Switchgear with single drive to both charge closing spring and rack contact carrier

Claim 2

In switchgear; a first frame and a second frame; said first frame being reciprocally movable with respect to said second frame between two limiting positions; driving means on said second frame for effecting said reciprocal motion of said first frame with respect to said second frame; said driving means including a rotatable shaft carried by said second frame and extending normal to the path of reciprocal movement of said first frame with respect to said second frame; said shaft being unidirectionally rotatable; and a connection between said shaft and said first frame driving said first frame in one direction when said first frame is at one limiting position and in an opposite direction when said first frame is at the other end of said limiting positions; said first frame carrying a movable contact and a complementary contact; a closing spring for driving said movable contact into engagement with said complementary contact; means for charging said closing spring; a connection from said first mentioned shaft and said closing spring for charging said closing spring, said first mentioned shaft being operable on the discharge of said spring to recharge said spring; means for defeating the connection between said shaft and said frame to maintain said frame at one of the said limiting positions for reciprocal movement.

Claim 3

The switchgear of claim 1 in which said spring being movable between a charged condition and a discharged condition; a member connected to said spring and movable in a first direction to charge said spring; said member being movable by said spring when said spring moves from a charged to a discharged position; a first latch; said first latch being engageable with said member to retain said member and said spring in position when said spring is in charged condition; and driving connections between said member and said movable contact; said member when moving from the charged to the discharged positions of said spring and member acting through said driving connections to drive said movable contact into engagement with said complementary contact; a second latch located in and acting upon a portion of said driving connections; said second latch acting on said driving connections to maintain said movable contact in engagement with said complementary contact upon initial engagement thereof; means responsive to conditions including current conditions through said contacts to release said second latch and disestablish the driving connections between said member and said movable contact and to permit the first means to drive said contact to open position; said second latch, on separation of the movable contact from the stationary contact, reengaging said portion of said driving connection and restablishing tHe driving connection between said member and said movable contact; and means for charging said spring when the spring and member have been moved to the discharged condition of said spring; said spring charging means including a rotatably mounted lever pivotally connected, at a point remote from the point of rotation thereof, to said member; rotation of said lever in one direction moving said member in a direction to charge said spring; said first latch, on completion of said movement of said member engaging said portion of said member and retaining said member and spring in charged condition.

Claim 4

The switchgear of claim 2 in which said spring and member are movable from the discharged condition to the charged condition thereof while the contacts are engaged and thp movable contact is supported in engaged position by the engagement of said second latch with said driving connection, said spring and member being also movable from the discharged condition to the charged condition thereof while the contacts are disengaged.

Claim 5

The switchgear of claim 3 in which a further reciprocally rotatable shaft extends on an axis substantially normal to the axis of said lever; linkage connecting said reciprocally rotatable shaft to said lever; rotation of said shaft acting through said linkage to rotate said lever.

Claim 6

The switchgear of claim 4 in which a motor is provided; the first mentioned unidirectional shaft being driven by said motor; a rotatably mounted camming lever connected to said linkage for said first mentioned lever and operable on rotation of said camming lever to rotate said first mentioned lever to drive said member and spring from a discharged to a charged condition thereof; a crank arm on said first mentioned shaft and a cam roller on said crank arm engageable with said camming lever.

Claim 7

The switchgear of claim 5 in which the motor is unidirectional and means are provided responsive to the movement of the member and spring to charged condition to halt said motor; said first mentioned unidirectional shaft and motor being thereby halted after a single revolution of said first mentioned unidirectional shaft and cam roller carrying arm; said first mentioned unidirectional shaft and cam roller carrying arm being halted in a position where the cam roller is out of engagement with the camming lever; said member and spring being free to move to the discharged condition thereof on and before completion of said single revolution of said first mentioned unidirectional shaft and cam roller carrying arm.

