A movable contact piece is movable in an open direction and a closed direction with respect to a first fixed terminal and a second fixed terminal. A first movable contact is connected to the movable contact piece. The first movable contact is disposed facing a first fixed contact. A second movable contact is connected to the movable contact piece. The second movable contact is disposed facing a second fixed contact. At least one of the first fixed contact or the first movable contact has a material property different from that of at least one of the second fixed contact or the second movable contact.

A progressively contacting switch includes a set of contacts connected to an input. The set includes a first sacrificial contact formed of a first metal and a first conducting contact formed of a second metal. The switch further includes a movable set of contacts connected to an output. The movable set includes a second sacrificial contact formed of the first metal and a second conducting contact formed of the second metal. The switch includes an element configurable to connect the movable set of contacts such that the first sacrificial contact connects to the second sacrificial contact at a first time, thereby causing a current to flow from the input to the output, and while the first sacrificial contact remains connected to the second sacrificial contact, the first conducting contact connects with the second conducting contact at a later time.

A progressively contacting switch includes a set of contacts connected to an input. The set includes a first sacrificial contact formed of a first metal and a first conducting contact formed of a second metal. The switch further includes a movable set of contacts connected to an output. The movable set includes a second sacrificial contact formed of the first metal and a second conducting contact formed of the second metal. The switch includes an element configurable to connect the movable set of contacts such that the first sacrificial contact connects to the second sacrificial contact at a first time, thereby causing a current to flow from the input to the output, and while the first sacrificial contact remains connected to the second sacrificial contact, the first conducting contact connects with the second conducting contact at a later time.

A thermomagnetic trip assembly includes a thermal trip, a magnetic trip, and first and second actuation levers. The thermal trip includes a bimetal strip that is capable of deforming in order to actuate the first actuation lever. The magnetic trip includes a movable armature, a fixed armature and an electrical conductor. The movable armature is capable of moving in order to actuate the second actuation lever. The electrical conductor and the bimetal strip are electrically connected in series with one another between first and second connection terminals of the trip assembly. The movable armature is connected to the first connection terminal, the fixed armature is connected to the second connection terminal, and the respective contact areas of the fixed armature and of the movable armature are made of electrically conductive materials that exhibit a low degree of mutual weldability.

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.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to an alloy. The alloy includes elemental silver. The alloy further includes a metal oxide phase in the elemental silver. The metal oxide phase includes a wetting agent layer that coats the metal oxide phase.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to an alloy. The alloy includes elemental silver. The alloy further includes a metal oxide phase in the elemental silver. The metal oxide phase includes a wetting agent layer that coats the metal oxide phase.

The electrical switch includes two fixed contacts and a rotatable knife contact having a rotational axis and including at least one longitudinal pair of blades flexibly connected to each other. The two fixed contacts as well as the blades in the rotatable knife contact are of a first electrically conductive material composition. The first and the second fixed contact includes a first contact pin and outer ends in the blades in the rotatable knife contact includes a second contact pin. The first contact pin and the second contact pin are of a second electrically material composition, which is different from the first material composition. The first contact pin and the second contact pin pass over each other during a switching event.

The electrical switch includes two fixed contacts and a rotatable knife contact having a rotational axis and including at least one longitudinal pair of blades flexibly connected to each other. The two fixed contacts as well as the blades in the rotatable knife contact are of a first electrically conductive material composition. The first and the second fixed contact includes a first contact pin and outer ends in the blades in the rotatable knife contact includes a second contact pin. The first contact pin and the second contact pin are of a second electrically material composition, which is different from the first material composition. The first contact pin and the second contact pin pass over each other during a switching event.