Patent ID: 6130392
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A stored energy circuit breaker actuation apparatus for use with a circuit breaker assembly, having an actuation handle for actuating the circuit breaker assembly to at least one operating state, comprising:a housing;an operator handle assembly comprising an operator handle and operator handle shaft;an operator gear assembly comprising an operator gear and a movement following member;a pinion gear assembly comprising a pinion gear carrier and at least one pinion gear, wherein said pinion gear carrier is pivotally associated with said operator handle shaft and said at least one pinion gear is pivotally associated with said pinion gear carrier, and wherein said pinion gear carrier is movable so that said at least one pinion gear may contact and rotate said operator gear;a stored energy charging and discharging assembly comprising a movement translation apparatus assembly, having at least one charging state movement direction and at least one discharge state movement direction, which is operatively associated said operator gear movement following member and with the actuation handle of the circuit breaker assembly, wherein said movement translation apparatus assembly translates rotational movement of said operator gear into linear movement of said movement translation apparatus assembly thereby moving the actuation handle of the circuit breaker assembly so as to actuate the circuit breaker assembly to at least one of its operating states;an energy storage assembly comprising a structure that stores energy when charged and releases energy when discharged, wherein said energy storage assembly is operatively associated with said stored energy charging and discharging assembly so as to store energy when said movement translation apparatus assembly moves in said at least one charging state movement direction and to discharge energy when said movement translation apparatus moves in said at least discharging state movement direction;a release apparatus operatively associated with said operator gear assembly so as to release said operator gear assembly and allow it to rotate, thereby allowing said movement translation apparatus to move in said at least one discharge movement direction; anda circuit breaker actuation apparatus operatively associated with said movement translation assembly so as to move in the same direction as said movement translation assembly, wherein said operator handle and said pinion gear assembly are operatively connected by said operator handle shaft so that moving said operator handle and correspondingly said operator handle shaft in at least one direction also rotates said at least one pinion gear, thereby rotating said operator gear assembly so as to cause said movement translation apparatus assembly to move in said at least one charging state movement direction so as to charge said energy storage assembly by storing energy therein.