A vacuum interrupter includes a first contact carrier; a first contact piece; a second contact carrier; and a second contact piece; wherein the first contact piece is connected to the first contact carrier; wherein the second contact piece is connected to the second contact carrier; wherein a shape of the first contact piece is different to a shape of the second contact piece and/or a material of the first contact piece is different to a material of the second contact piece; wherein in a deactivated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to hold the first contact piece spaced from the second contact piece; and wherein in an activated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to bring the first contact piece and the second contact piece into contact with one another.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a contact material, including the steps of: forming a Ni alloy film having a film thickness of 40 nm or more and 110 nm or less on a surface of WC powder having an average particle diameter of 2 m or more and 10 m or less by an electroless Ni plating method; performing heat treatment for degassing at a temperature of 500 C. or more and 860 C. or less; crushing Ni alloy-coated WC powder after the heat treatment; mixing the crushed Ni alloy-coated WC powder and Cu powder having an average particle diameter of 1 m or more and 100 m or less; and compressing the resultant mixture, followed by sintering the mixture at a temperature of more than 1,083 C. and less than 1,455 C.

An electrical contact for a vacuum switching apparatus. The vacuum switching apparatus includes a second electrical contact. The electrical contact includes a hub portion and a plurality of petal portions each extending from the hub portion. Each of the plurality of petal portions has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface faces in a first direction and is structured to engage the second electrical contact. The second surface faces in a second direction generally opposite the first direction. At least one of the plurality of petal portions further has a grooved portion extending inwardly from the second surface toward the first surface.

The present disclosure aims to provide an electrical contact to which a low boiling point metal is added, the electrical contact being able secure both mechanical strength and conductivity at the same time. The electrical contact according to the present disclosure includes a base material made of Cu, particles of a high melting point substance dispersed in the base material, the particles being made of at least one of a high melting point metal or a carbide of the high melting point metal, and Te and Ti dispersed in the base material, wherein, the Te of 3.5 to 14.5 mass % is added where the total is 100 mass %, and Ti/Te is 0.12 to 0.38.

An improved electrical contact alloy, useful for example, in vacuum interrupters used in vacuum contactors is provided. The contact alloy according to the disclosed concept comprises copper particles and chromium particles present in a ratio of copper to chromium of 2:3 to 20:1. The electrical contact alloy also comprises particles of a carbide, which reduces the weld break strength of the electrical contact alloy without reducing its interruption performance.

A vacuum circuit breaker comprises a vacuum interrupter operable between a closed state and an open state, and an actuator. The actuator comprises a piezoelectric driving element that is expandable and contractable along an expansion axis in response to an electrical input signal. The actuator further comprises a mechanical amplifying structure extendable along an actuation axis and being mechanically coupled to the piezoelectric driver such that expansion or contraction of said piezoelectric driving element causes the amplifying structure to extend or retract along the actuation axis. The mechanical amplifying structure is coupled to the vacuum interrupter for operating the vacuum interrupter between said closed and open states.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising an interrupter and a first internal contact disposed within the interrupter; wherein an external terminal of the interrupter is configured for serving as a terminal in a switching mechanism; and wherein the first internal contact and the external terminal form opposite ends of a unitary conductive bar.

An apparatus is disclosed comprising a vacuum interrupter; an upper insulating shield forming part of a support structure to mechanically support the vacuum interrupter in a mounted position; a top portion of the vacuum interrupter seated in the upper insulating shield; a first lower insulating shield forming part of the support structure to mechanically support the vacuum interrupter in a mounted position; and a lower portion of the vacuum interrupter seated in the first lower insulating shield, wherein the upper insulating shield and the lower insulating shield are mechanically coupled with one another independent of the vacuum interrupter.

In accordance with certain embodiments, an improved switching mechanism and related components are provided.

In accordance with certain embodiments, an improved switching mechanism and related components are provided.