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.

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switches that provide low contact resistance over a large number of open and close contact cycles are disclosed. A MEMS switch device may include a plurality of parallel MEMS switches with a first MEMS switch that is configured differently in such a manner to close first and/or open last during open and close cycles. In this regard, the first MEMS switch may experience increased contact resistance over a large number of open and close cycles while other MEMS switches maintain a low contact resistance. In certain embodiments, the first MEMS switch is controlled by a different control signal to open and close differently than the other MEMS switches. In certain embodiments, a common control signal controls a plurality of MEMS switches and the first MEMS switch is mechanically different such that it opens and closes differently than other MEMS switches.

An assembly includes an automatic transfer switch having an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is configured to cause current to flow through the automatic transfer switch. The assembly further includes a cooler configured to cool at least a portion of the automatic transfer switch. The cooler is structured to be wirelessly driven by electromagnetic fields generated in response to current flowing through the automatic transfer switch.

A switch for a medium or high voltage traction line testing device includes a plurality of normally-opened pairs of contacts connected in series, wherein each pair of contacts is equipped with a separate control coil. The switch further comprises a wireless power transfer supply module being on ground potential for supplying cascaded wireless power transfer receivers comprising the transmitting coil, high frequency inverter and microcontroller, a plurality of cascaded wireless power transfer receivers for supplying control coil of pairs of contacts. Each of the wireless power transfer receivers is referenced to the floating potential and comprises a receiving coil. Each of the control coils is connected to one of the wireless power transfer receivers. The receiving coils of the wireless power transfer receivers are magnetically coupled, and a wireless power transfer supply module is located in the middle of the cascaded wireless power transfer receivers.

A power distribution system includes an electrical contactor arrangement. The electrical contactor arrangement includes a first contactor post, a first contactor lead, and a second contactor lead. The first contactor post extends from a first bus bar. The first contactor lead extends from the first contactor post. The first contactor lead is at least partially received within a contactor housing. The second contactor lead is spaced apart from the first contactor lead and extends from the first contactor post. The second contactor lead is at least partially received within the contactor housing.

A power distribution system includes an electrical contactor arrangement. The electrical contactor arrangement includes a first contactor post, a first contactor lead, and a second contactor lead. The first contactor post extends from a first bus bar. The first contactor lead extends from the first contactor post. The first contactor lead is at least partially received within a contactor housing. The second contactor lead is spaced apart from the first contactor lead and extends from the first contactor post. The second contactor lead is at least partially received within the contactor housing.

Electrical contact system with a first and a second contact (1, 5), each having a contact surface (4, 8). The first electric contact (1) has a mesostructured electric contact portion (14) with a plurality of slots (15) and ridges (16) formed between neighboring slots (16) of the plurality of slots (16). These slots (15) and ridges (16) extend in a direction running transversely to said switching plane (X-Z) form a plurality of current paths (16). The current paths (16) are inclined to the first contact surface (4) at a first angle (17) measuring less than 60 degrees such that an interruption current (12) flowing through the mesostructured electric contact portion (14) and through an electric arc (11) extending in between the first contact surface (4) after lifting the first contact surface (4) off the second contact surface (8) pushes said electric arc (11) in the direction of the apex of said first angle (17) from a first position (18) to a second position (19).

Electrical contact system with a first and a second contact (1, 5), each having a contact surface (4, 8). The first electric contact (1) has a mesostructured electric contact portion (14) with a plurality of slots (15) and ridges (16) formed between neighboring slots (16) of the plurality of slots (16). These slots (15) and ridges (16) extend in a direction running transversely to said switching plane (X-Z) form a plurality of current paths (16). The current paths (16) are inclined to the first contact surface (4) at a first angle (17) measuring less than 60 degrees such that an interruption current (12) flowing through the mesostructured electric contact portion (14) and through an electric arc (11) extending in between the first contact surface (4) after lifting the first contact surface (4) off the second contact surface (8) pushes said electric arc (11) in the direction of the apex of said first angle (17) from a first position (18) to a second position (19).

A switch includes a first switch (100) including a first fixed contact (111) and a first movable contact (121) and a second switch (200) including a second fixed contact (211) and a second movable contact (221). The first fixed contact (111) and the first movable contact (121) come into contact and the second fixed contact (211) and the second movable contact (221) come into contact to turn on the switch. A magnet (320) is installed between the first switch (100) and the second switch (200).

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.