High voltage switch vacuum interrupter

A high voltage vacuum load interrupter for use with a high voltage air break disconnect switch, the high voltage vacuum load interrupter comprising:

• an insulating elongated housing of dielectric material having a first end cap and a second end cap sealed to opposite ends thereof;
• at least one vacuum bottle electric interrupter positioned within the insulating elongated housing and having a fixed contact and a movable contact axially aligned with the fixed contact, the axially aligned movable contact being movable between a closed position engageable with the fixed contact and an open position spaced from the fixed contact;
• an operating mechanism coupled to the moveable contact and secured to one of the opposite ends of the elongated housing,
• the operating mechanism including:
• an actuator;
• a toggle pivotable by the actuator;
• an actuating lever assembly operable with the toggle to reciprocate the movable contact;
• a trip spring means for causing the moveable contact to move to the open position upon actuation by the actuator;
• means for causing the moveable contact to move to the closed position after actuation;
• means for holding the axially aligned movable contact and the fixed contact in the closed position when the interrupter is not actuated by the actuator;
• and,
• means for preventing electrical flash over within the insulating elongated housing and for preventing stressing of a sealing of the insulating elongated housing by enabling an insulating medium consisting of atmospheric air within the insulating elongated housing exterior to the at least one vacuum bottle electric interrupter that is desiccant free and has a pressure equal to the pressure outside of the insulating elongated housing, said means for preventing electrical flash over within the insulating elongated housing and for preventing stressing of the sealing of the insulating elongated housing comprising at least one air permeable membrane vent including a membrane vent housing in operative engagement with an opening in and mounted to at least one of the first end cap, the second end cap and the insulating elongated housing, the at least one air permeable membrane vent comprising an air permeable hydrophobic membrane in operative arrangement with the membrane vent housing configured to prevent the at least one vacuum bottle electric interrupter from electric flashover by preventing condensation on the at least one vacuum bottle electric interrupter while simultaneously not stressing the sealing of the insulating elongated housing by controlling the pressure within the insulating elongated housing exterior to the at least one vacuum bottle electric interrupter equal to the pressure outside of the insulating elongated housing, thereby preventing stress of the sealing of the insulating elongated housing.