# US 2022/0045487 A1 · Closing Switch And Switchgear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0045487 A1 - Document ID: US20220045487A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/310,202 - Filed: 2020-01-21 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-13 - Assignees: ABB Schweiz AG - Applicants: ABB Schweiz AG - Inventors: James Mannekutla; Ola Jeppsson; Stefan Valdemarsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220045487A1 ## CPC - H01H 39/004: {Closing switches} - H02B 13/00: Arrangement of switchgear in which switches are enclosed in, or structurally associated with, a casing, e.g. cubicle (switchgear having carriage withdrawable for isolation H02B11/00) - H01H 1/06: characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved - H01H 9/02: Bases, casings, or covers (accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26) - H01H 79/00: Protective switches in which excess current causes the closing of contacts, e.g. for short-circuiting the apparatus to be protected {(H01H39/004 takes precedence)} - H01H 1/50: Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ## Abstract An electrical short-circuiting closing switch including an electrically insulating housing; a first electrode having a tapered first electrode opening; a second electrode having a tapered second electrode opening; a movable contact having a tapered profile, the movable contact being movable relative to the housing along a closing axis from an open position, in which the movable contact is electrically disconnected from the second electrode, to a closed position, in which the movable contact electrically connects the first electrode and the second electrode by engaging the tapered profile with the first electrode opening and the second electrode opening; and an actuator arranged to force the movable contact from the open position to the closed position; wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is flexibly attached to the housing. A switchgear including a closing switch is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical short-circuiting closing switch comprising: an electrically insulating housing; a first electrode having a tapered first electrode opening; a second electrode having a tapered second electrode opening; a movable contact having a tapered profile, the movable contact being movable relative to the housing along a closing axis from an open position, in which the movable contact is electrically disconnected from the second electrode, to a closed position, in which the movable contact electrically connects the first electrode and the second electrode by engaging the tapered profile with the first electrode opening and the second electrode opening; and an actuator arranged to force the movable contact from the open position to the closed position; wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is flexibly attached to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, wherein each of the tapered profile, the first electrode opening and the second electrode opening is conical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a first housing opening in the housing, wherein the first electrode is arranged in the first housing opening with a first play; and/or a second housing opening in the housing, wherein the second electrode is arranged in the second housing opening with a second play. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The closing switch according to claim 3, wherein the first play and/or the second play is 0.05 mm to 0.7 mm, such as 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, such as approximately 0.2 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The closing switch according to claim 3, wherein the first electrode is arranged to move within the first play substantially parallel with the closing axis, and/or wherein the second electrode is arranged to move within the second play substantially parallel with the closing axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, further comprising: a first flexible member, wherein the first electrode is attached to the housing by means of the first flexible member; and/or a second flexible member, wherein the second electrode is attached to the housing by means of the second flexible member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The closing switch according to claim 6, wherein the first flexible member establishes a first load path arranged to take at least 95% of the loads between the first electrode and the housing, and/or wherein the second flexible member establishes a second load path arranged to take at least 95% of the loads between the second electrode and the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The closing switch according to claim 6, wherein the first flexible member and/or the second flexible member includes a spring pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The closing switch according to claim 6, wherein the first electrode is arranged to move substantially perpendicular to the closing axis against a deformation of the first flexible member, and/or wherein the second electrode is arranged to move substantially perpendicular to the closing axis against a deformation of the second flexible member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, wherein each of the tapered profile, the first electrode opening and the second electrode opening has a tapering ratio from 1:5 to 1:20, such as from 1:8 to 1:14, such as from 1:10 to 1:12, such as 1:10. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be actuated by an explosion produced within the closing switch and initiated by an electric current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The closing switch according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a guiding channel and the movable contact includes a guiding section slidingly arranged in the guiding channel for guiding the movable contact relative to the housing along the closing axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The closing switch according to claim 12, wherein each of the guiding section and the guiding channel is circular. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A switchgear comprising a closing switch according to claim 1, wherein: an electrically insulating housing; a first electrode having a tapered first electrode opening; a second electrode having a tapered second electrode opening; a movable contact having a tapered profile, the movable contact being movable relative to the housing along a closing axis from an open position, in which the movable contact is electrically disconnected from the second electrode, to a closed position, in which the movable contact electrically connects the first electrode and the second electrode by engaging the tapered profile with the first electrode opening and the second electrode opening; and an actuator arranged to force the movable contact from the open position to the closed position; wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is flexibly attached to the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The switchgear according to claim 14, wherein the switchgear is a low voltage switchgear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The closing switch according to claim 2, further comprising: a first housing opening in the housing, wherein the first electrode is arranged in the first housing opening with a first play; and/or a second housing opening in the housing, wherein the second electrode is arranged in the second housing opening with a second play. ### Claim 17 (depends on 4) The closing switch according to claim 4, wherein the first electrode is arranged to move within the first play substantially parallel with the closing axis, and/or wherein the second electrode is arranged to move within the second play substantially parallel with the closing axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) The closing switch according to claim 2, further comprising: a first flexible member, wherein the first electrode is attached to the housing by means of the first flexible member; and/or a second flexible member, wherein the second electrode is attached to the housing by means of the second flexible member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The closing switch according to claim 7, wherein the first flexible member and/or the second flexible member includes a spring pin.