Claim 8

In switchgear, a movable contact and a complementary contact; first means for driving said movable contact into engagement with the complementary contact and second means for driving said movable contact out of engagement with said complementary contact; said first means comprising a closing spring; said spring being movable between a charged condition and a discharged condition; a member connected to said spring and movable in a first direction to charge said spring; said member being movable by said spring when said spring moves from a charged to a discharged position; a first latch; said first latch being engageable with said member to retain said member and said spring in position when said spring is in charged condition; and driving connections between said member and said movable contact; said member when moving from the charged to the discharged positions of said spring and member acting through said driving connections to drive said movable contact into engagement with said complementary contact; a second latch located in and acting upon a portion of said driving connections; said second latch acting on said driving connections to maintain said movable contact in engagement with said complementary contact upon initial engagement thereof; means responsive to conditions including current conditions though said contacts to release said secOnd latch and disestablish the driving connections between said member and said movable contact and to permit the first means to drive said contact to open position; said second latch, on separation of the movable contact from the stationary contact, reengaging said portion of said driving connection and re-establishing the driving connection between said member and said movable contact; and means for charging said spring when the spring and member have been moved to the discharged condition of said spring; said spring charging means including a rotatably mounted lever pivotally connected, at a point remote from the point of rotation thereof, to said member; rotation of said lever in one direction moving said member in a direction to charge said spring; said first latch, on completion of said movement of said member engaging said portion of said member and retaining said member and spring in charged condition; a reciprocally rotatable shaft extends on an axis substantially normal to the axis of said lever; linkage connecting said reciprocally rotatable shaft to said lever; rotation of said shaft acting through said linkage to rotate said lever; a motor; an additional shaft driven by said motor; a rotatably mounted camming lever connected to said linkage for said first mentioned lever and operable on rotation of said camming lever to otate said first mentioned lever to drive said member and spring from a discharged to a charged condition thereof; a crank on said additional shaft and a cam roller on said crank arm engageable with said camming lever; said motor being unidirectional, and means responsive to the movement of the member and spring to charged condition to halt said motor; said shaft and motor being thereby halted after a single revolution of said shaft and cam roller carrying arm; said shaft and cam roller carrying arm being halted in a position where the cam roller is out of engagement with the camming lever; said member and spring being free to move to the discharged condition thereof on and before completion of said single revolution of said shaft and cam roller carrying arm, said switchgear having a first frame; said first frame carrying said contacts, a part of said driving connections and said first mentioned contact opening means; said switchgear also having a second frame, said second frame carrying said spring and its associated member and the remainder of said driving connections, said first frame being reciprocally movable into and out of said second frame; driving means on said second frame connected to said first frame for effecting said reciprocal motion of said first frame; said motor being mounted on said second frame and means for establishing a driving operation between said motor and said driving means.

Claim 9

In switchgear, a movable contact and a complementary contact; first means for driving said movable contact into engagement with the complementary contact and second means for driving said movable contact out of engagement with said complementary contact; said first means comprising a closing spring; said spring being movable between a charged condition and a discharged condition; a member connected to said spring and movable in a first direction to charge said spring; said member being movable by said spring when said spring moves from a charged to a discharged position; a first latch; said first latch being engageable with said member to retain said member and said spring in position when said spring is in charged condition; and driving connections between said member and said movable contact; said member when moving from the charged to the discharged positions of said spring and member acting through said driving connections to drive said movable contact into engagement with said complementary contact; a second latch located in and acting upon a portion of said driving connections; said second latch acting on said driving connections to maintain said movable contact in engagement with said complementary contact upon initial engagement thereof; means responsive to conditions including current conditions though said contacts to release said secOnd latch and disestablish the driving connections between said member and said movable contact and to permit the first means to drive said contact to open position; said second latch, on separation of the movable contact from the stationary contact, reengaging said portion of said driving connection and re-establishing the driving connection between said member and said movable contact; and means for charging said spring when the spring and member have been moved to the discharged condition of said spring; said spring charging means including a rotatably mounted lever pivotally connected, at a point remote from the point of rotation thereof, to said member; rotation of said lever in one direction moving said member in a direction to charge said spring; said first latch, on completion of said movement of said member engaging said portion of said member and retaining said member and spring in charged condition; a reciprocally rotatable shaft extends on an axis substantially normal to the axis of said lever; linkage connecting said reciprocally rotatable shaft to said lever; rotation of said shaft acting through said linkage to rotate said lever; a motor; an additional shaft driven by said motor; a rotatably mounted camming lever connected to said linkage for said first mentioned lever and operable on rotation of said camming lever to otate said first mentioned lever to drive said member and spring from a discharged to a charged condition thereof; a crank on said additional shaft and a cam roller on said crank arm engageable with said camming lever; said motor being unidirectional, and means responsive to the movement of the member and spring to charged condition to halt said motor; said shaft and motor being thereby halted after a single revolution of said shaft and cam roller carrying arm; said shaft and cam roller carrying arm being halted in a position where the cam roller is out of engagement with the camming lever; said member and spring being free to move to the discharged condition thereof on and before completion of said single revolution of said shaft and cam roller carrying arm, said switchgear having a first frame; said first frame carrying said contacts, a part of said driving connections and said first mentioned contact opening means; said switchgear also having a second frame, said second frame carrying said spring and its associated member and the remainder of said driving connections, said first frame being reciprocally movable into and out of said second frame; driving means on said second frame connected to said first frame for effecting said reciprocal motion of said first frame; said motor being mounted on said second frame and means for establishing a driving operation between said motor and said driving means.