Patent ID: 8415579

Claim:
A method of assembling a switchgear, comprising the steps of: providing an active switchgear element that includes a substantially nonconductive elastomeric housing and a vacuum bottle assembly disposed within the elastomeric housing, the vacuum bottle assembly having a fixed contact therein and a movable contact mounted thereto; and mounting the active switchgear element relative to a stationary support with an overwrap layer, the mounting comprising wrapping the overwrap layer having a first shape of a flexible sheet around at least a portion of the vacuum bottle assembly to form a rigid support structure, the rigid support structure having a second cylindrical shape that is different from the first shape of the flexible sheet, the second cylindrical shape formed by the wrapping and by curing the overwrap layer, the rigid support structure extending between the stationary support on one end of the elastomeric housing and the vacuum bottle assembly on an opposite end of the elastomeric housing, the rigid support structure directly contacting an outer surface of the vacuum bottle assembly, wherein the vacuum bottle assembly lacks its own reinforcement casting.