US3073929A

US3073929A - Circuit breaker with spring closing mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3073929A
Application number: US845360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hauser Richard
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority date: 1959-06-25
Filing date: 1959-10-09
Publication date: 1963-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-15

Description

3,073,929 CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SPRING CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 9, 1959 R. HAUSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, 1963 Jan. 15, 1963 R. HAUSER 3,073,929

CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SPRING CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 3,073,929 CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SPRING CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 9, 1959 R. HAUSER Jan. 15, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 15, 1963 R. HAUSER 3, 3, 9

CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SPRING CLOSING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to a spring closing mechanism for circuit breakers.

This invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in the patent application of Gayne D. Gamel et al., Serial No. 822,900, filed June 25, 1959, and assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

It is an object of this invention to provide a circuit breaker embodying a closing spring that can be latched in a compressed condition and later released to close the circuit breaker contacts.

Another object is to provide a circuit breaker embodying a closing spring that can be compressed by operation of a handle, latched, and later released by operation of the handle to close the circuit breaker contacts.

Another object is to provide locking means to prevent closing of the circuit breaker by operation of the handle.

A further object is to provide a circuit breaker embodying a closing spring that can be latched in a compressed condition and released from a remote position to close the circuit breaker contacts.

A still further object is to provide a circuit breaker having a latchable spring closing mechanism and a tripfree operating mechanism wherein the weight of the spring closing mechanism assists in resetting the tripfree operating mechanism during an opening operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a selflatching energy storing mechanism for closing a circuit breaker that may be released either by means of the same handle which is utilized to energize the mechanism or by means of a remotely controlled device.

Other objects of the invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a circuit breaker is provided with a trip-free operating linkage in thrust transmitting position to move the movable contact structure. A closing spring is provided which, when released after being compressed, transmits its expanding force to the operating linkage in order to rapidly and forcefully close the circuit breaker contacts. The closing spring can be latched in a compressed condition, and later released in either one of two ways. The spring can be released by applying a pushing force to the operating handle, or by operation of an electromagnet from a remote position. The weight of the closing spring also assists in resetting the trip-free operating linkage into a thrust transmitting position during an opening operation of the circuit breaker.

For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a circuit breaker, in a closed position, embodying the principle features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the operating and spring closing mechanisms when the circuit breaker is in the open circuit position, and showin the closing spring in a compressed and latched condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the atent contact in the closed position.

3,073,929 Patented Jan. 15, 1963 2 spring closing mechanism when the closing spring is in a compressed and latched condition;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 2, but showing the spring closing mechanism in a released, open circuit position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the operating handle; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along lines VII-VII of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the circuit breaker is of the multipole type, each pole unit including a separable contact structure, indicated generally at 11, and an overcurrent trip device indicated generally at 13. Since the poles are similar, only the center pole of the circuit breaker is shown and described. The contact structure and the trip device for each pole are mounted on separate insulating bases 15 which are rigidly secured to a metal panel 17. The bases 15 of the several pole units are secured to the panel 17 by means of screws 19.

The contact structure 11 comprises stationary main contacts 23, a stationary intermediate contact 24 and a stationary arcing contact 25, all supported on the inner end of a terminal conductor 27 which extends through suitable clearance openings in the base 15 and panel 17. Cooperating with the stationary main, intermediate and arcing

contacts

23, 24 and 25, respectively, are movable main contacts 29, a movable intermediate contact 30 and a movable arcing contact 31. The stationary main contacts 23 are pivotally supported and are biased into engagement with the movable main contacts in the closed position of the breaker. The stationary arcing contact is mounted for limited movement in a well known manner and is biased into engagement with the moving arcing The movable main contacts 29, the movable intermediate contact 30 and the movable arcing contact 31 are supported on a movable switch member 35 pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 37 on a bracket 39. The bracket 39 is secured by means of two screws 41, only one being shown in FIG. 1, to the inner end of a lower terminal member 43. Spring-biased contact members 45 provide a wiping contact with the movable switch member 35 adjacent the pivoted end thereof. A spring 47 which is compressed between a spring seat 49 on the base 15 and the movable switch member 35 biases the latter in opening direction.

