Contact levitation triggering mechanisms for use with switching devices incorporating pyrotechnic features

An electrical switching device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fixed contact disposed in the housing;
• a second fixed contact disposed in the housing, at least one of the first fixed contact or the second fixed contact comprising a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion;
• and
• a movable contact disposed in the housing, the movable contact being movable to configure the electrical switching device in a closed state in which the movable contact contacts the first portion and the second portion extends substantially parallel to the movable contact, at a distance spaced from the movable contact, and an open state in which the movable contact is spaced from the first portion,
• wherein the first fixed contact, the second fixed contact, and the movable contact are arranged so that levitation causes arcing between at least one fixed contact and the movable contact thereby increasing resistance between the at least one fixed contact and the movable contact.

An electrical switching device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first fixed contact disposed in the housing;
• a second fixed contact disposed in the housing, at least one of the first fixed contact or the second fixed contact comprising a first portion and a second portion angled relative to the first portion;
• and
• a movable contact disposed in the housing, the movable contact being movable to configure the electrical switching device in a closed state in which the movable contact contacts the first portion and the second portion extends substantially parallel to the movable contact, at a distance spaced from the movable contact, and an open state in which the movable contact is spaced from the first portion, wherein:
• the movable contact is substantially linear along an axis between a first end and a second end;
• the second portion is angled relative to the first portion by approximately 90-degrees, and
• with the electrical switching device in the closed state, the first portion contacts the movable contact proximate the first end or the second end with the second portion extending generally parallel to the axis.