SINGLE SOLENOID OPERATOR FOR RECTILINEAR MOVEMENT OF CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE

The invention relates to a solenoid-actuated operating device suitable for use with a molded-case circuit breaker having a rectilinearly movable handle. The operating device (410) comprises a reciprocable member (486) adapted to be coupled with the circuit breaker handle (42), a solenoid (414) comprising an electromagnet (415) forming part of a movable structure (415, 411) for moving the reciprocable member in one direction, and an armature (420) forming part of another movable structure (420, 424) for moving the reciprocable member in the opposite direction, the two movable structures being controlled in their movements by bistable latching means (520, 522) adapted to alternately latch and release the respective movable structures.