US2258195A

US2258195A - Circuit breaker mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2258195A
Application number: US362745A
Authority: US
Inventors: August C Schwager
Original assignee: PACIFIC ELECTRIC Manufacturing CORP
Current assignee: PACIFIC ELECTRIC Manufacturing CORP
Priority date: 1940-10-25
Filing date: 1940-10-25
Publication date: 1941-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1958-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1941. A. c. SCHWAGER 2,258,195

CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Fiied Oct. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 i I 1. 1 w

- INVENTOR.

BY I wffl @Fvfi Oct. 7, 1941.

Filed Oct. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

1941- A. c. SCHWAGER 2, ,1

C IRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-$heet 3 Oct. 7, 1941. A. c. SCHWAGER 2,258,195

CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 girl au wt /Mwa n TTOE'NE).

vOct. 7, 1941.

A. c. SCHWAGER CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 7, 1941 CIRCUIT BREAKER MECHANISM August 0. Schwager, Millbrae, Calif., assignor to Pacific Electric Manufacturing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif.;2a corporation of California Application October 25, 1940, Serial No. 362,745

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to circuit breaker operating mechanisms, and more particularly to a new and improved mechanism by means of which an initial opening, a reclosing, and a subsequent opening operation of the circuit breaker is obtained by two springs from an initially stressed energy storing condition. a

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective and improved spring operated mechanism by means of which a circuit breaker may be operated through a series of opening and closing movements in an entirely automatic manner, as determined by the load conditions upon the circuit to be controlled by the circuit breaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit breaker operating mechanism of the spring operated type in which a pair of energy storing springs are automatically stressed by a single motor and released by successively operating tripable mechanisms to effect an opening, a reclosing and, if required, a subsequent opening of the circuit breaker upon each stressing of said springs by said motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism employing two energy storing springs in which the springs are successively restored to their energy storing condition in an automatic manner by an electric motor or other motive means after each successive operaa tion thereof.

In the prior art there is illustrated a large number of circuit breaker operating mechanisms wherein spring means are relied upon to furnish operating energy therefor, but insofar as I am aware, none of these devices are capable, from an original stressed condition of the spring means, of providing the circuit breaker operations obtained by the present invention. In Wilkins et al.Patent No. 1,612,483-which is one a of the earliest attempts to provide an operating mechanism of the present character, there is shown an operating mechanism employing two springs that operate through a suitable mecha nism to effect a closing and an opening movement of a circuit breaker; and in Letters Patent No. 1,853,744 to James C. Rea, assigned to the assignee hereof, there is shown a similar mechanism employing two springs which, like the disclosure of Wilkins, is only capable of effecting a closing and an opening of the circuit breaker from an initially stressed condition of the spring means. In the control of circuit breakers, and particularly those of the reclosing type, it has become more and more important that the re- (cl. zoo-s9) closing of a circuit breaker after an initial openclosing thereof by the operating mechanism, such as are disclosed in the above mentioned patents. It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to provide a spring operated mechanism that is an improvement on the above devices and one which will provide a substantially instantaneous and automatic reclosing of the circuit breaker after an initial opening thereof due to a fault. In accordance with the present invention, this is accomplished by providing two ener-' gy storing springs, one of which will function to operate the mechanism in a circuit breaker opening manner, and the other of which is adapted and arranged to operate the mechanism in a circuit breaker reclosing manner under the control of suitable tripable mechanisms.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part evident to those skilled in the art and in. part pointed out hereinafter in connection with the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end View of a completely assembled device partially in section and with parts broken away to reveal details of construction,

Figure 2 is a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 partially in section and showing further details of construction,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing details of the operating mechanism in one stage of its operation,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 3 with certain parts broken away to faciiltate the description thereof,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 showing the illustrated elements of the mechanism in the positions assumed when the circuit breaker is in its open circuit position,

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing the elements of the mechanism in another of their operating positions, and

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrating the various positions of and manner in which the various elements of the mechanism cooperate to produce the required circuit breaker operations.

