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.

The invention relates to a single- or multi-pole switching device, in particular for DC applications, having at least one rotating switching element (2) which is connected to a drive, and also comprising switching contacts (4, 5), connection pieces (7) and connection poles or connection terminals (8) and a housing arrangement which accommodates the abovementioned parts. According to the invention, a movably guided rotary cylinder (2) is formed in the housing arrangement, said rotary cylinder being located in a body which is designed as a rotary cylinder holder (1). The rotary cylinder (2) has at least one contact pin (3) which passes radially or tangentially or eccentrically through the rotary cylinder and has, at its end, a contact piece (4) in each case. Mating contact pieces (5) are arranged in the rotary cylinder holder (1), said mating contact pieces being electrically connected to the connection pieces (7) or connection poles or connection terminals (8). A narrow, arc-influencing gap is present between the rotary cylinder (2) and the rotary cylinder holder (1), wherein, as a result of the movement of the rotary cylinder (2), the electrical connection between the contact pieces (4) and the mating contact pieces (5) can be broken by way of the contact pin (3) and the resulting disconnection arcs (11) enter the air gap subject to an extension and are rapidly extinguished there.

The invention relates to a single- or multi-pole switching device, in particular for DC applications, having at least one rotating switching element (2) which is connected to a drive, and also comprising switching contacts (4, 5), connection pieces (7) and connection poles or connection terminals (8) and a housing arrangement which accommodates the abovementioned parts. According to the invention, a movably guided rotary cylinder (2) is formed in the housing arrangement, said rotary cylinder being located in a body which is designed as a rotary cylinder holder (1). The rotary cylinder (2) has at least one contact pin (3) which passes radially or tangentially or eccentrically through the rotary cylinder and has, at its end, a contact piece (4) in each case. Mating contact pieces (5) are arranged in the rotary cylinder holder (1), said mating contact pieces being electrically connected to the connection pieces (7) or connection poles or connection terminals (8). A narrow, arc-influencing gap is present between the rotary cylinder (2) and the rotary cylinder holder (1), wherein, as a result of the movement of the rotary cylinder (2), the electrical connection between the contact pieces (4) and the mating contact pieces (5) can be broken by way of the contact pin (3) and the resulting disconnection arcs (11) enter the air gap subject to an extension and are rapidly extinguished there.

A switch device includes a knob member rotatably fitted to and supported by a middle serving as a fixing portion, and a rotor member integrally mounted to the knob member and rotatably supported by the middle. A rotation regulating portion that regulates a rotatable range of the knob member with respect to the middle and rotation sliding surfaces in a rotational axis direction of the middle and the knob member are collectively formed.

A switch device includes a knob member rotatably fitted to and supported by a middle serving as a fixing portion, and a rotor member integrally mounted to the knob member and rotatably supported by the middle. A rotation regulating portion that regulates a rotatable range of the knob member with respect to the middle and rotation sliding surfaces in a rotational axis direction of the middle and the knob member are collectively formed.

A controller of a rotary switch receives, via a contact receiver, signals from a plurality of fixed contacts of a rotary switch that rotates a movable contact to connect the movable contact to any of the fixed contacts, and outputs a command based on the received signals. The controller of the rotary switch monitors a transition of an output code received from the contact receiver, and determines that a failure has occurred in the rotary switch when the transition of the output code does not match a transition pattern of the output code of the case where the rotary switch operates normally.