Abstract:
The present invention provides for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly wherein the toggle assembly stop/kicker pin has been separated into a kicker pin and a stop pin. By separating the functions of the stop/kicker pin into separate pins, the kicker pin may now be located at the pivot point of the associated link. Further, the kicker pin and the stop pin are now disposed upon a cradle assembly as opposed to an elongated link. The cradle assembly further supports one of the toggle assembly links. Thus, rotation of the cradle assembly causes the toggle assembly to move. The operating mechanism opening assembly is configured so that, when an associated latch assembly latch plate assembly is released, the cradle assembly rotates so that the toggle assembly is moved away from a closing assembly closing device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to commonly assigned, concurrently filed: 
         [0002]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed May 4, 2007, entitled “ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS, AND YOKE ASSEMBLY AND SPRING ASSEMBLY THEREFOR” (Attorney Docket No. 07-EDP-132), which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism and, more specifically to an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly having a cradle assembly with a pivot shaft that acts as a kicker for a toggle assembly. 
         [0005]    2. Background Information 
         [0006]    Electrical switching apparatus, typically, include a housing, at least one bus assembly having a pair of contacts, a trip device, and an operating mechanism. The housing assembly is structured to insulate and enclose the other components. The at least one pair of contacts include a fixed contact and a movable contact and typically include multiple pairs of fixed and movable contacts. Each contact is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a conductive bus that is further coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a line or a load. A trip device is structured to detect an over-current condition and to actuate the operating mechanism. An operating mechanism is structured to both open the contacts, either manually or following actuation by the trip device, and close the contacts. 
         [0007]    That is, the operating mechanism includes both a closing assembly and an opening assembly, which may have common elements, that are structured to move the movable contact between a first, open position, wherein the contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein the contacts are coupled and in electrical communication. The operating mechanism includes a rotatable pole shaft that is coupled to the movable contact and structured to move each movable contact between the closed position and the open position. Elements of both the closing assembly and the opening assembly are coupled to the pole shaft so as to effect the closing and opening of the contacts. 
         [0008]    In the prior art, an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism closing assembly typically had a stored energy device, such as an closing spring, and at least one link coupled to the pole shaft. The at least one link, typically, included two links that acted cooperatively as a toggle assembly. When the contacts were open, the toggle assembly was in a first, collapsed configuration and, conversely, when the contacts were closed, the toggle assembly was, typically, in a second, in-line position or in a slightly over-toggle configuration. The toggle assembly typically moved through a third configuration, a reset configuration, while the contacts were open and which was a configuration during the resetting of the operating mechanism prior to closing the contacts. The opening spring biased the pole shaft to collapse the toggle assembly. The opening spring and toggle assembly were maintained in the second, in-line position by the trip device. 
         [0009]    The force required to close the contacts was, and is, typically greater than what a human may apply and, as such, the operating mechanism typically included a mechanical closing assembly to close the contacts. The closing assembly, typically, included at least one stored energy device, such as a spring, and/or a motor. Closing springs typically were about 2 inches in diameter and about 5 to 6 inches in length. These springs were structured to apply a force of about 1000 pounds. A common configuration included a motor that compressed one or more springs in the closing assembly. That is, the closing springs were coupled to a cam roller that engaged a cam coupled to the motor. As the motor rotated the cam, the closing springs were compressed or charged. 
         [0010]    The toggle assembly also included a cam roller, typically at the toggle joint. The closing assembly further included one or more cams disposed on a common cam shaft with the closing spring cam. Alternatively, depending upon the configuration of the cam, both the closing spring cam roller and the toggle assembly cam roller could engage the same cam. When the closing springs were released, the closing spring cam roller applied force to the associated cam and caused the cam shaft to rotate. That is, the cam roller “operatively engaged” the cam. Rotation of the cam shaft would also cause the cam associated with the toggle assembly cam roller to rotate. As the cam associated with the toggle assembly cam roller rotated, the cam caused the toggle assembly cam roller, and therefore the toggle assembly, to be moved into selected positions and/or configurations. More specifically, the toggle assembly was moved so as to rotate the pole shaft into a position wherein the contacts were closed. Thus, the stored energy from the closing springs was transferred via the cams, cam shaft, toggle assembly, and pole shaft to the contacts. Alternatively, as set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/693,198, filed Mar. 29, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference, a closing assembly may also utilize a ram assembly to act upon the toggle assembly. That is, as opposed to a cam moving the toggle assembly into the second, over-toggle position, a linearly traveling ram acts upon the toggle assembly at the toggle joint. 