The movable contact structure is normally maintained in the closed position by an operating mechanism, indicated generally at 61 (FIG. 1), mounted in a U-shaped frame comprising spaced side members 65 and connecting cross members 67, and is supported on a platform 69, which forms a cross member of a main bracket comprising a pair of spaced side members 71 (only one of which is shown) joined at their outer ends by the platform 69. The platform extends across the width of the breaker and the side members 71 are rigidlysecured to the panel 17 on the outsides of the two outer pole units.

The operating mechanism includes an operating lever 73 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 75 supported in the side members 65 of the frame. The lever '73 comprises a pair of spaced members joined by a cross member 77 and between them support a rod 79 which extends across all of the poles of the breaker. The rod '79 is operatively connected to the movable switch member 35 by means of an insulating connecting member 81 and pivot pin 82 in the switch member. There is a connecting member 81 for each pole of the breaker connecting the rod 79 to the moving contact structure for each pole unit so that upon operation of the rod 79, the movable contact structures for all three poles move in unison.

An operating linkage comprising

toggle links

83, 85 and 87 is provided to hold the lever 73 and consequently the movable contacts in the closed position and to operate the movable contacts to open and closed positions. Each of these links has two identical legs integral with a cross portion. The toggle link 83 is pivotally connected to the lever 73 by a pivot pin 89 and the toggle link 85 is connected by a knee pivot pin 91 to the toggle link 83 and by a knee pivot pin 93 to the toggle link 87. The toggle link 87 is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot 97 in the frame members 65.

The

linkage

83, 85, 87 comprises two toggles one of which 83, 85 functions as a tripping toggle and the other 85, 87 as a closing toggle. The tripping toggle is normally slightly underset above a line drawn through the

pivot pins

89, 93 and the

closing toggle

85, 87 is normally slightly underset below a line drawn through the

pivots

91, 97.

The

tripping toggle

83, 85 is normally biased in a direction to cause its collapse by the springs 47 which bias the moving contact structure for the several poles of the breaker in opening direction and bias the connecting memhers 81 toward the left. The

tripping toggle

83, 85 is normally prevented from collapsing by means of a main latch member 99 pivoted on a pin 100 and connected by a link 1111 to the knee pin 91 of the tripping toggle, the link 101 being connected to the latch member 99 by a pivot pin 103.

The main latch 99 is held in latching position by an intermediate latch lever 105 pivoted on a pin 197 supported in the frame members 65. The latch lever 105 carries a latch roller 111 which normally engages the main latch 99 to releasably hold the latter in holding position. The latch lever 105 at its lower end carries a latch portion 113 which normally engages a latch roller 115 on a latch member 117 pivoted on a pin 119 in the frame members '65. The latch lever 105 and the member 117 are biased,

.by spring means (not shown), to their latching positions. Rigidly mounted on the right hand end of the channelshaped member 117 is a trip bar 123 which extends across all of the poles of the breaker and has secured thereto an insulating bracket 125 for each pole of the breaker. Each of the brackets 125 has a headed screw 127 adjustably mounted therein for cooperating with the trip device 13 for the corresponding pole unit.

As long as the main latch 99 is held in latching position by the latching mechanism just described, the

tripping toggle

83, 85 will, through the link 101, be held in the position shown in which the breaker contacts are held in the closed position. The

closing toggle

85, 87 is normally prevented from collapsing by a shouldered support member 131 pivoted on the pin 107 and biased by a spring 133 into supporting engagement with the knee pin 93 of the closing toggle.

Referring to FIG. 1, the circuit breaker is in the closed and latched position with the support member 131 supporting the

closing toggle

85, 87 in its extended thrust transmitting position. The circuit breaker is automatically tripped open by operation of a tripping electromagnet indicated generally at 13. The tripping electromagnet 13 may be of any suitable type, and it is arranged to trip the breaker after a time delay and also instantaneously inresponse to overload currents of predetermined values.

