Stored-energy operating means for an electric circuit breaker

In operating means for a circuit breaker that comprises a pair of contacts, one of which is movable with respect to the other,

• (a) a circuit-breaker closing 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) means for forwardly rotating said spring-controller from said second to said first dead-center position, thereby charging said spring,
• (e) 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,
• (f) 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,
• (g) said spring-controller oscillating about said second dead-center position immediately following said rapid discharge of said spring,
• (h) means for closing said circuit breaker in response to forward rotation of said spring-controller into said second dead-center position comprising:
• (h1) a mechanically trip-free operating mechanism coupled to said movable contact,
• (h2) a linkage interconnecting said spring-controller and said operating mechanism,
• (h3) pin and slot coupling means between said linkage and said operating mechanism which:
• (i) transmit closing force between said spring-controller and said operating mechanism during forward rotation of said spring-controller into said second dead-center position, (ii) allows said spring-controller to oscillate about said second dead-center position at the end of a closing operation without actuating said operating mechanism, whereby said circuit breaker can remain closed despite said oscillations, and (iii) allows said spring-controller to be forwardly moved from said second to said first dead-center position without actuating said operating mechanism, whereby said circuit breaker can remain closed during said charging of said closing spring,
• (i) and said linkage entering a dead-center position with respect to said spring-controller when said operating mechanism reaches a fully-closed position of the circuit breaker.