         [0011]    The electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly is structured to open the contacts by allowing the pole shaft to rotate. That is, a trip device included an over-current sensor, a latch assembly and may have included one or more additional links that were coupled to the toggle assembly. Alternately, the latch assembly was directly coupled to the toggle assembly. When an over-current situation occurred, the latch assembly was released allowing the opening spring to cause the toggle assembly to collapse. When the toggle assembly collapsed, the toggle assembly link coupled to the pole shaft caused the pole shaft to rotate and thereby move the movable contacts into the open position. The latch assembly could also be actuated manually if desired. 
         [0012]    The electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly is responsive to the release of the latch assembly and is structured to move the toggle assembly into the first, collapsed configuration. Typically, the latch assembly included a latch plate that was structured to rotate or pivot within the housing assembly. The latch plate included a latch edge that selectively engaged a D-shaft. When the D-shaft was in a first position, the D-shaft allowed the latch plate to pivot. When the D-shaft was in a second configuration, the latch plate latch edge engaged the D-shaft and the latch plate could not rotate. The D-shaft was controlled by the trip device or by a manual input. 
         [0013]    One or more links extended between the latch plate and the toggle assembly. When the latch plate was held in place by the D-shaft, the motion of the toggle assembly is controlled by the rotation of the pole shaft and the closing assembly. When the latch plate is free to pivot, the latch plate, via the links, caused the toggle assembly to move. Thus, when the trip device, or a manual input, caused the D-shaft to rotate, the latch plate was free to pivot which in turn caused the toggle assembly to move from the second, over-toggle configuration to the first, collapsed configuration thereby allowing the contacts to separate. To reset the operating mechanism opening assembly prior to the closing of the contacts by the closing assembly, the toggle assembly typically moved into a reset configuration. In this configuration the contacts are open, but the D-shaft is reset and the latch plate latch edge re-engages the D-shaft. Thus, the latch plate is no longer free to rotate and the motion of the toggle assembly is controlled by the pole shaft and the closing assembly as set forth above. 
         [0014]    The operating mechanism opening assembly typically included a stop/kicker pin. The stop/kicker pin was typically disposed in one of two locations, either on the link between the latch plate and the toggle assembly or fixed to the housing assembly. The stop/kicker pin initially stops the motion of the toggle assembly during closing. That is, the stop/kicker pin, acting in the stop pin capacity, was positioned so that when the closing assembly moved the toggle assembly through the toggle, the stop/kicker pin arrested the motion of the toggle assembly in the second, over-toggle configuration. Typically, without the stop/kicker pin, the toggle assembly would collapse in a reverse direction. When the latch plate was released, the motion of the latch plate would cause the link between the latch plate and the toggle assembly to move toward the toggle assembly or, of the kicker pin was fixed, caused the toggle assembly to move toward the kicker pin. As the stop/kicker pin was contacting the toggle assembly and holding the toggle assembly in the second, over-toggle configuration, the relative motion of the stop/kicker pin toward the toggle assembly caused the toggle assembly to pass back through the in-line position and, once the toggle assembly was through the toggle, the toggle assembly could collapse. That is, the stop/kicker pin caused the toggle assembly to move into the first, collapsed configuration. Typically, there was some delay in the relative motion of the kicker pin and the toggle assembly because the stop/kicker pin was typically spaced from the pivot point of the associated link or the toggle assembly. That is, as the assembly that moved would initially move with a slow angular velocity about a pivot point that is distant from the kicker pin. Thus, the time between a release of the latch plate and the collapse of the toggle assembly was extended. This is a disadvantage as the contacts are not separated until the toggle is substantially collapsed. 
