Patent ID: 7687733

Claim:
An interlock assembly for an electrical switching apparatus stored energy mechanism, said electrical switching apparatus having a housing assembly and an operating mechanism disposed therein, said operating mechanism having a latch D-shaft, said latch D-shaft structured to rotate between a first latched position and a second released position wherein said latch D-shaft defines a pivot point, said latch D-shaft having a radially offset pivot coupling, said interlock assembly comprising: a latch D-shaft link assembly having an elongated body with a first end and a second end, said latch D-shaft link assembly body first end having a pivot coupling; said latch D-shaft link assembly pivot coupling coupled to said latch D-shaft pivot coupling thereby creating a latch D-shaft link pivot point; an on-command paddle assembly having an elongated body with a first end and a second end, said on-command paddle assembly body first end having a pivot coupling, said on-command paddle assembly body second end defining a pocket, said on-command paddle assembly body pivot coupling being coupled to said housing assembly, whereby said on-command paddle assembly body rotates between a first, deactivated position and a second, activated position; an on-command paddle actuator coupled to said on-command paddle and structured to move said on-command paddle assembly between said first, deactivated position and said second, activated position; wherein said latch D-shaft link assembly body second end is removably disposed in said pocket; wherein, as said on-command paddle assembly body rotates between a first, deactivated position and a second, activated position, said pocket operatively engages said latch D-shaft link assembly body second end and causes said latch D-shaft link to move generally longitudinally; and wherein, as said on-command paddle assembly body rotates between said first, deactivated position and a second, activated position, said latch D-shaft link moves said D-shaft between said first latched position and said second released position.