Arc interrupter

An arc interrupter comprising a fixed contact and a fixed electrode which provide, respectively, first and second coaxial arcing surfaces separated by an annular gap, said first arcing surface being closer to the common axis of said arcing surfaces than said second arcing surface , an arc-driving coil coaxial with said arcing surfaces, said coil being electrically connected at one end to said electrode, structure means defining a pivot axis and a movable contact which is mounted on said structure means for angular movement about said pivot axis between a make position in which said movable contact extends from said pivot axis towards said common axis and is in engagement with said fixed contact and in which said movable contact is included in an openable main current path and a break position in which said movable contact is disengaged from said fixed contact and the least distance between said contacts is greater than said gap, said coil being included in series with said arcing surfaces in an arc current path during a later part of movement of said movable contact from said make position to said break position and said pivot axis being parallel to said common axis.

An arc interrupter comprising a fixed contact and a fixed electrode which provide, respectively, first and second coaxial arcing surfaces separated by an annular gap, said first arcing surface being closer to the common axis of said arcing surfaces than said second arcing surface, an arc-driving coil coaxial with said arcing surfaces, said coil being electrically connected at one end to said electrode, structure means defining a pivot axis and a movable contact which is mounted on said structure meansfor angular movement about said pivot axis between a make posktion in which said movable contact extends from said pivot axis towards said common axis and is in engagement with said fixed contact and in which said movable contact is included in an openable main current path and a break position in which said movable contact is disengaged from said fixed contact and the least distance between said contacts is greater than said gap, said coil being included in series with said arcingsurfacesin an arc current path during a later part of movement of said movable contact from said make position to said break position, said pivot axis being parallel to said common axis and said movable contact being normal to said pivot axis.

An electric switch comprising a housing containing insulating medium and conductor means which form an openable main current path within the housing and which include at least one arc interrupter which comprises a fixed contact and a fixed electrode which provide, respectively, first and second coaxial arcing surfaces separated by an annular gap, said first arcing surface being closer to the common axis of said arcing surfaces than said second arcing surface, an arc-driving coil coaxial with said arcing surfaces, said coil being electrically connected at one end to said electrode, structure means defining a pivot axis and a movable contact which is mounted on said structure means for angular movement about said pivot axis between a make position in which said movable contact extends from said pivot axis towards said common axis and is in engagement with said fixed contact and in which said movable contact is included in an openable main current path and a break position in which said movable contact is disengaged from said fixed contact and the least distance betweeh said contacts is greater than said gap, said coil being included in series with said arcing surfaces in an arc current path during a later part of movement of said movable contact from said make position to said break position.