Elastic-spring drive for the movable contact of an electric grounding or disconnect switch

摘要

An elastic-spring drive for the movable contact of an electric grounding or disconnect switch is disclosed. The movable contact is coupled by at least one lever to a drive shaft. A drive lever is rigidly connected to the drive shaft and a cocking lever is rotatably coupled to the drive shaft. An elastic compression spring is supported flexibly at both ends between the drive lever and the cocking lever, one end of the spring being connected to the free end of the drive lever and the other end to the free end of the cocking lever. This arrangement enables the drive lever to be held stationary during cocking of the spring. The spring is slowly cocked by the motion of the cocking lever until it is fully compressed while the drive lever is stationary. Continued rotation of the cocking lever thereafter abruptly releases the spring which quickly rotates the drive lever to its end position, thereby rotating the drive shaft.