A contact piece for a high-voltage circuit breaker includes at least a contact pin and a contact carrier. The contact carrier is configured to mechanically fasten the contact pin in the high-voltage circuit breaker. The contact pin includes a contact shaft. The contact carrier and the contact shaft are formed as a monolithic contact element. A method for producing a contact piece is also provided.

A gas-insulated low- or medium-voltage switch for system voltages within 1 to 52 kV and for up to 2000 A rated current includes first and second contacts being movable in relation to each other along an axis of the switch and defining a quenching region in which an arc is formed during a current breaking operation; and an arc-extinguishing system for extinguishing the arc during the current breaking operation. The arc-extinguishing system may include a pressurization system with a puffer chamber, and a nozzle system connecting the pressurization system with the quenching region, the nozzle system having a nozzle at its outlet for blowing the pressurized quenching gas onto the arc formed in the quenching region during the current breaking operation; and a swirling device configured for generating a subsonic swirl flow of a quenching gas onto the quenching region during the current breaking operation, wherein the swirling device is arranged at an entrance of the nozzle system. The arc-extinguishing system further includes a swirling device configured for generating a subsonic swirl flow of a quenching gas onto the quenching region during the current breaking operation, wherein the swirling device is arranged at an entrance of the nozzle system.

A gas-insulated low- or medium-voltage load break switch includes: a housing defining a housing volume for holding an insulation gas at an ambient pressure; a first arcing contact and a second arcing contact arranged within the housing volume, the first and second arcing contacts being movable in relation to each other along an axis of the load break switch and defining a quenching region in which an arc is formed during a current breaking operation; a pressurizing system having a pressurizing chamber arranged within the housing volume for pressurizing a quenching gas from an ambient pressure p.sub.0 to a quenching pressure p.sub.quench during the current breaking operation; and a nozzle system arranged within the housing volume for blowing the pressurized quenching gas in a subsonic flow pattern from the pressurization chamber onto the arc formed in the quenching region during the current breaking operation. The nozzle system includes at least one nozzle arranged for blowing the quenching gas from an off-axis position predominantly radially inwardly onto the quenching region.

An earthing switch includes a fixed contact part fixed in an enclosure, a movable contact part disposed to face the fixed contact part, having a hollow portion formed therein, and having one end portion connected to a driving device and driven by the driving device so that the other end portion thereof is connected to or separated from the fixed contact part, and a piston part located in the hollow portion and moving relative to the movable contact part, wherein the hollow portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact part, both end portions of the hollow portion in the longitudinal direction are formed to be open, and the piston part includes a gas flow path formed therein.

An earthing switch includes a fixed contact part fixed in an enclosure, a movable contact part disposed to face the fixed contact part, having a hollow portion formed therein, and having one end portion connected to a driving device and driven by the driving device so that the other end portion thereof is connected to or separated from the fixed contact part, and a piston part located in the hollow portion and moving relative to the movable contact part, wherein the hollow portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact part, both end portions of the hollow portion in the longitudinal direction are formed to be open, and the piston part includes a gas flow path formed therein.