         [0015]    In this configuration, the operating mechanism opening assembly and closing assembly are disposed adjacent to each other. The closeness of the operating mechanism opening assembly and closing assembly can create interference problems that must be addressed. For example, after the closing assembly moves the toggle assembly into the second, over-toggle configuration, the closing assembly closing device, e.g. the cam or ram as set forth above, is still disposed immediately adjacent to the toggle assembly. Under normal operating conditions, the closing assembly closing device is simply reset, thereby moving the closing assembly closing device away from the toggle assembly. If, however, an over-current condition occurs immediately after the closing of the contacts, the closing assembly closing device and the toggle assembly must be separated so that the toggle assembly may collapse. Present configurations of the operating mechanism typically cause the closing assembly closing device to be moved out of the way or allow the toggle assembly links to be separated. Both of these solutions have disadvantages. An assembly structured to move the closing assembly closing device away from the toggle assembly increases charging difficulty. An assembly structured to separate the toggle links, and subsequently recouple the toggle links adds complexity to the opening assembly. 
         [0016]    There is, therefore, a need for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly wherein the kicker pin and the associated pivot point correspond to each other. 
         [0017]    There is a further need for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly wherein the toggle assembly is moved away from the closing assembly closing device rather than having the toggle assembly separate or having the closing assembly closing device move away from the toggle assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    These needs, and others, are met by the present invention which provides for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism opening assembly wherein the toggle assembly stop/kicker pin has been separated into a kicker pin and a stop pin. By separating the functions of the stop/kicker pin into separate pins, the kicker pin may now be located at the pivot point of the associated link. Further, the kicker pin and the stop pin are now disposed upon a cradle as opposed to an elongated link. The cradle has a faster initial rotation than the links of the prior art. The cradle further supports one of the toggle assembly links. Thus, rotation of the cradle causes the toggle assembly to move. The operating mechanism opening assembly is configured so that, when the associated latch assembly latch plate is released, the cradle rotates so that the toggle assembly is moved away from the closing assembly closing device. Thus, as the kicker pin is both the pivot point and the rotation of the cradle is faster, there is a shorter time between the release of the latch plate and the collapse of the toggle assembly. 
         [0019]    Further, with these improvements, there is a further need for a device that positions the cradle with respect to the latch plate and that prevents the cradle from over-rotating relative to the latch plate. That is, a device that limits the motion of the cradle relative to the latch plate so that the motion of the cradle is controlled during opening and closing of the contacts. This need is met by a latch plate link having a rotation stopping assembly. That is, the latch plate assembly includes an over-rotation pin and the latch plate link has a longitudinal extension that is structured to engage the over-rotation pin. Thus, as the cradle moves relative to the latch plate, the latch plate link is also in motion. When the latch plate link longitudinal extension engages the over-rotation pin, the movement of the cradle relative to the latch plate is limited. Thus, the motion of the cradle is controlled during opening and closing of the contacts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an electrical switching apparatus with a front cover removed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the opening assembly with a side plate removed for clarity. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of the opening assembly when the contacts are closed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the opening assembly during opening when the kicker pin initially engages the toggle assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of the opening assembly when the contacts are open, the toggle assembly is in the first, collapsed configuration, and the ram assembly is discharged. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of the opening assembly when the contacts are open, the toggle assembly is in the first, collapsed configuration, and the ram assembly is charged. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of the opening assembly when the contacts are open, the toggle assembly is in the reset configuration, and the ram assembly is charged. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. 
         [0029]    As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other. 
         [0030]    As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components so coupled move as one. 
         [0031]    As used herein, “operatively engage” when used in relation to a component that is directly coupled to a cam means that a force is being applied by that component to the cam sufficient to cause the cam to rotate. 
         [0032]    As used herein, a “pivot point” is a coupling between two or more members that allows the members to pivot relative to each other. A pivot point may be, but is not limited to, an opening on each member and a separate rod, wherein the rod extends through the openings, or, a rod on a first element and an opening on a second element wherein the first element rod extends through the second element opening. 
         [0033]    As used herein, links or members that are “pivotally coupled” to each other are coupled at a “pivot point.” 
