Patent ID: 8669746

Claim:
A tap changer with semiconductor switching elements for uninterrupted switching between fixed tap changer contacts arranged along a path and electrically connected with respective winding taps of a tapped transformer, the tap changer comprising: two semiconductor switching elements that each have a separate electrical input and that have a common electrical output, a mechanical contact system with a contact carriage movable along the path of the fixed tap changer contacts, four electrically conductive, but mutually insulated contact bridges fixedly arranged on the contact carriage, three electrically conductive, but mutually insulated contact rails parallel to the path of the fixed tap changer contacts, each of the rails being electrically connected with a respective one of the electrical inputs and the electrical output, and a further conductive shunt contact rail parallel to the contact rails and again electrically insulated relative thereto, the shunt contact rail in turn being electrically connected with the load shunt, the contact bridges being so dimensioned and physically arranged on the contact carriages that they cooperate with the contact rails or the shunt contact rail and through them, in dependence on switching, an electrical connection is selectably producible between one of the fixed tap contacts and the load shunt or one of the electrical inputs and a further electrical connection is selectably producible between the electrical output and the load shunt.