Patent ID: 9147542
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A vacuum interrupter comprising: a tubular bellows including a first hollow bore; at least one sub-assembly, the each sub-assembly including an end cap, the each end cap including at least one second hollow bore and having a composition including glass or including glass-ceramic; at least one primary annular metallic element being operably connected between the each end cap and one of respective ends of the tubular bellows; a pair of electrically conductive contact elements; and a pair of electrically conductive rods, each rod being operably connected to a respective contact element at a first end and being connected in use to an electrical network at a second end, a portion of at least one rod being retained inside the or each second hollow bore of a respective end cap, wherein the each end cap and each rod are operably connected to one of the respective ends of the tubular bellows to define a vacuum-tight enclosure; the contact elements are located inside the enclosure and arranged to define opposed contact surfaces; and the tubular bellows is controllable to expand or contract to move one rod relative to the other rod to open or close a gap between the opposed contact surfaces.