Circuit breaker electrical closure control apparatus

Apparatus for controlling the closure of a circuit breaker initiated by the action of a closing solenoid, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• A. a normally open breaker closure initiating switch;
• B. a normally open arming switch connected in series with said closure switch, the closing solenoid and a source of electric current;
• C. a holding solenoid electrically connected in shunt with said arming switch and having a plunger movable between a seated position and an extended position;
• D. hook means for holding the breaker movable contacts in a hooked open position against the force of a charged breaker operating mechanism spring acting to drive the movable contacts to a closed position, the closing solenoid being operatively coupled with said hook means such that electrical energization thereof activates said hook means to release the movable contacts from their hooked open position;
• E. a first member mounted for movement between an OFF position assumed in response to the movable contacts being in either their tripped open position, assumed when the mechanism spring is discharged, or their hooked open position and an ON position assumed in response to the movable contacts being in their closed position;
• F. an arming switch actuating member mounted for movement between a switch actuating position and a switch deactuating position, said switch actuating member assuming its deactuating position in response to the movable contacts being in their tripped open position and in response to said first member being in its ON position, and said switch actuating member assuming its actuating position to close said arming switch in response to said movable contacts being in their hooked open position, p2 (1) whereby, with said switch actuating member in its actuating position, closure of said breaker closure initiating switch completes an energization circuit for the closing solenoid through said arming switch to activate said hook means and thus release the movable contacts from their hooked open positions;
• and
• G. a second member pinned to said holding solenoid plunger and movable between a first position effective to dispose said plunger in its seated position and a second position effective to dispose said plunger in its extended position, said switch actuating member acting to position said second member to its first position as it assumes its switch deactuating position, and said second member acting on said switch actuating member to hold it away from its switch actuating position while said solenoid is energized to magnetically hold said plunger in its seated position by virtue of sustained closure of said breaker closure initiating switch,
• G. (continued)
• (1) whereby to preclude multiple activations of said hook means by the closing solenoid due to sustained closure of said breaker closure initiating switch.