The novelty of the present invention is considered to reside in the provision of a new and novel operating toggle mechanism employing a pair of energy storing springs that operate through suitable operating levers under the control of cooperating tripable mechanisms that are responsive to conditions upon the circuit in which the circuit breaker is connected and as determined by suitable interlocking circuits which are established in accordance with the well understood practice and which provide for a proper sequence of operation of the tripable mechanism to the end that a series of collapsing and extending operations of the toggle mechanism, under the influence of the energy storing springs, will operate to initially open the circuit breaker in the event of a fault or abnormal condition upon the power line, and substantially instantaneously effect a reclosing of the circuit breaker and hold the circuit breaker in this position in the event that the fault or overload is eliminated by said initial opening of the circuit breaker, and which will, in the event of a sustained fault or overload, again operate to effect a second opening of the circuit breaker without requiring a restressing of the energy storing springs during the course of these operations.

As illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the above described toggle mechanism with its operating levers and tripable mechanisms, designated generally by the numeral I9, is located in the upper part of a suitable enclosing housing I I and immediately above two energy storing springs I2 and I3. As here shown, the energy storing spring I2 is mounted within a cylinder I4 that is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a fixed support I5 and below a piston-like member I6 that is carried by a rod I! that connects with a lever I8 carried by a circuit breaker operating shaft I9. The energy storing spring I3 is likewise mounted within a cylinder 20 which is journaled at its lower end upon a crank 2| formed upon a shaft 22 that is adapted to be turned, as will hereinafter appear, by means of an electric m0- tor 23. In this instance, the spring I3 is mounted between the upper end of the cylinder 29 and a piston-like member 24 that is carried by a rod 25 which connects with a lever means 26 of the operating toggle mechanism I9. At this point it may be stated that the energy storing spring I3 is of a more powerful construction than is the spring I2. This is necessary as the energy storing spring I3 is required to store sufficient operating energy to operate the toggle mechanism I0 and also effect a compression of the spring I2 to store sufficient energy therein to eifect a further operation of the toggle mechanism I9, as will hereinafter appear. In order that the spring energizing motor 23 may be of small power and also provide a proper speed of rotation of the crank shaft 22, it is shown as connected to the crank shaft 22 through a suitable speed reducing gear 21 and a chain drive 28 that extends therefrom over a sprocket 23 upon the end of the crank shaft 22. As a means to provide for a manual operation of the crank shaft 22, the reduction gear 21 is provided with an extending shaft 30 that may be operated by means of a hand crank 3! when applied thereto.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 of the drawings for a description of the electrically responsive controlling means and the interlocking circuit controlling elements that are associated with the toggle mechanism to control the tripable mechanisms in an automatic manner in response to power circuit conditions or from a remote manual control station. As illustrated in Figure 1, the elements of the toggle operating mechanism ID are mounted between two vertically disposed supporting

plates

32 and 33. The plate 33 also serves as a support for an electromagnetic trip device 34 having an armature 35 that is mechanically connected to an operating lever 36 which is connected to a latch (not shown) that controls one of the tripable mechanisms provided to control the reclosing operation of the toggle mechanism It. This plate 33 also carries a bracket 31 that supports a second electromagnetic trip device 38 which has an armature 39 that is adapted to control a second latch (not shown) which is associated with the other tripable mechanism to control the circuit breaker opening operation of the toggle mechanism III. In addition to the

trip devices

34 and 38, the plate 33 also supports a multiple circuit auxiliary switch 40 of the type illustrated in copending application Serial No. 355,132, filed September 3, 1940, by Joseph S. Thompson. This auxiliary switch 40 is operated by a radially extending arm 4I mounted upon the end of the circuit breaker operating shaft I9. With this arrangement it will be understood that as the circuit breaker operating shaft [9 oscillates between its two operating positions, the several circuit controlling contacts of the auxiliary switch 40 will be opened and/or closed, as determined by the control circuits in which the several contacts are connected. In addition to the radial arm 4|, the operating shaft I9 is also provided with an additional arm 42 that is connected by means of a flexible bowden wire 43 to a releasing lever 44 of a timing mechanism 45, such as is illustrated and described in my copending application for Patent Serial No. 323,547, filed March 12, 1940. The purpose of this mechanical connection between the operating shaft I9 and the timing mechanism 45 is to provide for a release or starting of the timing mechanism 45 to thus determine the lapsed time period between the second and subsequent reclosing operations of the circuit breaker, as will hereinafter appear. It will be understood that any other suitable timing mechanism 45 may be used for this purpose. The plate 33 also supports a motor circuit controlling switch 45 that is responsive to the operating toggle mechanism I3 and the wound condition of the energy storing spring I3. The motor controlling switch 46 is of the rotary type and has a shaft 41 that is biased in one direction by means of a tension spring 48 and is moved in a reverse or clockwise direction by means of a lever 49 carried thereby which is engaged by a pin 50 carried by a toggle extending mechanism, as will hereinafter appear. As here shown, the lever 49 is arranged to be held in its downward position by means of a latch 5I that is held in latching relation with the lever 49 by means of a spring 52. The latch 5I is also here shown as movable against the action of the spring 52 to release the lever 49 by means of a rod 53 that connects with a cam operated lever 54 which cooperates with a cam 55 secured upon the end of the crank shaft 22 to which the lower end of the energy storing spring device I3 is connected.

