Circuit breaker closure control and condition indicator apparatus

In a circuit breaker having a spring powered operating mechanism for translating movable contacts between open and closed circuit positions with respect to stationary contacts, apparatus for controlling the closure of the movable contacts and for indicating the various circuit breaker conditions, said apparatus comprising in combination:

• A. latching means releaseably latching the movable contacts in their open circuit position against the force of charged mechanism springs acting to bias the movable contacts toward their closed circuit position;
• B. release means selectively operable on said latch means to effect unlatching of the movable contacts, thereby enabling the charged mechanism springs to drive the movable contacts to their closed circuit position;
• and
• C. breaker condition indicating means including
• (1) an indicator arm mounted for movement between first, second and third positions, said arm being directly coupled with the movable contacts,
• (2) a display panel mounted by said arm, said panel bearing plural distinct breaker condition indicia for separate registry with a viewing window depending in the position of said arm,
• (3) a spring biasing said arm to its first position while the movable contacts are in their open circuit position and the operating mechanism springs are discharged, and
• (4) an actuator coupled with the breaker operating mechanism for movement from a discharged position to a charged position incident with articulation of the operating mechanism pursuant to the charging of the mechanism springs, in moving from said discharged to said charged positions, said actuator engaging and shifting said arm from its first to its second position,
• (5) upon unlatching of said latching means by said release means to precipitate translation of said movable contacts to their closed circuit position, said arm being controllably shifted from its second position to its third position by the closing movement of said movable contacts.