Vacuum circuit breaker with means for selectively latching a wipe cage

A vacuum circuit breaker comprising:

• (a) a sealed, evacuated envelope;
• (b) first and second separable, electrical contacts contained in said envelope, said first contact being movable with respect to said second contact from a closed position when abutting said second contact and carrying normal current to a fully open position when separated from said second contact and not carrying current;
• (c) wipe means having first and second ends, means for resiliently biasing apart said ends, and means to limit the maximum distance of separation between said ends, said wipe means providing contact wipe when said first contact is in said closed position;
• (d) means for coupling said first contact to said wipe means first end, said coupling means extending into said envelope;
• (e) bellows means for providing a gas-tight seal between said coupling means and said envelope;
• (f) an operating member coupled to said wipe means second end, for moving said contacts from said closed position to said fully open position during an opening stroke thereof and for moving said contacts from said fully open position to said closed position during a closing stroke thereof;
• (g) latch means rendered actuated during said opening stroke of said operating member for fixedly biasing apart said wipe means ends to a distance equaling said maximum distance of separation reduced by a distance substantially less than the maximum attainable contact wipe;
• and
• (h) latch disabling means rendered actuated during said closing stroke of said operating member for disabling said latch means.