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.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a contact pin for an electric switch. The contact pin is designed as a composite support.

An embodiment of the invention relates to a contact pin for an electric switch. The contact pin is designed as a composite support.

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.

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.

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.

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 %.

Switch assemblies and switching methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a switch assembly may include a first blade having a first contact within an enclosed cavity, and a second blade having a second contact within the enclosed cavity. The first and second contacts are operable to make or break contact with one another in response to a magnetic field. The switch assembly may further include a coating formed over each of the first and second contacts, the coating including a titanium layer, a second layer formed over the titanium layer, and a tungsten-copper layer formed over the second layer. In some embodiments, the second layer is copper or molybdenum.