Upon the occurrence of an overload current, the tripping electromagnet produces an upward thrust of a rod 135 which strikes the screw 127 of the latch member 117; This moves the member 117 counterclockwise disengaging the latch roller 115 from the latch portion 113 of the latch lever 195. The latching engagement of the main latch 99 with the latch roller 111 is of the slip-off type, and as soon as the latch lever 105 is released, it is moved 7 to unlatching positions by. the upward force applied to member 131 against the bias of the spring 133 to a nonsupporting position, thereby freeing the closing toggle 85, 8'7. The closing toggle thereupon collapses downwardly under the weight of the

toggle linkages

83, and 85, 37, and the weight of a spring closing mechanism (to'be described later), and during its collapse resets and relatches the tripping

toggle

83, 85.

The

linkages

83, 85 and 85, 37 are trip free. During an opening operation, the contacts cannot be closed until after the closing toggle collapses resetting the linkages into a thrust transmitting position for a closing operation.

The opening operation, as described, was initiated by energization of the tripping electromagnet 13 rotating the latch member 117 counterclockwise. The opening operation can also be initiated manually by a trip lever (not shown) that also rotates the latch member 117.

A spring closing mechanism, indicated generally at 137, is provided for manual closing of the circuit breaker.

The spring closing mechanism 137 is partially enclosed within a U-shaped housing 139 which is welded or otherwise attached 'to the underside of the platform 69. This housing has two vertically

elongated openings

141 and 143 on each side which receive

cross bolts

145 and 147 that move vertically in these openings. The cross bolt 145 extends through openings in the legs of a U-shaped top spring support 149 (FIG. 5) which spring support is enclosed within the housing 139. The cross bolt 147 extends through openings in the legs of a U-shaped bottom spring support 151 which is also enclosed within the housing 139. The

cross bolts

145 and 147 prevent horizontal rotational movement of the top and bottom spring supports. A closing compression spring 153 is disposed between the top and the bottom spring supports 1 19 and 151. Two guide bolts 155 and 163 (FIG. 5) extend through openings in the bottom and top spring supports. They serve to keep the spring 153 in place; to prevent vertical wobbling movement of the bottom and the top spring supports; and to preset the amount of vertical rectilinear movement of the spring supports.

The guide bolt 155 is connected to the bottom spring support 151 by

nuts

157 and 159 which are fastened to the guide bolt on each side of the bottom spring support. A stop nut 161 is fastened to the guide bolt 155 on the upper side of the top spring support 149. The guide bolt 163 is connected to the top spring support 149 by

nuts

165 and 167 which are fastened to the guide bolt on each side of the top spring support. A stop nut 169 is fastened tothe guide bolt 163 on the lower side of the bottom spring support 151. The guide bolt 155 moves vertically with the bottom spring support, and the guide bolt 163 moves vertically with the top spring support.

. A toggle link 171 is pivotally connected to the vertically movable cross bolt 145 and a toggle link 173 is connected to across bolt 175 which is rotatably supported in openings in the sides of the U-sha'ped housing 139. The toggle link 173 is also pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically movable thrust rod 177 by a pivot pin 179. The thrust rod '177 has an opening 92 in its upper end for receiving the pivot pin 93. As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and for a reason which will be described later, the thrust rod opening 92 is slightly larger than is necessary to allow passage of the pivot pin 93. The toggle links 171 and 173 are pivotally connected by a pivot pin 181. As shown in FIG. 5, the toggle links 171 and 173 are each formed with two legs and a connecting portion. A connecting portion 172, of the link 173 acts as a stop, engaging the thrust rod-177 to limit counterclockwise rotation (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the link 173.

A lift link 183 is provided for lifting the bottom spring support 151. The lift link 1% is a fiat member that passes through an opening (not shown) in the top spring support 149, and has anangle shaped lower portion with a fiat leg 18 iprojeoting through an opening (not shown) in the bottom spring support 151. The cross bolt 14'] passes through an opening in the projecting flat leg 154 of lift link 183. Upward movement of the lift link 1833, therefore, lifts the bottom spring support 151.