Reference is now made to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings for a detailed description of the operating toggle mechanism and its associated tripable mechanisms by means of which it is rendered responsive to the action of the energy storing springs l2 and I3. In these figures of the drawings, it will be noted that-in addition to the lever arm I8, towhich the energy storing spring [2 is connected, the operating shaft l9 also carries an upwardly extending lever arm 56' to which a circuit breaker controlling rod or' other means 51 is adapted to be connected. The operating shaft l9 also carries a downwardly extending lever arm '58 that is connected at its lower end to one end of a link 59 which, in conjunction with a similar link 60, forms the operating elements of the toggle mechanism I0. To complete this toggle mechanism, the other end of the link 60 is supported upon a lever means 6| that is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 62. This pivotally mounted lever means 6| is here shown as biased into an operative position by means of a compression spring 63' where it is retained by a latch 64 that forms a part of a tripable mechanism 65. -When the pivotally mounted lever means 6| is latched in the position illustrated, it will provide a fixed fulcrum for the toggle mechanism formed by the links 59 and 6D, and when it is released by an operation of the tripable mechanism 65, it provides what may be termed a floating fulcrum which will permit a longitudinal movement of the toggle links 59 and 60 under the influence of the circuit breaker opening spring l2. In order to position the toggle links 59 and 66 when in their extended condition and control their movements upon a U collapse thereof, the central joint of the toggle mechanism is arranged to cooperate with a pivotally mounted abutment 66 and a stationary guide plate 61 that is mounted between the supporting

plates

32 and 33. shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the

links

59 and 60 of the toggle mechanism H] are of split or link-like construction and at their central joint they are secured together in ofiset relation with each other by means of a shaft 68 which also carries a pair of

spacing rollers

69 and 16 that cooperate respectively with the stationary guide plate 61 and the lever means 26 previously described as controlled by the energy storing spring l3. it will also be noted that the fulcrum providing end of the lever means 6| is connected between the sides of the toggle link 66. The supporting shaft 62 of the lever means 6| is also here shown as supported between the stationary guide plate 33 to form a support for a shaft 12 that is arranged in substantially coaxial alignment with the normal operating center of the floating ful crum of the toggle mechanism'provided by the pivotally mounted lever means 6!. The shaft '12 is shown as extending through. a hub 13 of the lever means 26 previously referred to as operated by the energy storing spring 3. With this arrangement it will be seen that when the en ergy storing spring l3 operates to extend the toggle mechanism, as previously suggested, the lever means 26 will be moved in an arcuate path similar to that followed by the link 60 of the toggle mechanism, but in a plane displaced sidewise therefrom. In order to transmit this arcuate movement of the lever means 26 to the toggle mechanism formed by the

links

59 and 60, the lever means 26 is provided with an overhanging pawl 74 that is pivotally mounted on one side thereof and in overhanging relation with respect to the roller upon the shaft 68 which forms As is more clearly in this latter figure of the drawings, 1

the middle joint of the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 60. As is more clearly shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the lever means 26 is of substantially triangular configuration and has a dimension between its fulcrum upon the shaft 12 and the shaft 15 that is greater than the length of the toggle link between its centers. Ihis will permit the toggle link 60 to move in a collapsing direction independently of the lever means 26 at any time after the toggle mechanism has reached its extended condition, should this be required. The pawl 14 has an upwardly extending fan-like portion. 16 that carries a pin 11 with which a latching lever 18 cooperates to hold the pawl 14 in its toggle engaging position. The fan-like portion 16 is also shown in Figure 3 as having a semi-spherical recess 19 into which a spring pressed ball 86 at the side of the lever means 26 is adapted to cooperate to temporarily retain the pawl 74 in an inoperative position upon the lever means 26 under certain conditions of operation, as will hereinafter appear, The latching lever 18 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a shaft BI and is biased into an operative position with respect to the pin 11 by means of a compression spring 82. At its lower end the latching lever 18 normally engages a stop 83 formed between the sides of the lever means 26 and when the lever means 26 is moved downwardly, this end of the lever 18 is also adapted to engage an abutment 86 that is yieldingly supported upon a bracket by means of a compression spring 86. The engagement of the latching lever 18 with the abutment 84 under these conditions will release the pawl 14 so that it may be turned out of engagement with the roller 10 of the toggle mechanism by a stiff leaf spring 81, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. For the purpose of resetting the pawl 14 in its normal operating position when the lever means 26 is returned to its operative position, there is also provided a second leaf spring 89 that is adapted to engage the other edge of its fan-like portion 16, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings. With this arrangement it will be seen that with the

