A circuit breaker includes a vacuum interrupter. The interrupter includes a first movable electrode to which a first contact is connected and a second movable electrode to which a second contact is connected. The interrupter is operable between an open state and a closed state. In the open state, the first contact and the second contact are separated by a contact gap distance. In the closed state, the first contact and the second contact touch each other. The circuit breaker includes an ultrafast actuator operatively connected to each of the first and second movable electrodes. The ultrafast actuator is configured to change the vacuum interrupter from the closed state to the open state by simultaneously moving the first contact in a first direction along a first distance portion of the contact gap, and the second contact in a second direction along a second distance portion of the contact gap.

An electrical switching element includes a housing, an armature moved by a coil arrangement, a contact arrangement switchable by the armature into at least two switching statuses, and a magnetic field sensor outputting a magnetic field-dependent switching signal representing the switching statuses. The armature, the contact arrangement, and the magnetic field sensor are arranged in the housing. The armature is arranged between the contact arrangement and the magnetic field sensor.

An electromagnetic actuator has: an armature carrying at least one coil; a ferromagnetic yoke configured to channel a magnetic flux created by the coil; and a ferromagnetic moving part that interacts with the yoke to form a magnetic circuit formed at least in part by an assembly of laminated metal plates, the moving part being configured to move in relation to the armature under the action of the magnetic field generated by the coil. The actuator moreover has an auxiliary magnetic circuit made of electrically conductive material, in order to permit the flow of currents induced in the auxiliary magnetic circuit when a magnetic field is generated by the coil.

A closing spring assembly for an electrical switching device is provided. The closing spring assembly is configured to exert a closing force on a moving contact of the switching device. The closing force helps to maintain physical and electrical contact between the moving contact and an associated stationary contact, so that the moving and stationary contacts form a path for conducing electric current through the switching device. The closing spring assembly is configured so that the closing force remains constant or decreases as the moving contact is driven away from the stationary contact during switching of the current path away from the moving and stationary contacts.

A relay device includes a fixed terminal having a pair of fixed contact points, a movable contact portion positioned adjacent to a lower side of the fixed terminal and configured to allow or block energization by being in contact with or spaced apart from the pair of fixed contact points, a fixed core disposed at a predetermined interval below the movable contact portion and configured to be magnetized when control power is applied, a movable core positioned adjacent to a lower side of the fixed core and configured to move toward the fixed core when the control power is applied, and a shaft that passes through the fixed core to connect to the movable contact portion and is coupled to the movable core to move together with the movable core. The shaft is supported by a step portion formed in the movable core to form a stroke gap between the fixed core and the movable core.

A circuit breaker includes a pole unit with a first and second electrodes. A linkage also extends from the pole unit. A linear actuator is operably connected to the pole unit. A Thomson coil or other high-speed actuator is also operably connected to the linkage. When the circuit breaker is closed, no gap is provided between them. To open the electrodes, the high-speed actuator first acts on the linkage by moving the linkage at a speed that is greater than a speed by which the linear actuator can move the linkage. The linear actuator can then actuate and increase a distance between the electrodes. A gap is provided between the pole unit and at least one of the actuators when the breaker is closed. This gap is reduced or eliminated when the breaker is open.

A circuit breaker includes a pole unit with a first and second electrodes. A linkage also extends from the pole unit. A linear actuator is operably connected to the pole unit. A Thomson coil or other high-speed actuator is also operably connected to the linkage. When the circuit breaker is closed, no gap is provided between them. To open the electrodes, the high-speed actuator first acts on the linkage by moving the linkage at a speed that is greater than a speed by which the linear actuator can move the linkage. The linear actuator can then actuate and increase a distance between the electrodes. A gap is provided between the pole unit and at least one of the actuators when the breaker is closed. This gap is reduced or eliminated when the breaker is open.

An electrical contactor module includes a pair of contactor assemblies each having an input contact, an output contact spaced apart from the input contact, and a linear solenoid disposed proximate the input and output contacts. Each linear solenoid has a housing, a plunger disposed within the housing so as to permit axial displacement of the plunger between an open position in which an end of the plunger is spaced apart from the input and output contacts and a closed position in which the end mechanically contacts and electrically couples the input and output contacts, a spring for biasing the plunger in the open position, and a coil within the housing for urging the plunger from the open position to the closed position along a linear direction. The contactor assemblies are fastened and arranged within an enclosure, with the linear directions for the contactor assemblies pointing in generally opposite directions.

Component assemblies and methods of manufacturing component assemblies that include a magnetic yoke assembly for electromechanical contactors and relays are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a component assembly that includes a magnetic yoke assembly for electromechanical contactors and relays is described. In this embodiment, the magnetic yoke assembly includes a movable contact and a ferromagnetic upper yoke mounted in above the moveable contact and separate from the moveable contact. The magnetic yoke assembly also includes a ferromagnetic lower yoke mounted under the moveable contact.

An electromagnetic relay includes a moving member, a yoke, a guide member, and a movable iron core. The yoke includes a plate portion and a yoke hole. The guide member is disposed in the yoke hole. The movable iron core is connected to the moving member. The movable iron core includes a tubular portion. The tubular portion includes a first end surface and a second end surface. The tubular portion is disposed in the guide member. The plate portion includes a first surface and a second surface. In a case where the moving member is located at the closed position, the first end surface is located within a range from a first position to a second position. The first position is a position corresponding to the first surface. The second position is located at a center of the first surface and the second surface.