A switching assembly includes an operating assembly and a fixed contact assembly including a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, a third fixed contact, a fourth fixed contact, and a number of terminals. The number of terminals includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The switching assembly also includes a movable contact assembly that includes a first movable contact and a second movable contact. The first movable contact is movable between a first position and a second position. The second movable contact is movable between a first position and a second position. The operating assembly is coupled to the movable contact assembly and moves the first and second movable contact assemblies between the first and second positions. The switching assembly also includes a shunt assembly including a number of shunts. The shunt assembly is configured in one of a series configuration or a parallel configuration.

The present invention relates to an electric switch comprising a first switch assembly (1) with several electric breaker elements (2a, 2b, 2c) connected in series between two connection terminals (5, 6), and a second switch assembly (4) with a electric breaker element (3) connected in parallel to the first switch assembly (1). The second switch assembly (4) has less electrical resistance than the first switch assembly (1). The switch is configured so that the second switch assembly (4) closes in a delayed manner with respect to the closing of the first switch (1). Current interruption operations are performed with the first switch assembly (1) to facilitate arc quenching, whereas in permanent working of the switch, current flows through the low electrical resistance second breaker element (4) to reduce losses due to heating. The invention also relates to a method for controlling current flow.

The present invention relates to an electric switch comprising a first switch assembly (1) with several electric breaker elements (2a, 2b, 2c) connected in series between two connection terminals (5, 6), and a second switch assembly (4) with a electric breaker element (3) connected in parallel to the first switch assembly (1). The second switch assembly (4) has less electrical resistance than the first switch assembly (1). The switch is configured so that the second switch assembly (4) closes in a delayed manner with respect to the closing of the first switch (1). Current interruption operations are performed with the first switch assembly (1) to facilitate arc quenching, whereas in permanent working of the switch, current flows through the low electrical resistance second breaker element (4) to reduce losses due to heating. The invention also relates to a method for controlling current flow.

An electric switch includes a first and a second connection terminal for connecting the switch to an external circuit; a first switch assembly, which includes two or more electric breaker elements connected in series to one another and to the first and the second connection terminal; a second switch assembly, which includes at least one delayed electric breaker element connected in parallel to the first switch assembly. A moving actuator is made of insulating material and is associated with the first and the second switch assembly to open or close them. The moving actuator is movable between a closed switch position in which electrical continuity is established between the first and the second connection terminal, and an open position in which current flow between said terminals is prevented.

An electric switch includes a first and a second connection terminal for connecting the switch to an external circuit; a first switch assembly, which includes two or more electric breaker elements connected in series to one another and to the first and the second connection terminal; a second switch assembly, which includes at least one delayed electric breaker element connected in parallel to the first switch assembly. A moving actuator is made of insulating material and is associated with the first and the second switch assembly to open or close them. The moving actuator is movable between a closed switch position in which electrical continuity is established between the first and the second connection terminal, and an open position in which current flow between said terminals is prevented.

A multi-finger circuit breaker includes a moving contact assembly having a carrier body, a first plurality of fixed breaking contacts, a first plurality of movable contacts, a plurality of first fingers, at least one second finger longer in length to a length of a first finger of the plurality of first fingers, a plurality of splitter plates disposed adjacent to the plurality of first fingers and the at least one second finger and a slot motor disposed adjacent to the plurality of first fingers and the at least one second finger. The slot motor is configured to provide a first magnetic field force to amplify a second magnetic field force being applied on the second finger to influence an arc between the first plurality of fixed breaking contacts and the first plurality of movable contacts during a short circuit such that to move the arc away from between the first plurality of fixed breaking contacts and the first plurality of movable contacts and dissipate energy of the arc.

A switch apparatus usable in a DC circuit employs a rotatable shaft having conductors that are removably connected with two or more pairs of contacts that are situated on line conductors and load conductors and that are connected in parallel by the conductors on the shaft. In rotating the shaft to open the switch, one pair of the contacts is electrically disconnected prior to electrical disconnection of the other pair of contacts. Further rotation of the shaft causes the other pair of contact to eventually become disconnected. Electrical arcs thus form only at the air gaps between the other pair of contacts and the conductor. Magnetic field elements in the form of permanent magnets are situated in the vicinity of the air gaps of only the other pair of contacts and apply Lorentz forces to the arcs to extinguish them.

A switch apparatus usable in a DC circuit employs a rotatable shaft having conductors that are removably connected with two or more pairs of contacts that are situated on line conductors and load conductors and that are connected in parallel by the conductors on the shaft. In rotating the shaft to open the switch, one pair of the contacts is electrically disconnected prior to electrical disconnection of the other pair of contacts. Further rotation of the shaft causes the other pair of contact to eventually become disconnected. Electrical arcs thus form only at the air gaps between the other pair of contacts and the conductor. Magnetic field elements in the form of permanent magnets are situated in the vicinity of the air gaps of only the other pair of contacts and apply Lorentz forces to the arcs to extinguish them.

A method for operating an electrical switching device and an electrical switching device are disclosed. In order to ensure reliable operation of an electrical switching device having parallel switching paths allocated to a phase, which have lower switching capacity in comparison to conventional parallel switching paths, the zero current crossings in the phase are detected and at least one switching mechanism, operatively connected to the switching paths, is actuated so that all parallel switching paths allocated to the phase open within a window of time which is in the phase relative to the zero current crossings.

Systems of automatic transfer switches (ATS) are disclosed herein. One apparatus includes at least two automatic transfer switches coupled together. Each automatic transfer switches has contacts to couple a power source to a load. For each switch, an electromagnetic force biasing the contacts to each other is present if an electrical current flows through the switch. The automatic transfer switches may be on separate cassettes or on a single cassette. The power source of each switch may be the same or different.