Switch lever operating device with automatic timer

A device for operation of a switch which has a switch lever movable between extreme lever positions, said device comprising:

• a housing defining an enclosure in which are contained a slide, a slide return mechanism, a timer, and means for starting the timer;
• said housing having means for attaching the housing to a switch having a switch lever for engagement with the slide;
• said slide comprising means for engaging and moving a switch lever between its extreme positions by moving the slide along a slide path;
• handle means extending outward from the enclosure through an opening in said housing and operable from outside the enclosure for manually moving the slide along its slide path;
• said slide return mechanism comprising a return member movable to a cocked position by said slide as said slide is moved manually from one end of its slide path to the other end, spring means for returning said return member from said cocked position, said spring means being loaded for return by the action of manually moving said slide to said other end of its slide path, latch means for engaging and retaining said return member at said cocked position, latch release means actuated by the timer for retracting the latch means to release the return member for return by spring means, and slide return means for returning said slide to said one end of its slide path by the action of returning the return member;
• said means for starting the timer being actuated by the manual action of moving said return member to said cocked position;
• said timer comprising a computer chip programmed to respond to said means for starting the timer, and to measure a preset time interval from when the timer is started and to actuate said latch release means at the end of said interval.