Compact operating mechanism for medium and high voltage switchgear

An operating mechanism for a switch in medium or high voltage switchgear, including a rocker plate fixed on a main shaft that is mounted for rotation on at least one first mounting plate said main shaft being orthogonal to the first mounting plate, and the rocker plate being orthogonal to the main shaft the main shaft being coupled to the switch, whereby opening and closing of the switch are caused to take place by rotation of the main shaft the main shaft being adapted to be rotated by tilting movement of said rocker plate and said operating mechanism further including:

• a rotary closing actuator with a force transmitting means for closing the switch;
• an opening actuator for opening the switch;
• and
• closed switch locking means for locking the switch in a closed state, said locking means being adapted to apply to the rocker plate a locking force to lock the rocker plate when the switch is in its closed state;
• said rocker plate being linked to the opening actuator the rotary closing actuator being adapted to make contact with the rocker plate whereby to cause the rocker plate to pivot in a direction corresponding to closing of the switch, and the closed switch locking means being adapted to make contact with the rocker plate whereby to hold the switch closed;
• and
• the rocker plate, the opening actuator the force transmitting means of the closing actuator and the closed switch locking means being so disposed that the forces applied by the opening actuator the force transmitting means of the closing actuator, and the closed switch locking means are all substantially in one plane of the rocker plate, referred to as the first plane.