Spring charging actuating mechanism for an electric switching device

Claim 1

In an actuating mechanism for an electric circuit breaker equipped with at least one switching pole, said mechanism including first and second springs for respectively storing the energy needed for closing and thE energy needed for opening the apparatus, a tensioning device for tensioning the springs and including first and second shafts having respective end portions, and a housing for receiving the tensioning device therein, the housing including mutually adjacent narrow side walls for accommodating the first and second shafts of the tensioning device thereon, wherein the improvement comprises the first and second shafts mounted in said housing so as to cause the endportions of the first and second shafts respectively to project from said housing, said first and second springs being disposed outside of said housing and having respective one ends, and anchor means for anchoring said one ends of said springs to the housing at respective anchor locations, the other end of the first spring being connected to said end-portion of said first shaft so as to coact therewith and the other end of the second spring being connected to the end-portion of said second shaft so as to coact therewith, said first shaft and said anchor means conjointly supporting said first spring adjacent the outer side of one of said side walls, and said second shaft and said anchor means conjointly supporting said second spring adjacent the outer side of the other one of said side walls whereby said springs are arranged outside of the housing thereby rendering said springs accessible for inspection and maintenance work, the housing further including a center wall connecting the mutually adjacent narrow side walls and, two mutually parallel carrier rails to which the breaker and the switching pole can be securely mounted, said carrier rails being mounted on said center wall.