Patent ID: 7598467
Filing Date: 2009-10-06
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. An operating mechanism opening assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus having a housing assembly and at least one pair of contacts having a fixed contact and a movable contact disposed in said housing assembly, said movable contact 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 closing assembly comprising: a pole shaft rotatably disposed in said housing assembly and coupled to said at least one pair of contacts, wherein said pole shaft rotates between a first position, wherein said movable contact is in said first, open position and a second position, wherein said movable contact is in said second, closed position; a toggle assembly having first link and a second link, each link having a first, outer end and a second, inner end, each link first, outer end having a pivot point and each link second, inner end having a pivot point; said first link and a second link pivotally coupled together at said first link inner end and said second link inner end thereby forming a toggle joint, said toggle joint structured to move between a first, collapsed configuration, a second, over-toggle configuration, and a third reset/collapsed configuration; said toggle assembly second link second end being pivotally coupled to said pole shaft wherein when said toggle assembly is in said first, collapsed configuration, said pole shaft is in said first position, and when said toggle assembly is in said second, over-toggle configuration said pole shaft is in said second position; a cradle assembly having an elongated body with a first link pivot point and a lateral pivot shaft, said cradle assembly body being coupled to said cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft; said toggle assembly first link pivotally coupled to said cradle assembly at said first link pivot point; said cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft rotatably coupled to said housing assembly wherein said cradle assembly body is structured to move between a first position and a second position; and wherein said cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft is structured to act as a kicker pin causing said toggle assembly to move from said second, over-toggle configuration to said first, collapsed configuration as said cradle assembly body moves from said second position to said first position.