An auxiliary switch actuator for a circuit breaker, comprising: a crank arm of an auxiliary rotary switch in a circuit breaker, configured to change electrical connections of contacts in the auxiliary rotary switch when the crank arm is rotated about its axis, the rotation of the crank arm about its axis in a first rotary direction being limited to a rotation limit by a limit stop; a crank spring connected to the crank arm at an end opposite to the axis of the crank arm, the crank spring having a spring bias configured to apply a force to the crank arm to impart a rotary motion to the crank arm about the axis in the first rotary direction to rotate the auxiliary rotary switch; characterized by a connection-state link in the circuit breaker, having an aperture in the connection-state link with an edge configured to contact a crank pin mounted on the crank arm at the end opposite to the axis of the crank arm, the crank pin configured to apply the force to the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link in response to the spring bias of the crank spring; wherein the connection-state link contacts or is contacted by a drive link coupled to main contacts (108, 110) of the circuit breaker, the drive link configured to move the connection-state link in response to closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110), to thereby reduce the force applied by the crank pin to the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link and enable the crank arm to impart the rotary motion to the crank arm about the axis in the first rotary direction to rotate the auxiliary rotary switch corresponding to the closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110); and wherein the limit stop is configured to limit the rotation of the crank arm in the first rotary direction to the rotation limit while the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link continues to move and to cause the edge of the aperture in the connection-state link to cease contact with the crank pin mounted on the crank arm, to thereby decouple the connection-state link from the crank arm, to relieve the crank arm of forces from the drive link resulting from the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110) closing; and a return spring in the circuit breaker connected to the connection-state link, the return spring having a spring bias configured to apply a second force to the connection-state link; wherein, when the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link is in contact with the crank pin mounted on the crank arm, the edge is configured to apply the second force to the crank pin to maintain the connection-state link in contact with the drive link in response to closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110). a crank arm of an auxiliary rotary switch in a circuit breaker, configured to change electrical connections of contacts in the auxiliary rotary switch when the crank arm is rotated about its axis, the rotation of the crank arm about its axis in a first rotary direction being limited to a rotation limit by a limit stop; a crank spring connected to the crank arm at an end opposite to the axis of the crank arm, the crank spring having a spring bias configured to apply a force to the crank arm to impart a rotary motion to the crank arm about the axis in the first rotary direction to rotate the auxiliary rotary switch; characterized by a connection-state link in the circuit breaker, having an aperture in the connection-state link with an edge configured to contact a crank pin mounted on the crank arm at the end opposite to the axis of the crank arm, the crank pin configured to apply the force to the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link in response to the spring bias of the crank spring; wherein the connection-state link contacts or is contacted by a drive link coupled to main contacts (108, 110) of the circuit breaker, the drive link configured to move the connection-state link in response to closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110), to thereby reduce the force applied by the crank pin to the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link and enable the crank arm to impart the rotary motion to the crank arm about the axis in the first rotary direction to rotate the auxiliary rotary switch corresponding to the closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110); and wherein the limit stop is configured to limit the rotation of the crank arm in the first rotary direction to the rotation limit while the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link continues to move and to cause the edge of the aperture in the connection-state link to cease contact with the crank pin mounted on the crank arm, to thereby decouple the connection-state link from the crank arm, to relieve the crank arm of forces from the drive link resulting from the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110) closing; and a return spring in the circuit breaker connected to the connection-state link, the return spring having a spring bias configured to apply a second force to the connection-state link; wherein, when the edge of the aperture of the connection-state link is in contact with the crank pin mounted on the crank arm, the edge is configured to apply the second force to the crank pin to maintain the connection-state link in contact with the drive link in response to closure of the main circuit breaker contacts (108, 110).