Locking mechanism especially for the control of electrical disconnection apparatuses

Claim 1

In combination, an electrical disconnect switch and an interlock mechanism comprising: a fixed contact, a mobile unit including a movable contact and two longitudinally spaced transversely extending shafts fixed thereto, a fixed guide receiving one shaft, a first biasing spring for biasing said first shaft toward one end of said guide for maintaining said contacts open, a sliding control piece including a catch for operatively contacting said second shaft, and a window therein, a lever mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis and including a stop and a projection, a locking plate mounted for oscillation about a fixed axis and including a window therein, a second spring for biasing said lever projection into engagement with said window of said control piece and for biasing said lever stop into engagement with said window in said locking plate, whereby sliding said control piece in one direction causes said catch to contact said second shaft of said mobile unit to lower the latter essentially parallel to itself until said first shaft reaches the other end of said guide, said oscillating lever tipping when its projection engages the window of the control piece and its stop engages the window of the locking plate, said inclination due to the action of said biasing spring tending to lock said stop in its window, and said apparatus further including a shoulder carried by said lever and movable into position above said first shaft to maintain said shaft at the bottom of said slot for locating said mobile unit during sliding of said control piece in said first direction, and whereby, during movement of the said control piece in a reverse direction, said mobile unit pivots about its first shaft at the bottom of said guide allowing said second shaft to escape the catch of said control piece, whereby said mobile unit is then capable of rotating at high speed to cause said movable and stationary contacts to abruptly close.