Stored-energy operating device for an electric circuit breaker

In a stored-energy operating device,

• (a) a spring,
• (b) a rotatable spring-controller mounted for rotation between first and second angularly spaced dead-center positions with respect to said spring,
• (c) means for transmitting charging forces to said spring in response to rotation of said spring-controller in a forward direction toward said first dead-center position,
• (d) said spring acting to discharge and thereby further to rotate said spring-controller in a forward direction when said spring-controller has been rotated in a forward direction past said first dead-center position,
• (e) releasable stop means coacting with said spring-controller for blocking said further forward rotation of said spring-controller, said stop means being releasable to permit said spring to rapidly discharge and continue forward rotation of said spring-controller into said second dead-center position,
• (f) said spring-controller oscillating about said second dead-center position immediately following said rapid discharge of said spring,
• (g) means for forwardly rotating said spring-controller from said second to said first dead-center position, thereby charging said spring, comprising:
• (g1) a rotatable driving member for said spring-controller having an abutment thereon,
• (g2) a pawl mounted on said spring-controller and arranged to be driven by said abutment when said driving member is driving said spring-controller in a forward direction toward said first dead-center position,
• (h) and cam means effective after said spring-controller has passed in a forward direction through said first dead-center position but before said stop means has become effective to block forward rotational movement of said spring-controller for releasing said pawl from driven relationship with said abutment so that said driving member is not imparting driving force to said pawl when said stop is blocking said spring-controller,
• (i) said cam means normally acting during the oscillations immediately following spring-discharge to hold said pawl out of a path that will permit a collision between said pawl and said abutment even if said spring -controller, in oscillating about said second dead-center position, should travel through as much as 90.degree. in a reverse rotational direction from said second toward said first dead-center position.