The contact structure includes a first contact, a second contact, a first contact arm and a second contact arm. In an embodiment, the first contact arm includes at least two spring plates, arranged one on top of another and fixed at one end. The second contact is located on the second contact arm. The first contact is located on the spring plate, on a side of the first contact arm relatively closer to the second contact arm. The at least two spring plates, under a driving action, experience elastic deformation which causes the first contact and the second contact to come into contact with each other. The switch apparatus includes at least one driver and the contact structure of an embodiment. An embodiment of the present solution can reduce the number of contacts in a contact structure.

There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an electrode by pressing and sintering a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and a heat-resistant element, which contains Cr and the heat-resistant element in a ratio such that Cr is greater than the heat-resistant element by weight, a Cu powder, and a low melting metal powder (Bi, Sn, Se, Pb, etc.). The low melting metal powder of 0.30 weight % to 0.50 weight % is added to a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat-resistant element and the Cu powder, and then a mixed powder prepared by adding the low melting metal powder is sintered at a temperature of from 1010 C. to 1035 C. As the low melting metal powder, there is used a powder having a median size of from 5 m to 20 m.

In a contact member, a mesh-like contact including one or more layers of a metal other than a noble metal is embedded in such a manner as to be exposed from one of the surfaces of a rubbery elastic body. The contact member includes a highly conductive metal coat layer only in the regions of the mesh-like contact which are exposed from the rubbery elastic body, the coat layer having conductivity higher than that of the metal on the outermost surfaces of the mesh-like contact.

In a contact member, a mesh-like contact including one or more layers of a metal other than a noble metal is embedded in such a manner as to be exposed from one of the surfaces of a rubbery elastic body. The contact member includes a highly conductive metal coat layer only in the regions of the mesh-like contact which are exposed from the rubbery elastic body, the coat layer having conductivity higher than that of the metal on the outermost surfaces of the mesh-like contact.

There is provided a wire for a reed switch used for a material of a reed piece comprised by a reed switch, the wire being composed of an iron-group alloy containing Fe and 0 mass % or more and less than 10 mass % of Ni, with a total content of the Fe and the Ni satisfying 10 mass % or more and less than 20 mass %, with a balance of Co and an impurity, the iron-group alloy having a cubic crystal structure, the wire having a Curie temperature of 900 C. or higher and a specific resistance of 15 .Math.cm or less at normal temperature, a ratio of a thermal expansion coefficient of a glass tube comprised by the reed switch to a thermal expansion coefficient of the wire for the reed switch being 90% or more, the wire having a diameter of 1 mm or less.

A drive mechanism is for a vacuum switching apparatus. The vacuum switching apparatus has a stationary contact and a movable contact structured to move into and out of engagement with the stationary contact in order to connect and disconnect power, respectively. The drive mechanism includes a drive rod structured to drive the movable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact, the drive rod being movable along a longitudinal axis, and a number of toggle assemblies each having a component and a biasing element coupled to the component. The component is coupled to the drive rod. The biasing element is structured to bias the drive rod in a direction not coinciding with the longitudinal axis.

Switch assemblies and switching methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a switch assembly may include a first blade having a first contact within an enclosed cavity, and a second blade having a second contact within the enclosed cavity. The first and second contacts are operable to make or break contact with one another in response to a magnetic field. The switch assembly may further include a coating formed over each of the first and second contacts, the coating including a titanium layer, a second layer formed over the titanium layer, and a tungsten-copper layer formed over the second layer. In some embodiments, the second layer is copper or molybdenum.

A vacuum interrupter includes a fixed side contact and a movable side contact; a fixed side electrode rod connected to the fixed side contact; a movable side electrode rod connected to the movable side contact; a fixed side reinforcement plate which is arranged between the fixed side electrode rod and the fixed side contact, and whose rim portion has a step portion to be arranged apart from the back of the fixed side contact; and a movable side reinforcement plate which is arranged between the movable side electrode rod and the movable side contact, and whose rim portion has a step portion to be arranged apart from the back of the movable side contact.

An electrical contact device includes a high electric potential-side contact and a low electric potential-side contact having a lower electric potential than the high electric potential-side contact. The high electric potential-side contact and the low electric potential-side contact are configured to be brought into and out of contact with each other. At least one of the high electric potential-side contact and the low electric potential-side contact is formed of a low-boiling point material whose boiling point is lower than 2562 C. or a mixed material that contains the low-boiling point material.

A contact member according to the present invention includes: a contact layer composed of a plate-shaped porous body containing a high-melting-point metal as a main constituent and infiltrated with an infiltrant containing a low-melting-point metal as a main constituent; a contact-layer supporting part composed of the infiltrant; and a contact-part holding conductor composed of the infiltrant, wherein, the porous body is provided with an opening at the center of the contact layer and a portion from the opening to the contact-part holding conductor is continuously and integrally molded with the infiltrant.