Rapid closure mechanism for electrical contacts

A mechanism for rapid closure of electrical contacts for a modular electrical apparatus, the mechanism comprising:

• a.) at least one fixed electrical contact (9);
• b.) at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6), which cooperates with the at least one fixed electrical contact (9);
• c.) a contact support (2), about which the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6) is arranged in a rotationally pivoting relationship, and such that the contact support (2) is capable of rotational movement to position each movable electrical contact (5, 6) alternatively in contact with and out of contact with the at least one fixed electrical contact (9);
• d.) at least one contact spring (7, 8), corresponding in number to the number of movable electrical contacts (5, 6), for biasing the position of each movable electrical contact (5, 6) in a rest position;
• e.) a control lever (1), for moving the contact support (2) alternatively between two stable positions and for causing rotation of the contact support (2);
• f.) a toggle system (3, 4), through which the contact support (2) is rotated;
• and
• g.) a rapid closure mechanism including a cam (12) and at least one finger (16, 17), the number of fingers corresponding to the number of movable electrical contacts (5, 6), such that the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17) rotationally pivot respectively with the control lever (1) and the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6), with both the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17) each describing a circular path, such that the path of the cam (12) coincides with the paths of the at least one finger (16, 17) during a coincident phase of the simultaneous rotation of the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17), during which coincident phase the cam (12) and each of the at least one finger (16, 17) are cooperatively engaged in order to lock the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6) at a distance from the at least one fixed electrical contact (9), such that rapid closure of the electrical contact occurs at the end of the coincident phase of the simultaneous rotation of the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17), and further such that closure of the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6) and the at least one fixed electrical contact (9) occurs at a speed that is independent of a speed of rotation applied to the control lever (1), when rotational movements in opposing directions are imparted to the control lever (1) and the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6), to thereby cause an intersection of the respective paths of the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17), which move substantially in the same direction, driven respectively by the control lever (1), which is free to rotate through a limited range relative to the cam (12), and the at least one finger (16, 17), which are fixedly attached to corresponding ones of the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6), with the positioning of the at least one finger (16, 17) relative to the cam (12) and to the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6), respectively, being such that the at least one finger (16, 17) and the cam (12) enter into contact when the at least one fixed electrical contact (9) and the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6) are spaced apart, with the cam (12) having a surface (15) of such form and length that the at least one finger (16, 17) is rotationally locked during a portion of rotation of the control lever (1) that is less than a portion of its residual travel required to reach a stable position of closure of the at least one movable electrical contact (5, 6) and the at least one fixed electrical contact (9), with the contact support (2) however continuing its path of travel while the contact spring (7, 8) accumulates energy, which is released only when contact between the cam (12) and the at least one finger (16, 17) ceases, and such that during a final portion of travel of the control lever (1), the cam (12) is able to continue its rotation relative to the control lever (1), an angular range of rotation of the cam (12) being limited by a stop on the control lever (1) engaging an elastic element (22) on the cam (12), which is interposed between the cam (12) and the stop.