FORM 2

CASE A

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A self jigging vacuum interrupter and a method of manufacturing the same
INVENTORS
More Sachin and Kamble Deepak, both Indian nationals and both of Crompton Greaves Limited, Engineering Department, CG Global R&D Centre, Kanjur (East), Mumbai 400042, Maharashtra, India
APPLICANTS
Crompton Greaves Limited, CG House, Dr Annie Besant Road, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400030, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a self jigging vacuum interrupter and a method of manufacturing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A vacuum interrupter (VI) is a switching device used for interruption of fault current in power supply systems. It generally comprises a fixed side subassembly and a moving side subassembly vacuum tight brazed at the opposite ends of a ceramic bottle. The fixed side subassembly generally comprises a fixed side electrode, fixed side contact, fixed side end plate, fixed side seal cup and centre shield as discrete components. The moving side subassembly generally comprises a moving side electrode, moving side contact, moving side end plate, moving side seal cup, bellows, bellows shield, stacking ring, bush and arresting cap as discrete components. The fixed side subassembly is manufactured by introducing the fixed side electrode through the fixed side end plate and locating the fixed side end plate against a collar around the fixed side electrode followed by locating the centre shield on the fixed side endplate and around the fixed side electrode. The fixed side seal cup is located against the fixed side end plate by using a fixture. The fixed side end plate is brazed to the fixed side electrode, center shield and fixed side seal cup. The moving side subassembly is manufactured by inserting the bellows over the moving side electrode and locating one end of the bellows against a collar on the moving side electrode. Following this, the bellows shield is inserted over the bellows and its one end is located against the said one end of the bellows. The stacking ring is inserted over the moving side electrode and located against the said one end of the bellows shield and punched onto the moving side electrode. The moving side electrode is inverted and the moving side end plate is located against the other end of the bellows. The moving side seal cup is located against the moving side end plate with the help of a fixture. The said one ends of the bellows and bellows shield and the stacking ring are brazed to the moving side electrode. The other end of the bellows is brazed to the moving side endplate and the moving side seal cup is brazed to the moving side endplate. The fixed side contact is located at the inner end of the fixed side electrode and


brazed to it. Similarly the moving side contact is located at the inner end of the moving side electrode and brazed to it. The subassemblies are held at the opposite ends of a ceramic bottle with the help of fixtures and the respective seal cups are brazed to the ceramic bottle under evacuation of the ceramic bottle. The bush is inserted over the moving side electrode and the arresting cap is fitted over the bush against the moving side end plate. Manufacture of the above vacuum interrupter involves three stage brazing because of which the cycle time increases, productivity reduces and cost of manufacture increases. Manufacture is also complicated and cumbersome. As the subassemblies comprise large number of components and large number of joints, there are chances of leakage of vacuum through the joints during evacuation of the vacuum bottle. This may lead to improper evacuation of the ceramic bottle and increase the rejection rate of the vacuum interrupter and the cost of manufacture. Increased rejection rate also increases the material cost. Reliability of the vacuum interrupter is also reduced due to the large number of joints. Because of the use of the fixtures in the manufacture of the vacuum interrupter, the thermal mass increases thereby increasing the energy requirement. The three stage brazing also requires increased energy. Cost of manufacture of the vacuum interrupter also increases because of the increased energy requirement. Because of the use of the fixtures, throughput of the vacuum interrupters ie the number of vacuum interrupters that can be accommodated for brazing in a given batch reduces. As a result of this also, productivity reduces and cost of the vacuum interrupter increases. We have described in our Indian Patent Application No 1222/MUM/2006, a vacuum interrupter and a method of manufacture thereof. Such a vacuum interrupter also requires fixtures during assembly of the subassemblies and also during assembly of the subassemblies onto the ceramic bottle. Therefore, the problems associated with fixtures are encountered in such a vacuum interrupter also.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a self jigging vacuum interrupter which comprises reduced number of components and is economical.


