Patent ID: 7829814

Claim:
A pole unit structure for a vacuum circuit interrupter, said vacuum circuit interrupter having a line terminal, a load terminal, a grounded terminal, and an operating mechanism, said operating mechanism structured to move a movable contact linearly and to rotate the movable contact about a longitudinal axis, said pole unit structure comprising: an elongated housing assembly having a longitudinal axis, at least one rotatable portion and a fixed portion; said housing assembly at least one rotatable portion having a rotatable terminal; said housing assembly at least one rotatable portion structured to rotate about said housing assembly longitudinal axis between a first position, wherein said rotatable terminal is coupled to said line terminal, and a second position, wherein said rotatable terminal is coupled to said grounded terminal; a vacuum envelope assembly having a vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber disposed within, and in a fixed relationship to, said housing assembly at least one rotatable portion, said vacuum envelope assembly having a fixed contact and a movable contact assembly, said fixed contact disposed within said vacuum chamber; said movable contact assembly structured to move between a first, closed position, wherein said movable contact assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said fixed contact, and a second, open position wherein said movable contact assembly is spaced from, and not in electrical communication with, said fixed contact; said fixed contact being in electrical communication with said rotatable terminal; said load terminal coupled to said housing assembly fixed portion and coupled to, and in electrical communication with, said movable contact assembly; said movable contact assembly coupled to said operating mechanism; and wherein said operating mechanism is structured to linearly move said movable contact assembly between said first, closed position and said second, open position and to rotate said movable contact assembly, thereby rotating said housing assembly rotatable portion between said first position and said second position; and wherein said housing assembly includes an interlock assembly, said interlock assembly structured to prevent said housing assembly at least one rotatable portion from moving between said first position and said second position when said movable contact is in said first, closed position.