leaf springs

81 and 88 above referred to arranged at points corresponding to the limits of travel of the lever means 26 and where they will engage opposite sides of the fan-like portion 16 of the pawl Hi, the latter member will be respectively moved out of and into cooperating relation with the middle joint between the toggle links 59 and 66, and when in operation, it will be secured against accidental displacement by means of the latching lever 78. as previously described.

Before passing on to a description of the tripable mechanisms that are provided to control the operation of the toggle mechanism, it should be noted, as shown in Figure '3, that the pivotally mounted abutment 66, which cooperates to retain the toggle links 59 and 63 in their extended position, is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 89 and is biased into an operative position against an adjustable screw 96 by means of a leaf spring 9|. In connection with this figure of the drawings it should also be stated that the lever means 26 is here illustrated as in its uppermost or overtravel position which occurs at the time the crank 2| with the energy storing spring it is in its uppermost position. This over-travel of the lever means 26 is provided to insure a full and complete resetting of the tripable mechanisms. Under normal operating conditions, it will be understood that when the tripable mechanisms are reset, the lever means 26 will come to rest in the position where it is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The tripable mechanism 65, which serves to control the floating fulcrum of the toggle mechanism formed by the

links

59 and 69 and which is adapted to be operated by the electromagnetic trip device 33 to effect an opening of the circuit breaker, is shown as biased into latched and operative relation with the lever means 6| by a compression spring 92. The other tripable mechanism, which is operated by the electromagnetic trip device 34 to effect a circuit breaker reclosing operation of the toggle mechanism, is shown as comprising a latching lever 93 that is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 94 which carries the operating lever 36 previously described in connection with Figure 2 of the drawings. This latching lever 93 is biased into latching relation with an abutment forming means 95 by means of a compression spring 96. The abutment forming means 95 is shown as mounted upon a shaft 9'! in such a manner that its outer extending end, which carries an anti-friction roller, will be non rally disposed in the path of the lever means 26 when in its latched position. Conversely, when released by the latching lever 93, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, this abutment forming means 95 will rotate clockwise and out of interfering relation with the lever means 26 so that the latter means may move downwardly under the influence of the energy storing spring |3 to effect an extension of the toggle mechanism formed by the

links

59 and 69. The abutment forming means 95 is also shown as biased into an inoperative position with respect to the lever means 26 by a tension spring 98 that operates through a link 99 attached thereto. The link 99 is also shown as connected at its outer end to a second link I09 that is secured upon a fixed pivot |0| and which carries an adjustable abutment I62 which is adapted to be engaged by the lever means 26 when it approaches its upper limit of travel, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. When the lever means 26 is thus moved into engagement with the abutment I62 carried by the link I00, an operating force will be exerted through the link 99 that will move the abutment forming means 95 against the action of the tension spring 98 and into holding relation with the lever means 26.

Reference is now made to Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings for a description of the operation of the invention through an initial opening of the circuit breaker due to an overload or fault condition upon the power line, and an instantaneous reclosing of the circuit breaker under an assumed condition in which the fauit or overload is removed upon the first opening operation of the circuit breaker. For the purpose of this description it will be assumed that the tripable mechanisms, which are controlled by the

latches

64 and 93, are operating to hold the energy storing springs l2 and 3 in their pressed or energy storing condition, as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. Under these conditions, the lever means 26 will be held in its uppermost position with respect to the energy storing spring l3 by the abutment forming means 95, and th roller 69 carried by the middle joint of the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 63 will be held under the pivotally mounted abutment 66 by the movable fulcrum providing lever means 6| and as a result, the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 69 will be held in extended relation with respect to each other where they will hold the circuit breaker operating shaft I9 against rotation under the influence of the energy storing spring I2. Now, should an overload or fault occur upon the power line, the electromagnetic trip device 38 will respond to this abnormal condition and move the latch 64 out of retaining relation with the lever means 6| which, as previously described, provides a floating fulcrum for the toggle formed by