Referring to FIG. 6, a handle 185, having a horizontal tubular portion 186, is provided for operating the spring closing mechanism. The handle is removably mounted on an operating shaft 187 by a latch 189 mounted on a pivot pin 1% which is mounted at opposite ends in the handle horizontal tube 186. The latch 189 is biased to latching position by a spring 191. The handle has an opening for receiving a spring 193 and the outer end of the operating shaft 187. The spring 193 is a conical nesting type spring. There are two slots 195 (FIG. 1) in the handle horizontal tube 186 for receiving the ends of a pin 197 which extends through the operating shaft 187. These slots are positioned to engage the pin 197 when the handle 185 is moved to a two oclock position and pressed in against the bias of the spring 193, so that clockwise rotation of the handle 185 will cause clockwise rotation of the operating shaft 187. I

The operating shaft 187 is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 199 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which is attached to the inside base of the housing 65 by a bracket 2131. A plate 283 is secured to the inner end of the operating shaft 187. The plate 2113 is pivotally connected to the upper end of the lift link 183 by a pivot pin 285 (FIGS. 3 and 5).

Referring to FIG. 5, the spring closing mechanism is shown in a released, open circuit position. In order to compress the closing spring 153, the handle 185 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 6) is moved counterclockwise to a two oclock position and pressed in against the bias of the spring 193 until the slots 195 engage the pin 197. The handle is then rotated clockwise rotating the operating shaft 187 and the plate 283 in a clockwise direction. As the plate 213-3 rotates, it lifts the lift link 183 and the bottom spring support 151. Upward movement of the top spring support 149 is prevented because the toggle links 171 and 173 are on dead-center. The upward movement of the lift link 1825, therefore, compresses the spring 153 between the bottom spring support 151 and top spring support 149.

Means are provided to latch the closing spring in a compressed condition. Clockwise rotation of the plate is stopped when a projection 2'89, which is welded or otherwise attached to the plate 283 makes contact with the lift link 183 (FIG. 3). When the plate 283 has reached the position shown in FIG. 3, the operator can release the handle 185, and the plate 283 will remain in position. In this position, the connecting pivot pin 205 of the plate 283 is overcenter with respect to the operating shaft 187. The downward pull of the bottom spring support and lift link under the bias of closing spring 153, therefore, tends to rotate the plate 263 in a clockwise direction. The projection 289 which is engaging the lift lin; 183, however, prevents further clockwise rotation of the plate 283, and therefore prevents downward movement of the iift link 183 and bottom spring support 151. Since the bottom spring support 151 cannot move down and since the top spring support 149, which is locked by the

toggle

171, 173, cannot move up, the closing spring 153 as shown in FiGS. 2 and 4, is latched in a compressed condition.

Releasing means are provided to unlatch the latching means by operation of the handle 185 to allow expansion of the compressed closing spring 153 to rapidly and forcefully close the circuit breaker contacts. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projection 289, which extends from the plate 283 has tapered portion 211 at the free end thereof. A conical nesting type spring 213 is set over the operating shaft 187 between a washer 215, which is attached to the shaft 187, and the cross member 67 of the U-shaped frame 65. The spring 213 is strong enough that it will not be compressed until the spring 193 (FIG. 6) is completely compressed so that it will not interfere with the spring latching operation as previously described.

' order to close the circuit breaker.

In order to close the breaker, the handle 185 is pushed in toward the circuit breaker mechanism. This force compresses the spring 193 and then the force is trans mitted to an end 217 of the shaft 187. A continued pushing force on the handle 185 moves the horizontal shaft 187, plate 283 and projection 289 to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, against the bias of the spring 213. During this movement, the lift link 183 pivots about the cross bolt 147, and moves through an opening (not shown) in the top spring support 149. As the projection 209 moves to the right, the tapered surface 211 engages a tapered surface 219 on the thrust rod 177 and moves the thrust rod 177 vertically upwards. As the thrust rod 177 is raised, it rotates the toggle link 173 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, about its pivot 175. This moves the