         [0034]    As used herein, with reference to the kicker pin acting upon the toggle assembly, and more specifically the kicker pin “causing” the toggle assembly to collapse, the word “cause” is defined broadly to include accelerating a collapse. That is, a toggle assembly, especially a toggle assembly that is held in the in-line configuration, may begin to collapse without contacting a kicker pin. Such a collapse, however, is slow and contact with a kicker pin substantially increases the speed of the collapse. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electrical switching apparatus  10  includes a housing assembly  12  defining an enclosed space  14 . In  FIG. 1 , the front cover of the housing assembly  12  is not shown, but it is well known in the art. The electrical switching apparatus  10  further includes a conductor assembly  20  (shown schematically) having at least one line terminal  22 , at least one line conductor  24 , at least one pair of separable contacts  26 , at least one load conductor  28  and at least one load terminal  30 . The at least one pair of separable contacts  26  include a fixed contact  32  and a movable contact  34 . The movable contact  34  is structured to move between a first, open position, wherein the contacts  32 ,  34  are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein the contacts  32 ,  34  contact each other and are in electrical communication. The electrical switching apparatus  10  further includes a trip device  40  and an operating mechanism  50 . The operating mechanism  50 , which is discussed in more detail below, is generally structured to move the at least one pair of separable contacts  26  between the first, open position and the second, closed position. The trip device  40  is structured to detect an over-current condition and, upon detecting such a condition, to actuate the operating mechanism  50  to open the at least one pair of separable contacts  26 . 
         [0036]    The electrical switching apparatus  10  also includes at least two, and typically a plurality, of side plates  27 . The side plates  27  are disposed within the housing assembly  12  in a generally parallel orientation. The side plates  27  include a plurality of openings  29  to which other components may be attached or through which other components may extend. The openings  29  on two adjacent side plates  27  are typically aligned. While side plates  27  are the preferred embodiment, it is understood that the housing assembly  12  may also be adapted to include the required openings and/or attachment points thereby, effectively, incorporating the side plates  27  into the housing assembly  12  (not shown). 
         [0037]    An electrical switching apparatus  10  may have one or more poles, that is, one or more pairs of separable contacts  26  each having associated conductors and terminals. As shown in the figures, the housing assembly  12  includes three chambers  13 A,  13 B,  13 C each enclosing a pair of separable contacts  26  with each being a pole for the electrical switching apparatus  10 . A three-pole configuration, or a four-pole configuration having a neutral pole, is well known in the art. The operating mechanism  50  is structured to control all the pairs of separable contacts  26  within the electrical switching apparatus  10 . Thus, it is understood selected elements of the operating mechanism  50 , such as, but not limited to, the pole shaft  70  (discussed below) span all three chambers  13 A,  13 B,  13 C and engage each pair of separable contacts  26 . The following discussion, however, shall not specifically address each specific pair of separable contacts  26 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the operating mechanism  50  includes an opening assembly  52 , structured to move the at least one pair of separable contacts  26  from the second, closed position to the first, open position, and a closing assembly  54 , structured to move the at least one pair of separable contacts  26  from the first, open position to the second closed position. The opening assembly  52  and the closing assembly  54  both utilize common components of the operating mechanism  50 . The operation of the closing assembly  54  is set forth in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/693,198, which has been incorporated by reference. It is noted that the closing assembly  54  includes a ram  60  structured to engage the toggle joint  94 , discussed below, and move the toggle assembly  80  from a reset position to the closed position. Thus, in this embodiment the ram  60  is a link driving device  61 . It is further noted that the ram  60  when it is in the discharged position is disposed adjacent to the toggle assembly  80  and acts as an obstacle to collapse  62  for the toggle assembly  80 . 
