(19)
(11) EP 0 655 759 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
11.06.1997 Bulletin 1997/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
31.05.1995 Bulletin 1995/22

(21) Application number: 94308751.0

(22) Date of filing: 28.11.1994
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: H01H 33/12
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE CH DE DK FR GB IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 30.11.1993 GB 9324582

(71) Applicant: LONG & CRAWFORD LTD.
Gorton, Manchester M12 5DA (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Wilkinson, Allen
    Gorton, Manchester M18 8WJ (GB)
  • Webb, David Albert
    Davenham, Northwich (GB)

(74) Representative: Hoste, Colin Francis 
The General Electric Company p.l.c. GEC Patent Department Waterhouse Lane
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2QX
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2QX (GB)

   


(54) Electrical switchgear


(57) Electrical Switchgear having a pair of main electrodes in contact in a first ON position, an arcing electrode electrically connected to and rigidly connected to one of the main electrodes and a resilient contact element electrically connected to and resiliently mounted with respect to the other main electrode.
In operation the main electrodes move relative to one another from the first ON position through a second intermediate position to a third OFF position where, in the intermediate position the resilient contact element is in contact with the arcing electrode and in the OFF position the first and arcing electrodes are out of contact with the second electrode and resilient contact element. The switchgear being arranged such that the main electrodes can be moved from the third OFF position to the first ON position without the resilient contact element contacting the arcing electrode.






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