th links

59 and 69. As this occurs, the lever means 6| will rotate clockwise against the action of its biasing spring 63 under the influence of a predominating endwis force which will be exerted upon the toggle links 59 and 60 by the energy storing spring |2 as it operates through the lever arms I8 and 56 in rotating the operating shaft l9 into its circuit breaker open position. Then, as this occurs, the roller 69 carried by the toggle links 59 and 69 will move laterally out of engagement with the pivotally mounted abutment 66, under the influence of the energy storing spring l2, and as a result the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 69 will collapse and assume the position illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. This collapse of the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 60 will release the lever arm 58 carried by the operating shaft l9 and permit the energy storing spring |2 to operate and open the circuit breaker. At the same time, as the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 60 is collapsing, the spring 63 will become operative to reset the floating fulcrum providing means 6| with respect to the latch 64 which is controlled by the tripable mechanism 64. At this point it will be understood that the opening of the circuit breaker will also open the control circuit of the electromagnetic trip device 38 and thus render it inoperative to prevent a relatching of the lever means 5|.

Under the assumed conditions, it will also be understood that upon an opening of the circuit i breaker there will be established an auxiliary control circuit which will immediately energize the electromagnetic trip device 34 and thus render it operative to move th latch lever 93 out of latching relation with the abutment forming means 95. Therefore, with this arrangement it will be seen that when the circuit breaker is opened by the spring means |2, the lever means 26 will be released by an unlatching of the abutment forming means 95 and it will immediately operate under the influence of the energy storing spring I3 to re-extend the toggle formed by the links 59 and 6D and thus cause the operating shaft |9 to be rotated into its circuit breaker closed position, as shown in Figure 9. When the various elements are in the positions illustrated in this latter figure of the drawings, it will be seen that the energy storing spring l2 will be fully compressed and in an operative condition, while the energy storing spring |3, on the contrary, wil be extended and spent. At the same time, as the lever means 26 approaches its lowermost position under the influence of the energy storing spring |3, the pin 50, previously described in connection with Figure 2 of the drawings as carried by the lever means 26, will engage the lever 49 and close the motor control switch 46 to thus establish an energizing circuit for the electric motor 23 which operates to turn the crank 2| upon which the lower end of the housing 2|] of the energy storing spring I3 is mounted. When the motor control switch 46 is thus closed by an operation of the lever means 26, as above described, the motor 23 will rotate the crank 2| of the shaft 22 through one complete revolution, after which the cam 55 upon the shaft 22 will become operative through the cam lever 54 and the rod, 53 to release the lever 49 and permit the motor control switch 46 to again open under the influence of the tension spring 48. During this rotation of the shaft 22, the crank 2| thereupon will first operate to raise the energy storing spring I3 with its enclosing cylinder 20 and the connecting rod 25 upwardly and thus carry the lever means 26 into latched relation with the abutment forming means 95- where it will be latched, as illustrated in Figure 10. Then, as the motor 23 continues to operate, the crank 2| upon the shaft .22 will be carried downwardly to its lowermost position, as; illus-;

trated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, where the cam 55' upon the shaft 22 will become'operative through the cam lever and the connecting rod 53" to again release the lever 49 of the motor control switch 46. This Will disconnect the motor 23 from its power circuit and the shaft 22 will be stopped with the energy storing springs I2 and I3 in an energized condition, as shown in Figure 7.

If it is now assumed that the overload r fault upon the power line is not eliminated by the above described initial opening operation of the circuit breaker, as illustrated in Figure 8, but still continues to exist while the elements of the toggle mechanism are in the positions shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, the electromagnetic trip device 38 will again become operative through the latch 64 to release the movable fulcrum providing lever means 6| and permit the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 60 to-again move laterally with respect to the pivotally mounted abutment 66 and collapse independently of the lever means 216'. At the same time, as has been stated above, the pin 50- upon' the lever means 26 will have engaged the lever 49 of the motor control switch 46 to reconnect the: motor 23 to its power circuit. When this occurs, themotor 23 will operate to rotate the shaft 22 with its crank 2I in the manner above described until: the lever means 20 has been moved into latched relation with the abutment forming means 95 and the energy storing spring I3 has been reener-' gized. At this point of the assumed operation th elements of the reclosing mechanism will" again be in the latched condition illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings and the timing meoha nism 45 described in connection with, Figure 2 of the drawings will then come into operation.

