Disengageable charging mechanism for spring powered electrical switching apparatus

Electrical switching apparatus for an electric power distribution circuit comprising:

• separable contacts for opening and closing said electric power distribution circuit;
• an operating mechanism for operating said separable contacts comprising:
• a spring;
• a cam shaft;
• a cam member mounted on said cam shaft and coupled to said spring for charging said spring;
• and
• a charging mechanism comprising:
• a ratchet wheel coupled to said cam shaft and having peripheral ratchet teeth;
• an elongated handle having first and second ends;
• a handle mount pivotally mounting said handle for rotation about a pivot axis adjacent said first end of said elongated handle;
• a drive link pivotally connected at one end to said elongated handle between said first and second ends;
• biasing means biasing said drive link for engagement adjacent a second end with said ratchet teeth as said elongated handle rotates in one direction, and for sliding over said ratchet teeth as said handle rotates in an opposite direction;
• disengaging means disengaging said drive link from said ratchet teeth when said elongated handle is in a stowed position;
• wherein said drive link has a drive pin transversely mounted adjacent a free end for engaging said ratchet teeth and said disengaging means lifts said drive link to disengage said drive pin from said ratchet teeth with said handle in said stowed position;
• and
• wherein said disengaging means comprises a lateral projection on said drive link intermediate said one end and said free end which engages tops of said ratchet teeth to lift said drive link and therefore disengage said drive pin from said ratchet teeth.