A clutch for disconnecting a drive shaft of an electric switch from a switch actuating element which includes a rotary shaft, particularly useful for the return or trip-free release of a rotary switch, comprises a differential gearing coupled between the rotary shaft of the actuating element and the switch drive shaft. The gearing includes a first gear connected to the rotary shaft for rotation therewith, a second gear connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, idler gears meshing with the first and second gears and transmitting rotation from one to the other, and a housing carrying the idler gears and mounted for rotation. A releasable latch carries the idler gears and is arranged selectively to permit and stop rotation of the gearing housing.
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