Another object of the invention is to provide a self jigging vacuum interrupter which is simple in construction and easy to manufacture and is reliable.
Another object of the invention is to provide a self jigging vacuum interrupter which has reduced electrical stresses and increased life.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a self jigging vacuum interrupter, which method reduces cycle time of manufacture and cost of manufacture and increases productivity of the vacuum interrupter.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a self jigging vacuum interrupter which method reduces the rejection rate and material cost and manufacturing cost and further increases productivity of the vacuum interrupter.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a self jigging vacuum interrupter which method eliminates fixtures and increases throughput and reduces thermal mass and thermal energy requirement and cost of manufacture.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a self jigging vacuum interrupter which method is simple and easy to carry out.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a self jigging vacuum interrupter which method produces a vacuum interrupter of reduced electrical stresses and increased life.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a self-jigging vacuum interrupter comprising a fixed side subassembly vacuum tight brazed at one end of a ceramic bottle and comprising a fixed side electrode passing through a fixed side end plate and brazed thereto, a centre shield disposed around the fixed side electrode and comprising a closing and locating means for closing the ceramic bottle at one end thereof and locating the fixed side subassembly at


the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the said closing and locating means being brazed to the fixed side end plate and to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and a fixed side contact brazed to the inner end of the fixed side electrode, the vacuum interrupter further comprising a moving side subassembly comprising a moving side electrode passing through a bellows, one end of the bellows being brazed to the moving side electrode, a bellows shield disposed over the bellows with its one end brazed to the moving side electrode and to the said one end of the bellows, a stacking ring disposed over the moving side electrode and located against the said one end of the bellows shield and brazed to the moving side electrode, a moving side contact brazed to the inner end of the moving side electrode and a moving side end cup comprising locator means for locating the moving side subassembly at the other end of the ceramic bottle, the said locator means being brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle.
According to the invention there is also provided a method of manufacturing a self-jigging vacuum interrupter comprising:
i) assembling a fixed side subassembly by introducing a fixed side electrode through a
fixed side end plate and locating the fixed side end plate against a collar around the fixed side electrode, locating a centre shield comprising a closing and locating means around the fixed side electrode with the closing and locating means abutting against the fixed side end plate and locating a fixed side contact at the inner end of the fixed side electrode;
ii) assembling a moving side subassembly by introducing a bellows over a moving side electrode and locating one end of the bellows against a collar around the moving side electrode, positioning a bellows shield over the bellows and locating one end of the bellows shield against the said one end of the bellows, introducing a stacking ring over the moving side electrode and locating it against the said one end of the bellows shield followed by punching the stacking ring onto the moving side electrode, inverting the moving side electrode and locating a moving side end cup having locator means at the other end of the bellows over the moving side electrode and locating a moving contact at the inner end of the moving side electrode; and


iii) locating the fixed side subassembly and moving side assembly at one end and the other end respectively of a ceramic body with the help of the respective closing and locating means and locator means and vacuum tight brazing the fixed side end plate to the fixed side electrode and the closing and locating means, the closing and locating means to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and fixed side contact to the inner end of the fixed side electrode and further brazing the said one ends of the bellows and bellows shield and the stacking ring to the moving side electrode and the moving side contact to the inner end of the moving side electrode, the moving side end cup to the said other end of the bellows and the locator means to the said other end of the ceramic bottle under evacuation of the ceramic bottle.
The following is a detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :
Figs 1A and IB are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figs 2A and 2B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 3A and 3B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 4A and 4B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 5A and 5B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;


Figs 6A and 6B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 7A and 7B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 8A and 8B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 9A and 9B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention;
Figs 10A and 10B are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention; and
Figs 11A and 1 IB are crosssectional view and exploded view respectively of a self-jigging vacuum interrupter according to another embodiment of the invention.
The self-jigging vacuum interrupter 12 as illustrated in Figs 1A and IB of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13 located at one end of a ceramic bottle 14. The fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side electrode 15 passing through a hole 16 in a fixed side end plate 17 and brazed to the fixed side end plate. 18 is a centre shield disposed around the fixed side electrode and comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion 19 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the bent portion 19 comprises a corner 20 located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. 21 is a fixed contact brazed to the inner end of the fixed electrode 15. The vacuum interrupter further comprises a moving side subassembly 22 located at the other end of the ceramic bottle and comprising a moving side electrode 23 passing through hole 24a at one end of bellows 24. The said one end of the bellows is brazed to the moving side electrode. 25 is a bellows shield disposed over the bellows through hole 25a at one end of the bellows shield. The said one end of the bellows shield is brazed to the moving side


