This invention relates in general to actuating switches and in particular to a new and useful switch particularly for compressed gases in which during contact breaking the two switch parts are maintained in contact for a period of time and then the separation is effected with a driving separation which forces one of the parts to an end position.
The invention relates to an autopneumatic compressed gas switch having a piston-cylinder unit as a compression system for the quenching gas, a first contact piece and an insulating bushing surrounding the latter, which are firmly connected with the movable part of the piston-cylinder unit, and a second (counter-) contact piece which upon breaking contact is at first held in engagement with the first contact piece and follows it and then runs back under spring force.
A similar compressed gas switch is known from German OS No. 29 18 145. In this compressed gas switch the second (counter-) contact piece is connected or latched directly with the first contact piece. A disadvantage in this solution is that the latch connection is arranged in a region in which the switching arc burns. It is therefore almost inevitable that the arc will impair the locking mechanism.