Power circuit breaker with opening and closing mechanisms

A circuit interrupter comprising a pair of separable contacts, operating means connected to the contacts for opening the contacts including a toggle lever pivotally mounted for movement between positions corresponding to closed and open conditions of the separable contacts, closing means for closing the contacts including a cylinder-piston assembly and having a piston rod operatively connected to the separable contacts, the closing means being interconnected to the toggle lever to effect latching of the contacts in the closed condition, firing chamber means for directing a propellant force into the cylinder and against the piston, propellant charge-containing cartridge removably mounted in the firing chamber means, the firing chamber means having pump slide means reciprocally movable for inserting and ejecting cartridges into and from the firing chamber means, ejector mechanism for moving the pump slide means and comprising an operating rod operatively attached to the piston rod, a magnetic member fixedly mounted on the operating rod, a magnetic-responsive plate fixedly mounted on the pump slide means and extending into the path of travel of the magnetic member, spring means for maintaining the ejector mechanism in the cartridge-inserted position, the operating rod being movable with the piston rod to an extended position to effect contact of the magnet with the magnetic-responsive plate, and the operating rod being retractable with the piston rod to effect movement of the pump slide means to the cartridge-ejected position.