electrode and to the said one end of the bellows. 26 is a stacking ring disposed over the moving side electrode and located against the said one end of the bellows shield and brazed to the moving side electrode and to the said one end of the bellows shield. 27 is a moving side contact brazed to the inner end of the moving side electrode. 28 is a moving side end cup comprising a L-shaped bent section 29 outwardly obliquely extending from the edge of the moving side end cup. The inner end of the L-shaped bent section is adapted to be located against the inner surface of the other end of the ceramic bottle and the tip of the L-shaped bent section is located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The fixed side subassembly is assembled by passing the fixed side electrode 15 through the hole 16 in the fixed side end plate and locating the fixed side end plate against a collar 30 around the fixed side electrode. The centre shield is located around the fixed side electrode with the outwardly and downwardly bent section 19 abutting against the fixed side end plate. The fixed side contact formed with a recess (not shown but can be seen in Fig 1A) corresponding to the fixed side electrode is located at the inner end of the fixed side electrode by engaging the recess therein over the inner end of the fixed side electrode. The moving side subassembly 22 is assembled by passing the bellows 24 over the moving side electrode through the hole 24a at one end thereof and locating one end of the bellows against a collar 31 around the moving side electrode. The bellows shield 25 is positioned over the bellows with its one end engaged over the moving side electrode through the hole 25a and located against the said one end of the bellows. The stacking ring 26 is located over the moving side electrode against the said one end of the bellows shield and punched onto the moving side electrode. The moving side electrode is inverted and the moving side end cup 28 is located at the other end of the bellows over the moving side electrode through hole 28a in the moving side end cup. The moving side contact 27 formed with a notch (not shown but can be seen in Fig 1A) corresponding to the inner end of the moving side electrode is located at the inner end of the moving side electrode by engaging the notch over the inner end of the moving side electrode. The fixed side subassembly and moving side subassembly are located at the respective ends of the ceramic body with the help of the respective bent portion 19 and L-shaped bent section 29. Under evacuation of the ceramic bottle, the fixed side end plate is brazed to the fixed side electrode. The bent portion 19 is brazed to the fixed side end plate and to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The fixed


contact is brazed to the inner end of the fixed side electrode. The said one ends of the bellows and bellow shield and the stacking ring are brazed to the moving side electrode. The moving side contact is brazed to the inner end of the moving side electrode. The moving side end cup is brazed to the said other end of the bellows and the L-shaped bent section 29 is brazed to the other end of the ceramic bottle. The tapped holes 32 and 33 formed at the outer ends of the fixed side electrode and moving side electrode are respectively for connecting the vacuum interrupter to switching devices like vacuum switches.
The vacuum interrupter 34 as illustrated in Figs 2A and 2B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13a having a centre shield having an outwardly and downwardly and further outwardly and downwardly bent section 35 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The further outwardly and downwardly bent part of the bent portion is located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The moving side subassembly 22a comprises a moving side end cup having an outwardly and upwardly bent section 36 extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter 34 is manufactured in the same manner as described above. The vacuum interrupter 37 as illustrated in Figs 3A and 3B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13b having an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly and downwardly bent portion 38 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The further inwardly and downwardly bent part of the bent portion is located against one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The moving side subassembly 22b comprises a moving side end cup having an inwardly and upwardly bent section 39 extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and adapted to be located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter of Figs 3A and 3B is manufactured in the same manner as described above. The vacuum interrupter 40 as illustrated in Figs 4A and 4B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13c having an outwardly and downwardly and further outwardly and downwardly bent portion 41 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The further outwardly and downwardly bent part of the bent portion 31 is located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and


