Patent ID: 7646270
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A spring assembly for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft, said yoke assembly being coupled to said pole shaft and being movable among a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being open, said spring assembly comprising: a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being structured to be coupled to said yoke assembly; and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being structured to be coupled to said yoke assembly, wherein said second spring rate is different than said first spring rate, wherein said number of first springs and said number of second springs are structured to bias said yoke assembly toward said second position; wherein said yoke assembly comprises a first end coupled to said pole shaft, a second end, a first side, and a second side; wherein the first side of said yoke assembly extends from said pole shaft toward the second end of said yoke assembly; wherein the second side of said yoke assembly is disposed opposite and distal from the first side; and wherein said number of first springs and said number of second springs are structured to be disposed between the first side and the second side; wherein said yoke assembly further comprises a first cross member extending between the first side and the second side proximate the first end of said yoke assembly, a second cross member extending between the first side and the second side proximate the second end of said yoke assembly, and a plurality of elongated members having first ends and second ends; wherein the first ends of said elongated members are fixedly coupled to said second cross member; wherein the second ends of said elongated members extend through said first cross member and are movable with respect to said first cross member; wherein said number of first springs and said number of second springs are structured to be disposed between said first cross member and said second cross member; and wherein each of said number of first springs and said number of second springs includes a plurality of coils structured to receive a corresponding one of said elongated members therethrough; and wherein said plurality of elongated members is three elongated members; wherein said number of first springs is two first springs; wherein each of said two first springs is disposed on a corresponding one of said three elongated members; wherein said number of second springs is a single second spring; and wherein said single second spring is disposed on a corresponding one of said three elongated members between said two first springs.