A SELF-FIXTURING SYSTEM FOR A VACUUM INTERRUPTER.

摘要

An improved vacuum interrupter (1000) is disclosed. The vacuum interrupter (1000) includes end covers (1005) having a curved or looped portion (1022), which serves to connect a coil segment (1015) of the vacuum interrupter (1000) to a ceramic envelope (1010) of the vacuum interrupter (1000), and thereby help maintain a vacuum seal for the interrupter. The curved portion (1022) acts as a spring when the vacuum interrupter (1000) is exposed to heat, thereby absorbing any expansion or contraction in the length of the vacuum interrupter due to the heating or cooling. The curved portion (1022) also protects an end of the ceramic envelope (1010) from any build-up of metallic arcing products and eliminates the need for elaborate fixturing during assembly. Additionally, a guide (1045) may be affixed to the end cover (1005), the guide (1045) having ears (1302) which ride in a slot (1050) in a moving rod (1035) of the vacuum interrupter (1000), to thereby prevent a twisting of a bellows (1030) of the interrupter during a brazing process. Thus, no elaborate fixturing is necessary to prevent this twisting.