Abstract: A drive mechanism for a circuit breaker or power switch made up of at least one switching unit and comprising a biasing mechanism which can act upon the switching unit, with actuating mechanism for biasing the biasing mechanism, drive mechanism for driving the switching unit under the influence of the energy stored in the biasing mechanism, and mechanism for resetting the switching unit from the driven state. A coupling mechanism in the form of a movement-direction-dependent carrier mechanism is provided whereby the biasing mechanism is brought in its biased state into engagement with the drive mechanism for driving the switching unit and in the driven state of the switching unit the engagement of the biasing mechanism and the drive mechanism is released for resetting the switching unit without operation of the actuating mechanism, and the biasing mechanism and the drive mechanism act upon each other only in the direction of movement opposite to the biasing direction.

Abstract: In the method of controlling the wiping interval, the interval of time between two consecutive wiping movements, of which at least the second wiping movement was started arbitrarily, is measured, the measured value is stored and is subsequently used as interval time unless a different interval time becomes stored due to another arbitrary starting of wiping movements, or unless the interval operation of the wiper is interrupted or unless the control circuit is deenergized.