Multipole high voltage circuit breaker

Abstract

A multipole high voltage circuit breaker is provided with a housing formed of a pair of flanged housing shells which are snap-fitted together along adjoining peripheral flanges. The thus assembled housing is provided with a plurality of intermediate walls and end walls for defining a plurality of compartments corresponding to respective ones of the poles of the circuit breaker. A switch actuator shaft is formed of a plurality of tubular bodies which are housed in respective ones of the compartments and coupled together for joint rotation. A plurality of fixed contacts extend through the housing and are bent so as to be directed radially toward the switch actuator shaft. The arrangement further includes a plurality of switch elements arranged on the switch actuator shaft, the elements being movable between engaged and disengaged positions with respect to the fixed internal contacts upon rotation of the switch actuator shaft. In a preferred arrangement, the shells which form the housing are identical to one another so as to be producible in only one mould. Each shell is provided with a peripheral flange which contains pins and mating recesses. When assembled, the pins engage in the recesses and are deformed to prevent separation of the shells. In this manner, an easily assembly multipole circuit breaker is produced.