Handle-operating mechanism for a circuit breaker including intermeshing handle clutch gear and operator toggle gear

A handle-operating mechanism for a circuit breaker, comprising:

• a rotary operating handle operated to open and close a main-circuit contact of the circuit breaker,
• a rotating gear operably connected to the operating handle and having first engaging means,
• a contact opening-and-closing mechanism having a toggle gear meshing with the rotating gear, said contact opening-and-closing mechanism being linked to the operating handle through the rotating gear and the toggle gear, and
• a clutch gear connected to the operating handle and interposed between the operating handle and the rotating gear and having second engaging means to form an idle stroke such that when the circuit breaker is turned on, the operating handle runs idly after rotation of the operating handle has been started and before the second engaging means engages the first engaging means to drive the rotating gear for actuating the toggle gear of the contact opening-and-closing mechanism.