A contactor includes two static contacts and a movable contact. Two ends of the movable contact selectively electrically contact the two static contacts, respectively. The contactor further includes a rotatable member rotatable about a central axis, with the movable contact being mounted thereon. The rotatable member is rotatably mounted on a support plate. Two ceramic members are mounted on the support plate, with each defining an internal region. Two permanent magnets are mounted on the support plate and located outside of the two ceramic members, respectively. The two ends of the movable contact are located in respective internal regions of the two ceramic members, such that an electrical arc generated between the movable contact and the static contact is located within the internal region.

A switching device in accordance with the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the second electrode includes a body part and a cantilever connected to the body part. In addition, one end of a the cantilever comes into contact with the first electrode by an electrostatic force generated by a voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, and the one end of the cantilever is separated from the first electrode due to heat generated by a voltage applied to both ends of the body part. In addition, the second electrode may include a 2-1 electrode, a 2-2 electrode, and an engineered beam connected in between. The engineered beam comes into contact with the first electrode on the basis of thermal expansion due to heat generated by a current flowing between the body part of the 2-1 electrode and the body part of the 2-2 electrode, or is separated from the first electrode on the basis of thermal expansion due to heat generated by a current flowing through both ends of the body parts of the 2-1 electrode and the 2-2 electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve high-speed operation while having ultralow power, high reliability through exploiting nano thermal actuation method capable of high-speed thermal expansion and actuation at low operation voltage.

A switching device in accordance with the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode, and the second electrode includes a body part and a cantilever connected to the body part. In addition, one end of a the cantilever comes into contact with the first electrode by an electrostatic force generated by a voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, and the one end of the cantilever is separated from the first electrode due to heat generated by a voltage applied to both ends of the body part. In addition, the second electrode may include a 2-1 electrode, a 2-2 electrode, and an engineered beam connected in between. The engineered beam comes into contact with the first electrode on the basis of thermal expansion due to heat generated by a current flowing between the body part of the 2-1 electrode and the body part of the 2-2 electrode, or is separated from the first electrode on the basis of thermal expansion due to heat generated by a current flowing through both ends of the body parts of the 2-1 electrode and the 2-2 electrode. According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve high-speed operation while having ultralow power, high reliability through exploiting nano thermal actuation method capable of high-speed thermal expansion and actuation at low operation voltage.

A contactor (1) comprising a first contact member (3) fixed and connected to a first conductor (5) of an electrical circuit; a second contact member (7) connected to a second conductor (9) of the electrical circuit by a connector (11); wherein the second contact member moves between a break position, in which the first and second contact members are out of contact, and a make position, in which the first and second contact members are in contact; an actuator assembly (15) coupled to the second contact member such that actuation of the actuator assembly translates into movement of the second contact member; an electromagnetic arrangement comprising an electromagnetic coil (17) and at least a part of the actuator assembly, wherein, when the coil is energised, the coil generates a magnetic field and thereby the actuation assembly is caused to move under the influence of the magnetic field, which in turn causes the second contact member to move; a hermetically sealable enclosure (2); wherein the first and second contact members, the connector, and the actuation assembly are inside the enclosure; and the coil is outside the enclosure.

A low-voltage circuit breaker device includes: at least one line conductor path from a line conductor supply connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker device to a line conductor load connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker device; a neutral conductor path from a neutral conductor connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker device to a neutral conductor load connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker device; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the line conductor path; a first semiconductor circuit assembly of the low-voltage circuit breaker device being connected in parallel with the mechanical bypass switch; an electronic control unit for actuating the mechanical bypass switch and the first semiconductor circuit assembly; an ammeter assembly arranged in the line conductor path, which ammeter assembly is connected to the electronic control unit; and a second semiconductor circuit assembly arranged in the line conductor path.

An electrical assembly may include a first contactor, a second contactor, a bus bar assembly electrically connected to the first contactor and the second contactor, a cooling member, a bracket configured to connect the cooling member to the first contactor and the second contactor, and/or potting material that may be disposed at least partially between the bus bar assembly and the cooling member. A method of assembling an electrical assembly may include disposing the first contactor and the second contactor on a fixture, connecting the bus bar assembly to the first contactor and the second contactor, connecting the bracket to the bus bar assembly, the first contactor, and/or the second contactor, connecting the cooling member to the bracket, and/or providing the potting material between the bus bar assembly and the cooling member.

An electrical unit includes a contactor having a housing member, a first terminal, a second terminal, and/or a contact member disposed in the housing member and configured to selectively electrically connect the first terminal and the second terminal. The electrical unit may include a cooling member connected to the housing member, a first bus bar connected to the cooling member and the first terminal, and/or a second bus bar connected to the cooling member and the second terminal. The cooling member may be configured to dissipate heat that is generated via electrical current flowing through the contact member.

A relay cooling device includes a container, a liquid coolant that is stored in the container, and a relay that is immersed in the liquid coolant.

A method and system for monitoring a heating arrangement includes applying a first polarity voltage to a heater of the heating arrangement, detecting a first polarity heating leakage current, applying a second polarity voltage to the heating arrangement, detecting a second polarity heating leakage current, and determining health of the heating arrangement via the first polarity heating leakage current and the second polarity heating leakage current.

A method and system for monitoring a heating arrangement includes applying a first polarity voltage to a heater of the heating arrangement, detecting a first polarity heating leakage current, applying a second polarity voltage to the heating arrangement, detecting a second polarity heating leakage current, and determining health of the heating arrangement via the first polarity heating leakage current and the second polarity heating leakage current.