Double-contact switch with vacuum switching chambers

2:

• The switch of claim 1, wherein the first and a second tubular vacuum switching chambers are switching sub-chambers of a switching tube of cylindrical configuration.

3:

• The switch of claim 2, wherein the switching tube includes, approximately in a center thereof, a partition wall including a conductive material, configured to separate the first and the second tubular vacuum switching chambers, the partition wall being configured to support the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact on each of two sides thereof such that the end faces of the first and second fixed contacts face an interior of an associated vacuum switching chamber a region of the movable first or second electrode supporting the first or second electrode contact.

4:

• The switch of claim 2, wherein the switching tube includes, approximately in a center thereof, a partition wall configured to separate the first and the second tubular vacuum switching chambers, the partition wall being configured to act as a double contact arrangement, and
• wherein a contact face thereof includes an electrically conductive and welding-resistant material.

5:

• The switch of claim 2, wherein the first and second regions are each sealed off in a gas-tight manner using a flexible metal bellows.

6:

• The switch of claim 5, wherein the switching tube includes a cover at each of two ends thereof, and
• wherein each metal bellows is soldered at end faces thereof to one of the covers and also to one of the movable first and second electrodes, each movable, respectively, in each case via a peripheral vacuum-tight solder connection.

7:

• The switch of claim 1, wherein the first and second tubular vacuum switching chambers are separated in a gas-tight manner.

8:

• The switch of claim 1, wherein, for electrical insulation from the movable first and second electrodes, the stationary electrode is connected at peripheral end faces thereof to the associated tubular vacuum switching chamber in a vacuum-tight manner, in each case using an annular insulator ring.

10:

• The switch of claim 1, further comprising:
• a mechanical stop, fixedly connected to the housing, for an end face of the second vacuum switching chamber.

11:

• The switch of claim 10, wherein the first spring force transmitted by the first contact compression spring is smaller than the second spring force acting on a second contact pair, including the second electrode contact and the second fixed contact from the second contact compression spring, making it possible, when a movement process is introduced in a first phase of a mechanical switching process when switching off a load current, for a force to be transmitted to the switching tube by way of the second electrode and to lead to an opening of a first contact pair, including the first electrode contact and the first fixed contact, while the second contact pair remains closed until the end face of the second vacuum switching chamber reaches a mechanical stop, and when the mechanical stop is reached, preventing further moving the switching tube relative to the first electrode, and so enabling a tensile force, further acting on the second electrode, an opening of the second contact pair.

12:

• The switch of claim 1, wherein switching sub-chambers are identical.

13:

• The switch of claim 7, wherein the first and second tubular vacuum switching chambers are partially interconnected so as to have a shared vacuum.

14:

• The switch of claim 8, wherein the annular insulator ring includes a ceramic material.