Patent ID: 6747232
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A vacuum contactor, comprising:a contactor housing; a drive coil; an armature; an operating element; and at least one vacuum contact, wherein the drive coil is adapted to deflect the armature from an armature rest position to an armature operating position when a pull-in current is applied, wherein the deflection of the armature is adapted to cause the operating element to be deflected from an element rest position to an element operating position, wherein the deflection of the operating element is adapted to result in closing of the at least one vacuum contact, wherein when the armature is deflected from the armature rest position to the armature operating position, the armature is adapted to first pass through an initial movement distance and is then adapted to pass through a driving movement distance, with the operating element being deflected by the armature only while the armature is passing through the driving movement distance, and wherein the vacuum contactor is adapted such that, for any current less than the pull-in current, the operating element either remains in the element rest position or is deflected completely to the element operating position, when the current is applied to the drive coil.