Patent ID: 7462791

Claim:
A switching arrangement, comprising: a first pair of switches, each of which includes a switch member movable between a connected position and a disconnected position, wherein a first switch member of the first pair of switches is movable between the connected position and the disconnected position to make or break a neutral connection; a second pair of switches, each of which includes a switch member movable between a connected position and a disconnected position, wherein the switch members of the first pair of switches are spaced from the switch members of the second pair of switches and wherein a second switch member of the second pair of switches is movable between the connected position and the disconnected position to make or break a neutral connection; and an actuator arrangement interposed between the switch members of the first and second pairs of switches, wherein the actuator arrangement includes sequential actuating structure that is configured and arranged to act on the switch members to provide staggered movement of the switch members of one of the pair of switch members to and from the connected and disconnected positions when the switch members of the other of the pair of switch members are moved between the connected and disconnected positions, wherein the staggered movement includes movement of the first switch member to the connected position to make a first neutral connection before the switch member of the other of the first pair of switches is moved to the connected position, and movement of the second switch member to the connected position to make a second neutral connection before the switch member of the other of the second pair of switches is moved to the connected position.