Vacuum interrupter switch for power distribution systems

1. A vacuum interrupter switch for a power distribution system comprising:

an enclosure capable of passing through a circular opening having a diameter of approximately 30 inches and substantially free of oil and SF6 gas within its interior;

a first pair of power bushings extending from an upper region of a first side of the enclosure;

a second pair of power bushings extending from a lower region of a second side of the enclosure;

a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches positioned within the enclosure, each of said vacuum interrupter bottle switches having a movable contact and a stationary contact;

a bus positioned within the enclosure and electrically connected to one of said contacts of each of the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches,

the stationary and movable contacts of each vacuum interrupter bottle switch being positioned in circuit between the bus and a respective power pushing so that electrical coupling of its contacts electrically couples the power bushing to the bus via the vacuum interrupter bottle switch, and electrical decoupling of its contacts results in no electrical coupling of the power bushing and bus by the vacuum interrupter bottle switch; and

a plurality of operating mechanism assemblies coupled to the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the contacts of selected interrupter bottle switches.

2. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 1 wherein the first pair of power bushings and the second pair of power bushings extend from opposite sides of the enclosure.

3. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 1 wherein the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches comprises two pair of vacuum interrupter bottle switches, the two vacuum interrupter bottle switches of each pair extending generally laterally across the interior of the enclosure and generally parallel to each other.

4. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 1 wherein the bus is electrically connected to the movable contact of each of the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches.

5. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 1 including a plurality of bushing wells accessible from the enclosure's exterior and respectively coupled electrically to a like plurality of the power bushings.

6. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 3 wherein the two vacuum interrupter bottle switches of the first pair extend generally laterally across the interior of the enclosure and generally parallel to the second pair of vacuum interrupter bottle switches.

7. A vacuum interrupter switch for a power distribution system comprising:

an enclosure capable of passing through a circular opening having a diameter of approximately 30 inches and substantially free of oil and SF6 gas within its interior;

a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches positioned within the enclosure, each of said vacuum interrupter bottle switches having a movable contact and a stationary contact;

a plurality of connectors located on the exterior of the enclosure, each electrically coupled to a respective contact of a respective vacuum interrupter bottle switch;

a bus positioned within the enclosure and electrically coupled to the other of the contacts of the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches; and

a plurality of operating mechanism assemblies coupled to the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the movable contact and stationary contact of selected ones of the interrupter bottle switches.

8. A vacuum interrupter switch for a power distribution system comprising:

an enclosure capable of passing through a circular opening having a diameter of approximately 30 inches and substantially free of oil and SF6 gas within its interior;

at least one input connector accessible from outside the enclosure;

a plurality of output connectors accessible from outside the enclosure

a plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches positioned within the enclosure, each of said vacuum interrupter bottle switches having a movable contact and a stationary contact;

a plurality of operating mechanism assemblies coupled to the plurality of vacuum interrupter bottle switches for selectively electrically coupling and decoupling the stationary and movable contacts of selected interrupter bottle switches;

the input connector and output connectors being electrically coupled to the vacuum interrupter bottle switches in such a way that electrical power applied to the input connector is selectively coupled to none, some or all of the output connectors in accordance with the coupling and decoupling of said contacts by the operating mechanisms.

9. The vacuum interrupter switch of claim 8 wherein the vacuum interrupter switch is a single phase 4-way switch whereby input power applied to the input connector is selectively coupled to from zero to three output connectors.