LATCH AND PIVOT MECHANISM FOR ELECTRONIC SECTIONALIZER MOUNTING STRUCTURE

A pivot mechanism for drop-out of an electronic sectionalizer tube from an upper contact of mounting structure is arranged so that substantially the entire force released by an actuator fired by a sectionalizer logic circuit immediately causes the tube to drop away and disengage the upper contact. The actuator is mounted on a lower portion of the tube and has a pin that strikes a trunnion pivotally interconnecting a lower contact of the mounting structure and a lower portion of the tube, and the pin of the actuator strikes the trunnion at a location between the pivotal connections of the trunnion so that immediate, downwardly directed motion of the sectionalizer tube away from the upper contact is assured. The pivot mechanism reliably ensures successful drop-out of the tube regardless of adverse environmental conditions and with minimal reliance upon a spring or the effects of gravity.