Drive apparatus for a tensioning shaft of a spring energy drive of an electric switch and electric switch with such a drive apparatus

An electric switch with a drive apparatus and with a spring energy drive, which has a tensioning shaft which can be coupled to the drive apparatus, wherein the drive apparatus comprises a kinematic chain for connecting a drive element to the tensioning shaft and a control element, in which drive apparatus a first link, which is capable of being coupled to the tensioning shaft in rotationally fixed fashion, and a second link, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the first link and is capable of rotating under the force of the drive element, in the kinematic chain are coupled to one another in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner by a coupling element, wherein the coupling element is moved under the action of the control element on one of the two links in such a way that the coupling between this link and the other of the two links is released when a predetermined first angular position of the first link is reached and is produced again when a predetermined second angular position of the first link is overshot, wherein the coupling element is capable of moving in the radial direction of the tensioning shaft.

A method for operating a spring energy drive of an electric switch, wherein the electric switch comprises a kinematic chain for connecting a drive element to the tensioning shaft and a control element, wherein a first link, which is capable of being coupled to the tensioning shaft in rotationally fixed fashion, and a second link, which is arranged coaxially with respect to the first link and is capable of rotating under the force of the drive element, in the kinematic chain are coupled to one another in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner by a coupling element, the method comprising:

• moving the coupling element under the action of the control element on one of the two links in such a way that the coupling between this link and the other of the two links is released when a predetermined first angular position of the first link is reached and is produced again when a predetermined second angular position of the first link is overshot, wherein the coupling element is capable of moving in the radial direction of the tensioning shaft.