Patent ID: 8058580

Claim:
A linking assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, a D-shaft pivotally coupled to the housing, and an operating mechanism, said operating mechanism including a pivotal poleshaft structured to move said separable contacts between an open position corresponding to said separable contacts being separated, and a close position corresponding to said separable contacts being electrically connected, said D-shaft being pivotable between a first position and a second position, said linking assembly comprising: a hatchet comprising a first edge, a second edge, and an arcuate portion extending between the first edge and the second edge, said hatchet being structured to move between a latched position corresponding to said D-shaft being disposed in said first position and the first edge of said hatchet engaging said D-shaft, and an unlatched position corresponding to said D-shaft being disposed in said second position and said hatchet pivoting with respect to said D-shaft to unlatch said linking assembly; a cradle including a first end, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the second end; a latch plate structured to be pivotally coupled to the housing, said latch plate comprising a protrusion structured to cooperate with said hatchet; a latch link disposed between and pivotally coupled to said cradle and said latch plate; and a toggle assembly comprising a first linking element and a second linking element, said first linking element and said second linking element each including a first end and a second end, the first end of said first linking element being structured to be pivotally coupled to said poleshaft, the second end of said first linking element being pivotally coupled to the first end of said second linking element, the second end of said second linking element being pivotally coupled to said cradle.