Switch operating mechanisms for high voltage switches

In a high voltage switch operating mechanism including a rotatably mounted drive shaft connected to a high voltage switch for causing the switch to open and close in response to rotation of the drive shaft;

• a coupling means mounted for rotation with the drive shaft and mounted for sliding movement along the drive shaft between a first position and a second position, the coupling means having a first engaging means associated therewith;
• a motor driven means having a second engaging means associated therewith for engaging the first engaging means when the coupling means is in its first position and for disengaging the first engaging means when the coupling means is in its second position;
• means for moving said coupling means between its first and second position in response to manual selection;
• an improved locking arrangement comprising:
• means for locking said drive shaft to prevent rotation thereof when the coupling means is moved to its second position comprising a locking plate positioned around the drive shaft and free to move along said drive shaft but constrained from rotating with the drive shaft, said locking plate having a plurality of openings therein adapted to engage pins extending from the coupling means when the coupling means is moved to its second position and for disengaging said pins when the coupling means is moved to its first position.

In a mechanism for operating a high voltage switch including a rotatably mounted drive shaft operably connected to the switch, a motor, a gear train operably connecting the motor with the drive shaft, a brake for locking the motor upon deenergization thereof, a manually operably crank handle foldable from a stored position to an operating position;

• means for releasing the brake upon folding of said crank handle to an operating position;
• a piston means operably connected with the crank handle for rotation therewith, and for translational motion in response to folding of the crank handle from a stored position to an operating position, the piston means including engaging means associated therewith for engaging the gear train so that rotation of the crank handle will rotate the drive shaft;
• an improvement comprising:
• means for preventing the engaging means from engaging the gear train until the crank handle has both been folded to the operating position and rotated through a partial revolution thereof so that torsional energy stored in the drive shaft is released before the engaging means engages the gear train.

In an operating mechanism for operating devices through a resilient drive shaft including driven means operably connected to the drive shaft for rotation thereof;

• driving means;
• means for locking the driven means while the drive shaft is torsionally stressed;
• means for moving the driving means to engage the driven means;
• an improvement for preventing torsional snap back comprising:
• means for releasing the means for locking in response to moving the driving means to engage the driven means;
• and
• means for delaying said driving means from engaging the driven means until the torsional stress in the drive shaft has been relieved.