brazed thereto. The moving side subassembly 22c comprises a moving side end cup having
an outwardly and downwardly bent section 42 extending from the edge of the moving side
end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The
vacuum interrupter 46 of Figs 4A and 4B is manufactured in the same manner as described
above. The vacuum interrupter 43 as illustrated in Figs 5A and 5B of the accompanying
drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13d comprising a fixed side end shield 44.
The fixed side end shield comprises a cylindrical member 44a located in the ceramic bottle
at one end thereof. The outer end of the cylindrical member comprises an outwardly
obliquely bent tongue portion 45 the tip of which is located at the said one end of the
ceramic bottle. 46 is an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the
outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the outwardly and downwardly bent portion is
located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and
brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The moving side subassembly 22d
comprises a moving side end cup having an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section 47 extending from the edge of the moving side end cup. The inner end of the L-shaped section is located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section is located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner as described above except for the difference that the cylindrical member is located in the ceramic bottle prior to locating the fixed side subassembly at the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The end shield reduces the electrical stresses being developed in the vacuum interrupter due to arcing during working of the vacuum interrupter so as to increase the life of the vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter 48 as illustrated in Figs 6A and 6B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13e comprising a fixed side end shield 49. The fixed side end shield comprises a cylindrical member 50 located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof. The inner end of the cylindrical member is folded thereagainst (marked 50a) in order to reinforce the same. The outer end of the cylindrical member comprises an outwardly obliquely bent tongue portion 51 the tip of which is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle. 52 is an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the bent portion is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue


portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The moving side subassembly 22e comprises a moving side end cup having an inwardly bent portion 53 extending from the edge thereof and located at the other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The inwardly bent section comprises in continuation an upwardly bent cylindrical portion 54 extending into the ceramic bottle at the said other end thereof and describing a moving side end shield around the bellow shield. The distal end of the moving side end shield is folded thereagaisnt marked 54a in order to reinforce the same. The end shields reduce the electrical stresses being developed in the vacuum interrupter due to arcing during working of the vacuum interrupter so as to increase the life of the vacuum interrupter. The vacuum interrupter of Figs 6A and 6B is manufactured in the same manner as described above except for the difference that the cylindrical member is located in the ceramic bottle at the said one thereof prior to locating the fixed side subassembly at the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The vacuum interrupter 55 as illustrated in Figs 7A and 7B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13f having an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly bent portion 56 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The inwardly bent part of the bent portion is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed to it. The bent portion further comprises in continuation a cylindrical extension 57 extending into the ceramic bottle around the centre shield and describing a fixed side end shield. The distal end of the cylindrical extension is folded thereagainst marked 57a in order to reinforce the same. The moving side subassembly 22f comprises an inwardly bent section 58 located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The inwardly bent section further comprises in continuation a cylindrical projection 59 extending into the ceramic bottle around the bellows shield describing a moving side end shield. The distal end of the cylindrical projection is folded thereagainst marked 59a in order to reinforce the same. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner ad described above. The vacuum interrupter 60 as illustrated in Figs 8A and 8B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13g comprising a fixed side endshield 61. The fixed side endshield comprises a cylindrical member 62 located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof. The inner end of the cylindrical member is folded thereagainst marked 62a. The outer end of the cylindrical member comprises an outwardly and upwardly and inwardly bent extension 63.


The outwardly bent part of the said bent extension is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. 64 is outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The outwardly and downwardly bent portion is located against the upwardly and inwardly bent part of the said bent extension and brazed thereto. The moving side subassembly 22g comprises a moving side end shield 65 comprising a cylindrical body 66 located in the ceramic bottle at the said other end thereof. The inner end of the cylindrical body is folded thereagainst marked 66a in order to reinforce the same. The outer end of the cylindrical body comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion 67 located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. 68 is an inwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner as described above except for the difference that the cylindrical member and cylindrical body are located in the ceramic bottle at the respective ends thereto prior to assembling the fixed side subassembly and moving side subassembly onto the ceramic bottle. The vacuum interrupter 69 as illustrated in Figs 9A and 9B of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13h having an outwardly obliquely and downwardly bent portion 70 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the bent portion is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The fixed side subassembly further comprises a fixed side end cup 71 located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said bent portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The moving side subassembly 22h comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section 72 extending from the edge of the moving side end cup. The inner end of the L-shaped section is located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section is located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner as described above except for the difference that the fixed side electrode is introduced in the fixed side end cup through a hole 71a in the end cup and the end cup is located against the collar 30 around the fixed side electrode and the centre shield is first located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle prior to location of the edge of the moving side end cup at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the bent portion. The vacuum interrupter 73 as illustrated in Figs 10A and 10B of the


accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13i comprising a fixed side end shield 74. The fixed side end shield 74 comprises a cylindrical member 75 located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof. The inner end of the cylindrical member is folded thereagainst marked 75a. The outer end of the cylindrical member comprises an outwardly obliquely bent tongue portion 76. The tip of the tongue portion is located at the said one end of the cylindrical member. 77 is an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the outwardly and downwardly bent portion is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The moving side subassembly 22i comprises a moving side endshield 78 comprising a cylindrical body 79 located in the ceramic bottle at the said other end thereof. The inner end of the cylindrical body is folded thereagainst marked 79a. The outer end of the cylindrical body describes an outwardly inwardly bent tongue portion 80 the tip of which is located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle. The edge 81 of the moving side end cup is located against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner as described above except for the difference that prior to assembling the fixed side subassembly and moving side subassembly at the respective ends of the ceramic bottle, the end shields are located in the ceramic bottle at the respective ends thereof. The vacuum interrupter 82 as illustrated in Figs 11A and 1 IB of the accompanying drawings comprises a fixed side subassembly 13j having an outwardly and downwardly bent portion 83 extending from the outer end of the centre shield. The tip of the bent portion is located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. A plurality of radially spaced apart arms 84 extending from the centre shield are located against the inner side wall of the ceramic bottle so as to support and reinforce the centre shield. The moving side subassembly 22j comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section 85 extending from the edge of the moving side end cup. The inner end of the L-shaped section is located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section is located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto. The vacuum interrupter is manufactured in the same manner as described above.


The self jigging or self locating vacuum interrupter of the invention do not require the fixtures normally associated with manufacture of vacuum interrupters. It also reduces the number of joints and the number of components. Brazing is carried out only at the final stage of manufacture, namely at the time of brazing the subassemblies onto the ceramic bottle. Because of the single shot brazing, cycle time of manufacture and cost of manufacture are reduced and productivity is increased. As the number of joints have been reduced, rejection due to vacuum leakage is reduced and reliability of the vacuum interrupter is increased. Due to elimination of the fixtures, throughput ie the number of vacuum interrupters that can be accommodated in a given batch of vacuum interrupters is increased and thermal mass and thermal energy requirement and cost of manufacture are reduced. The method of the invention is simple and easy to carry out. The construction of the vacuum interrupter is also made rendered simple and easy. The vacuum interrupter of the invention is also economical for the above reasons. Besides it reduces electrical stresses so as to increase the life and performance of the vacuum interrupter.
The end shield(s) configuration can be different. The closing and locating means and the locator means integrated at the outer end of the centre shield and at the edge of the moving side end cup can be of different geometries / configurations. Such variations in the construction and configuration of the invention are obvious to those skilled in the art and the scope of the invention should be construed and understood accordingly.


We claim :
1. A self-jigging vacuum interrupter comprising a fixed side subassembly vacuum tight brazed at one end of a ceramic bottle and comprising a fixed side electrode passing through a fixed side end plate and brazed thereto, a centre shield disposed around the fixed side electrode and comprising a closing and locating means for closing the ceramic bottle at one end thereof and locating the fixed side subassembly at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the said closing and locating means being brazed to the fixed side end plate and to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and a fixed side contact brazed to the inner end of the fixed side electrode, the vacuum interrupter further comprising a moving side subassembly comprising a moving side electrode passing through a bellows, one end of the bellows being brazed to the moving side electrode, a bellows shield disposed over the bellows with its one end brazed to the moving side electrode and to the said one end of the bellows, a stacking ring disposed over the moving side electrode and located against the said one end of the bellows shield and brazed to the moving side electrode, a moving side contact brazed to the inner end of the moving side electrode and a moving side end cup comprising locator means for locating the moving side subassembly at the other end of the ceramic bottle, the said locator means being brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle.
2. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the bent portion comprising a corner located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprises an reshaped bent section outwardly obliquely extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped bent section being adapted to be located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the tip of the L-shaped bent section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
3. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly and further outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the further


outwardly and downwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprises an outwardly and upwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
4. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the further inwardly and downwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprises an inwardly and upwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup adapted to be located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
5. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion and a further outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped portion in continuation extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the inner end of the L-shaped portion being located against the inner surface of the said one end of the ceramic bottle and tip of the L-shaped portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
6. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side endshield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely vent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the outwardly and downwardly bent portion being located at the said one


