Vacuum switch operating mechanism including laminated flexible shunt connector

An electric power switch connected between first and second stationary conductors and comprising:

• separable contacts including a fixed contact and a moveable contact;
• a fixed contact support on which said fixed contact is mounted for connection to said first stationary conductor;
• a movable contact support on which said moveable contact is carried;
• an operating mechanism reciprocating said moveable contact support along a linear path to open and close said separable contacts;
• and
• a flexible shunt comprising:
• a flexible member comprising a stack of electrically conductive laminations having a fixed end, a moveable end, and an intermediate section between said fixed end and said moveable end, said intermediate section having a predetermined length;
• a moveable mount securing said moveable end of said flexible member to said moveable contact support member for movement therewith over a stroke extending along said linear path between a closed position at one end of said stroke and an open position at the other end of said stroke;
• and
• a fixed mount securing said fixed end of said flexible member to said second stationary conductor with said fixed end spaced from said moveable end along a neutral axis which is substantially perpendicular to said linear path by an offset distance which is less than said predetermined length of said intermediate section of said flexible member, said stroke being at least about one-third of said predetermined length of said intermediate section of said flexible member.