Flexible shunt for electric power switch

摘要

A flexible shunt in the form of a flexible member made up of a stack of electrically conductive laminations each of a thickness of no more than about 0.002 inch (0.051 mm) has a moveable end secured by a moveable mount to a moveable contact support of an electric power switch for movement along a linear path. A fixed mount secures the fixed end of the flexible member to a fixed conductor termination spaced laterally from the moveable end along a neutral axis perpendicular to the linear path of the moveable end by an offset distance such that the installed length of the intermediate section between the fixed and moveable ends is less than the free length of the intermediate section. With this arrangement the stroke of the moveable end along the linear path can be up to at least ⅓ and even ½ of the free length of the intermediate section of the flexible member and with very low operating forces.