GB1163272A - Improvements in or relating to Electric Switches - Google Patents

Abstract

1,163,272. Vacuum switches. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. 1 Nov., 1966 [14 Oct., 1965], No. 43696/65. Heading H1N. At least one of the contacts 14, 21 of a vacuum switch consists of a central member 23 and a concentric relatively movable annular member 25, at least two of the members 14, 23, 25 being movable relative to the envelope 11. The movable annular member 25 is sealed to the envelope by a bellows 27 and to the member 23 by a bellows 26. Each contact 14, 23 is formed with a central recess so that the arc is driven outwards on to the member 25 and means may be provided to rotate the arc. The contacts may be constructed as in Specification 1,163,271. The contact 23 may be of an alloy of zirconium, titanium or thorium with copper, silver or gold diffused into sintered tungsten or molybdenum as described in Specification 1,079,013, while the outer member 25 may be of an alloy of 99À7% copper and 0À3% zirconium as described in Specification 947,152 or of pure oxygen-free copper. In a modification the solid contact 14 is movable (Fig. 2, not shown) while the annular contact 25 is fixed. The contact 23 may be sealed direct to the housing by bellows (56) (Fig. 3, not shown). The two movable members are coupled to electromagnetic actuators 64, 67 (Fig. 4, not shown) which can be arranged concentrically (Fig. 5, not shown).