An operating mechanism for an electric switch assembly, the operating mechanism configured to be operationally connected to a first electric switch having an actuation lever and a second electric switch having an actuation lever, wherein each of the actuation lever of the first electric switch and the actuation lever of the second electric switch has a first position and a second position, the operating mechanism comprising:
- a frame;
- an operating lever movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the operating lever has a center position between the first position and the second position;
- a first link movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the first link has a center position between the first position and the second position, and there is an operational connection between the first link and the operating lever such that movement of the operating lever from the first position to the second position moves the first link from the first position to the second position;
- a second link movable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the second link has a center position between the first position and the second position;
- a coupling system configured to selectively couple the second link to the first link, wherein the coupling system comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member, wherein the first coupling member is movable between a coupling position and a decoupling position such that in the coupling position the first coupling member is configured to operationally connect the first link to the second link such that movement of the first link from the center position to the second position moves the second link from the center position to the second position, wherein the second coupling member is movable between a coupling position and a decoupling position such that in the coupling position the second coupling member is configured to operationally connect the first link to the second link such that movement of the first link from the center position to the first position moves the second link from the center position to the first position, and wherein in the decoupling position, the first coupling member and the second coupling member are configured to allow free movement between the first link and the second link;
- an actuation system coupled to the first link and the second link for actuating the actuation lever of the first electric switch and the actuation lever of the second electric switch, wherein the actuation system comprises a first actuation protrusion and a second actuation protrusion stationarily connected to the first link, and a third actuation protrusion and a fourth actuation protrusion stationarily connected to the second link,
- wherein the actuation system is configured to actuate the actuation levers such that when the operating mechanism is operationally connected to the first electric switch and the second electric switch, the electric switch assembly is configured to be switched to three separate operational states by moving the operating lever, and wherein the three separate operational states comprise:
- a first operational state in which the first electric switch is in the second position and the second electric switch is in the first position;
- a second operational state in which the first electric switch is in the first position and the second electric switch is in the second position;
- and
- a third operational state in which both the first electric switch and the second electric switch are in the first positions,
- wherein the operating mechanism of the electric switch assembly is configured to prevent transferring the electric switch assembly to a fourth operational state by moving the operating lever, and wherein the fourth operational state is an operational state in which both the first electric switch and the second electric switch are in the second positions.