Circuit interrupter spring charging means with toggle type latch

Claim 1

A circuit interrupter comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact cooperable with said stationary contact, an operating shaft supported for rotation between open and closed positions to move said movable contact between open and closed positions, a latch linkage operatively connected to said operating shaft and comprising a toggle, a latch structure in a latching position latching said latch linkage in an open latched position to thereby latch said operating shaft in the open position, said toggle being underset in one direction when said latch linkage is in said open latched position, an overcenter spring structure operatively connected to said operating shaft, drive means operable from a first position to a second position to move said operating shaft in a first direction to thereby move said overcenter spring structure from a spring-discharged open position to a spring-charged open position, said latch linkage in said open latched position latching said overcenter spring structure in said spring-charged open position, said latch structure being operable from said latching position to an unlatching position to release said latch linkage from said open latched position, upon release of said latch linkage from said open latched position said overcenter spring struCture moving to a spring-discharged closed position driving said operating shaft in said first direction to the closed position, upon operation of said operating shaft to the closed position said latch linkage moving to a closed latched position wherein said toggle is underset in another direction opposite said one direction and said latch structure being automatically reset in said latching position latching said latch linkage in said closed latched position to thereby latch said operating shaft in the closed position, said drive means being operable from said second position to said first position to move said operating shaft in a second direction opposite said first direction to thereby move said overcenter spring structure from said spring-discharged closed position to a spring-charged closed position, said latch linkage in said closed latched position latching said overcenter spring structure in said spring-charged closed position, said latch structure being operable from said latching position to said unlatching position to release said latch linkage from said closed latched position, upon release of said latch linkage from said closed latched position said overcenter spring structure moving to said spring-discharged open position driving said operating shaft in said second direction to said open position, upon operation of said operating shaft to the open position said latch linkage moving to said open latched position wherein said toggle is underset in said one direction and said latch structure being automatically reset in said latching position latching said latch linkage in said open latched position to thereby latch said operating shaft in said open position.