Motor-operated spring-closing circuit breaker

Claim 2

A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a crankshaft rotatable about a first axis that extends in a first direction, a closing spring operatively connected to said crankshaft, a ratchet wheel on said crankshaft rotatable with said crankshaft about said first axis, a reciprocating member having a pawl thereon and being supported on said crankshaft for reciprocating pivotal movement to operate said pawl to advance said ratchet wheel upon reciprocation thereof, a motor comprising an output shaft and being supported with the output shaft rotating about a second axis normal to a plane in which said first axis lies such that said second axis extends in a direction generally normal to the direction of extension of said first axis, driving means on said output shaft, said driving means being separate from said reciprocating member and operable upon rotation of said output shaft to operate against said reciprocating member to advance said ratchet wheel to thereby charge said closing spring.

Claim 3

A circuit breaker according to claim 1, said driving means comprising an operating arm movable upon rotation of said output shaft through 180* to move said reciprocating member to thereby move said pawl against a tooth of said ratchet wheel to advance said ratchet wheel, and spring means operating to return said reciprocating member to position said pawl means adjacent another tooth of said ratchet wheel upon the second 180* of a full revolution of said output shaft.

Claim 4

A circuit breaker according to claim 2, said reciprocating member being a first reciprocating member and said pawl being a first pawl, a second reciprocating member supported on said crankshaft for reciprocating movement, said second reciprocating member having a second pawl thereon, and during the return of said first reciprocating member to position said first pawl against said other tooth of said ratchet wheel said second pawl on said second reciprocating member holding said ratchet wheel in the advanced position thereof.

Claim 5

A circuit breaker according to claim 3 and for manual operations of said ratchet wheel said first pawl on said first reciprocating member serving as a holding pawl and said second pawl on said second reciprocating member serving as a driving pawl, said second reciprocating member being manually operable to move said second pawl against said ratchet wheel to advance said ratchet wheel to thereby charge said closing spring.

Claim 6

A circuit breaker according to claim 2, said crank arm on said output shaft having a roller thereon cooperable with said first reciprocating member, and said reciprocating member having an arcuate surface thereon engaged by said roller to facilitate movement of said arcuate surface across the face of said roller as said roller is operated to drive said first reciprocating member.

Claim 7

A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a supporting frame structure comprising a pair of spaced planar generally parallel plates, a crankshaft supported for rotation about a first axis generally normal to the planes of said plates, a closing spring operatively connected to said crankshaft, a ratchet wheel fixedly supported on said crankshaft for rotation with said crankshaft about said first axis, a reciprocating member having a pawl thereon and being supported on said crankshaft for reciprocating pivotal movement about the axis of said crankshaft to operate said pawl to advance said ratchet wheel upon reciprocation thereof, a motor comprising an output shaft and being supported with the output shaft rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to the planes of said plates, driving means on said output shaft separate from said reciprocating member, upon rotation of said output shaft said driving means moving with said output shaft to operate against said reciprocating member to advance said ratchet wheel to thereby charge said closing spring.

Claim 8

A circuit breaker comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a supporting frame structure comprising a pair of spaced planar generally parallel plates, a crankshaft supported for rotation about a first axis generally normal to the planes of said plates, a closing spring operatively connected to said crankshaft, a ratchet wheel fixedly supported on said crankshaft for rotation with said crankshaft about said first axis, a reciprocating member having a pawl thereon and being supported on said crankshaft for reciprocating pivotal movement about the axis of said crankshaft to operate said pawl to advance said ratchet wheel upon reciprocation thereof, a motor comprising an output shaft and being supported with the output shaft rotatable about a second axis generally parallel to the planes of said plates, driving means on said output shaft separate from said reciprocating member, upon rotation of said output shaft said driving means moving with said output shaft to operate against said reciprocating member to advance said ratchet wheel to thereby charge said closing spring.

Claim 9

A circuit breaker according to claim 6, said driving means comprising an operating arm movable upon rotation of said output shaft through 180* to move said reciprocating member to thereby move said pawl against a tooth of said ratchet wheel to advance said ratchet wheel, and spring means operating to return said reciprocating member to position said pawl adjacent another tooth of said ratchet wheel upon a second 180* movement of a full revolution of said output shaft.

Claim 10

A circuit breaker according to claim 7, said reciprocating member being a first reciprocating member and said pawl being a first pawl, a second reciprocating member supported on said crankshaft for reciprocating pivotal movement about the axis of said crankshaft relative to said crankshaft, said second reciprocating member having a second pawl thereon, and during the return of said first reciprocating member to position said first pawl against said other tooth of said ratchet wheel said second pawl on said second reciprocating member holding Said ratchet wheel in the advanced position thereof.

Claim 11

A circuit breaker according to claim 8, and for a manual operation of said ratchet wheel said first pawl on said first reciprocating member serving as a holding pawl and said second pawl on said second reciprocating member serving as a driving pawl, said second reciprocating member being manually operable to move said second pawl against said ratchet wheel to advance said ratchet wheel to thereby charge said closing spring.

Claim 12

A circuit breaker according to claim 7, said crank arm on said output shaft having a roller thereon cooperable with said first reciprocating member, and said reciprocating member having an arcuate surface thereon engaged by said roller to facilitate movement of said arcuate surface across the face of said roller as said roller is operated to drive said first reciprocating member.