         [0039]    The opening assembly  52  includes a pole shaft  70 , a toggle assembly  80 , a cradle assembly  120 , and may contain latching assembly  140  having a latch plate assembly  150  and a latch plate link  170 . It is noted that the latching assembly  140  may also be considered to be part of the trip device  40 . The pole shaft  70  is an elongated shaft body  72  rotatably coupled to the housing assembly  12  and/or side plates  27 . The pole shaft  70  includes a plurality of mounting points  74  disposed on mounting blocks  76  extending from the pole shaft body  72 . As shown schematically in  FIG. 1 , the pole shaft  70  is coupled to the movable contact  34 . The pole shaft  70  is structured to move between a first position, wherein the movable contact  34  is in its first, open position, and a second position, wherein the movable contact  34  is in its second, closed position. As set forth in concurrently filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS, AND YOKE ASSEMBLY AND SPRING ASSEMBLY THEREFOR” (Attorney Docket No. 07-EDP-132), one or more closing springs bias the pole shaft  70  to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow on  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    It is noted that, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a single component, e.g. a first link  82  in the toggle assembly  80  may include two, or more, members  82 A,  82 B with similar shapes which are held in a spaced relationship and which move in concert. The use of multiple, separate members  82 A,  82 B may be used, for example, to provide added strength to the link  82  or where space considerations do not allow for a single thick member  82 A,  82 B. Because these link members  82 A,  82 B perform the same function, have a similar shape, and move in concert, the following discussion will simply identify the link  82  by a single reference number as is shown in the side views of  FIGS. 4-7 . It is understood that the description of such a component applies to each member  82 A,  82 B of that component. It is further noted that such components typically rotate within a single plane. Thus, it is understood that where components are shown to overlap in  FIGS. 4-7 , those components are in different planes. It is further understood that components that extend perpendicular to the planes of the various components may contact more than one component. As used herein with reference to the opening assembly  52 , the word “lateral” preceding an element indicates that such an element extends across the planes of two or more other elements. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-7 , the toggle assembly  80  includes a first link  82  and a second link  84  which are each generally flat, elongated bodies. The second link  84  body is also curved as set forth below. The first and second links  82 ,  84  each have a first, outer end  86 ,  88  (respectively) and a second, inner end  90 ,  92  (respectively). A pivot point is disposed at each of the first and second links first, outer ends  86 ,  88  and second, inner ends  90 ,  92 . The first link  82  and the second link  84  are pivotally coupled together at the first link second, inner end  90  and the second link second, inner end  92  by a toggle joint  94 . In this configuration, the first and second links  82 ,  84  form a toggle joint  94 . The toggle joint  94  may include a toggle roller  98 . That is, the toggle joint  94  may include a pin  100  extending generally perpendicular to the plane of each link  82 ,  84 . The pin  100  may also define an axle for the toggle roller  98  which is, essentially, a wheel. The toggle roller  98  has a diameter of sufficient size to extend past the edges of the first and second links  82 ,  84 . 
         [0042]    The cradle assembly  120  includes an elongated body  122 , a lateral pivot shaft  124 , and a lateral stop pin  126 . The cradle assembly body  122  has a first link pivot point  128 . The cradle assembly body  122  is coupled to the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 . The cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  is disposed between, and rotatably coupled to the hosing assembly side plates  27 . Thus, the cradle assembly body  122  may pivot about a fixed axis which is the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 . The lateral stop pin  126  is disposed generally between the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  and the first link pivot point  128 . The cradle assembly body  122  preferably includes an offset portion  130  having a latch plate link pivot point  132 . 
         [0043]    The latch plate assembly  150  includes a body  152  and a lateral pivot shaft  154 . The latch plate assembly body  152  has a latch edge  153 , a latch plate link pivot point  156 , and a lateral over rotation pin  158 . The latch plate assembly body  152  is coupled to the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154 . The latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154  is disposed between, and rotatably coupled to the hosing assembly side plates  27 . Thus, the latch plate assembly body  152  may pivot about a fixed axis which is the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154 . The lateral over rotation pin  158  is disposed, generally, between the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154  and the latch plate assembly body latch plate link pivot point  156 . The latch plate assembly body latch edge  153  is structured to engage a D-shaft  160  or similar device that is part of the operating mechanism  50 . Details of the D-shaft  160  and its operation are set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/737,219 which is incorporated herein by reference. For the purpose of this application it is noted that the D-shaft  160  is structured to selectively rotate between a first position and a second position. 
         [0044]    The latch plate link  170  has an elongated body  172  with a first pivot point  174 , a second pivot point  176  and a longitudinal extension  178 . The longitudinal extension  178  extends generally longitudinally outwardly beyond the latch plate link body first pivot point  174 . The longitudinal extension  178  is structured to engage the latch plate assembly over rotation pin  158 . 
