Spring operated actuator for an electrical switching apparatus

1. A spring operated actuator for an electrical switching apparatus, the spring operated actuator including closing spring means for closing the switching apparatus, and an opening spring means for opening the switching apparatus, at least one of said spring means including a torsion spring defining a winding direction and an unwinding direction thereof and being arranged to be charged with, to store and to discharge mechanical energy, characterized in that in at least one of said spring means said torsion spring is arranged to be charged with mechanical energy in the unwinding direction and to discharge the mechanical energy in the winding direction.

2. The spring operated actuator according to claim 1 characterized in that both the opening spring means and the closing spring means includes a torsion spring.

3. The spring operated actuator according to claim 2 characterized in that the torsion springs are coaxial.

4. The spring operated actuator according to claim 2 characterized in that the torsion springs are arranged one outside the other and such that at least a major part of the opening torsion spring and at least a major part of the closing torsion spring have the same axial location.

5. The spring operated actuator according to claim 1 characterized in that at least one of said torsion springs is a helical spring.

6. The spring operated actuator according to claim 5 characterized in that the closing torsion spring includes a first torsion spring unit and a second torsion spring unit, which first and second units are coaxial, in that at least a major portion of the first unit and a major portion of the second unit have the same axial location, in that the first unit is located radially outside the second unit and in that the first and second units are connected to each other adjacent one axial end of the closing torsion spring.

7. The spring operated actuator according to claim 6 characterized in that the connection fitting includes a first abutment surface arranged in abutting relationship with an end surface of the first unit and a second abutment surface arranged in abutting relationship with an end surface of the second unit, which first and second abutment surfaces face in the opposite circumferential direction relative to each other.

8. The spring operated actuator according to claim 7 characterized in that the connection fitting includes a first and a second flange extending radially in relation to the spring axis, each flange having said abutment surface for one of said end portions and having a hole for holding the other one of said end portions directed to its abutment surface.

9. The spring operated actuator according to claim 1 characterized in that the opening torsion spring and the closing torsion spring each is a helical spring with an end portion at each end of the respective spring, whereby at least one of said end portions extends along the helix of the spring.

10. The spring operated actuator according to claim 9 characterized in that said at least one end portion extends into an end fitting having an abutment surface arranged in abutting relationship with an end surface of said at least one end portion.

11. The spring operated actuator according to claim 10 characterized in that said end fitting includes a holding device arranged to hold said end portion directed to said abutment surface.

12. The spring operated actuator according to claim 1 characterized in that the electrical switching apparatus is a circuit breaker for medium or high voltage.

13. An electrical switching apparatus characterized in that the switching apparatus includes a spring operated actuator, the spring operated actuator including closing spring means for closing the switching apparatus, and an opening spring means for opening the switching apparatus, at least one of said spring means including a torsion spring defining a winding direction and an unwinding direction thereof and being arranged to be charged with, to store and to discharge mechanical energy, characterized in that in at least one of said spring means said torsion spring is arranged to be charged with mechanical energy in the unwinding direction and to discharge the mechanical energy in the winding direction.

14. The electrical switching apparatus according to claim 13 characterized in that the switching apparatus is a circuit breaker.

15. The electrical switching apparatus according to claim 13 characterized in that the switching apparatus is a medium or a high voltage switching apparatus.