Stored-energy operating mechanism for switch blades

Claim 2

An operating mechanism for opening and closing an electrical switch comprising a supporting frame, a spring-actuated switchclosing means movably mounted on said frame; a spring-actuated switch-opening means movably mounted on said frame; manuallyactuated means mounted on said frame for moving both of said spring-actuated means to a charged position; adjustable first means mounted on said frame for releasing said switch-closing means from said charged position and effecting movement thereof in a predetermined direction to a discharged position closing the switch only while said switch-opening means remains in a charged position; adjustable second means mounted on said frame for releasing said switch-opening means from said charged position and effecting movement thereof in a predetermined direction to a discharged position opening the switch; and connecting means for transmitting the movement of both of said spring means to the switch to effect closing and opening thereof.

Claim 3

The operating mechanism of claim 1 wherein the manually-actuated means for charging said spring-actuated means and components of both of said spring-actuated means are mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a fixed common axis.

Claim 4

The operating mechanism of claim 2 wherein said manually-actuated means, when pivoted in one direction about said common axis charging only said switch-closing means, and when pivoted in a second direction, charging only said switch-opening means.

Claim 5

The operating mechanism of claim 3 including an elongated shaft means having the longitudinal axis thereof coincident to said common axis, and said common axis, and said manually-actuated means includes a crank member mounted on and movable as a unit with said shaft means, and an exposed handle mounted on and movable with said shaft means for imparting pivotal movement to said shaft means; said crank member engaging and imparting charging movement to the component of only one spring-actuated means when said handle is manually pivoted in one direction through a first predetermined sector and engaging and imparting charging movement to the component of only the other spring-actuated means when said handle is manually pivoted in the opposite direction through a second predetermined sector.

Claim 6

The operating mechanism of claim 4 wherein a pair of longitudinally spaced, interconnected crank members are mounted on and movable as a unit with said shaft means to effect charging of both of said spring-actuated means.

Claim 7

The operating mechanism of claim 5 wherein the components of said spring-actuated means comprise a pair of longitudinally spaced operator plates disposed intermediate said crank members, each operator plate encompassing said shaft means and being provided with a laterally extending portion engageable by said crank members when said shaft means is pivoted in a predetermined direction, the laterally extending portion of each operator plate being engaged by a compressible spring, said spring being compressed into a charged position only when the crank members engage an operator plate and are pivoted through a predetermined sector; releasable latch means mounted on said frame and engaging said operator plates to retain same in charged positions, and control means adjustably mounted on said frame to effect successive release of said latch means whereby discharge of the operator plate of said switch-closing means occurs only if the operator plate of said switch-opening means remains in charged position.

Claim 8

A stored-energy operating mechanism for switch blades comprising a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a spring charging handle fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said shaft, a sleeve disposed on said shaft and rotatable relatively thereto, a switch blade operating crank member fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said sleeve, a driving disc fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said sleeve, an opening actuating plate and a closing actuating plate rotatably mounted on said sleeve respectively on opposite sides of said driving disc, a front drive crank fixedly mounted on said shaft adjacent said front end portion of said sleeve, a rear idler crank rotatably mounted on said sleeve rearwardly of said actuating plates, a crank pin disposed radially outwardly of and generally parallel to said shaft and having a front end portion mounted in said front drive crank and a rear end portion mounted in said rear idler crank, said opening actuating plate having a portion engageable by and disposed on one side of said crank pin and said closing actuating plate having a portion engageable by and disposed on an opposite side of said crank pin, an opening coil compression spring mounted on said frame on one side of said shaft and operatively connected to said opening actuating plate for compression to a charged condition upon rotation of said spring charging handle in one direction, a closing coil compression spring mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft and operatively connected to said closing actuating plate for compression to a charged condition upon rotation of said spring charging handle in an opposite direction, a latch member pivotally mounted on said frame for latching said switch blade operating crank member in an open position, a latching means for said opening actuating plate pivotally mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft from said opening spring, a latching means for said closing actuating plate pivotally mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft from said closing spring, means pivoting said latching means for said closing actuating plate to an inoperative position upon charging of said opening spring, a latch releasing handle operatively connected to said latch member for said switch blade operating crank member and to said latching means for said opening actuating plate, said latch releasing handle being pivotable in one direction to release said switch blade operating crank member and in an opposite direction to release said opening actuating plate, means mounted on said closing actuating plate and operatively connecting said closing actuating plate to said driving disc when said closing spring is in a charged condition, and means mounted on said opening actuating plate and operatively connecting said opening actuating plate to said driving disc when said opening spring is in a charged condition and said closing spring is in a discharged condition.

Claim 9

A stored-energy operating mechanism for switch blades comprising a frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame, a spring charging handle fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said shaft, a sleeve disposed on said shaft and rotatable relatively thereto, a switch blade operating crank member fixedly mounted on a rear end portion of said sleeve, a driving disc fixedly mounted on a front end portion of said sleeve, an opening actuating plate and a closing actuating plate rotatably mounted on said sleeve respectively on opposite sides of said driving disc, a front drive crank fixedly mounted on said shaft adjacent said front end portion of said sleeve, a rear idler crank rotatably mounted on said sleeve rearwardly of said actuating plates, a crank pin disposed radially outwardly of and generally parallel to said shaft and having a front end portion mounted in said front drive crank and a rear end portion mounted in said rear idler crank, said opening actuating plate having a portion engageable by and disposed on one side of said crank pin and said closing actuating plate having a portion engageable by and disposed on an opposite side of said crank pin, an opening coil compression spring mounted on said frame on one side of said shaft and operatively connected to said opening actuating plate for compression to a charged condition upon rotation of said spring charging handle in one direction, a closing coil compression spring mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft and operatively connected to said closing actuating plate for compression to a charged condition upon rotation of said spring charging handle in an opposite direction, a latch member pivotally mounted on said frame for latching said switch blade operating crank member in an open position, a latching means for said opening actuating plate pivotally mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft from said opening spring, a latching means for said closing actuating plate pivotally mounted on said frame on an opposite side of said shaft from said closing spring, means pivoting said latching means for said closing actuating plate to an inoperative position upon charging of said opening spring, a latch releasing handle operatively connected to said latch member for said switch blade operating crank member and to said latching means for said opening actuating plate, said latch releasing handle being pivotable in one direction to release said switch blade operating crank member and in an opposite direction to release said opening actuating plate, means mounted on said closing actuating plate and operatively connecting said closing actuating plate to said driving disc when said closing spring is in a charged condition, and means mounted on said opening actuating plate and operatively connecting said opening actuating plate to said driving disc when said opening spring is in a charged condition and said closing spring is in a discharged condition.

Claim 10

A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 including interlock means preventing operation of said latch releasing handle if a door of an enclosure for a switch having said operating mechanism is in an open position.

Claim 11

A mechanism as claimed in claim 7 including interlock means preventing operation of said latch releasing handle in a direction to release said opening actuating plate if said switch blade operaTing crank member is in said open position.