Operator for a circuit interrupter and disconnect switch combination

A circuit interrupter and disconnect switch combination, which comprises:

• a support structure;
• a first operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis, which is rotatably mounted to the support structure of rotation about its longitudinal axis between an open and a closed position;
• a circuit interrupter mounted to the support structure and including a first electrically conductive interrupting contact member and a second electrically conductive interrupting contact which is movable relative to the first interrupting contact member between a closed position at which the second interrupter contact member engages the first interrupter contact member, and an open position at which the second interrupter contact member is disengaged and spaced from the first interrupting contact member;
• an interrupter operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis, which is rotatably mounted to the support structure in spaced parallel arrangement with the first shaft for rotation about its longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position;
• interrupter connecting means, disposed between the second contact member of the circuit interrupter and the interrupter operating shaft, for moving the second contact member to its closed position when the interrupter operating shaft is rotated to its closed position, and for moving the second contact member to its open position when the interrupter operating shaft is rotated and its open position;
• an interrupter operating means, connected between the first shaft and the interrupter operating shaft, for quickly rotating the interrupter operating shaft between its open and closed positions, wherein, as the first shaft is rotated from its open position toward its closed position, the interrupter operating means quickly rotates the interrupter operating shaft from its open position to its closed position at a first intermediate position of the first shaft near the closed position of the first shaft, and wherein, as the first shaft is rotated from its closed position toward its open position, the interrupter operating means quickly rotates the interrupter operating shaft from its closed position to its open position at a second intermediate position of the first shaft near the closed position of the first shaft;
• a disconnect switch which is mounted to the support structure, and which includes a first electrically conductive disconnect contact member, and a second electrically conductive disconnect contact member which is movable relative to the first disconnect contact member between a closed position at which the second disconnect contact member engages the first disconnect contact member, and an open position at which the second disconnect contact member is disengaged and spaced from the first disconnect contact member, one of the disconnect contact members being electrically connected to one of the interrupting contact members of the circuit interrupter;
• a disconnect operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis, which is rotatably mounted to the support structure for rotation about its longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position, in spaced parallel arrangement with the interrupter operating shaft;
• connecting means, disposed between the second disconnect contact member and the disconnect operating shaft, for moving the second disconnect contact member to its closed position when the disconnect operating shaft is rotated to its closed position, and moving the second disconnect contact member to its open position when the disconnect operating shaft is rotated to its open position;
• a first lever affixed to the first shaft;
• a second lever affixed to the disconnect operating shaft;
• a driving link for connecting the disconnect operating shaft to be rotated between its open and closed positions as the first shaft is rotated between its corresponding open and closed positions, the driving link having a first end which is pivotally connected to one of the first and second levers, and an opposite second end which defines an elongated opening, or slot, through the driving link having an outer end and an inner end which define the length of the slot;
• a pivot pin, carried by the other of the first and second levers, which extends through the slot of the driving link, the pin being disposed against one of the outer and inner ends of the slot when the first shaft is disposed in its open position, and the driving link being moved over and beyond a toggle position when the first shaft is rotated to its closed position;
• wherein, as the first shaft is rotated from its open position towards its closed position, the pivot pin traverses the length of the slot and abuts against the other of the outer and inner ends of the slot to initiate the rotation of the disconnect operating shaft from its open position towards its closed position, the pivot pin remaining in abuttment with the other end of the slot until the driving link has been moved to its toggle position, the second disconnect contact member engaging the first disconnect contact member at a third intermediate position of the first shaft before the driving link has been moved to its toggle position, and before the interrupter operating shaft has been rotated from its open position to its closed position by the interrupter operating means at the first intermediate position of the first shaft which is disposed between the third intermediate position and the closed position of the first shaft;
• and
• wherein, as the first shaft is rotated from its closed position towards its open position, the driving link is moved over its toggle position and the pivot pin is moved the length of the slot and abuts against the one side of the slot to initiate rotation of the disconnect operating shaft from its closed position towards its open position at a fourth intermediate position of the first shaft, the interrupter operating shaft being rotated from its closed position to its open position at the second intermediate position of the first shaft at which the first shaft is disposed between its closed position and its fourth intermediate position;
• whereby, when the second operating shaft is rotated from its closed position to its open position, the series circuit through the circuit interrupter and the disconnect switch is opened by the circuit interrupter before the disconnect switch opens, and, when the second shaft is rotated from its open position to its closed position, the disconnect switch closes before the circuit interrupter closes.