Patent ID: 8314668

Claim:
A meter disconnect relay comprised of: a base; an actuator situated within the base, wherein the base maintains a portion of the actuator stationary and allows a plunger of the actuator to move within the base; a shuttle at least partially comprised of non-conductive material and having one or more windows, wherein the shuttle is operably connected to and moved by the plunger of the actuator and wherein the shuttle can be moved within the base and at least a portion of the base provides a stop for movement of the shuttle; one or more disconnect switches that are opened or closed by movement of the shuttle, wherein each disconnect switch is comprised of: a rigid, conductive bridging section pivotally connected to a first face of one of the one or more windows in the shuttle, wherein the bridging section comprises at least two contacts, wherein the rigid, conductive bridging section is pivotally connected to the first face of the window in the shuttle by one or more pins extending from the first face of the window; a leaf spring pivotally connected to a second face of the one of the one or more windows of the shuttle, wherein the second face of the window is opposite the first face of the window and the leaf spring applies force to the bridging section; and a conductive source portion having a source contact and a conductive load portion having a load contact, wherein a first and second contact of the at least two contacts of the bridging portion are caused to substantially simultaneously come in contact with and disconnect from the source contact and the load contact by movement of the shuttle and wherein one or more of the source contact, the load contact and the at least two contacts of the bridging portion are at least partially comprised of silver refractory materials.