Quick closing mechanism for circuit interrupter

Claim 2

In a circuit interrupter including a pair of relatively movable contacts operable into and out of engagement with each other, the combination comprising: contact operating means having a first position in which said contacts are in engagement and a second position in which said contacts are out of engagement, said operating means between said positions and moving the contacts into out of engagement; second spring means for assisting actuation of the contact operating means to the first position, said second spring means having a relatively discharged position when the contact operating means is in said second position, said second spring means being movable from the discharged to the charged position in response to movement of the contact operating means from the first to the second position; latch means mounted on the contact operating means and comprising a latch lever and a latch pin, said latch means having a latched position when said contacts are disengaged for holding the operating means in its second position and maintaining the second spring means in the charged position and being rotatable out of the latched position; and latch release means respOnsive to the first spring means after the latter initiates actuation of the operating means from the second to the first position for releasing said latch means from its latched position whereby the operating means and the second spring means are freed to move to their respective first and discharged positions.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said contact operating means has a third position intermediate said second and first positions, said contact operating means being sequentially movable from the second position to the third position and thence to the first position, said latch release means being operative when the contact operating means is in the third position whereby the second spring means is freed to discharge and assist actuation of the operating means from the third to the first position.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said contact operating means includes first and second arms, said first arm being in charging engagement with the second spring means during movement of the contact operating means from the first to the second position, said second spring means being in biasing engagement with the second arm during movement of the contact operating means from the second to the third position and during the initial portion of movement from the third to the first position.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a release lever rigidly affixed to said latch pin and extending transversely from said pin, said latch release means engaging the release lever during movement to rotate the latch pin.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 3 wherein: said latch means comprises a latch lever, a latch pin having a latched position with the latch lever and being rotatable out of the latched position and a release lever rigidly affixed to the latch pin; and the latch release means includes said first arm and said first arm engages the release lever when the contact operating means is in the third position to rotate and release the latch pin from said latched position.

Claim 7

In a circuit interrupter having a pair of relatively movable contacts, the combination comprising: contact operating means having a first position in which said contacts are out of engagement, and a third position, said contact operating means being movable between said positions for moving the contacts into and out of engagement; said contact operating means including an actuating arm engaging the second actuating means to charge the latter during movement of the contact operating means to the second position, said actuating arm being out of engagement with the second actuating means during movement of the contact operating means from the second to third position; latch means for holding the contact operating means when the contact operating means is in said second position subsequent to movement of the contact operating means from the first position, said latch means being releasable in response to the contact operating means when the latter is in said third position; and second actuating means for assisting movement of the contacts into engagement, said second actuating means having a discharged condition and a charged condition and assuming said charged condition in response to the first actuating means during movement of the contacts out of engagement by the contact operating means, said second actuating means assuming said discharged condition in response to latch means upon release of the latter whereby the discharge of the second actuating means provides force for moving the contacts into engagement.

Claim 8

In a circuit interrupter having a pair of relatively movable contacts, the combination comprising: contact operating means having a first position in which said contacts are out of engagement, and a third position, said contact operating means being movable between said positions for moving the contacts into and out of engagement; said contact operating means including an actuating arm engaging the second actuating means to charge the latter during movement of the contact operating means to the second position, said actuating arm being out of engagement with the second actuating means during movement of the contact operating means from the second to third position; latch means for holding the contact operating means when the contact operating means is in said second position subsequent to movement of the contact operating means from the first position, said latch means being releasable in response to the contact operating means when the latter is in said third position; and second actuating means for assisting movement of the contacts into engagement, said second actuating means having a discharged condition and a charged condition and assuming said charged condition in response to the first actuating means during movement of the contacts out of engagement by the contact operating means, said second actuating means assuming said discharged condition in response to latch means upon release of the latter whereby the discharge of the second actuating means provides force for moving the contacts into engagement.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 6 wherein said actuating arm engages the latch means to release the latter when the contact operating means is in said third position.

Claim 10

In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising: contact means including a pair of relatively movable contacts and being operable between a first position in which said contacts are engaged and a seconD position in which said contacts are out of engagement; contact operating means including actuating means for moving the contact means between said positions whereby the contacts are moved into and out of engagement, said actuating means comprising first spring means for applying moving force to said contact means, said first spring means being continually operative during movement of the contact means from the first to the second position and back to the first position, said actuating means also comprising second spring means for applying additional moving force to said contact means, said second spring means being operative only during the latter portion of movement of the contact means from the second to the first position; latch means including a latch lever and also including a rotatable latch pin mounted on the contact operating means and having a latched position with the latch lever when said contacts are disengaged for latching said contact means in its second position whereby said contacts are held out of engagement; and said contact operating means includes latch release means for rotating said latch pin to effect release of the latch pin and latch lever from their latched position whereby said contact means and contacts are free to be moved respectively to their first position and into engagement.

Claim 11

In a circuit interrupter the combination comprising: contact means including a pair of relatively movable contacts and being operable between a first position in which said contacts are engaged and a seconD position in which said contacts are out of engagement; contact operating means including actuating means for moving the contact means between said positions whereby the contacts are moved into and out of engagement, said actuating means comprising first spring means for applying moving force to said contact means, said first spring means being continually operative during movement of the contact means from the first to the second position and back to the first position, said actuating means also comprising second spring means for applying additional moving force to said contact means, said second spring means being operative only during the latter portion of movement of the contact means from the second to the first position; latch means including a latch lever and also including a rotatable latch pin mounted on the contact operating means and having a latched position with the latch lever when said contacts are disengaged for latching said contact means in its second position whereby said contacts are held out of engagement; and said contact operating means includes latch release means for rotating said latch pin to effect release of the latch pin and latch lever from their latched position whereby said contact means and contacts are free to be moved respectively to their first position and into engagement.