| 摘要 |
A high speed high voltage electrical switch opens a current path in which the switch is included. The switch includes first and second normally electrically interconnected contacts which normally carry current in the current path. The contacts are relatively movable along a fixed line of direction. When the contacts move apart, the electrical interconnection therebetween is broken to open the first current path. A piston carried by the second contact defines an enclosed chamber in conjunction with the first contact when the contacts are interconnected. A power cartridge or the like selectively pressurizes the chamber to rapidly drive the contacts apart. The piston enhances the action of the power cartridge by ensuring that pressure increases caused thereby are effected to drive the contacts apart. The piston may be configured to ensure positive sealing engagement with the walls of a cylinder through which the piston and the second contact move following the ignition of the power cartridge. Moreover, the piston may be made of an ablative arc-extinguishing material so that following movement apart of the contacts, any arc formed between the contacts is constricted by the piston which evolves arc-extinguishing gas to ultimately extinguish the arc.
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