Operating mechanism for electrical switches

An operating mechanism for a switch, the mechanism being of the type capable of storing energy to selectively close the switch when it is open, and being capable of immediately reopening the switch after its closure if such reopening is required, the mechanism opening and closing the switch by moving an operating member thereof in switch-opening and switch-closing directions;

• the mechanism comprising:
• a frame;
• a carriage movable in first and second opposed directions between first and second locations;
• a first selectively releasable latch for preventing switch-closing movement of the operating member whenever the switch is open;
• a first spring which acts between the carriage and the operating member so that movement of the carriage in the first direction while the first latch prevents switch-closing movement of the operating member stores therein switch-closing energy;
• a second selectively releasable latch for preventing movement of the carriage in the second direction whenever the carriage has moved to the first location to store a selected amount of switch-closing energy in the first spring;
• a second spring which acts between the carriage and the frame so that movement of the carriage to the first location stores therein a selected amount of switch-opening energy which biases the carriage in the second direction;
• and
• means for moving the operating member in the switch-opening direction in response to movement of the carriage in the second direction from the first to the second location whenever the switch is closed.

An operating mechanism for driving a switch between first and second operating positions, the mechanism being capable of storing energy to selectively drive the switch from the first operating position to the second operating position, and being capable of immediately thereafter driving the switch to the first operating position, the operating mechanism comprising:

• a frame;
• a carriage movable between first and second positions;
• a switch operating member to drive the switch and being movable between respective first and second positions, said carriage and said switch operating member each being movable with respect to a common axis;
• a first spring acting between said switch operating member and said carriage;
• a second spring acting between said carriage and said frame;
• first means for selectively latching said switch operating member against movement with respect to said frame;
• second means for selectively latching said carriage against movement with respect to said frame;
• and
• means for moving said switch operating member from said second position to said first position in response to movement of said carriage from said second position to said first position.

An operating mechanism for a switch comprising:

• a frame;
• a carriage movable between first and second positions;
• a switch operating member to effect opening and closing of a switch and being movable between respective first and second positions;
• a closing spring acting between said switch operating member and said carriage;
• an opening spring acting between said carriage and said frame;
• means for selectively latching each of said switch operating member and said carriage against movement with respect to said frame, said carriage moving from said first position to said second position to charge said opening spring and said closing spring with operating energy while said switch operating member is latched by said latching means in said first position corresponding to the switch open position, said carriage being latched by said latching means when said carriage reaches said second position, subsequent release of said switch operating member by said latching means causing said switch operating member to move from said first position to said second position corresponding to the switch closed position, subsequent release of said carriage by said latching means causing said carriage to move from said second position to said first position;
• and
• means for moving said switch operating member from said second position to said first position in response to movement of said carriage from said second position to said first position.

An operating mechanism for a switch, the mechanism being of the type capable of storing energy to selectively close the switch when it is open, and being capable of immediately reopening the switch after its closure if such reopening is required, the mechanism opening and closing the switch by moving an operating member thereof in switch-opening and switch-closing directions;

• the mechanism comprising:
• a frame;
• a carriage movable in first and second opposed directions between first and second locations;
• a first selectively releasable latch for preventing switch-closing movement of the operating member whenever the switch is open;
• a first spring which acts between the carriage and the operating member so that movement of the carriage in the first direction while the first latch prevents switch-closing movement of the operating member stores therein switch-closing energy;
• a second selectively releasable latch for preventing movement of the carriage in the second direction whenever the carriage has moved to the first location to store a selected amount of switch-closing energy in the first spring;
• a second spring which acts between the carriage and the frame so that movement of the carriage to the first location stores therein a selected amount of switch-opening energy which biases the carriage in the second direction;
• and
• means for moving the operating member in the switch-opening direction in response to movement of the carriage in the second direction from the first to the second location whenever the switch is closed, whereby after energy is stored in said springs, said first latch is released and the operating member moves in the switch-closing direction, subsequent release of said second latch allowing said operating member to be moved in the switch-opening direction.

An operating mechanism for a switch, the mechanism being of the type capable of storing energy to selectively close the switch when it is open, and being capable of immediately reopening the switch after its closure if such reopening is required, the mechanism opening and closing the switch by moving an operating member thereof in switch-opening and switch-closing directions;

• the mechanism comprising:
• a frame;
• a carriage movable in first and second opposed directions between first and second locations;
• a first selectively releasable latch for preventing switch-closing movement of the operating member whenever the switch is open;
• a first spring which acts between the carriage and the operating member so that movement of the carriage in the first direction while the first latch prevents switch-closing movement of the operating member stores switch-closing energy in said first spring;
• a second selectively releasable latch for preventing movement of the carriage in the second direction whenever the carriage has moved to the first location to store a selected amount of switch-closing energy in the first spring;
• a second spring which acts between the carriage and the frame so that movement of the carriage to the first location stores therein a selected amount of switch-opening energy which biases the carriage in the second direction;
• and
• means for moving the operating member in the switch-opening direction in response to movement of the carriage in the second direction from the first to the second location whenever the switch is closed,
• whereby with the switch open and the carriage in the second location, the first latch prevents switch-closing movement of the operating member as the carriage is moved in the first direction to the first location, thereby storing switch-closing energy in the first spring and switch-opening energy in the second spring;
• subsequent release of the first latch permitting the first spring to move the operating member in the switch-closing direction to close the switch while the carriage is held by the second latch and the amount of energy stored in the second spring remains unchanged;
• subsequent release of the second latch with the switch closed permitting the second spring to move the carriage in the second direction to the second location and the operating member in the switch-opening direction to open the switch while the amount of energy stored in the first spring remains unchanged;
• whereafter movement of the carriage in the first direction restores energy in both springs.