Patent ID: 9704658
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: H01H,Y10T

Claim:
1. A contact assembly for a vacuum switching apparatus, said vacuum switching apparatus comprising a vacuum envelope, the vacuum envelope having an interior, said contact assembly comprising: a number of electrical contacts disposed in the interior of the vacuum envelope, at least one electrical contact having a hole; and a number of electrodes each engaging a corresponding one of said number of electrical contacts, at least one electrode comprising a base and a protrusion, said at least one electrode being a single unitary component made from a single piece of material, wherein said protrusion extends from said base into the hole of said at least one electrical contact in order to secure said at least one electrical contact to said at least one electrode; wherein said at least one electrical contact comprises an internal ledge; wherein said internal ledge is disposed adjacent the hole; wherein said protrusion comprises a retaining portion; wherein said retaining portion engages said internal ledge; wherein said internal ledge is disposed in a first plane; wherein said base comprises an engaging surface engaging said electrical contact; and wherein the engaging surface is disposed in a second plane parallel to the first plane.