A method is disclosed for improving the production of electrical switch contacts, in particular for vacuum tubes. In the method, an electrical or electromagnetic field assists and/or effects a sintering process. In the method, the sintering process takes place on a metallic carrier, and via the method, semi-finished contact elements for electrical switch contacts, contact elements for electrical switch contacts, and/or electrical switch contacts, in particular for vacuum tubes, are produced.

A method for producing an electrical switch contact arrangement for a vacuum circuit breaker includes the following steps: a) providing two electrical contact pieces made of copper or a copper alloy; b) coating the electrical contact pieces with aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the coating of the contact pieces taking place by means of a cold gas spraying method; c) welding each of the sides coated in method step b) to a current transfer contact; and d) arranging the units obtained in method step b) inside the vacuum circuit breaker. There is also described an electrical switch contact arrangement for a vacuum circuit breaker with the contact pieces produced by the method according to the invention.

A process for producing an electrode material by infiltrating a highly conductive metal such as Cu into a porous object containing heat-resistant elements. Before an infiltration step in which the highly conductive metal is infiltrated, a HIP treatment is given to a powder containing the heat-resistant elements (or to a molded object obtained by molding a powder containing the heat-resistant elements). The composition is controlled so that the HIP treatment yields a porous object which has a degree of filling of 70% or higher, more preferably 75% or higher. The highly conductive metal is infiltrated into the porous object having the controlled composition.

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.

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.

A method for producing an electrode material, provided to involve: (i) a provisional sintering step of sintering a mixed powder containing a powder of a heat resistant element and a powder of Cr to obtain a solid solution where the heat resistant element and Cr are dissolved; (ii) a pulverizing step of pulverizing the solid solution to obtain a powder; (iii) a main sintering step of sintering a molded body obtained by molding the powder of the solid solution, to produce a sintered body; and (iv) a Cu infiltration step of infiltrating the sintered body with Cu.

A contact disc of a contact element for a vacuum switch is provided, which includes predominantly of a first conductive material or composite material and has a plurality of inlets distributed over the circumference and made of a second material with a lower level of conductivity relative to the first material or composite material, which, during a switching process of the vacuum switch, bring about the formation of a magnetic field and thereby a movement of an arising arc on a predefined path and/or an extensive propagation of the arc. A production method for a contact disc of this type is also provided.

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.

A method for forming a contact piece for a circuit breaker, the contact piece comprising a reinforcement phase and a conductive phase, the method comprising: providing a slurry of the reinforcement phase in liquid; freeze casting the slurry, to form a cast comprising a frozen liquid structure and a reinforcement phase structure; removing the frozen liquid structure from the cast, to form a foam comprising the reinforcement phase structure; sintering the foam, to form a sintered foam; and infiltrating the sintered foam with the conductive phase, to form a piece part.

According to one embodiment, a vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum insulation container, a fixed side contact provided in the vacuum insulation container, and a movable side contact provided in the vacuum insulation container and configured to contact and separate from the fixed side contact. A first contact surface of the movable side contact configured to contact the fixed side contact is planar. A second contact surface of the fixed contact configured to contact the movable side contact is spherical protruding toward the movable side contact.