Patent ID: 8729985

Claim:
Electrical switchgear comprising: a circuit breaker module including circuit breaker contacts which are opened and closed by an electrically-activated magnetic actuator, said magnetic actuator being stable in either a breaker-closed state or a breaker-open state without requiring electrical current flow through said magnetic actuator, and an externally-connectable mechanical drive linked to said magnetic actuator in a manner such that movement of said externally-connectable mechanical drive can destabilize the breaker-closed state to open said circuit breaker contacts; a visible disconnect switch connected electrically in series with said circuit breaker contacts; a main switch actuator linked so as to open and close said visible disconnect switch when moved in one direction or another between a switch-open position and a switch-closed position; and a mechanical interlock mechanism driven by said main switch actuator and connected so as to force movement of said externally-connectable mechanical drive so as to cause said circuit breaker contacts to open as said main switch actuator begins to move from its switch-closed position to its switch-open position; said externally-connectable mechanical drive being linked to said magnetic actuator in a manner such that said externally-connectable mechanical drive is driven to move in one direction or another between a breaker-closed and a breaker-open position as said magnetic actuator closes and opens said circuit breaker contacts; and said mechanical interlock mechanism including a stop mechanically connected to said main switch actuator so as to be moved to a position which prevents movement of said externally-connectable mechanical drive from its breaker-open position and thus preventing closing of said circuit breaker contacts when said main switch actuator is in its switch-open position.