Abstract: The following method is used for manufacturing a vacuum-type circuit interrupter that comprises: (i) an envelope comprising a glass casing and an annular metal disc imbedded in the glass and (ii) a tubular metal shield mounted on the disc. The shield is first located within the tubular casing and then fastened to said disc, thereby forming a shield-envelope subassembly. This subassembly is attached to the table of a vibrator. The vibrator is then operated to vibrate the subassembly, thereby producing between the glass casing and the shield force that acts to flex the disc, thus removing loosely-adhered glass particles from the disc. Then the subassembly is removed from the vibrator table, rinsed, and used in a conventional manner to complete the interrupter.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter having a continuous current rating of several thousand amperes comprises a pair of disc-shaped contacts primarily of beryllium that are respectively mounted on the inner ends of a pair of conductive contact rods. The mounting means for each contact comprises a backing member of truncated, generally-conical form that comprises: (i) a base of a predetermined diameter attached to the inner end of the associated contact rod and (ii) an opposite end of a relatively small diameter compared to that of said base attached to the disc-shaped contact. Each disc-shaped contact projects radially outward past the outer periphery of said opposite end of the associated backing member.

Abstract: A vacuum-type circuit interrupter rated to interrupt currents of 30,000 amperes r.m.s. and highercomprises a pair of separable contacts having arcing portions between which arcs are formed upon disengagement of said contacts. These arcing portions are of a material consisting essentially of beryllium formed from a vacuum-cast ingot that has been subjected to hot working by extrusion to produce a microstructure characterized by grains much smaller on the average than the grains of the as-cast ingot.

Abstract: A vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprises two pluralities of rod electrodes positioned to form a ring of electrodes in which the electrodes of the first plurality interleave with those of the second plurality and are spaced circumferentially of the ring from the immediately adjacent electrodes of the second plurality. A first conductive tube mounts the electrodes of the first plurality on a first conductive end cap of the interrupter, and a second conductive tube mounts the electrodes of the second plurality on a second conductive end cap of the interrupter. First and second stationary contacts are respectively mounted on the distal ends of a rod electrode in said second plurality and a rod electrode in said first plurality. A first movable contact rod extends through said first end cap and through said first tube and carries a movable contact for engaging said first stationary contact.

Abstract: This vacuum-type circuit interrupter comprises a plurality of pairs of separable contacts located within an evacuated envelope and electrically connected in parallel. The movable contact of each pair is mounted on a long, slender contact rod through which current is conducted to and from the associated contact pair. The contact rods, which are also electrically in parallel, are located in side-by-side physical relationship, and each is surrounded by a tube of highly conductive metal such as copper. The tubes are fixed to the interrupter envelope and are located in adjacent side-by-side relationship, thus defining flux-controlling shields around the contact rods in which eddy currents are induced to reduce the magnetic flux penetrating into the interior of each tube from any adjacent contact rod. Means is provided for producing substantially simultaneous contact-separating motion of the contact rods.