Means for charging a stored energy circuit breaker closing device

Claim 1

In a stored-energy operating device for closing an electric circuit breaker, a closing spring dischargeable to supply closing force for the circuit breaker, and means for charging said spring comprising: a. first and second cams mounted for angular motion about laterally spaced axes of rotation, b. unidirectional force-transmitting means for coupling said first cam to said closing spring to effect charging of said spring when said first cam is driven in one angular direction, c. a handle coupled to said second cam and having a normal position and a cocked position, d. a flexible power-transmitting member attached at its respective opposite ends to said cams aNd wound about the periphery of said second cam when said handle is in its normal position, e. reset biasing means for driving said first cam in a direction to cause said flexible member to wind about the periphery of said first cam in response to movement of said handle from its normal to its cocked position, f. motion of said handle from its normal to its cocked position moving said second cam in a first direction to allow said flexible member to unwind therefrom, g. return movement of said handle toward its normal position driving said second cam in a direction opposite to said first direction and transmitting motion through said flexible member to said first cam to drive said first cam in a direction to charge said closing spring, h. said flexible member winding about the periphery of said second cam and unwinding from the periphery of said first cam during said return movement of said handle, i. the peripheries of said cams being so shaped that the mechanical advantage of the cam-flexible member drive varies during a charging operation and is near its highest value when the torque needed at said force-transmitting means for charging said spring is highest.