Lockable rotary handle operator for circuit breaker

A rotary operator for a circuit breaker having an operating handle linearly movable between an off and on position and an intermediate trip position, said rotary operator comprising:

• a housing constructed form resin material mountable on said circuit breaker over said operating handle;
• a slide member constructed from resin material engageable with the operating handle and movable along a linear path within said housing, said slide member having a rack extending along said linear path;
• a rotating shaft constructed from resin material mounted in said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis transverse to said linear path;
• a pinion gear section constructed from resin material mounted on said rotating shaft and engaging said rack on said slide member;
• a rotating handle mounted on said rotating shaft and rotatable therewith between a substantially vertical position with said circuit breaker in the on position and a substantially horizontal position with said circuit breaker in the off position whereby rotation of said rotatable handle results in linear motion of said operating handle and linear motion of the operating handle results in rotary motion of said rotating handle;
• and said slide member and said rotating handle having masses which generate moments about said rotating shaft which bias said rotating handle towards the horizontal position.

In combination, a circuit breaker having a handle linearly movable in a substantially vertical direction between an upper on position, a lower off position, and an intermediate tripped position, and a rotary handle operator comprising:

• a housing mounted on said circuit breaker;
• a slide member engaging said operating handle and mounted in said housing for reciprocal movement with said handle along a linear path in said vertical direction;
• a rotating member rotatably mounted in said housing for rotational movement around a substantially horizontal axis;
• connecting means connecting said rotating member to said slide member so that movement of one of said members produces a corresponding movement of said other member;
• a rotating handle extending radially outward from said rotating member and rotatable therewith between a substantially vertical position with said circuit breaker in the on position and a substantially horizontal position with said circuit breaker in the off position whereby movement of one handle produces a corresponding movement of said other handle;
• and
• said slide member and said rotating handle having masses which generate moments about said rotating member which bias said rotating handle towards the horizontal position.

A rotary operator for a circuit breaker having an operating handle linearly movable between an off and on position and an intermediate trip position, said rotary operator comprising:

• a housing having a recess mountable on said circuit breaker over said operating handle;
• a slide member engageable with said operating handle and movable along a linear path with said housing, said slide member having a rack extending along said linear path;
• a rotating shaft mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis transverse to said linear path;
• a pinion gear section mounted on said rotating shaft and engaging said rack on said slide member;
• a rotating handle mounted on said rotating shaft and rotatable therewith between a substantially vertical position with said circuit breaker in the on position and a substantially horizontal positions with said circuit breaker in the off position whereby rotation of said rotatable handle results in linear motion of said operating handle and linear motion of said operating handle results in rotary motion of said rotating handle;
• locking means mounted in said rotating handle and depressible into said recess for preventing rotation of said rotating handle and therefore linear movement of said operating handle;
• and said slide member and said rotating handle having masses which generate moments about said rotating shaft which bias said rotating handle towards the horizontal position.