Method and apparatus for achieving three positions
View Patent ↗A three position apparatus and method of operation thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes an actuator plate a first spring assembly in operable communication with the actuator plate a second spring assembly in operable communication with the actuator plate a first drive plate in operable communication with the actuator plate and first spring assembly and a second drive plate in operable communication with the actuator plate and second spring assembly. A driver is in operable communication with the first drive plate and with the second drive plate. The three position apparatus is configured to provide quick movement of the driver to at least three discrete positions.
1. A three position apparatus for operating a driver in operable communication with a switch, the apparatus comprising:
an actuator plate;
a first spring assembly in operable communication with the actuator plate;
a second spring assembly in operable communication with the actuator plate;
a first drive plate in operable communication with the actuator plate and first spring assembly; and
a second drive plate in operable communication with the actuator plate and second spring assembly;
wherein the first drive plate and the second drive plate are in operable communication with the driver; and
wherein the three position apparatus is configured to provide quick movement of the driver to at least three discrete positions.
2. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spindle in operable communication with the actuator plate.
3. The three position apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a handle in operable communication with the spindle.
4. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switch is an electrical switch.
5. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to make an electrical connection in the switch in less than 100 milliseconds.
6. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to break an electrical connection in the switch in less than 100 milliseconds.
7. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical switch is a 400 ampere switch.
8. The three position apparatus of claim 1 configured such that the driver can be moved from one of the three positions to another of the three positions in less than 100 milliseconds.
9. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the first spring assembly such that when the first spring assembly is discharged, the first drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
10. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the first spring assembly such that when the first spring assembly is discharged, the second drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
11. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the second spring assembly such that when the second spring assembly is discharged, the first drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
12. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the second spring assembly such that when the second spring assembly is discharged, the second drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
13. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the first spring assembly and second spring assembly such that when the first spring assembly and second spring assembly are discharged, the first drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
14. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator plate is configured to charge the first spring assembly and second spring assembly such that when the first spring assembly and second spring assembly are discharged, the second drive plate rotates and causes the driver to move from one of three positions to another of the three positions.
15. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , where the first and second spring assemblies comprise springs that may be replaced with different size springs.
16. The three position apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the three discrete positions are left closed, open and right closed.
17. A method of moving a driver from one of three positions to another of three positions, the method comprising:
charging one of two spring assemblies;
rotating one of two drive plates by discharging the one of the two spring assemblies; and
moving the driver from one of three positions to another of the three positions while the one of two drive plates is rotating.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
rotating an actuator plate in operable communication with the one of two spring assemblies.
19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:
rotating a spindle in operable communication with the actuator plate.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
moving a handle in operable communication with the spindle.
21. A three position apparatus for operating a driver in operable communication with a switch, the apparatus comprising:
means for charging one of two spring assemblies, one of the spring assemblies being in operable communication with a first drive plate and the other of the spring assemblies being in operable communication with a second drive plate; and
means for moving the driver from one of the three positions to another of the three positions by discharging the one of two spring assemblies thereby driving one of the first drive plate and the second drive plate.