Patent ID: 9552947
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: H01H

Claim:
1. A vacuum interrupter switch assembly comprising: (a) an outer case having an interior and at least one window; (b) a plurality of internal disconnect switch assemblies, each internal disconnect switch assembly including a power bushing, first and second electrical contacts spatially separated from each other, one of said contacts being electrically connected to the power bushing, at least a portion of the region between the contacts being viewable through the window a contact rod movable between the first and second contacts to selectively electrically couple and decouple the first and second contacts, the contact rod being viewable through the window to visually signify whether the contact rod is electrically coupling or not electrically coupling the first and second contacts, the contact rods of each internal disconnect switch assembly being connected so that the plurality of disconnect switch control rods move in unison; (c) a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies, each including a power bushing, a substantially stationary electrical contact electrically connected to the power bushing, a movable electrical contact movable between first and second positions to selectively electrically couple to and electrically decouple from the substantially stationary contact to thereby respectively close and open-circuit the vacuum interrupter bottle switch assembly, the movable electrical contacts of each vacuum interrupter bottle switch assembly being mechanically linked so that the plurality of movable electrical contacts move in unison; each of the vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies being connected in electrical series with a corresponding one of the internal disconnect switch assemblies; the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies being mechanically coupled to the plurality of internal disconnect switch assemblies so that electrically coupled contacts of the internal disconnect switch assemblies cannot become electrically decoupled or become electrically coupled unless the contacts of the vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies are not electrically coupled.