Rack and gear spring charging means for reciprocating contact

Claim 2

Actuating mechanism for reciprocatively translating a movable contact carrier rod for respective engagement and disengagement with electrically conductive means, said actuating mechanism comprising: a. a first drive rod mounted for reciprocating movement along a first linear path, said first drive rod coupled to said movable contact carrier rod for advancing and retracting said contact carrier rod into said engagement and disengagement, b. a second drive rod mounted for reciprocating movement along a second linear path parallel to said first linear path, c. first means for urging said second drive rod in one direction along said second path, d. second means for urging said second drive rod in an opposite direction along said second path while simultaneously urging said first drive rod in said one direction along said first linear path to a forwardmost position, thereby to advance said movable contact carrier rod into engagement with said electrically conductive means, said second means comprises a pair of racks respectively coupled to said first and second drive rods, at least one rotary gear simultaneously engaging said pair of racks, and a first spring means, when compressed, for urging said rack coupled to said second drive rod in said opposite direction along said second path; said latch means also preventing the linear travel of said rotary gear when said second drive rod is being urged in said opposite direction; and further including a second spring means coupled to said rack coupled to said first drive rod which, when compressed, urges said front drive rod in said opposite direction along said first path, thereby to disengage said movable carrier rod from said electrically conductive means, said second spring being compressed by the travel of said first drive rod in said one direction, said first spring means being compressed by the travel of said second drive rod in the said one direction, e. latch means for holding said first drive rod in said forwardmost position, and f. tRip means for releasing said latch means, thereby to allow disengagement of said carrier rod from said electrically conductive means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as described in claim 1 including another latch means for holding said first spring means in the compressed state, second trip means for releasing said another latch means, and wherein said first mentioned latch means also holds said second spring means in the compressed state.

Claim 4

The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said first urging means comprises another rotary gear secured against linear motion engaging said rack coupled to said second drive means and an elongated shaft coupled with said another rotary gear for rotating said another gear and urging said rack in said one direction.

Claim 5

The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said second mean comprises two rotary gears simultaneously engaging said pair of racks, and a carriage plate coupled to said two rotary gears having a roller keeper disposed thereupon, said first mentioned latch means adapted to engage said roller keeper.

Claim 6

Circuit interrupting apparatus, comprising: a. a pair of coaxially disposed contact carrier rods, one of said rods being fixed, the other of said rods being mounted for reciprocating motion for engagement and disengagement with said fixed rod, b. first rack means coupled to said reciprocatively mounted rod, c. first spring means coupled to said first rack means, said first spring means being compressed in response to the advancement along a first linear path of said first rack means, d. second rack means operatively coupled to said first rack means by rotary gear means simultaneously engaging said first and second rack, e. second spring means coupled to said second rack means, said second spring means being compressed in response to the movement in a forward direction along a second linear path parallel to said first linear path of said second rack means, said second spring means, when compressed, powering said second rack means in a rearward direction along said second linear path, f. means for advancing said second rack to a forwardmost position, thereby to compress said second spring means, g. means for holding said rotary gear means against linear motion when said second rack is moving in said rearward direction, thereby to advance said first rack in a forward direction along said first linear path, whereby said reciprocatively mounted rod is advanced into engagement with said fixed rod, and said first spring is compressed, and h. means for holding said reciprocatively mounted rod in engagement with said fixed rod and holding said first spring in said compressed state.

Claim 7

Circuit interrupting apparatus, comprising: a. a pair of coaxially disposed contact carrier rods, one of said rods being fixed, the other of said rods being mounted for reciprocating motion for engagement and disengagement with said fixed rod, b. first rack means coupled to said reciprocatively mounted rod, c. first spring means coupled to said first rack means, said first spring means being compressed in response to the advancement along a first linear path of said first rack means, d. second rack means operatively coupled to said first rack means by rotary gear means simultaneously engaging said first and second rack, e. second spring means coupled to said second rack means, said second spring means being compressed in response to the movement in a forward direction along a second linear path parallel to said first linear path of said second rack means, said second spring means, when compressed, powering said second rack means in a rearward direction along said second linear path, f. means for advancing said second rack to a forwardmost position, thereby to compress said second spring means, g. means for holding said rotary gear means against linear motion when said second rack is moving in said rearward direction, thereby to advance said first rack in a forward direction along said first linear path, whereby said reciprocatively mounted rod is advanced into engagement with said fixed rod, and said first spring is compressed, and h. means for holding said reciprocatively mounted rod in engagement with said fixed rod and holding said first spring in said compressed state.

