Compact low force dead tank circuit breaker interrupter

An interrupter structure comprising, in combination:

• first and second interrupter contacts movable along a common axis relative to one another and into and out of engagement with respect to one another;
• first and second linearly movable operating rods operatively connected to said first and second interrupter contacts respectively;
• a stationary cylinder surrounding said common axis and having a piston movable therein and fixed thereto;
• said piston being fixed to and movable with said first movable operating rod;
• said piston dividing said stationary cylinder into a gas puffer chamber and an arc blast chamber;
• an interruption gas filling said interrupter structure and said stationary cylinder;
• said first and second interrupter contacts being disposed within said arc blast chamber when they are moved out of engagement with one another to produce an arc generated blast of interruption gas through the gap between said first and second interrupter contacts when they are moved out of engagement with one another;
• said piston compressing the interruption gas in said gas puffer chamber to produce a further gas blast through the gap between said first and second interrupter contacts when they are moved out of engagement with one another;
• a movable nozzle operatively connected to said piston and movable therewith, said movable nozzle surrounding said second interrupter contact for guiding the flow of interrupting gas through the gap between said first and second interrupter contacts when said first and second interrupter contacts move out of engagement with one another;
• movable shield means fixed to said movable nozzle and movable therewith, said shield means being disposed in a remote and non-shielding position when said first and second interrupter contacts are in engagement with one another and being disposed in a shielding position and in surrounding relationship with respect to said second interrupter contact when said first and second interrupter contacts are moved out of engagement with one another;
• and
• means coupling said first and second operating rods to mechanically move said second interrupter contact in a direction away from said first interrupter contact when said first operating rod is operated to move said first and second interrupter contacts away from one another.