Patent ID: 7223932

Claim:
A vacuum switchgear comprising: an electro-conductive outer vacuum container; a plurality of inner vacuum containers disposed in the outer vacuum container, the inner vacuum containers and the outer container being electrically isolated from each other; a ground switch, for keeping a circuit open while the switchgear is opened, having a movable electrode, connected to a movable electrode rod, capable of being connected to an operating mechanism, and a fixed electrode capable of being connected to a fixed electrode rod, each of the inner vacuum containers having a top member which is fixed to the movable electrode rod; at least two function switches each having a function of a circuit breaker for breaking the circuit at the time of an accident, a disconnector for disconnecting the circuit at the time of opening the circuit or a load switch for switching the circuit with a load, and a plurality of electrode shields each surrounding the outer peripheries of the electrodes of the ground switch and of the function switch; wherein the ground switch and the function switches are disposed in separate inner vacuum containers, respectively, wherein the outer vacuum container and the inner vacuum containers are communicated by means of through-holes formed in the inner vacuum containers, each of the through-holes being disposed outside an aperture, formed around the movable electrode rod, through which the movable electrode rod moves, and wherein a bellows is disposed between the movable electrode and the top member of the inner vacuum containers.