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 particles of 2:3 to 20:1 by weight. 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.

A network service and transformer safety protector on a secondary side of a network transformer tank system. The network service and transformer safety protector is positioned between the network transformer and a secondary network distribution system and is configured to connect and disconnect a transformer from the secondary network. The network service and transformer safety protector is attached to the outside of the transformer tank.

There is disclosed a method for manufacturing an electrode by pressing and sintering a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and a heat-resistant element, which contains Cr and the heat-resistant element in a ratio such that Cr is greater than the heat-resistant element by weight, a Cu powder, and a low melting metal powder (Bi, Sn, Se, Pb, etc.). The low melting metal powder of 0.30 weight % to 0.50 weight % is added to a mixed powder of a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat-resistant element and the Cu powder, and then a mixed powder prepared by adding the low melting metal powder is sintered at a temperature of from 1010 C. to 1035 C. As the low melting metal powder, there is used a powder having a median size of from 5 m to 20 m.

In an electric contact including a base material, high-melting-point substance particles, and an intermetallic compound, the intermetallic compound containing a MnX compound (X represents Te or Se) and a compound of a MnCu solid-solution phase and X, is dispersed in the base material. If the Vickers hardness of the high-melting-point substance particles is higher than 0 Hv and lower than 200 Hv, the particle diameter of the high-melting-point substance particles is not smaller than 0.1 m and not larger than 100 m. If the Vickers hardness of the high-melting-point substance particles is 200 Hv or higher, the particle diameter is not smaller than 0.1 m and not larger than 10 m. The mass of X atoms is not lower than 1.5 mass % and not higher than 15 mass %. The atomic weight ratio Mn/(Mn+X) is not lower than 20 at % and not higher than 80 at %.

A vacuum interrupter includes a fixed side contact and a movable side contact; a fixed side electrode rod connected to the fixed side contact; a movable side electrode rod connected to the movable side contact; a fixed side reinforcement plate which is arranged between the fixed side electrode rod and the fixed side contact, and whose rim portion has a step portion to be arranged apart from the back of the fixed side contact; and a movable side reinforcement plate which is arranged between the movable side electrode rod and the movable side contact, and whose rim portion has a step portion to be arranged apart from the back of the movable side contact.

A contact member according to the present invention includes: a contact layer composed of a plate-shaped porous body containing a high-melting-point metal as a main constituent and infiltrated with an infiltrant containing a low-melting-point metal as a main constituent; a contact-layer supporting part composed of the infiltrant; and a contact-part holding conductor composed of the infiltrant, wherein, the porous body is provided with an opening at the center of the contact layer and a portion from the opening to the contact-part holding conductor is continuously and integrally molded with the infiltrant.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electrode material (1), wherein the electrode material includes: a center part (2) containing Cu, Cr and a heat resistant element and having superior large-current interruption and capacitor switching capabilities; and an outer circumferential part (3) disposed on an outer circumference of the center part (2). The outer circumferential part (3) contains Cu and Cr and has superior withstand voltage capability. The electrode material (1) is manufactured by molding a solid solution powder of Cr and the heat resistant element, molding a Cr powder integrally around an outer circumference of the molded body of the solid solution powder and infiltrating the integrally molded body with Cu etc.

In order to optimize the production of electrical switching contacts, particularly for vacuum tubes, a Field Assisted Sintering Technology process is proposed in which an electrical or electromagnetic field supports and/or produces a sintering process for producing semifinished contact elements for electrical switching contacts, contact elements for electrical switching contacts and/or electrical switching contacts, particularly for vacuum tubes. According to an embodiment, the contact material prior to the sintering process is present in such a form that the material composition of the contact material and/or at least one property of the contact material varies in at least one body direction of the finished contact element.

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 particles of 2:3 to 20:1 by weight. 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.

A vacuum interrupter includes a first contact carrier; a first contact piece; a second contact carrier; and a second contact piece; wherein the first contact piece is connected to the first contact carrier; wherein the second contact piece is connected to the second contact carrier; wherein a shape of the first contact piece is different to a shape of the second contact piece and/or a material of the first contact piece is different to a material of the second contact piece; wherein in a deactivated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to hold the first contact piece spaced from the second contact piece; and wherein in an activated state the vacuum interrupter is configured to bring the first contact piece and the second contact piece into contact with one another.