toggle

171, 173 off of dead-center permitting it to collapse and allowing upward movement of the top spring support 149 under the expanding force of the closing spring 153. As the top spring support 149 is forced up by the spring 153, it rapidly collapses the to gle 171, 173, and forces the thrust rod 177 upwards (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, the

closing toggle

85, 87 is collapsed and the tripping toggle 83, is held in thrust transmitting position. Therefore, as the thrust rod 177 is forced upwardly it forces the pivot pin 93 upwards and straightens the

closing toggle

85, 87 moving the'operating lever 73 clockwise to close the breaker, FIG. 1. The operator then releases the handle 185, and the

springs

213 and 193 move the handle back to its normal position.

As seen in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the opening 92 in the upper end of the thrust rod 177, is slightly larger than is necessary to allow passage of the pivot pin 93. The opening 92 is of such size that the thrust rod will not apply force to the pivot pin 93 until the

toggle

171, 173 is broken off of dead center, and, therefore, the initial manually operated raising of the thrust rod is not restrained by the forces of the operating mechanism and movable contact structure.

Locking means are provided to prevent a closing operation by a pushing force on the handle. A pad-lock latch 194 (FIGS. 6 and 7) having an opening 196 therein is pivotally mounted on a pin 190. A spring 192 fits between the latch 189 and a bent over portion 198 of an extension 280 of the pad-lock latch 194. The spring 192 biases the pad-lock latch clockwise which movement is limited when the stop 282 engages a portion of the operating handle 185. When it is desired to lock the handle, the pad-lock latch 194 is rotated counterclockwise against the bias of the spring 192 moving the opening 196 out of the handle 185. A pad-lock is then inserted through the opening 196 retaining the pad-lock latch in position out of the handle 185. When the padlock latch is in this locked position and a pushing force is applied to the handle 185, a stop portion 28-4 on the pad-lock latch will engage the outer flange 286 of a U- shaped member 208 that is welded to the cross portion 67 of the housing 65 thereby preventing manual closing of the breaker by operation of the handle. To unlock the handle, the pad-lock is removed and the pad-lock latch 194 moves clockwise under the bias of the spring 192 to the position shown in FIG. 6.

Electromagnetic means, operable from a remote position, are also provided to unlatch the latching means in An electromagnet, indicated generally at 221, is secured to the right side of the housing 139. When this magnet is energized an armature rod 223 moves-to the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, and a head 225 on the rod 223 strikes a lever 227 which is pivo-tally connected to an ear 229 of the electromagnet, rotating the lever 227 counterclockwise.

A lever 231 is attached by a set screw 233 to the cross bolt to which is connected the toggle link 173 (FIG. 2). Upon counterclockwise rotation, the lever 227 (FIG. 4) strikes the lever 231 rotating the lever 231,

cross bolt 175 and toggle link 173 clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4. Clockwise rotation of the toggle link 173 breaks the

toggle

171, 173 off of dead-center, allowing the top spring support 149 to move upward under the expanding force of the closing spring 153. The same rapid and forceful closing action as that previously described occurs upon expansion of the closing spring 153.

It is important to note that the operating

linkage

83, 85 and 87 is trip free. During the opening operation as previously described, the tripping toggle 33, 85 first collapses, and until the

closing toggle

85, 87 collapses downwardly to reset the tripping

toggle

83, 85 into a thrust transmitting position the circuit breaker cannot be closed. During the opening operation, it is the weight of the spring closing mechanism 137 and of the operating

linkage

83, 85 and 87 that pulls the thrust rod 177 and hence the

closing toggle

35, 87 down to reset the linkages.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a spring closing mechanism has been provided for rapidly and forcefully closing the contacts of a circuit breaker independently of the operators strength. Rotation of an operating handle causes Compression of a closing spring, and actuates means that latch the closing spring in a compressed condition. A pushing force on the operating handle causes unlatching of the latching means to allow expansion of the compressed closing spring to close the breaker. Locking means are provided to prevent unlatching of the latching means by operation of the handle. The latching means may also be unlatched by operation, from a remote position, of an electromagnet. The Weight of the spring closing mechanism also assists in resetting the trip-firee linkages of the circuit breaker during an opening operation.

