Electrical switching apparatus, and stored energy assembly and time delay mechanism therefor

A stored energy assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said stored energy assembly comprising:

• a mount structured to be coupled to said housing;
• a stored energy mechanism coupled to said mount;
• at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy;
• at least one actuator being actuatable to release said stored energy mechanism, in order to release said stored energy;
• a drive assembly structured to be cooperable with said stored energy mechanism, in order to transfer said stored energy into movement of said operating mechanism;
• and
• a time delay mechanism comprising:
• a first trip shaft pivotably coupled to said mount and being cooperable with said drive assembly, said first trip shaft being movable among a first position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being charged, and a second position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being discharged,
• a second trip shaft pivotably coupled to said mount proximate said first trip shaft, said second trip shaft including a cut-out portion,
• a link assembly including a plurality of linking elements, said linking elements interconnecting said first trip shaft and said second trip shaft, in order that movement of one of said first trip shaft said second trip shaft results in movement of the other of said first trip shaft and said second trip shaft,
• a trip catch including a first end coupled to said first trip shaft, and a second end being engageable with said second trip shaft, said trip catch being movable with said first trip shaft but not independently with respect thereto,
• a drive lever comprising a first end coupled to said first trip shaft, and a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and
• a damper coupled to said drive lever,
• wherein, when said first trip shaft is moved from said first position toward said second position, said first trip shaft moves said linking elements of said link assembly, thereby pivoting said second trip shaft,
• wherein, when said second trip shaft is pivoted, said cut-out portion of said second trip shaft releases said trip catch, thereby permitting said first trip shaft to move to said second position,
• wherein, when said first trip shaft moves to said second position, said stored energy of said stored energy mechanism is released, in order to drive said drive assembly and move said operating mechanism,
• wherein there is a delay from a first time that said first trip shaft initially moves from said first position to a second time that said second trip shaft is moved to release said trip catch, and
• wherein said damper is adjustable in order to adjust said delay.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• separable contacts;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts;
• and
• a stored energy assembly comprising:
• a mount coupled to said housing,
• a stored energy mechanism coupled to said mount,
• at least one charging mechanism structured to charge said stored energy mechanism in order to store energy,
• at least one actuator being actuatable to release said stored energy mechanism, in order to release said stored energy,
• a drive assembly cooperating with said stored energy mechanism in order to transfer said released stored energy into movement of said operating mechanism, and
• a time delay mechanism comprising:
• a first trip shaft pivotably coupled to said mount and being cooperable with said drive assembly, said first trip shaft being movable among a first position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being charged, and a second position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being discharged,
• a second trip shaft pivotably coupled to said mount proximate said first trip shaft, said second trip shaft including a cut-out portion,
• a link assembly including a plurality of linking elements, said linking elements interconnecting said first trip shaft and said second trip shaft, in order that movement of one of said first trip shaft said second trip shaft results in movement of the other of said first trip shaft and said second trip shaft,
• a trip catch including a first end coupled to said first trip shaft, and a second end being engageable with said second trip shaft, said trip catch being movable with said first trip shaft but not independently with respect thereto,
• a drive lever comprising a first end coupled to said first trip shaft, and a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and
• a damper coupled to said drive lever,
• wherein, when said first trip shaft is moved from said first position toward said second position, said first trip shaft moves said linking elements of said link assembly, thereby pivoting said second trip shaft,
• wherein, when said second trip shaft is pivoted, said cut-out portion of said second trip shaft releases said trip catch, thereby permitting said first trip shaft to move to said second position,
• wherein, when said first trip shaft moves to said second position, said stored energy of said stored energy mechanism is released, in order to drive said drive assembly and move said operating mechanism,
• wherein there is a delay from a first time that said first trip shaft initially moves from said first position to a second time that said second trip shaft is moved to release said trip catch, and
• wherein said damper is adjustable in order to adjust said delay.