Patent ID: 7449652

Claim:
A catchment mechanism for an operating mechanism closing assembly in an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus having a housing assembly, an operating mechanism, and at least one pair of separable contacts structured to move between a first, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein said contacts contact each other and are in electrical communication, said operating mechanism having a closing assembly structured to move said separable contacts from said first, open position to said second, closed position, said closing assembly having a cam fixed to a rotatable cam shaft, said cam shaft being rotatably coupled to said housing assembly and at least one spring, said cam structured to rotate in a charging direction whereby said at least one spring is charged, wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said cam shaft is free to rotate, said catchment mechanism comprising: a catchment wheel having a radially extending surface, said catchment wheel being fixed to said cam shaft; a catchment prop having a body with a stop edge and a pivot point, said catchment prop being pivotally coupled to said housing assembly at said catchment prop pivot point, said catchment prop structured to move between a stop position, wherein said stop edge is positioned to engage said catchment wheel radially extending surface, and a reset position, wherein said stop edge is spaced from said catchment wheel outer surface; and wherein, after the release of the charged at least one spring, said cam shaft rotates until said catchment prop stop edge engages said catchment wheel radially extending surface.