Electrical switching apparatus and charging assembly therefor

A charging assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a stored energy mechanism, said charging assembly comprising:

• a cam shaft structured to be pivotably coupled to the housing, said cam shaft including a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a number of cams disposed between the first end and the second end;
• a latch lobe coupled to said cam shaft at or about the first end;
• a charging handle coupled to said cam shaft at or about the second end, said charging handle being structured to pivot a number of strokes, each stroke pivoting said cams a predetermined amount;
• at least one rocker arm structured to be pivotably coupled to the housing by a pivot, said at least one rocker arm including a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion cooperating with a corresponding one of said cams, the second portion being structured to translate movement of said cams into movement of said stored energy mechanism to charge said stored energy mechanism, the third portion being disposed proximate to said pivot;
• a close prop including a first end and a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, the second end including a roller cooperating with said latch lobe;
• and
• a close D-shaft structured to be pivotably coupled to the housing, said close D-shaft comprising a recess and a close latch, said close D-shaft being pivotable between a latched position corresponding to said close latch restricting movement of the first end of said close prop, and an unlatched position corresponding to said close prop being movable,
• wherein said third portion of said at least one rocker arm is structured to cooperate with said close D-shaft at or about said recess to hold said close latch in said unlatched position until said charging handle has been pivoted a predetermined number of strokes to charge said stored energy mechanism a predetermined amount, and
• wherein, after said predetermined number of strokes is achieved, said third portion of said at least one rocker arm releases said close D-shaft, thereby permitting said close latch to move to said latched position.