Patent ID: 8695358

Claim:
A cooling apparatus for a switchgear, the switchgear having one or more primary contacts supported by a bushing plate and constructed and arranged to connect to a terminal of a circuit breaker, the cooling apparatus comprising: at least one evaporator constructed and arranged to be associated with each primary contact, a condenser apparatus located at a higher elevation than the at least one evaporator, fluid conduit structure connecting the at least one evaporator with the condenser apparatus, and electrically insulating working fluid in the at least one evaporator so as to be heated to a vapor state, with the fluid conduit structure being constructed and arranged to transfer the vapor to the condenser apparatus and to passively return condensed working fluid back to the at least one evaporator, thereby removing heat from the one or more primary contacts via the at least one evaporator without the aid of a forced-air fan.