Switchgear with overmolded dielectric material

Abstract

A switchgear apparatus configured for operation at voltages up to 72.5 kV includes a vacuum interrupter assembly including a vacuum bottle having an upper portion and a lower potion, a sleeve surrounding the vacuum bottle, a dielectric material surrounding the sleeve, a first terminal electrically coupled to the upper portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly, and an interchange coupled to a lower portion of the vacuum interrupter assembly. The dielectric material is molded around the sleeve and around at least a portion of the first terminal or the interchange. In some embodiments, the sleeve is molded around the vacuum bottle. In other embodiments, the sleeve may be otherwise positioned (i.e., by sliding a pre-formed sleeve) around the vacuum bottle.