Electrical interruption device

An electrical interrupter device for switching a short-circuit electrical current in an electric circuit, said device comprising:

• a vacuum evacuated housing;
• first and second electrodes, configured as first and second rails, respectively, at least partially located within the housing, said first and second electrodes having first and second surfaces, respectfully, being fixed in parallel relationship within the housing to form a fixed elongated contact gap;
• a third electrode moveable relative to the first and second electrodes between a closed circuit position and an open circuit position, whereby an electrical arc is generated between the third electrode and at least one of the first and second electrode during said movement;
• wherein the arc is directed by the first and second electrodes away from the third electrode via the fixed elongated contact gap and wherein the fixed elongated contact gap has a length such that the arc formed at a first end of the fixed elongated contact gap adjacent the third electrode will experience a current zero or encounter an arc quenching material before reaching a second end of the fixed elongated contact gap.