ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: ELECTRICITY
Class:: ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
Subclass:: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES

Description

H01H covers electric switches, relays, selectors, and emergency protective devices—the fundamental electromechanical and electromagnetic components used to control, interrupt, or route electrical circuits. This subclass includes mechanical switches (push-button, toggle, rotary), electromagnetic relays, contactors, solenoid-operated devices, and circuit protection equipment such as thermal and magnetic overload devices. Applications span industrial control systems, household appliances, automotive electrical systems, and power distribution networks. Related switching technologies implemented in semiconductor form (transistors, diodes) are classified separately under H01L.

Scope Notes

Glossary: Acting or action means a self-induced, e.g. not manually caused, movement of parts at one stage of the switching. These connotations 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" Driving mechanism Driving mechanisms refers to the means by which an operating force applied to the switch is transmitted to the moving contact or contacts Key keys same as push button Operating is used in a broader sense than "actuating" Push button means a knob or button that allows the manual operation of a switch in order to e.g. close an electric circuit Relay Relays means a 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 Switch switches means a single point of mechanically operable electrical connection (or interruption) Contacts contact means the necessary elementary components of a switch that ensure the electrical connection, each switch comprising at least two contacts, and possibly more than two Selector Selectors means an 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 site means the physical location where the contacts can touch each other | Limiting references: Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -braking Contact cables Electrolytic self-interrupters Bases, casings, or covers accommodating two or more switching devices or for accommodating a switching device as well as another electric component, e.g. bus-bar, line connector Mechanical details directly producing electronic effects | Application references: Switching arrangements for the supply or distribution of electric power For telephone communication Keyboards for special applications, see the relevant subclasses or groups, e.g. , , , ,

Related Keywords

ARC(S) extinguishing in electric switches or circuit breakersCIRCUIT-BREAKERSelectric CONTACT(S) for electric switches or relaysCUT-OUTS [electric]protecting devices against EMERGENCIESelectric switches for ISOLATINGelectric devices in general for protecting against OVERLOADelectric devices affording PROTECTIONvibratory rectifierselectric contact-making RELAY(S)electrically operated SELECTORS switcheselectric SELF-INTERRUPTERSSILENCERS for electric switches or circuit breakersextinguishing SPARK(S) in electric switcheselectric SWITCH(ES)TREMBLERS for electric self-interruptors

47 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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H01H 1/00 Contacts
H01H 11/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches
H01H 13/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
H01H 15/00 Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for actuation in opposite directions, e.g. slide switch
H01H 17/00 Switches having flexible operating part adapted only for pulling, e.g. cord, chain
H01H 19/00 Switches operated by an operating part which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof and which is acted upon directly by a solid body external to the switch, e.g. by a hand
H01H 21/00 Switches operated by an operating part in the form of a pivotable member acted upon directly by a solid body, e.g. by a hand
H01H 23/00 Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
H01H 27/00 Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings
H01H 29/00 Switches having at least one liquid contact
H01H 3/00 Mechanisms for operating contacts
H01H 31/00 Air-break switches for high tension without arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
H01H 33/00 High-tension or heavy-current switches with arc-extinguishing or arc-preventing means
H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition
H01H 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
H01H 37/00 Thermally-actuated switches
H01H 39/00 Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
H01H 41/00 Switches providing a selected number of consecutive operations of the contacts by a single manual actuation of the operating part
H01H 43/00 Time or time-programme switches providing a choice of time-intervals for executing one or more switching actions and automatically terminating their operation after the programme is completed