Claim 8

The apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said rotary gear means against linear motion and the means for holding said reciprocatively mounted rod in engagement with said fixed rod comprises a roller keeper coupled to said rotary gear, and a pivotally mounted latch for engaging said roller keeper as said second rack is advanced to its forwardmost position.

Claim 9

The apparatus as described in claim 6 including means for tripping said latch out of engagement with said roller keeper, thereby to release said rotary gear for linear travel and release said first spring from its compressed condition, whereby said reciprocatively mounted rod is urged out.

Claim 10

The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said tripping means is responsive to excessive current conditions through said coaxially disposed contact carrier rods.

Claim 11

The apparatus as described in claim 8, including separate latch means for holding said second rack in said forwardmost position, and separate trip means for manually releasing said separate latch means.

Claim 12

Circuit interrupting apparatus, comprising: a. a pair of laterally spaced conductive terminals, b. a pair of coaxially disposed contact carrier rods respectively electrically connected to each of said conductive terminals, one of said cArrier rods reciprocatively mounted for engagement and disengagement with the other of said carrier rods, c. a substantially evacuated chamber, d. contact faces disposed on respective one ends of said carrier rods within said substantially evacuated chamber, e. a pair of racks mounted for respective reciprocating motion in first and second linear paths, one of said racks operatively coupled to said reciprocatively mounted carrier rod, f. a rotary gear intermediate and having its teeth simultaneously mesh with said pair of racks said rotary gear being freed for linear travel along a path parallel to said first and second linear paths, g. first and second compression springs respectively coupled to said pair of racks, each spring being compressed in response to the advancement of the coupled rack along the respective linear path in one direction and, when compressed, providing means for powering the coupled rack along the respective linear path in the opposite direction, h. means for advancing said other rack in said one direction to a forwardmost position, said means comprising another rotary gear operatively engaged with said other rack, and a rotatable shaft journaled for rotation with said another rotary gear having means affixed thereto for rotating said another rotary gear, i. first latch means for holding said other rack in said forwardmost position, said first latch means comprising a pivotally mounted latch adapted to engage roller keeper connected to said another rack, j. first trip means for releasing said latch from said roller keeper, said first trip means being actuated by the rotation of said rotatable shaft, k. second latch means for holding said first-mentioned rotary gear from linear motion while said other rack is powered in said opposite direction, thereby to advance said one rack in said one direction and advance said reciprocatively mounted contact carrier rod into engagement with said other contact carrier rod, said latch means comprising a pivotally mounted latch arm engaging another roller keeper coupled to said first mentioned rotary gear, and l. second trip means for releasing said second latch means, said second trip means being actuated in response to excessive current through said spaced conductive terminals.

Claim 13

Circuit interrupting apparatus, comprising: a. a pair of laterally spaced conductive terminals, b. a pair of coaxially disposed contact carrier rods respectively electrically connected to each of said conductive terminals, one of said cArrier rods reciprocatively mounted for engagement and disengagement with the other of said carrier rods, c. a substantially evacuated chamber, d. contact faces disposed on respective one ends of said carrier rods within said substantially evacuated chamber, e. a pair of racks mounted for respective reciprocating motion in first and second linear paths, one of said racks operatively coupled to said reciprocatively mounted carrier rod, f. a rotary gear intermediate and having its teeth simultaneously mesh with said pair of racks said rotary gear being freed for linear travel along a path parallel to said first and second linear paths, g. first and second compression springs respectively coupled to said pair of racks, each spring being compressed in response to the advancement of the coupled rack along the respective linear path in one direction and, when compressed, providing means for powering the coupled rack along the respective linear path in the opposite direction, h. means for advancing said other rack in said one direction to a forwardmost position, said means comprising another rotary gear operatively engaged with said other rack, and a rotatable shaft journaled for rotation with said another rotary gear having means affixed thereto for rotating said another rotary gear, i. first latch means for holding said other rack in said forwardmost position, said first latch means comprising a pivotally mounted latch adapted to engage roller keeper connected to said another rack, j. first trip means for releasing said latch from said roller keeper, said first trip means being actuated by the rotation of said rotatable shaft, k. second latch means for holding said first-mentioned rotary gear from linear motion while said other rack is powered in said opposite direction, thereby to advance said one rack in said one direction and advance said reciprocatively mounted contact carrier rod into engagement with said other contact carrier rod, said latch means comprising a pivotally mounted latch arm engaging another roller keeper coupled to said first mentioned rotary gear, and l. second trip means for releasing said second latch means, said second trip means being actuated in response to excessive current through said spaced conductive terminals.