Patent ID: 8389884

Claim:
A control mechanism for an electrical switch apparatus having two interrupters, each of which comprises a pair of contacts that consists of a stationary switch contact and a movable switch contact that is movable in straight line movement whereby the switch contacts separate from each other during a switching operation, wherein the control mechanism includes a common actuator means for actuating the movable contacts so as to permit one of the interrupters to open while keeping the other interrupter closed and vice versa, and wherein the geometry, dimensions and arrangement of the movable contacts and their actuator means are such as to permit crossing of the straight line strokes of the movable contacts, and wherein: the common actuator means comprises: a rotatable shaft; and a member fastened to the rotatable shaft and consisting of two distinct levers, one of which is U-shaped; said mechanism includes two pairs of levers that are articulated together, one of the levers in each pair being one of said distinct levers of said member fastened to the rotatable shaft, and the other one of the levers of each pair being articulated to one of the movable contacts; the dimensions of the levers and their arrangement, and the arrangement of the rotatable shaft, being such that the U-shaped lever surrounds the movable contact, to which it is coupled over at least part of its straight line stroke.