The electrical switch includes a first and a second fixed contact, and a rotatable knife contact including at least one pair of blades being flexibly connected to each other and rotating around a rotational axis. A third fixed contact is positioned on an opposite side of the rotational axis in relation to the adjacent first and second fixed contact and a middle portion of the rotatable knife contact is electrically connected to the third fixed contact. The rotatable knife contact connects in a first switching position the first fixed contact and in a second switching position the second fixed contact to the third fixed contact.

The present disclosure relates to a molded case circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a contact unit of a molded case circuit breaker. A molded case circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fixed contact; a movable contact rotatably provided on a shaft body to be brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contact; and an insulating barrier that enters between the fixed contact and the movable contact during interruption, wherein the insulating barrier is coupled to the movable contact to rotate along a circumferential surface of a shaft body.

A change-over switch including a frame having a first side wall and a second side wall, a first supply terminal, a second supply terminal, a load terminal, and at least one gas flow opening for discharging gasses from the frame. The second side wall faces substantially opposite direction relative to the first side wall. The change-over switch is adapted to selectively provide a first connection between the first supply terminal and the load terminal, and a second connection between the second supply terminal and the load terminal. The first supply terminal and the second supply terminal project from the first side wall, and the load terminal projects from the second side wall. The at least one gas flow opening is formed in the second side wall.

A contactor includes a fixed iron core, a movable iron core, an operation coil, a first crossbar, a tripping spring, and a second crossbar. The contactor includes a push spring to push a movable contact toward a fixed contact, a trip coil connected to the fixed contact, and a plunger that is operated by an electromagnetic force generated in the trip coil when a current of a predetermined value or higher flows through the trip coil. The contactor includes an opening lever to push the second crossbar in a direction away from the first crossbar in conjunction with the operation of the plunger.

An electrical contact system includes a static contact having a static contact point, a movable contact having a movable contact point, a rotating member on which the movable contact is mounted, and an arc extinguishing device having an arc extinguishing sheet. The movable contact is rotatable with the rotating member between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. When the movable contact is rotated to the switch-on position, the arc extinguishing sheet is rotated beyond a contact area between the movable contact point and the static contact point, allowing electrical contact of the movable contact point with the static contact point. When the movable contact is rotated to the switch-off position, the arc extinguishing sheet is rotated into the contact area between the movable contact point and the static contact point, electrically isolating the movable contact point from the static contact point and cutting off an electric arc.

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system including a mechanical switch and solid-state switching circuit. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs based on operations of the solid-state switching circuit. The solid-state switching circuit may draw arc currents of the electrical arcs by providing a second current path between the spanner and a fixed conductor of the mechanical switch. Moreover, the solid-state switching circuit may open the second current path and absorb electrical power of the electrical arc by one or more solid-state switches, a parallel voltage suppressor, or both.

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.

The disclosure relates to a contact slide unit for a switching unit, including a contact slide inside which a movable contact piece is guided, wherein the contact piece is biased from one side by a contact load spring. The disclosure also relates to a method for assembling the contact slide unit. The disclosure is characterized in that the movable contact piece is mounted in a winding interstice between two windings of the contact load spring.

The present disclosure relates to a molded case circuit breaker, and more particularly, to a contact unit of a molded case circuit breaker. A molded case circuit breaker according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a fixed contact; a movable contact rotatably provided on a shaft body to be brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contact; and an insulating barrier that enters between the fixed contact and the movable contact during interruption, wherein the insulating barrier is coupled to the movable contact to rotate along a circumferential surface of a shaft body.

A method for determining contact thickness change in a contactor includes sensing a first displacement distance moved by an armature of the contactor from a reference location to a first transition point during a switch-off operation of the contactor at a first contactor life reference time when movable contacts and fixed contacts of the contactor define a first contact thickness. The method further includes sensing a second displacement distance moved by the armature from the reference location to a second transition point during a switch-off operation at a second contactor life reference time that is after the first contactor life reference time when the movable and fixed contacts define a second contact thickness that is less than the first contact thickness. The first displacement distance and the second displacement distance are used to determine a contact thickness change between the first contact thickness and the second contact thickness. A contactor adapted to implement the method is also disclosed.