Compact vacuum switch for high voltage circuit interruption

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Abstract of the Disclosure, High interruption voltage capability within a vacuum switch of limited physical size is achieved by combining a diffuse arc electrode structure with provision for retracting one or both of a pair of movable butt contacts into an approximately field-free region. On separation of the contacts, an arc is initiated on the contacts and then transferred to a fixed gap electrode structure comprising a coaxial cylindrical electrode assembly in which the current path is folded back on itself to reduce the azimuthal magnetic field external to the outer cylindrical surface caus-, ing the arc to burn in a diffuse mode over a greatly enlarged electrode surface area.