Alignment and centering arrangement for contacts of an interrupting device

摘要

An alignment and centering arrangement is provided for effecting the self-centering of a first contact assembly and for effecting the self-alignment of the first contact assembly with a second contact assembly as the contact assemblies are positioned together for engagement. The alignment and centering arrangement provides a predetermined maximum range of pivoting movement of the first contact assembly with respect to a predetermined position while requiring minimal forces for effecting the self-alignment. Additionally, the alignment and centering arrangement accurately establishes a predetermined center position with orientation of the first contact assembly along a predetermined axis. In one configuration, the alignment and centering arrangement includes the resilient mounting of the first contact assembly with respect to a reference plane. The center position and orientation are established by the resilient mounting biasing the first contact assembly to a predetermined reference position with respect to the reference plane. The predetermined range of pivoting is provided by the interaction of the first contact assembly with structure that defines the reference plane.