Circuit interrupter having uniformly spaced spiral arc runners in a confined atmosphere for improved arc voltage control

Claim 1

A CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER COMPRISING: (A) A TANK; (B) A PAIR OF LINE TERMINALS EXTENDING INTO SAID TANK; (C) FIRST AND SECOND STATIONARY ELECTRIC CONTACTS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TANK IN SPACED RELATION TO EACH OTHER AND INSULATED FROM THE TANK; (D) MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID STATIONARY CONTACTS TO SAID LINE TERIMINALS, RESPECTIVELY (E) A MOVABLE BRIDGING CONTACT DISPOSED SEPARABLY TO ENGAGE SAID STATIONARY CONTACTS WITHIN SAID TANK; (F) A FIRST ARC RUNNER MEMBER LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID STATIONARY CONTACTS AND INSULATED FROM SAID TANK; (G) A SECOND ARC RUNNER MEMBER GENERALLY SURROUNDING SAID BRIDGING CONTACT AND INSULATED FROM SAID TANK; (H) MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND ARC RUNNER MEMBERS TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONARY CONTACTS, RESPECTIVELY; AND (I) ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BRIDGING CONTACT TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRIC ARC IN THE TANK; (J) SAID ARC RUNNER MEMBERS BEING POSITIONED IN OPPOSITION TO AND SPACED FROM EACH OTHER FOR RECEIVING SAID ARC AND BEING SO ARRANGED THAT A MAGNETIC FIELD IS DEVELOPED THEREBETWEEN IN RESPONSE TO CURRENT FLOWING THEREIN FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THE ARC ALONG SAID MEMBERS WHILE THE ARC IS BEING EXTINGUISHED WITHIN SAID TANK.