         [0045]    The opening assembly  52  is assembled as follows. It is noted that the pole shaft  70 , the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  and the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154  are the three components that are rotatably coupled to the housing assembly side plates  27  and, as such, these three shafts  70 ,  124 ,  154  are the pivot points that do not move relative to the housing assembly  12 . The pole shaft  70 , as noted above, is rotatably coupled to the housing assembly side plates  27 . The second link  84  is coupled to the pole shaft  70  and, more specifically, the second link first, outer end  88  is pivotally coupled to a pole shaft mounting points  74 . As the pole shaft mounting points  74  are offset from the pole shaft  70  axis, rotation of the pole shaft  70  causes the second link first, outer end  88  to move through an arc. As noted above, the first link  82  and the second link  84  are pivotally coupled to each other at the toggle joint  94 . The first link  82  is coupled to the cradle assembly body  122 . That is, the first link, first outer end  86  is pivotally coupled to the cradle assembly body first link pivot point  128 . As the cradle assembly body first link pivot point  128  is spaced from the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 , as the cradle assembly body  122  pivots, the cradle assembly body first link pivot point  128  also moves through an arc. It is noted that, as shown on  FIG. 2 , a pin  1  may extend through multiple members  82 A,  82 B and extend to the side plate  27 . As this pin  1  must move through an arc, the side plate opening  29  associated therewith is an arcuate opening. 
         [0046]    The latch plate link second pivot point  176  is pivotally coupled to the cradle assembly body latch plate link pivot point  132 . The latch plate link first pivot point  174  is pivotally coupled to the latch plate assembly body latch plate link pivot point  156 . The latch plate link longitudinal extension  178  extends adjacent to, and is structured to engage, the lateral over rotation pin  158 . 
         [0047]    The toggle assembly  80  is structured to move between a first, collapsed configuration ( FIG. 5 ), a reset configuration ( FIG. 7 ), and a second, slightly over-toggle configuration ( FIG. 3 ). In the over-toggle configuration, the toggle assembly  80  is typically between about 5 degrees and 15 degrees past toggle and, preferably about 10 degrees past toggle. In the first, collapsed configuration, the first and second link outer ends  86 ,  88  are generally closer together than when the toggle assembly  80  is in the second, over-toggle configuration. In the reset configuration, the first and second link outer ends  86 ,  88  are much closer together causing the toggle joint  94  to be offset toward the ram  60  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The cradle assembly body  122  and the latch plate assembly body  152  are each structured to move between a first position and a second position as set forth below. 
         [0048]    The opening assembly  52  operates as follows. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the opening assembly  52  and the ram  60  are in their respective positions that immediately follow a discharge of the closing assembly  54  as set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/693,198. That is, the pole shaft  70  is in the second position, meaning that the contacts  26  are closed, and the toggle assembly  80  is in the second, over-toggle configuration. The cradle assembly body  122  is also in a second position wherein the lateral stop pin  126  is contacting the toggle assembly first link  82  adjacent to the toggle joint  94 . The lateral stop pin  126  is the object that prevents the toggle assembly  80  from moving too far over-toggle. It is further noted that the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  is adjacent to, but not contacting the second link  84 . The latch plate assembly body  152  is also in its second position wherein the latch plate assembly body latch edge  153  engages the D-shaft  160 . D-shaft  160  is in its second position wherein the D-shaft  160  extends into the path of travel of the latch plate assembly body  152 . When the latch plate assembly body  152  contacts the D-shaft  160 , the latch plate assembly body  152  cannot move into the first position. The bias of the closing springs on the pole shaft  70  further biases, via the various linkages disclosed herein, the latch plate assembly body  152  to the first position. Thus, it is the latch plate assembly body  152  contact with the D-shaft  160  that prevents the opening assembly  52  from moving and allowing the contacts  26  to open. 
         [0049]    The latch plate link  170  extends between the latch plate assembly body  152  and the cradle assembly body  122 . It is noted that the latch plate link longitudinal extension  178  engages the latch plate assembly over rotation pin  158  in the reset position, described below. Further, the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154 , the latch plate link first pivot point  174 , and the latch plate link second pivot point  176  are disposed generally along a line. This is desirable as the contact load is minimized. The “contact load” is the force applied by the latch plate assembly body  152  on the D-shaft  160 . A minimal load is desirable as the actual contact area between the latch plate assembly body  152  and the D-shaft  160  is small. Further a minimal load reduces the force required to release the D-shaft  160 . It is further noted that, as shown, the ram  60  is in a forward, discharged position. 
