Floating drive shaft between an actuating assembly and linkage structure of a dead tank breaker

A drive structure for connection between an actuating assembly of a circuit breaker and a linkage structure for opening and closing a movable electrical contact disposed in a volume of insulating material in a pole assembly, the drive structure comprising:

• a drive lever constructed and arranged to connect with the actuating assembly,
• a drive shaft having first and second ends, with the first end being removably coupled to the drive lever so that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the drive lever,
• a linkage lever coupled to the second end of the drive shaft,
• at least one connection rod, as part of the linkage structure, coupled with the linkage lever so that the connection rod is generally transverse with respect to the drive shaft, and
• a seal structure between the drive lever and the actuating assembly such that the drive shaft can be removed from the drive lever without disrupting the volume of insulating material.