end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and the locator means comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
7. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side end shield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely bent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the locating and closing means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the locator means comprising an inwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the said inwardly bent section comprising in continuation an upwardly bent cylindrical portion extending into the ceramic bottle at the other end thereof and describing a moving side endshield around the bellow shield, the distal end of the moving side endshield being folded thereagainst.
8. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the inwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the said bent portion further comprising in continuation a cylindrical extension extending into the ceramic bottle around the centre shield and describing a fixed side end shield, the distal end of the cylindrical extension being folded thereagainst and the locator means comprises an inwardly bent section located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the inwardly bent section further comprising in continuation a cylindrical projection


extending into the ceramic bottle around the bellow shield and describing a moving side endshield, the distal end of the cylindrical projection being folded thereagainst.
9. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side endshield comprising cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly upwardly and inwardly bent extension, the outwardly bent part of the said bent extension being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the said outwardly and downwardly bent portion being located against the upwardly and inwardly bent part of the said bent extension and brazed thereto, the moving side subassembly comprises a moving side endshield comprising a cylindrical body located in the ceramic bottle at the said other end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical body being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical body comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprises an inwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion and brazed thereto.
10. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly obliquely and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the said bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side end cup located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said bent portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and the locator means comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.


11. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side endshield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely and downwardly bent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic body, the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the moving side subassembly comprises a moving side end shield comprising a cylindrical body located in the ceramic bottle at its said other end, the inner end of the cylindrical body being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical body describing outwardly obliquely bent projection, the tip of the said projection being located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the locator means comprises the edge of the moving side end cup located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said projection and brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle.
12. The self-jigging vacuum interrupter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the vacuum bottle and brazed thereto, the closing and locating means further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart support arms extending from the centre shield and located against the inner side wall of the ceramic bottle and the locator means comprises an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
13. A method of manufacturing a self-jigging vacuum interrupter comprising :


i) assembling a fixed side subassembly by introducing a fixed side electrode through a
fixed side end plate and locating the fixed side end plate against a collar around the fixed side electrode, locating a centre shield comprising a closing and locating means around the fixed side electrode with the closing and locating means abutting against the fixed side end plate and locating a fixed side contact at the inner end of the fixed side electrode;
ii) assembling a moving side subassembly by introducing a bellows over a moving side electrode and locating one end of the bellows against a collar around the moving side electrode, positioning a bellows shield over the bellows and locating one end of the bellows shield against the said one end of the bellows, introducing a stacking ring over the moving side electrode and locating it against the said one end of the bellows shield followed by punching the stacking ring onto the moving side electrode, inverting the moving side electrode and locating a moving side end cup having locator means at the other end of the bellows over the moving side electrode and locating a moving contact at the inner end of the moving side electrode; and
iii) locating the fixed side subassembly and moving side assembly at one end and the other end respectively of a ceramic body with the help of the respective closing and locating means and locator means and vacuum tight brazing the fixed side end plate to the fixed side electrode and the closing and locating means, the closing and locating means to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and fixed side contact to the inner end of the fixed side electrode and further brazing the said one ends of the bellows and bellows shield and the stacking ring to the moving side electrode and the moving side contact to the inner end of the moving side electrode, the moving side end cup to the said other end of the bellows and the locator means to the said other end of the ceramic bottle under evacuation of the ceramic bottle.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the bent portion comprising a corner located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and


with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an L-shaped bent section outwardly obliquely extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped bent section being adapted to be located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the tip of the L-shaped bent section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly and further outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the further outwardly and downwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an outwardly and upwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
16. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the further inwardly and downwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located against the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an inwardly and upwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup adapted to be located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
17. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion and. a further outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped portion in continuation extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the inner end of the L-shaped portion being located against the inner surface of the said one end of the ceramic bottle and the tip of the L-shaped portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an outwardly


obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
18. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a fixed side subassembly comprising a fixed side endshield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely bent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the outwardly and downwardly bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an outwardly obliquely bent L-shaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the L-shaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
19. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a fixed side subassembly comprising a fixed side end shield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely bent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the locating and closing means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an inwardly bent section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the said inwardly bent section comprising in continuation an upwardly bent portion extending into the ceramic


