Operating mechanism for a fluid blast circuit interrupter

A fluid blast circuit interrupter for an electric power circuit, comprising;

• at least one pair of separable circuit interrupting contacts, one of said contacts being movable relative to the other contact between a closed position, in engagement with said other contact to allow current to flow therebetween, and an open position, disengaged from said other contact to discontinue current flow therebetween;
• interrupter operating means comprising a drive shaft, rotatable in first and second opposite directions and crank means mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said interrupter operating means coupled to said movable contact for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said other contact in accordance with predetermined rotation of said drive shaft, said interrupter operating means being movable between a closed position for closing said interrupter contacts and a first open position for opening said interrupter contacts;
• a reservoir of high pressure, arc-quenching fluid;
• plenum means, disposed between said reservoir and said pair of interrupting contacts for directing a flow of high pressure, arc-quenching fluid across an arc established between said contacts during an operation of said circuit interrupter;
• a high pressure fluid valve disposed between said reservoir and said plenum means, and movable from a closed position to an open position for passing high pressure arc-quenching fluid from said reservoir into said plenum means;
• means for activating said high pressure fluid valve;
• valve coupling means for coupling said high pressure fluid valve to said valve actuating means;
• said valve actuating means comprising cam means mounted on said drive shaft for rotation thereabout and being rotatable in said first direction along a predetermined path of travel to move said valve actuating means from a normally closed position to at least one open position, for opening said high pressure fluid valve and in said second direction along said predetermined path of travel to move said valve actuating means from said open position to said closed position for closing said high pressure fluid valve;
• positioning means coupled to said valve actuating means for urging said valve actuating means toward its closed position;
• opening latch means for coupling said cam means to said crank means when said valve actuating means and said interrupter operating means are in closed positions and upon initiation of movement of said interrupter operating means from it's closed position toward it's open position, said cam means being rotated with said crank means in said first direction to move said valve actuating means from it's closed position to its first open position against the force exerted on said valve actuating means by said positioning means, thereby to open said high pressure fluid valve in a predetermined manner;
• and
• opening latch release means for disengaging said opening latch means when said cam means is rotated with said crank means during an interrupter opening operation to move said interrupter operating means to its first open position, thereby to allow said positioning means to rotate said cam means about said drive shaft in said second direction to return said valve actuating means to its closed position.