Claims
- 1. Electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a set of contacts;
- an operating mechanism comprising a close spring having a charge state, means charging said close spring to a fully charged charge state, and means releasing said close spring from said fully charged charge state to close the contacts; and
- indicator means indicating said charge state of said close spring and comprising:
- an indicator mounted for movement between a first position providing an indication that said close spring is in said charged charge state, and a second position providing an indication that the close spring is in a discharged charge state;
- actuating means discretely operating said indicator from said second position to said first position only as said close spring substantially reaches said fully charged charge state;
- wherein said charging means charging said close spring comprises a rotating shaft having a first rotational position when said close spring is in said fully charged charge state, and a second rotational position when said close spring is in said discharged charge state, said actuating means comprising means coupled to said rotating shaft and discretely operating said indicator from said second position to said first position as said shaft reaches said first rotational position;
- wherein said rotating shaft has a radial discontinuity in a peripheral surface, and said means coupled to said shaft comprises a drive member, means biasing said drive member against said peripheral surface of said rotating shaft, and a coupling coupling said drive member to said indicator, said radial discontinuity in the peripheral surface of said rotating shaft being positioned relative to said drive member to produce discrete movement of said drive member and through said coupling discrete movement of said indicator to said first position when said rotating shaft reaches said first rotational position; and
- wherein said coupling member comprises a wire form connected to said drive member and to said indicator.
- 2. Electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a set of contacts;
- an operating mechanism comprising a close spring having a charge state, means charging said close spring to a fully charged charge state, and means releasing said close spring from said fully charged charge state to close the contacts; and
- indicator means indicating said charge state of said close spring and comprising:
- an indicator mounted for movement between a first position providing an indication that said close spring is in said charged charge state, and a second position providing an indication that the close spring is in a discharged charge state;
- actuating means discretely operating said indicator from said second position to said first position only as said close spring substantially reaches said fully charged charge state;
- wherein said charging means charging said close spring comprises a rotating shaft having a first rotational position when said close spring is in said fully charged charge state, and a second rotational position when said close spring is in said discharged charge state, said actuating means comprising means coupled to said rotating shaft and discretely operating said indicator from said second position to said first position as said shaft reaches said first rotational position;
- wherein said rotating shaft has a radial discontinuity in a peripheral surface, and said means coupled to said shaft comprises a drive member, means biasing said drive member against said peripheral surface of said rotating shaft, and a coupling coupling said drive member to said indicator, said radial discontinuity in the peripheral surface of said rotating shaft being positioned relative to said drive member to produce discrete movement of said drive member and through said coupling discrete movement of said indicator to said first position when said rotating shaft reaches said first rotational position; and
- wherein said rotating shaft has a cylindrical peripheral surface and said radial discontinuity is a recess formed by a flat on said shaft.
- 3. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drive member is a lever pivoted at one end and said biasing means is a spring pivotally biasing said lever against said cylindrical peripheral surface of said rotating shaft adjacent a second end of said lever, said second end of said lever dropping off of said cylindrical peripheral surface and into said recess formed by said flat as said rotating shaft rotates to said first rotational position.
- 4. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuating means further includes stop means retaining said lever in said recess for reengagement by said cylindrical peripheral surface of said rotating shaft as said shaft rotates on discharge of said close spring and said flat rotates away from said lever.
- 5. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 4 wherein said rotating shaft is supported in a bushing having a collar and said stop means is formed by a notch in said collar.
- 6. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 2 wherein said coupling member comprises a wire form connected to said drive member and to said indicator.
- 7. Electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a set of contacts;
- an operating mechanism including a pole shaft connected to said set of contacts for opening and closing said set of contacts;
- indicator means indicating an open and a closed state of said contacts, comprising:
- an indicator mounted for movement between a closed position indicating that said set of contacts is closed, and an open position indicating that said set of contacts is open;
- biasing means biasing said indicator to said closed position;
- actuating means discreetly operating said indicator from said closed position to said open position only when said contacts are open; and
- wherein said pole shaft is rotatable to open and close said set of contacts and said actuating means comprises an actuating linkage connected to said indicator and biased with said indicator by said biasing means to the open position of said indicator, and a lobe on said pole shaft which engages said actuating linkage to operate said indicator to said open position when said set of contacts is open.
- 8. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 7 wherein said lobe on said pole shaft is shaped and positioned so that it only engages said actuating linkage as said set of contacts reaches a fully open state.
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to commonly owned, concurrently filed Patent Applications:
Ser. No. 09/074135, "ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH CONTACT FINGER GUIDE";
Ser. No. 09/0704046, "ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH OPERATING CONDITION INDICATORS MOUNTED IN FACE PLATE";
Ser. No. 09/074075, "ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED CONTACT ARM CARRIER ARRANGEMENT";
Ser. No. 09/074073, "CHARGING MECHANISM FOR SPRING POWERED ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS";
Ser. No. 09/074233, "ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH PUSH BUTTONS FOR A MODULAR OPERATING MECHANISM ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A COVER PLATE";
Ser. No. 09/074104, "INTERLOCK FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS WITH STORED ENERGY CLOSING";
Ser. No. 09/074133, "CLOSE PROP AND LATCH ASSEMBLY FOR STORED ENERGY OPERATING MECHANISM OF ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS";
Ser. No. 09/074234, "ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS HAVING ARC RUNNER INTEGRAL WITH STATIONARY ARCING CONTACT";
Ser. No. 09/074052, "DISENGAGEABLE CHARGING MECHANISM FOR SPRING POWERED ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS".
Government Interests
The Government has rights in this invention under Government Contract Number N61331-94-C-0078
US Referenced Citations (6)