Electric switching device

US6960844B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• ABB TECHNOLOGY AG · CH

Inventors

• Falah Al-Hosini · Hagfors, SE
• Jan Smede · Visby, SE
• Jan-Anders Nygren Nolemo · Hagfors, SE
• Magnus Backman · Hagfors, SE
• Philip Carne Kjaer · Hagfors, SE
• Lennart Balgard · Arboga, SE
• Per Larsson · Västra Ämtervik, SE
• Ove Albertsson · Hagfors, SE
• Lars Jonsson · Västerås, SE
• Jan Johansson · Dalstorp, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 1, 2005
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H9/541
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An electric switching device for alternating current comprises two branches (2, 3) connected in parallel in a current path and having each at least two contact members (4–7) connected in series. A semiconductor device (8) is adapted to interconnect the midpoints between the two contact members of each branch. When opening the current path a first contact member (5) of one, first branch located before said midpoint as seen in the current direction existing is controlled to open and a second contact member (6) of the second branch located after the midpoint as seen in the current direction is controlled to open for transferring the current to a temporary current path through the semiconductor device. The current path through the switching device is then broken when the semiconductor device is in a blocking state by opening a contact member (4, 7) of the switching device arranged in the temporary current path.