Abstract: A close-wound coil spring moves a driven member in response to movement of a drive member. The spring is moved when one end thereof receives transverse force from the moving drive member; the other end of the moving spring transversely applies force to the driven member. If the transverse forces on the spring are less than a given amount, as when the driven member moves relatively slowly, the spring acts as a rigid lever capable of moving the driven member synchronously with, and during the same time interval as, the drive member. If the transverse forces on the spring exceed the given amount, as when the driven member moves suddenly or at high speed, the spring flexes according to Hooke's Law and moves the driven member asynchronously with, and during a different time interval from, the drive member. In the latter case, the spring's flexure limits the force applied to the driven member, preventing damage thereto.

Abstract: An exhaust control device to absorb the energy of exhaust gases released during operation of a circuit interrupting device such as a power fuse or an expulsion fuse is disclosed. The exhaust control device includes a housing mounted to the circuit interrupting device having an intake port for receiving the hot exhaust gases produced during and incident to the operation of the circuit interrupting device. A heat sink consisting of a mass of wire mesh is positioned within the housing and initially cools the exhaust gases. A gas flow diverting baffle is positioned within the housing to absorb additional energy by changing the direction of flow of the exhaust gases so that the metallic vapors and particles picked up by the exhaust gas flowing through the heat sink are condensed and deposited. The exhaust gas is then passed through particles of absorbent material such as activated alumina that further cools the gases and absorbs water vapor and metallic vapor from the exhaust gases.