Upon now referring to Figure 2 of the draw-- ings, it will be noted that the timing mechanism 45' has a pivotally mounted lever I03 that is interposed between a normally open circuitcontrolling switch I04 and a series of rotatable discs I 05, each of w-hichcarry a cam forming projection I06 that is adapted to engage and raise the lever I03 to thus close the normally open circuit controlling switch I04. At this point it should be stated that the rotatable discs I are adapted to be driven bya spring means that is maintained in a wound condition by a-- shaft I01 that connects with the speed reducing gear 27, as shown in Figure l of the drawings. Itshould also be stated that when the circuit breaker operating toggle mechanism I0 is in the condition shown in Figure '7 and as originally assumed with the-energy storing springs I2: and

I3 fully energized and the circuit breaker in its closed circuit position, the rotatable discs; I05 will be held against movement by" latches Ij00- that are controlled by the releasing: lever 44-- of the timing mechanism 45. Therelore, when the toggle operating mechanism functions to permit an opening of the circuit breaker under the influence of the energy storing spring I2, it will be seen that the arm 42 upon the operating Shaft I9 will transmit a force through the flexible wire 43 and cause the lever 44 to release the rotatable discs I05 so that they may rotate counter-clockwise under the influence of their driving spring. Now, should it happen that the initial opening of the circuit breaker has eliminated the fault or overload upon the power line, as first above assumed, the timing mechanism 45 will continue to operate with no ellect upon the control mechanism until the rotatable discs I05 have been returned andagain latched in the positions illustrated in this figure of the drawings. This further operating of the timing mechanism will have no effect upon the control of the toggle mechanism as the circuit controlling switch I04 is connected in series with a circuit of theauxiliary switch 40 that will be open when the circuit breaker is closed. However, should it happen that the fault or overload is not removed from the power line by the initial opening of the circuit breaker, as has been later assumed, the timing mechanism 45 will continue to operate until the next cam forming projection I06 upon one of the discs I05 comes into cooperating relation with the lever I03 to close the normally open switch I04; At the same, time, due to the time interval provided by the spacing of the cam forming projections I06 of the rotatable. discs I05, the motor 23 will have had sufiicient time to efiect a further reenergizationof the energy storing spring I3 by a relatching of the lever means 26" in the position shown in Figure 8. When this occurs and the next cam forming projection I06 of the timing mechanism 45 engages the lever [03 thereof, the electromagnetic trip device 34' will be again energized and as a result the abutment forming means will be moved out of holding relation with respect to the lever means 26' and permit the energy storing spring I-3 to again operate to extend the toggle formed by the

links

59 and 60 and effect a second, but delayed,.reclosing of the circuit breaker. Now, should it happen that the fault has not been removed. from the power line, the electromagnetic trip device 38 will again become operative and release the toggle. fulcrum providing lever means BI and permit another collapse of the toggle mechanism formed by the links 59' and 60 and an opening of the circuit breaker by the energy storing spring I2-. Under these conditions the timing mechanism 45 will continue to rotate and the above circuit breakerlreclosing operation willbe, repeated when the next cam forming projection I06 of the timing mechanism 45 comes into engagement with the lever I03 to effect a closing. of the circuit controlled by the normally open timer switch I04.

From the above it will be seen that in addition to'providing a new and novel circuit breaker reclosing" mechanism by means of which an initial opening, an immediate reclosing, and a subsequent opening of the circuit breaker may be acconiplished with two-energy storing springs'in an entirely automatic manner, the present invention also provides a reclosing mechanism which is adapted to operate in conjunctionwith any suitable timing means to produce a plurality of subsequent reclosing operations of the circuit breaker in the event of a sustained overload, and after which the operating mechanism Willbe rendered inoperative only when the circuit breaker is in its circuit open position.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, a circuit breaker operating shaft rotatable between a circuit breaker open and closed position, spring means biasing said shaft into a circuit breaker open position, a toggle mechanism for rotating and holding said shaft into a circuit breaker closed position, a lever means pivotally mounted adjacent one end of and operable to extend said toggle mechanism, spring means for moving said lever means in a toggle mechanism extending direction, a tripable mechanism adapted to cause a collapse of said toggle mechanism, means for resetting said tripable means immediately after a collapse of said toggle mechanism, and a second tripable mechanism adapted to release said lever means subsequent to a collapse of said toggle mechanism, whereby upon a successive operation of said first and second tripable mechanisms the circuit breaker operating shaft will be rotated through a circuit breaker opening and a reclosing operation by said spring means.

2. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, a circuit breaker operating shaft rotatable between a circuit breaker open and closed position, spring means biasing said shaft into a circuit breaker open position, a toggle mechanism for rotating and holding said shaft into a circuit breaker closed position, a lever means pivotally mounted adjacent one end of and operable to extend said toggle mechanism, spring means for moving said lever means in a toggle mechanism extending direction, a tripable mechanism adapted to cause a collapse of said toggle mechanism, means for resetting said tripable mechanism immediately after a collapse of said toggle mechanism, a second tripable mechanism adapted to release said lever means subsequent to a collapse of said toggle mechanism, whereby upon a successive operation of said first and second tripable mechanisms the circuit breaker operating shaft will be rotated through a circuit breaker opening and a reclosing operation by said spring means, and means cooperating with said first tripable mechanism for holding said toggle mechanism in its extended position independently of said lever means.

3. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, a circuit breaker operating shaft rotatable between a circuit breaker open and closed position, spring means biasing said shaft into a circuit breaker open position, a toggle mechanism for rotating and holding said shaft into a circuit breaker closed position, a lever means pivotally mounted adjacent one end of and operable to extend said toggle mechanism, spring means for moving said lever means in a toggle mechanism extending direction, a tripable mechanism adapted to cause a collapse of said toggle mechanism, means for resetting said tripable mechanism immediately after a collapse of said toggle mechanism, a second tripable mechanism adapted to release said lever means subsequent to a collapse of said toggle mechanism, whereby upon a successive operation of said first and second tripable mechanisms the circuit breaker operating shaft will be rotated through a circuit breaker opening and a reclosing, operation by said spring means, means cooperating with said first tripable mechanism for holding said toggle mechanism in its extended position independently of said lever means, and means operating through said second spring means for returning said lever means into latched relation with said second tripable mechanism and subsequently stressing said second spring means to store lever operating energy therein.

4. In an operating mechanism for an automatic circuit breaker of the character described, the combination of a circuit breaker operating shaft, spring means operating to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, a toggle mechanism for holding said shaft against rotation by said spring means when in its extended position, means providing a floating fulcrum at one end of said toggle mechanism, a tripable mechanism for holding said means providing a floating fulcrum in an operative position with respect to said toggle mechanism, a lever means pivotally mounted substantially co-axial with the normal operating position of the floating fulcrum at the end of said toggle mechanism, means carried by said lever engageable with the central axis of said toggle mechanism, a second tripable mechanism for retaining said lever means in an inoperative position, spring means for moving said lever in a toggle mechanism extending direction when released by said latter tripable mechanism, and means operating through said latter spring means for moving said lever means into latched relation with said second tripable mechanism and subsequently stressing said latter spring means to store operating energy therein.

5. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, an operating shaft, spring means operable to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, a toggle mechanism operable when in its extended position to hold said operating shaft against rotation by said spring means, means providing a floating fulcrum at one end of said toggle mechanism, a tripable latch for holding said means providing a floating fulcrum in a fixed operable position with respect to said toggle mechanism, a lever pivotally mounted substantially coaxial with the fixed operable position of the floating fulcrum at the end of said toggle mechanism, a pawl carried by said lever and engageable with the central joint of said toggle mechanism, a second tripable latch for retaining said lever and the pawl carried thereby in an elevated position and out of engagement with said toggle mechanism, spring means for moving said lever and the pawl thereupon downwardly and into toggle extending engagement with said toggle mechanism upon an operation of said second tripable latch, means for returning said lever into latched relation with said second tripable latch and stressing said latter spring means to store lever operating energy therein, and means for moving the pawl carried by said lever out of engagement with the central joint of said toggle mechanism when the toggle mechanism is fully extended, whereby said toggle mechanism may collapse independently of said lever in the event of an operation of said first tripable latch prior to a return and latching of said lever means in its elevated position.

6. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, an operating shaft, spring means operable to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, an extendable toggle mechanism operable when extended to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker closing direction against the action of said spring means, means for retaining said toggle mechanism in an extended position, means providing a floating fulcrum at one end of said toggle mechanism and permitting longitudinal movement thereof out of engagement with said retaining means, a tripable latch for holding said means providing a floating fulcrum in an operable position with respect to said toggle mechanism, a lever pivotally mounted substantially coaxial with the normal operating position with the floating fulcrum at the end of said toggle mechanism, a pawl carried by said lever and engageable with the central joint of said toggle mechanism, a second tripable latch for retaining said lever and the pawl carried thereby in an elevated position and out of engagement with said toggle mechanism, spring means for moving said lever and the pawl carried thereby into toggle extending engagement with said toggle mechanism upon an operation of said second tripable latch, means operating through said second spring means for returning said lever to its elevated position and subsequently stressing said latter spring means to store lever operating energy therein, and means cooperating with said lever for resetting said second tripable latch when said lever is in its elevated position and prior to a stressing of said second spring means by said last means.

'7. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, an operating shaft, spring means for rotating said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, an extendable toggle mechanism connected to said shaft and operable when extended to hold said operating shaft in its circuit breaker closed position against the action of said spring means, means providing a floating fulcrum for the other end of said toggle mechanism, retaining means engageable with the middle joint of said toggle mechanism for holding it in an extended posi tion, tripable means for retaining the means providing a floating fulcrum in a fixed position and adapted when tripped to permit a longitudinal movement of said toggle mechanism out of engagement with said retaining means under the influence of said spring means, and means adapted to control the collapsing movement of said toggle mechanism and returning said means providing a floating fulcrum at the end of said toggle mechanism to its fixed and operative position with respect to said tripable means.

8. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, an operating shaft having radially extending arms, spring means operating upon one of said radially extending armsfor rotating said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, a toggle mechanism connected at one end to the other of said radially extending arms and adapted when extended to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker closing direction against the action of said spring means, a lever means pivotally mounted at a point adjacent the other end of said toggle mechanism and engageable at its free end with the middle joint of said toggle mechanism, a second spring means for operating said lever means in a toggle engaging and extending direction, a tripable mechanism adapted when operated to permit a collapse of said toggle mechanism and a movement of said operating shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction under the action of said first spring means, means for resetting said tripable means immediately following a collapse of said toggle mechanism, and a second tripable mechanism adapted to release said lever means, whereby said lever means will be operated by said second spring means to extend said toggle mech anism and rotate said operating shaft in a circuit breaker closing direction.

9. In a circuit breaker operating mechanism, an operating shaft having radially extending arms, spring means operating upon one of said radially extending arms for rotating said shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction, a toggle mechanism connected at one end to the other of said radially extending arms and adapted when extended to rotate said shaft in a circuit breaker closing direction against the action of said spring means, a lever means pivotally mounted at a point adjacent the other end of said toggle mechanism, means at the free end of said lever means engageable with the middle joint of said toggle mechanism, a second spring means for operating said lever means in a toggle engaging and extending direction, a tripable mechanism adapted when operated to permit a collapse of said toggle mechanism and a movement of said operating shaft in a circuit breaker opening direction under the action of said first spring means, means for resetting said tripable mechanism immediately following a collapse of said toggle mechanism, and a second tripable mechanism adapted to release said lever means, whereby said lever means will be operated by said second spring means to extend said toggle mechanism and rotate said operating shaft in a circuit breaker reclosing direction, and means cooperating with the means at the free end of said lever means for effecting a disengagement thereof from the toggle mechanism, whereby said first tripable mechanism may operate to permit an immediate collapse of said toggle mechanism independently of said lever means.

10. In an operating mechanism of the character described, the combination of a circuit breaker operating shaft having an arm extending radially therefrom, a toggle mechanism connected between the end of said radially extending arm and a normally fixed fulcrum, a lever means pivotally mounted adjacent said normally fixed fulcrum and operating in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said toggle mechanism, spring means for operating said lever means in a toggle extending direction, an overhanging pawl at the end of said lever means adapted to engage said toggle mechanism between its ends, means for positioning and holding said pawl in cooperating relation with said toggle mechanism during the toggle extending movement of said lever means, and means for releasing and moving said pawl out of cooperating relation with said toggle mechanism when the latter is fully extended, whereby said toggle mechanism will be free to collapse and permit an opening movement of said circuit breaker operating shaft independently of said lever means in the event of anabnormal condit-ion on the line controlled by the circuit breaker.

AUGUST 0. SCHWAGER,