Modular vacuum circuit interrupter

An electric power disconnect switch comprising:

• a jaws, a blade, and a lifter for moving the blade into and out of connection with the jaws;
• a bracket positioned adjacent to the jaws;
• a vacuum circuit interrupter mounted on the bracket comprising an actuator arm positioned to be moved by the blade to close and open an electric power circuit comprising the blade and the jaws;
• wherein the vacuum circuit interrupter comprises:
• a drive unit comprising a drive unit housing comprising a side surface extending in an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end, a drive mechanism positioned within the drive unit housing comprising a drive shaft extending axially through the bottom end of the drive unit housing, and an actuator linkage operatively connected to the drive mechanism;
• a contactor unit comprising a contactor unit housing comprising a side surface extending in an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end, a baseplate attached to the bottom end, and a vacuum bottle unit positioned within the contactor unit housing comprising a vacuum container enclosing a contactor comprising a connecting rod extending through a top end of the vacuum container;
• an insulation jacket filling a space between the side surface of the contactor unit housing and a entire side surface of the vacuum container reducing of flashover;
• wherein the drive shaft is threadably connected to the connecting rod for removing the vacuum bottle unit from the vacuum circuit interrupter by disconnecting the bottom end of the drive unit from the top end of the contactor unit, rotating the contactor unit with respect to the drive unit to unscrew the connecting rod from the drive shaft, removing the baseplate from the contactor unit housing, and sliding the vacuum bottle unit out the bottom end of the contactor unit housing.

A method for a modular vacuum circuit interrupter, comprising

• obtain a vacuum circuit interrupter, comprising
• a drive unit comprising a drive unit housing comprising a side surface extending in an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end, a drive mechanism positioned within the drive unit housing comprising a drive shaft extending axially through the bottom end of the drive unit housing, and an actuator linkage operatively connected to the drive mechanism, and
• a contactor unit comprising a contactor unit housing comprising a side surface extending in an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end, a baseplate attached to the bottom end, and a vacuum bottle unit positioned within the contactor unit housing comprising a vacuum container enclosing a contactor comprising a connecting rod extending through a top end of the vacuum container, wherein the drive shaft is threadably connected to the connecting rod, and wherein a bottom end of the vacuum bottle unit is positioned adjacent to the bottom end of the contactor unit housing, and the baseplate is selectively removable from the bottom of the contactor unit housing, for removal of the vacuum bottle unit through the bottom of the contactor unit housing;
• installing the modular vacuum circuit interrupter on a bracket adjacent to a jaws of a disconnect switch;
• removing the modular vacuum circuit interrupter from the bracket;
• removing bolts connecting the drive unit housing to the contactor unit housing;
• rotating the contactor unit housing with respect to the drive unit housing to unscrew the drive shaft from connecting rod;
• separating the contactor unit from the drive unit;
• removing the baseplate from the contactor unit;
• sliding the vacuum bottle unit out the bottom end of the contactor unit.