While the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in the structural details and arrangement of parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle movable with a continuous motion to charge said closing spring from an uncompressed condi tion to a compressed condition, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, and means operated by said handle for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, said released closing spring operating independently of said handle to move said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

2. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating Withsaid stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, means operated by said handle for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, said released closing spring moving independently of said handle to move said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker, and locking means to prevent unlatching of said latching means by operation of said handle.

3. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring,

Cal

means for latching said closing spring in a compressed said compressed closing spring, the expanding force or" said released closing spring moving saidmovable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

4. A circuit breaker having relatively stationary contact means and a movable contact structure cooperating therewith to open and close said circuit breaker, a tripiree operating linkage for moving said movable contact structure, energy storing means cooperating with said trip-free operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, means for energizing said energy storing means, means for latching said energy storing means in an energized condition, means for unlatching said latching means to release said energy storing means to close said circuit breaker, and the Weight of said energy storing means assisting in the resetting of said trip-free operating linkage during an opening operation of said circuit breaker.

5. A circuit breaker including, in combination relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a trip-free operating linkage in thrust transmitting position to move said movable contact structure, aclosing spring cooperating with said trip-free operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, means for compressing said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, means for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring to close said circuit breaker,

said operating linkage collapsing and being reset to a thrust transmitting position during an opening operation, and the Weight of said spring closing means contributing to reset said trip-free operating linkage during an opening operation. 7

6. A circuit breaker having relatively stationary contact means and a movable contact structure cooperating therewith to open and close said circuit breaker, a trip-free operating linkage for moving said movable contact structure, a spring closing mechanism including a closing spring for operating said trip-free operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, an operating handle movable to compress said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, means operated by said handle for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring to'close said circuit breaker, and the weight of said spring closing mechanism contributing to reset said trip-free operating linkage during an opening operation.

7. A circuit breaker having relatively stationary contact means and a movable contact structure cooperating therewith to open and close said circuit breaker, a tripfree operating linkage for moving said movable contact structure, a spring closing mechanism including a closing spring for operating said trip-free operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, means operated by a pushing force on said handle for unlatching said latching means to release saidcompressed closing spring to close said circuit breaker, and the weight of said spring closing mechanism contributing to reset said trip-free operating linkage during an opening operation. a

8. A circuit breaker having relatively stationary contact means and a movable contact structure cooperating therewith to open and close saidcircuit breaker, a tripfree operating linkage for moving said movable contact structure, a'closing spring cooperating with saidtripfree operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, means for compressing said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, means for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring to close said circuit breaker, said unlatchopening operation of said circuit breaker. c

- 9; A circuit breaker including, in combination, rela- 9 tively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a trip-free operating linkage in thrust transmitting position to move said movable contact structure, a closing spring cooperating with said trip-free operating linkage to close said circuit breaker, means for compressing said closing spring, means for latching said Closing spring in a compressed condition,

means for unlatching said latching means to release said compressed closing spring to close said circuit breaker, said unlatching means being operable from a remote position, said operating linkage collapsing and resetting to a thrust transmitting position during an opening operation, and the weight of said spring closing means contributing to reset said trip-free operating linkage during an opening operation.

10. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle movable with a continuous motion to charge said closing spring from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, a first unlatching means operated by said handle to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, and a second unlatching means operable from a remote position to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, said released closing spring moving independently of said handle to move said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

11. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle for compressing said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, a first unlatching means operated by said handle to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, a second unlatching means operable from a position remote from said circuit breaker to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, said released closing spring operating independently of said handle to thereby move said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker, and means for locking said first unlatching means to prevent unlatching of said latching means by operation of said handle.

