Circuit interrupter having vacuum type interrupter in insulating gas filled housing

Claim 1

A CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER FOR USE IN AIR AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR INSULATING MEMBER HAVING TERMINALS AT ITS ENDS AND MEMBERS CLOSING ITS ENDS TO FORM A GAS-TIGHT NON-VENTED TUBULAR INSULATING HOUSING FOR PERMANENTLY CONTAINING AND CONFINING A QUANTITY OF INSULATING GAS AT A PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND INDEPENDENT OF VARIATIONS IN PRESENCE OF THE AMBIENT AIR, (B) A VACUUM TYPE INTERRUPTERE UNIT IN SAID HOUSING HAVING SEPARABLE CURRENT INTERRUPTING CONTACTS IN A VACUUM HOUSING CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID TERMINALS, (C) AN INSULATING GAS IN SAID TUBULAR GAS TIGHT HOUSING AND IMMERSING SAID VACUUM HOUSING CHARACTERIZED BY HAVING A PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND A DIELECTRIC STRENGTH AT SUCH PRESSURE SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE DIELECTRIC STRENGTH OF AIR AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND PROVIDING INSULATION OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID VACUUM HOUSING MATCHING THE VOLTAGE WITHSTANDABILITY OF THE GAP BETWEEN SAID CONTACTS WHILE THEY ARE BEING SEPARATED FOR ARC EXTINCTION AND IN THEIR OPEN POSITION FOLLOWING ARC EXTINCTION AND PROVIDING A FORCE BIASING SAID CONTACTS TOWARD THEIR CLOSED POSITION, AND (D) MEANS FOR OVERCOMING THE BIASING ACTION OF SAID INSULATING GAS IN SAID INSULATING HOUSING FOR OPENING SAID CURRENT INTERRUPTING CONTACTS.