Importance

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Abstract

A spring-powered operator controls a high power circuit breaker by discharging an energy storing spring to rapidly close the circuit breaker against the bias of its internal opening springs, and latches to keep the circuit breaker closed until the receipt of a trip command which unlatches the operator and allows the circuit breaker to open. In response to discharging the energy storing spring, the operator immediately starts charging again in order to prepare for another closing of the circuit breaker. The operator uses a relatively low-power motor to drive a ratchet wheel that indirectly compresses the energy storing spring through a crank mechanism and, upon a release of the spring, uses a cam driven by the spring to act directly on a lever coupled to the breaker. The operator has a low number of parts and is able to close a circuit breaker particularly rapidly and reliably.

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First Claim