12. A circuit breaker comprising, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring, means for latching said closing spring in a compressed condition, a first unlatching means operated by a pushing force on said handle to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing spring, a second unlatching means operable from a remote position to unlatch said latching means to release said compressed closing springs, the expanding force of said released closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

13. A circuit breaker including, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring, a toggle linkage positioned on dead-center when said closing spring is in a compressed condition, means operated by a pushing force on said handle to break said toggle linkage oii of dead center to release said compressed closing spring, the expanding force of said released closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

14. A circuit breaker including, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a closing spring, an operating handle rotatable to compress said closing spring, a toggle linkage positioned on dead-center when said closing spring is in a compressed condition, means operated by a pushing force on said handle to break said toggle linkage ofl of dead center to release said compressed closing spring, electromagnetic means operable from a remote position to break said toggle linkage off of dead-center to release said compressed closing spring, the expanding force of said released closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

15. A circuit breaker including, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a first spring support, a second spring support, a closing spring supported between said first and second spring supports, a toggle linkage positioned on dead-center to restrain movement of said first spring support, means operated by rotation of said handle for moving said second spring support toward said first spring support to compress said closing spring, means operated by a pushing force on said handle to break said toggle linkage off of dead-center allowing movement of said first spring support and expansion of said compressed closing spring, the expanding force of said closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

16. A circuit breaker including, in combination, relatively stationary contact means, a movable contact structure cooperating with said stationary contact means to open and close said circuit breaker, a first spring support, a second spring support, a Closing spring supported between said first and second spring supports, a toggle linkage positioned on dead-center to restrain movement of said first spring support, means operated by rotation of said handle for moving said second spring support toward said first spring support to compress said closing spring, means operated by said handle to break said toggle linkage off of dead-center to allow movement of said first spring support and expansion of said compressed closing spring, electromagnetic means operable from a remote position to allow movement of said first spring support and expansion of said compressed closing spring, the expanding force of said closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker.

17. A circuit breaker having relatively stationary contact means and a movable contact structure cooperable therewith to open and close said circuit breaker, a trip free operating linkage for moving said movable contact structure, a thrust rod having one end connected to said operating linkage, a toggle connected to the other end of said thrust rod, a top spring support connected to said toggle, said toggle being positioned on dead-center preventing upward movement of said thrust rod and said top spring support, a bottom spring support, a closing spring supported between said top and bottom spring supports, an operating handle, means operated by rotation of said operating handle to lift said bottom spring support compressing said closing spring, means operated by said handle to retain said bottom spring support in its lifted position, means operated by said handle to break said toggle off of dead-center to allow upward movement of said top spring support and expansion of said closing spring, electromagnetic means operable from a remote position to break said toggle off of dead-center to allow upward movement of said top spring support and expansion of said closing spring, the expanding force of said closing spring moving said movable contact structure to close said circuit breaker, said trip-free linkage collapsing and being reset to a thrust transmitting position during an opening operation, the Weight of said spring supports and closing spring con- References Cited in the fi1e of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sessions Sept. 2, 1913 Mahoney et a1 Oct. 14, 1919 MacNeil Jan. 16, 1923 Scott Nov, 18, 1924 Paul Aug. 14, 1934 Thumm July 1, 1941 Bank Apr 7, 1959

Claims

1. A CIRCUIT BREAKER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, RELATIVELY STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS, A MOVABLE CONTACT STRUCTURE COOPERATING WITH SAID STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID CIRCUIT BREAKER, A CLOSING SPRING, AN OPERATING HANDLE MOVABLE WITH A CONTINUOUS MOTION TO CHARGE SAID CLOSING SPRING FROM AN UNCOMPRESSED CONDITION TO A COMPRESSED CONDITION, MEANS FOR LATCHING SAID CLOSING SPRING IN A COMPRESSED CONDITION, AND MEANS OPERATED BY SAID HANDLE FOR UNLATCHING SAID LATCHING MEANS TO RELEASE SAID COMPRESSED CLOSING SPRING, SAID RELEASED CLOSING SPRING OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID HANDLE TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE CONTACT STRUCTURE TO CLOSE SAID CIRCUIT BREAKER.