bottle and describing a cylindrical moving side endshield around the bellow shield, the distal end of the moving side endshield being folded thereagainst.
20. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly and further inwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the inwardly bent part of the said bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the said bent portion further comprising in continuation a cylindrical extension extending into the ceramic bottle around the centre shield and describing a fixed side end shield, the distal end of the cylindrical extension being folded thereagainst and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an inwardly bent section located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the inwardly bent section further comprising in continuation a cylindrical projection extending into the ceramic bottle around the bellow shield and describing a moving side endshield, the distal end of the cylindrical projection being folded thereagainst.
21. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a fixed side subassembly comprising a fixed side endshield comprising cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly upwardly and inwardly bent extension, the outwardly bent part of the said bent extension being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto, the closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the said outwardly and downwardly bent portion being located against the upwardly and inwardly bent part of the said bent extension and brazed thereto with a moving side subassembly comprising a moving side endshield comprising a cylindrical body located in the ceramic bottle at the said other end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical body being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical body comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto and the locator means comprising an inwardly bent


section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup and located against the said outwardly and downwardly bent protrusion and brazed thereto.
22. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly obliquely and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the said bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle, the fixed side subassembly comprising a fixed side end cup located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said bent portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an outwardly obliquely bent reshaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the reshaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.
23. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a fixed side subassembly comprising a fixed side endshield comprising a cylindrical member located in the ceramic bottle at the said one end thereof, the inner end of the cylindrical member being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical member comprising an outwardly obliquely and downwardly bent tongue portion, the tip of the tongue portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic body, the closing and locating means comprises an outwardly and downwardly bent portion, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the tongue portion and brazed to the said one end of the ceramic bottle and with a moving side subassembly comprising a moving side end shield comprising a cylindrical body located in the ceramic bottle at its said other end, the inner end of the cylindrical body being folded thereagainst and the outer end of the cylindrical body describing outwardly obliquely bent projection, the tip of the said projection being located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the locator means comprising the edge of the moving side end cup located at the said other end of the ceramic bottle against the tip of the said projection and brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle.


24. The method as claimed in claim 13, which is carried out with a center shield comprising closing and locating means comprising an outwardly and downwardly bent portion extending from the outer end of the centre shield, the tip of the bent portion being located at the said one end of the vacuum bottle and brazed thereto, the closing and locating means further comprising a plurality of radially spaced apart support arms extending from the centre shield and located against the inner side wall of the ceramic bottle and with a moving side end cup comprising locator means comprising an outwardly obliquely bent reshaped section extending from the edge of the moving side end cup, the inner end of the reshaped section being located against the inner surface of the said other end of the ceramic bottle and the outer end of the L-shaped section being located against the said other end of the ceramic bottle and brazed thereto.


Abstract
A self-jigging vacuum interrupter (12) comprising a fixed side subassembly (13) vacuum tight brazed at one end of a ceramic bottle (14). The fixed side subassembly comprises a fixed side electrode (15) passing through a fixed side end plate (17) and brazed thereto. A centre shield (18) is disposed around the fixed side electrode and comprises a closing and locating means (19) for closing the ceramic bottle at one end thereof and locating the fixed side subassembly at the said one end of the ceramic bottle. The said closing and locating means is brazed to the fixed side end plate and to the said one end of the ceramic bottle. A fixed side contact (21) is brazed to the inner end of the fixed side electrode. The vacuum interrupter further comprises a moving side subassembly (22) comprising a moving side electrode (23) passing through a bellows (24). One end of the bellows is brazed to the moving side electrode. A bellows shield (25) is disposed over the bellows with its one end brazed to the moving side electrode and to the said one end of the bellows. A stacking ring (26) is disposed over the moving side electrode and located against the said one end of the bellows shield and brazed to the moving side electrode. A moving side contact (27) is brazed to the inner end of the moving side electrode. A moving side end cup (28) comprises locator means (29) for locating the moving side subassembly at the other end of the ceramic bottle. The said locator means is brazed to the said other end of the ceramic bottle. Also method of manufacturing the self-jigging vacuum interrupter. (Fig 1 A).