Vacuum switching apparatus including first and second movable contact assemblies, and vacuum electrical switching apparatus including the same

A vacuum switching apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum envelope;
• a fixed contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope;
• a first movable contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope;
• a second movable contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope;
• a first bellows within said vacuum envelope and cooperating with said first movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within said vacuum envelope;
• a second bellows within said vacuum envelope and cooperating with said first movable contact assembly and said second movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within said vacuum envelope;
• and
• an operating assembly cooperating with said first and second movable contact assemblies to provide one of a first contact position wherein said first and second movable contact assemblies electrically engage said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope, a second contact position wherein said second movable contact assembly electrically engages said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope and said first movable contact assembly is electrically disengaged from said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope, and a third contact position wherein said first and second movable contact assemblies are electrically disengaged from said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope.

A vacuum electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum switching apparatus comprising:
• a vacuum envelope,
• a fixed contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope,
• a first movable contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope,
• a second movable contact assembly partially within said vacuum envelope,
• a first bellows within said vacuum envelope and cooperating with said first movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within said vacuum envelope,
• a second bellows within said vacuum envelope and cooperating with said first movable contact assembly and said second movable contact assembly to maintain a partial vacuum within said vacuum envelope, and
• an operating assembly cooperating with said first and second movable contact assemblies to provide one of a first contact position wherein said first and second movable contact assemblies electrically engage said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope, a second contact position wherein said second movable contact assembly electrically engages said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope and said first movable contact assembly is electrically disengaged from said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope, and a third contact position wherein said first and second movable contact assemblies are electrically disengaged from said fixed contact assembly within said vacuum envelope;
• and
• an operating mechanism structured to move said operating assembly in a first longitudinal direction and an opposite second longitudinal direction.