         [0050]    When an opening of the contacts  26  is initiated, for example, but not limited to, following an over-current condition trip or a manual opening, the D-shaft  160  rotates to a second position wherein the D-shaft  160  does not extend into the path of travel of the latch plate assembly body  152 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the latch plate assembly body latch edge  153  has moved past the D-shaft  160  and the latch plate assembly body  152  is pivoting clockwise as shown in the figures. As the latch plate assembly body  152  pivots, the latch plate link first pivot point  174  is moved clockwise as well. This motion is transferred via the latch plate link  170  to the cradle assembly body  122  causing the cradle assembly body  122  to move counter-clockwise about the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 . At this point in time, the pole shaft  70  is not rotating, or rotating minimally, as the toggle assembly  80  is still in the over-toggle configuration. Thus, as the cradle assembly body  122  moves counter-clockwise about the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 , the toggle assembly  80 , and more specifically the toggle assembly first link  82  which is coupled to the cradle assembly body first link pivot point  128 , also moves counter-clockwise. 
         [0051]    The counter-clockwise motion of the toggle assembly  80  has two specific results. First, as the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  does not change position, the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  being the axis of rotation for the cradle assembly body  122 , the toggle assembly  80  is moved toward the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  contacts the toggle assembly second link  84  adjacent to the toggle joint  94 . As the toggle assembly  80  continues to move toward the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 , the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  causes the toggle assembly  80  to move back through the in-line position from the over-toggle configuration. Thus, the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124  acts as a kicker pin  200 . 
         [0052]    Further, as the toggle assembly first link  82  continues to move counter-clockwise with the cradle assembly body first link pivot point  128 , the toggle assembly  80  and the toggle joint  94  are being pulled away from the ram  60 . Thus, when the toggle assembly  80  passes through the toggle point and the toggle assembly  80  collapses into the first, collapsed configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the toggle assembly  80  and the toggle joint  94  are moved away from the ram  60  which is an obstacle to collapse  62  for the toggle assembly  80 . Further, the second link  84  is a curved body  85  structured to curve around the obstacle to collapse  62  when the toggle assembly  80  is in the first configuration. In this manner, the toggle assembly  80  may be collapsed without having to move the obstacle to collapse  62  which, as noted above, is typically the closing assembly  54  closing device. 
         [0053]    Once the toggle assembly  80  passes through the toggle point and the toggle assembly  80  is collapsing into the first, collapsed configuration, the bias of the closing springs on the pole shaft  70  cause the pole shaft  70  to move into its first position wherein the contacts  26  are open. Further, in this configuration the cradle assembly body  122  and the latch plate assembly body  152  are each in their respective first positions. 
         [0054]    Prior to closing the contacts  26  using the closing assembly  54 , the opening assembly  52  must be reset. Initially, the closing assembly  54  closing device, which as shown is the ram  60 , must be moved. Typically, this is accomplished by charging the closing assembly  54  and is shown in  FIG. 6 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the latch plate assembly body  152  is returned to its second position by rotating counter-clockwise about the latch plate assembly lateral pivot shaft  154 . As before, the motion of the latch plate assembly body  152  is transferred via the latch plate link  170  to the cradle assembly body  122  causing the cradle assembly body  122  to move clockwise about the cradle assembly lateral pivot shaft  124 . As the pole shaft  70  is maintained in its position by the bias of the opening springs, the motion of the cradle assembly body  122  causes the toggle assembly  80  to move into the reset configuration. As noted above, when the toggle assembly  80  is in the reset configuration, the toggle joint  94  is offset toward the ram  60 . Further, as part of the reset operation, the D-shaft  160  is returned to its second position wherein the D-shaft  160  extends into the path of travel of the latch plate assembly body  152 . It is also noted that, in this configuration, the latch plate link longitudinal extension  178  is structured to engage the latch plate assembly body over rotation pin  158  and prevent over-rotation of the cradle assembly body  122  relative to the latch plate assembly body  152  and stops the motion of the latch plate assembly body  152  relative to the cradle assembly body  122 . Finally, from this configuration, the contacts  26  are closed, and the opening assembly  52  is returned to the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , by actuating the closing assembly  54  as detailed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/693,198. 
         [0055]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.