ELECTRIC SWITCHES

**Definition:** This place covers:

Electric switches, i.e. single points of mechanically operable electrical connection (or interruption). Types, details and manufacture thereof, as detailed below .

Relays, i.e. switching devices having contacts which are operated from electric inputs which supply, directly or indirectly, all the mechanical energy necessary to cause both the closure and the opening of the contacts. Types, details and manufacture thereof. Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current.

Selectors, i.e. arrays of electric switches which selectively connect some inputs out of a plurality of inputs to some outputs out of a plurality of outputs. Types, details, and manufacture thereof in groups H01H63/00 , H01H65/00 and H01H67/00 .

Protective devices like: circuit-breaking switches, protective switches, fuses, evaporation devices, details and manufacture thereof. This subclass also covers (in groups H01H69/00 - H01H87/00 ) devices for the protection of electric lines or electric machines or apparatus in the event of undesired change from normal electric working conditions, the electrical condition serving directly as the input to the device.

Mechanical structural details of control members of switches or of keyboards such as keys, push-buttons, levers or other mechanisms for transferring the force to the activated elements, even when they are used for controlling electronic switches.

Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switch and not otherwise provided for, e.g. for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the ac cycle.

**Limiting references (this place does not cover):** - Contact cables -> H01B7/10 - Electrolytic self-interrupters -> H01G9/18 - Emergency protective circuit arrangements -> H02H - Switching by electronic means without contact-making -> H03K17/00 - Mechanical details directly producing electronic effects -> H03K17/94

**Glossary:** - Acting, actuating or action: self-induced, e.g. not manually caused, movement of parts at one stage of the switching. Apply to all parts of the verbs "to operate"; "to actuate", and "to act", and to words derived therefrom, e.g. to "actuation" or "actuating" - Contacts: necessary elementary components of a switch that ensure the electrical connection, each switch comprising at least two contacts, and possibly more than two - Driving mechanism: means by which an operating force applied to the switch is transmitted to the moving contact or contacts - Key: push button - Operating: broader sense than "actuating", including the manually caused movement of parts at one stage of the switching. - Push button: knob or button that allows the manual operation of a switch in order to e.g. close an electric circuit - Relay: switching device having contacts which are operated from electric inputs which supply, directly or indirectly, all the mechanical energy necessary to cause both the closure and the opening of the contacts - Selector: array of electric switches which selectively connect some inputs out of a plurality of inputs to some outputs out of a plurality of outputs - Switch: single point of mechanically operable electrical connection (or interruption) - Switch site: physical location where the contacts can touch each other