A vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle, a fixed contact extending through one end of the vacuum bottle and a movable contact positioned within the vacuum bottle relative to the fixed contact so that a gap is defined between the fixed contact and the movable contact when the vacuum interrupter is open and the fixed contact and the movable contact are in contact with each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed. An insulated drive rod is rigidly coupled to the movable contact opposite to the fixed contact and a circular flexible conductor is coupled to the movable contact and flexes when the movable contact is moved by the drive rod. The flexible conductor can be, for example, a laminate structure including a plurality of stacked conductive laminates each having a plurality of spirals separated by gaps or a linear spring trampoline conductor.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible conductor for connecting a main blade and a base of a disconnector. The flexible conductor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is fixed to the base and adapted to bend in a first plane in response to a rotation of the main blade about a first axis; and the second portion is connected to the first portion and fixed to the main blade, the second portion adapted to bend in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane in response to twisting of the main blade about a second axis; wherein the flexible conductor is operable to maintain an electrical connection between the main blade and the base when the main blade rotates and twists with respect to the base to open or close the disconnector.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible conductor for connecting a main blade and a base of a disconnector. The flexible conductor includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is fixed to the base and adapted to bend in a first plane in response to a rotation of the main blade about a first axis; and the second portion is connected to the first portion and fixed to the main blade, the second portion adapted to bend in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane in response to twisting of the main blade about a second axis; wherein the flexible conductor is operable to maintain an electrical connection between the main blade and the base when the main blade rotates and twists with respect to the base to open or close the disconnector.

A shunt tab assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The operating mechanism includes a trip unit. The shunt tab assembly includes a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to the shunts, a biasing element structured to bias the shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect the trip unit to the shunt tab.

A rapid safety switch has a switch housing. The switch housing has six outer housing faces, including a front housing face, an open rear housing face, an upper housing face, a lower housing face, a first housing face, and a second housing face. An operating tool interface can be operated through one of the outer housing faces. The switch further includes one or more connection elements for controlling the rapid safety switch. The rapid safety switch can be unlatched by an electromagnetic trigger, and the rapid safety switch has a moving contact.

A shunt tab assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The operating mechanism includes a trip unit. The shunt tab assembly includes a shunt tab structured to be electrically connected to the shunts, a biasing element structured to bias the shunt tab toward a predetermined position with respect to the housing, and a fastener structured to mechanically couple and electrically connect the trip unit to the shunt tab.