COMPACT HIGH-CURRENT VACUUM CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER COMPRISING A METAL HOUSING THAT IS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO ONE CONTACT OF THE INTERRUPTER

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA vacuum interrupter having a currentinterrupting rating exceeding 20,000 amperes r.m.s.comprises an evacuated envelope and first and seconddisc-shaped contacts within the envelope. The en-velope comprises a metal housing having a generallycylindrical portion surrounding said contacts andelectrically connected to said first contact. Thespace between said cylindrical portion and said secondcontact is so small that during the interruption ofcurrents above 20,000 amperes r.m.s., 25% or more ofthe arcing current frequently will flow between saidhousing and said second contact and bypass said firstcontact. Arc-removing means associated with thesecond contact causes any arc between the outer peri-phery of the second contact and the cylindricalhousing portion to revolve about the second contact.An electric bus located near the envelopeis normally electrically connected to said firstcontact to carry current that flown between the con-tacts. Means located outside the evacuated envelopeprovides an electrical connection between the busand the metal housing that is capable during inter-ruption of carrying without damage the full ratedinterrupting current of the interrupter. The firstcontact is a movable contact mounted on a contactrod that is sealed to the housing by a flexiblemetal bellows located within the housing