This invention relates to a switching device (10). More specifically, the invention relates to a retrofit switching device (10) for mechanically switching a plurality of switches between on and/or off conditions. It is envisaged that the primary application of such invention is for switching circuit breakers configured along one or more rows on a distribution board. The switching device (10) includes a pair of primary parallel guide rails (12,14), a means for anchoring the switching device (10) to a switch covering panel (i.e. a distribution board panel) and a carriage (22), supported across the primary parallel guide rails (12,14) and movable back-and-forth therealong along a first axis, the carriage (22) comprising thereon: (i) a switch engaging formation for operably switching the switches between on and off conditions; and (ii) a primary drive (26) for moving the switch engaging formation back-and-forth along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are transverse one another. The switching device (10) further includes a secondary drive (28) for moving the carriage along the primary parallel guide rails (12, 14) and operably along the one or more rows of switches, a controller for at least actuating the primary (26) and the secondary drives (28), and a power source for powering at least the primary drive (26), the secondary drive (28) and the controller.

A controllable trip device includes a magnetic actuator, including a coupling member intended to be coupled to a switching mechanism of an electrical circuit breaker to cause the switching thereof and a coil configured to displace the coupling member towards a tripped position when it is supplied with a pulse of a current of intensity greater than a first predefined threshold for a duration greater than or equal to a predefined duration, a control device, configured to supply the coil, immediately on receipt of a control signal, with a series of pulses of duration equal to the predefined duration and of intensity greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to a second threshold equal at most to 120% of the first threshold.

This invention relates to a switching device (10). More specifically, the invention relates to a retrofit switching device (10) for mechanically switching a plurality of switches between on and/or off conditions. It is envisaged that the primary application of such invention is for switching circuit breakers configured along one or more rows on a distribution board. The switching device (10) includes a pair of primary parallel guide rails (12,14), a means for anchoring the switching device (10) to a switch covering panel (i.e. a distribution board panel) and a carriage (22), supported across the primary parallel guide rails (12,14) and movable back-and- forth therealong along a first axis, the carriage (22) comprising thereon: (i) a switch engaging formation for operably switching the switches between on and off conditions; and (ii) a primary drive (26) for moving the switch engaging formation back-and-forth along a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are transverse one another. The switching device (10) further includes a secondary drive (28) for moving the carriage along the primary parallel guide rails (12, 14) and operably along the one or more rows of switches, a controller for at least actuating the primary (26) and the secondary drives (28), and a power source for powering at least the primary drive (26), the secondary drive (28) and the controller.

A low voltage circuit breaker is provided. The low voltage circuit breaker includes a contact system with a first contact and a second contact that are electrically connectable and disconnectable relative to one another. The first contact includes a body having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is arranged on the second layer and is configured to come in contact with the second contact for providing the electrical connection with the second contact. The first layer has a first material composition having an Ag content that is higher than an Ag content of a second material composition of the second layer. Further, the first material composition has a WC content that is lower than a WC content of the second material composition.

A circuit breaker includes a current entry which conducts an electrical current via a wound coil conductor strip of a first coil to a first fixed contact, and includes a contact rocker which can be moved between two switching positions. The contact rocker includes mutually connected contact limbs. A first switching position of the contact rocker, electrically connects the first fixed contact with a second fixed contact which is connected via a wound coil conductor strip of a second coil to a current exit for dissipating an electrical current flowing through the contact limbs of the contact rocker and the coil conductor strips of the coils to a current exit of the circuit breaker. A high electrical current which flows through the wound coil conductor strips of the coils and through the contact limbs of the contact rocker produces a magnetic field which generates a switching force which moves the contact rocker from the first switching position into a second switching position in which the two fixed contacts are electrically separated to interrupt the electrical current.

A controllable trip device includes a magnetic actuator, including a coupling member intended to be coupled to a switching mechanism of an electrical circuit breaker to cause the switching thereof and a coil configured to displace the coupling member towards a tripped position when it is supplied with a pulse of a current of intensity greater than a first predefined threshold for a duration greater than or equal to a predefined duration, a control device, configured to supply the coil, immediately on receipt of a control signal, with a series of pulses of duration equal to the predefined duration and of intensity greater than or equal to the first threshold and less than or equal to a second threshold equal at most to 120% of the first threshold.

This disclosure relates to various embodiments of lockout relay devices. In one embodiment, a lockout relay device may transition between a closed position and a lockout position in response to an action of a deck device. The lockout relay may further be configured to transition from the lockout position to the closed position only in response to one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation. A manual actuator may permit a manual transition of the lockout relay device from the closed position to the lockout position and from the lockout position to the closed position. The lockout relay device may remain in the lockout position until the occurrence of one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation.

This disclosure relates to various embodiments of lockout relay devices. In one embodiment, a lockout relay device may transition between a closed position and a lockout position in response to an action of a deck device. The lockout relay may further be configured to transition from the lockout position to the closed position only in response to one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation. A manual actuator may permit a manual transition of the lockout relay device from the closed position to the lockout position and from the lockout position to the closed position. The lockout relay device may remain in the lockout position until the occurrence of one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation.

This disclosure relates to various embodiments of lockout relay devices. In one embodiment, a lockout relay device may transition between a closed position and a lockout position in response to an action of a deck device. The lockout relay may further be configured to transition from the lockout position to the closed position only in response to one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation. A manual actuator may permit a manual transition of the lockout relay device from the closed position to the lockout position and from the lockout position to the closed position. A lockout mechanism may be configured to cause the lockout relay device to transition to the lockout position in response to the force generated by the deck device. The lockout relay device may remain in the lockout position until the occurrence of one of a manual adjustment and a reset operation.

A system includes a first electrically conductive electrode and a second electrically conductive electrode. The system further includes a magnetic field source. The system also includes a magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloy positioned within a magnetic field of the magnetic field source with a portion of the MSM alloy being coupled with the first electrically conductive electrode. The magnetic field causes the MSM alloy to bend to contact the second electrically conductive electrode when the MSM alloy is in a first state. The magnetic field has no or negligible effect on the MSM alloy when the MSM alloy is in a second state.