a magnetic coil and a magnetic armature that is coupled by way of a force-transferring member to a contact bridge that can be moved in a reversible manner between a closed position and an opened position and can be displaced in the housing under the effect of a magnetic field that is generated by the magnetic coil. The contact bridge supports two contact elements that together with the mating contacts of the connecting pin form a first contact pair and a second contact pair. The contact pairs form a three point bearing arrangement in the closed position.

A monitoring device for switching systems including a contact assembly having at least a movable contact and a kinematic chain for actuating said movable contact and opening/closing the contact assembly. The monitoring device includes: an accelerometer adapted to be positioned on a moving part of the switching system and capable of determining acceleration data of the moving part; a control unit including: a first processing unit adapted to receive acceleration data measured by the accelerometer and calculate timing instants of predetermined events and motion parameters related to the switching system; a second processing unit adapted to receive the timing instants of predetermined events and the motion parameters and to use at least one timing instant and at least one motion parameter to calculate electro/mechanical parameters of the switching system.