Contact structure for high voltage gas blast circuit interrupter

Claim 1

In a circuit interrupter: an integral, generally tubular stationary contact, one end of said generally tubular contact being segmented in an axial direction to define a generally circular cluster of contact fingers; an integral, generally tubular movable contact movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, one end of said generally tubular movable contact being segmented in an axial direction to define a generally circular cluster of contact fingers, the opposite end of said movable contact being a generally solid ring; said contact fingers extending for the major length of said generally tubular movable contact from said one end of said generally tubular movable contact to said generally solid ring of said generally tubular movable contact; said tubular stationary and movable contacts being coaxial; said solid ring end of said movable contact being movable into engagement with surfaces of said circular cluster of contact fingers of said stationary contact and having a diameter different than the diameter defined by said surface of said cluster of stationary contact fingers when they are unflexed, thereby to create a given contact pressure when said movable and stationary contacts are in engagement; a generally stationary conductive tube supported in insulated relation with respect to said stationary contact; said tubular movable contact being coaxial with respect to said stationary conductive tube and being in sliding contact engagement therewith; said segmented movable contact fingers engaging a surface of said conductive tube; said conductive tube having a diameter different than the diameter defined by the engaging surfaces of said movable contact fingers when they are unflexed, thereby to create a given contact pressure when said movable contact slides relative to said conductive tube; whereby contact bounce of said movable contact fingers is substantially eliminated; and an operating mechanism for applying high forces over a relatively short time to said movable contact, thereby to move said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, and wherein substantially no shock force is transmitted to the region of sliding engagment between said movable contact fingers and said stationary conductive tube when said movable contact moves out of engagement with said stationary contact; said operating mechanism including an elongated operating shaft disposed coaxially with said movable contact and extending through the center of said stationary conductive tube, and having one end thereof fixed to said solid ring end of said movable contact.