Vacuum switch

Claim 1

A VACUUM SWITCH ADAPTED FOR HIGH VOLTAGE, HIGH CURRENT APPLICATIONS, COMPRISING AN EVACUATED ENVELOPE FORMED BY A TUBULAR BELLOWS STRUCTURE AND FIRST AND SECOND CLOSURE MEMBERS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CLOSURE MEMBERS BEING FORMED OF AN ELECTRICAL INSULATING MATERIAL AND BEING RESPECTIVELY PERMANENTLY SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BELLOWS STRUCTURE WITH VACUUM-TIGHT SEALS, TO THEREBY FORM A VACUUM-TIGHT ENCLOSURE WITHIN SAID BELLOWS STRUCTURE; FIRST AND SECOND CONTACT MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BELLOWS STRUCTURE; MEANS FOR RESPECTIVELY MOUNTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTACT MEANS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND CLOSURE MEMBERS WITHIN SAID BELLOWS STRUCTURE, SO THAT EACH OF SAID CONTACT MEANS IS ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE CLOSURE MEMBER ASSOCIATED THEREWITH AND IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE OTHER CONTACT MEANS UPON RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS; AND AN AXIALLY EXTENDING BEARING STRUCTURE SURROUNDING SAID BELLOWS STRUCTURE BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS FOR INTERCONNECTING SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS TO PERMIT RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, WHEREBY SAID CONTACT MEANS ARE ADAPTED TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED BY RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID CLOSURE MEMBERS.