Tap changer

A tap changer for interruption-free switchover between taps under load of a transformer, said tap changer comprising:

• two movable switchover contacts in series with respective impedances and shiftable successively from joint engagement with a first one of said taps, to separate engagement with a successive one of said taps and to joint engagement with, said first tap and said successive tap;
• a respective fixed bypass contact in series with each of said movable switchover contacts and the respective impedance;
• a pair of movable bypass contacts connected to a load conductor, displaceable by a common member and shiftable selectively between a position in which both of said movable bypass contacts connect said load conductor to a respective fixed bypass contacts, and positions in which each of said movable bypass contacts connects said load conductor to the respective fixed bypass contact independently of the other movable bypass contact, said member being a common carrier for said movable bypass contacts rotatable by a shaft, each of said fixed bypass contacts being a circular arc segment of a length a along a circle centered on an axis of the shaft and separated by a distance b, said movable bypass contacts being separated by a distance c along said circle such that a is greater than c and b is less than c, each of said impedances being a respective coil connected at one end to a respective switchover contact and at an opposite end to the a respective fixed bypass contact;
• and
• a vacuum switching cell connected between said opposite ends of said coils and bridging said coils in a closed condition of the vacuum switching cell.