Vacuum interrupter

An improved vacuum interrupter, comprising:

• (a) an evacuated vessel having a generally cylindrical conductive sidewall;
• (b) first and second generally disc-shaped contacts disposed within said conductive vessel, and spaced inwardly from said conductive sidewall by at least a first predetermined distance, said contacts being substantially aligned with each other along a contact axis, and defining a mating interface when abutting each other;
• (c) first conductor means projecting externally of said vessel and being connected to said first contact;
• (d) second conductor means projecting externally of said vessel and being connected to said second contact;
• (e) third conductor means connected to said first conductor means at a second predetermined distance from said mating interface on a first side of said mating interface, said distance being measured in a direction parallel to said contact axis;
• and
• (f) fourth conductor means connected to said third conductor means, said fourth conductor means being disposed substantially concentrically and symmetrically about said contact axis, said fourth conductor means running from a third predetermined distance from said mating interface on said first side thereof to a fourth predetermined distance from said mating interface on a second side of said mating interface, and spaced between fifth and sixth predetermined distances from said contact axis said third and fourth distances being measured in a direction parallel to said contact axis and said fifth and sixth dimensions being measured in a direction perpendicular to said contact axis, said second and fourth conductor means being parallel to each other for a finite extent and said fourth conductor means being oriented so as to carry current in a direction substantially parallel to said contact axis.