Vacuum switch tube including windmill electrodes

Abstract

A vacuum switch tube has a pair of windmill type electrodes and a pair of electrode bars located within the tube. Each windmill type electrode includes an auxiliary electrode that includes a central hub portion having an axis, and a plurality of arcuate arms. Each arcuate arm has proximate and distal ends, and is attached at the proximate end to the central hub portion and extends in a spiral direction along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hub portion. Each arcuate arm also has a connecting portion formed on a top side of the arcuate arm near the distal end. Each windmill type electrode further includes a ring-shaped electrode having top and bottom sides, the bottom side being connected to the connecting portions of the plurality of arcuate arms. Each one of the pair of electrode bars has a top end upon which is mounted the hub of one of the pair of windmill type electrodes so that the hub axis is coincident with an axis of the electrode bar. The electrode bars are disposed in axial alignment within the vacuum switch tube so that the pair of windmill type electrodes are engageable and disengageable with one another. Accordingly, rotation of the arc current is enhanced.