A switch device capable of safely opening or short-circuiting an electrical circuit in response to an abnormality such as wetting with water or liquid leaking from a battery is provided. The device includes a conductor connected to an external circuit, and a reaction part including a liquid-soluble material which opens the conductor and the external circuit and which dissolves on contacting a liquid entering the device interior to electrically connect the conductor and the external circuit.

A switch device capable of safely opening or short-circuiting an electrical circuit in response to an abnormality such as wetting with water or liquid leaking from a battery is provided. The device includes a conductor connected to an external circuit, and a reaction part including a liquid-soluble material which opens the conductor and the external circuit and which dissolves on contacting a liquid entering the device interior to electrically connect the conductor and the external circuit.

A switch device capable of safely opening or short-circuiting an electrical circuit in response to an abnormality such as wetting with water or liquid leaking from a battery is provided. The device includes a conductor connected to an external circuit, and a reaction part including a liquid-soluble material which opens the conductor and the external circuit and which dissolves on contacting a liquid entering the device interior to electrically connect the conductor and the external circuit.

A method for closing an electrical power supply circuit of an electric apparatus located in a chamber at a controlled variable pressure. The method includes heating which provides energy to an element made of electrically conductive material located in the enclosure which is open to the chamber pressure; sublimation of the element made of electrically conductive material once the latter reaches a given temperature, if the pressure conditions in the chamber correspond to the conditions required for an operation of the electric apparatus under vacuum; ejection of vapor particles of the electrically conductive material which result from the sublimation; and formation of a deposit of electrically conductive material between the two electrically conductive terminals as a consequence of the ejection of the vapor particles.

A switch assembly is disclosed for use in a circuit configured to carry a current between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The switch assembly includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which includes an electrical contact which can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the second electrical conductor. At least one of the first current path and the second current path is configured such that it has a frequency-dependent reactance or impedance so as to force or cause current with a frequency which complies with a selected frequency criterion and which flows between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor to flow, at least to a greater extent, via a selected one of the first current path and the second current path.

A switch assembly is disclosed for use in a circuit configured to carry a current between a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The switch assembly includes at least a first current path and a second current path, each of which includes an electrical contact which can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the second electrical conductor. At least one of the first current path and the second current path is configured such that it has a frequency-dependent reactance or impedance so as to force or cause current with a frequency which complies with a selected frequency criterion and which flows between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor to flow, at least to a greater extent, via a selected one of the first current path and the second current path.

A method for closing an electrical power supply circuit of an electric apparatus located in a chamber at a controlled variable pressure. The method includes heating which provides energy to an element made of electrically conductive material located in the enclosure which is open to the chamber pressure; sublimation of the element made of electrically conductive material once the latter reaches a given temperature, if the pressure conditions in the chamber correspond to the conditions required for an operation of the electric apparatus under vacuum; ejection of vapour particles of the electrically conductive material which result from the sublimation; and formation of a deposit of electrically conductive material between the two electrically conductive terminals as a consequence of the ejection of the vapour particles.