Cam operated electrical changeover switch or circuit breaker tappet-type contact structure

A tappet, in particular for cooperating with camshafts in electrical changeover switches or circuit breakers, comprising a body provided with a cavity opening into two opposing faces of said body, a spring arranged in said cavity of said body, a generally flat movable contact element arranged within said cavity and contacting said spring, said movable contact having opposing free ends which project from said cavity and from said body, said opposing free ends adapted to cooperate with fixed contacts which are rigid with a casing of a changeover switch or circuit breaker when said changeover switch or circuit breaker is arranged to the sides of said body, a slider movable within said cavity and arranged to cooperate with the cams of a camshaft arranged in said casing of said changeover switch or circuit breaker, said slider comprising

• projecting elements slidable in a guide manner in guide slots provided in said body of the tappet during movement of said slider within said body, said slider further comprising a head piece having an inclined inner wall, said movable contact being urged by said spring against said inner wall such that movement of said slider causes displacement of the movable contact from an inoperative position to a working position in which it can cooperate with the fixed contacts of the changeover switch or circuit breaker, said movable contact remaining in an inclined position with respect to a vertical axis when said movable contact is in said inoperative position and said movable contact being in a non-inclined position parallel to said vertical axis when in said working position, said movable contact rocking relative to said slider by rotating about an axis passing through a line of contact between said inner wall and said movable contact when said movable contact is displaced from its working position.