Catchment mechanism to prevent camshaft over-rotation during closure in a direct-drive stored energy mechanism

A catchment mechanism for an operating mechanism closing assembly in an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus having a housing assembly, an operating mechanism, and at least one pair of separable contacts structured to move between a first, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein said contacts contact each other and are in electrical communication, said operating mechanism having a closing assembly structured to move said movable contact structured from said first, open position to said second, closed position, said closing assembly having a cam fixed to a rotatable cam shaft, said cam shaft being rotatably coupled to said housing assembly, a rocker arm assembly pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at a pivot point and structured to move between a first position and a second position, a ram assembly structured to move between a first position and a second position, and at least one spring, said cam structured to operatively engage said rocker arm assembly so that rotation of said cam causes said rocker arm assembly to move from said second position to said first position, said rocker arm assembly structured to be selectively coupled to, and operatively engage, said ram assembly so that movement of said rocker arm assembly in a charging direction causes said ram assembly to move from said second position to said first position, said ram assembly structured to operatively engage said at least one spring when moved in a charging direction whereby said at least one spring is charged, wherein, when said at least one spring is charged, said rocker arm assembly operatively engages said cam and wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said rocker arm assembly does not operatively engage said cam and said cam shaft is free to rotate, said catchment mechanism comprising:

• a catchment wheel having a radially extending surface, said catchment wheel being fixed to said cam shaft;
• a catchment prop having a body with a stop edge and a pivot point, said catchment prop being pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at said catchment prop pivot point, said catchment prop structured to move between a stop position, wherein said stop edge is positioned to engage said catchment wheel radially extending surface, and a reset position, wherein said stop edge is spaced from said catchment wheel outer surface;
• a catchment prop reset pin coupled to said rocker arm assembly;
• and
• wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said cam shaft rotates until said catchment prop stop edge engages said catchment wheel radially extending surface.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a housing assembly defining an enclosed space;
• a plurality of side plates, said side plates disposed within said housing assembly enclosed space, generally parallel to each other, said side plates having a plurality of aligned openings therein whereby one or more elongated members may be coupled, including rotatably coupled, perpendicular to and between adjacent side plates;
• at least one pair of separable contacts structured to move between a first, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein said contacts contact each other and are in electrical communication;
• an operating mechanism disposed in said housing assembly, said operating mechanism having a closing assembly structured to move said movable contact structured from said first, open position to said second, closed position;
• said closing assembly having a cam, a rocker arm assembly, a ram assembly, and at least one spring;
• said cam fixed to a rotatable cam shaft, said cam shaft being rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;
• said rocker arm assembly pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at a pivot point and structured to move between a first position and a second position;
• said ram assembly structured to move between a first position and a second position;
• said cam structured to operatively engage said rocker arm assembly so that rotation of said cam causes said rocker arm assembly to move from said second position to said first position;
• said rocker arm assembly structured to be selectively coupled to, and operatively engage, said ram assembly so that movement of said rocker arm assembly in a charging direction causes said ram assembly to move from said second position to said first position;
• said ram assembly structured to operatively engage said at least one spring when moved in a charging direction whereby said at least one spring is charged;
• wherein, when said at least one spring is charged, said rocker arm assembly operatively engages said cam;
• wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said rocker arm assembly does not operatively engage said cam and said cam shaft is free to rotate;
• a catchment mechanism having a catchment wheel and a catchment prop;
• said catchment wheel having a radially extending surface, said catchment wheel being fixed to said cam shaft;
• said catchment prop having a body with a stop edge and a pivot point, said catchment prop being pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at said catchment prop pivot point, said catchment prop structured to move between a stop position, wherein said stop edge is positioned to engage said catchment wheel radially extending surface, and a reset position, wherein said stop edge is spaced from said catchment wheel outer surface;
• and
• wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said cam shaft rotates until said catchment prop stop edge engages said catchment wheel radially extending surface.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a housing assembly defining an enclosed space;
• a plurality of side plates, said side plates disposed within said housing assembly enclosed space, generally parallel to each other, said side plates having a plurality of aligned openings therein whereby one or more elongated members may be coupled, including rotatably coupled, perpendicular to and between adjacent side plates;
• at least one pair of separable contacts structured to move between a first, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein said contacts contact each other and are in electrical communication;
• an operating mechanism disposed in said housing assembly, said operating mechanism having a closing assembly structured to move said movable contact structured from said first, open position to said second, closed position;
• said closing assembly having a cam, a rocker arm assembly, a ram assembly, and at least one spring;
• said cam fixed to a rotatable cam shaft, said cam shaft being rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;
• said rocker arm assembly pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at a pivot point and structured to move between a first position and a second position;
• said ram assembly structured to move between a first position and a second position;
• said cam structured to operatively engage said rocker arm assembly so that rotation of said cam causes said rocker arm assembly to move from said second position to said first position;
• said rocker arm assembly structured to be selectively coupled to, and operatively engage, said ram assembly so that movement of said rocker arm assembly in a charging direction causes said ram assembly to move from said second position to said first position;
• said ram assembly structured to operatively engage said at least one spring when moved in a charging direction whereby said at least one spring is charged;
• wherein, when said at least one spring is charged, said rocker arm assembly operatively engages said cam;
• wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said rocker arm assembly does not operatively engage said cam and said cam shaft is free to rotate;
• a catchment mechanism having a catchment wheel, a catchment prop, and a catchment prop reset pin;
• said catchment wheel having a radially extending surface, said catchment wheel being fixed to said cam shaft;
• said catchment prop having a body with a stop edge and a pivot point, said catchment prop being pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at said catchment prop pivot point, said catchment prop structured to move between a stop position, wherein said stop edge is positioned to engage said catchment wheel radially extending surface, and a reset position, wherein said stop edge is spaced from said catchment wheel outer surface;
• said catchment prop reset pin coupled to said rocker arm assembly;
• and
• wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said cam shaft rotates until said catchment prop stop edge engages said catchment wheel radially extending surface.