The invention relates to a spring-type control for high- or medium- voltage electrical apparatus furnished with a free coupling device allowing respectively coupling during the loading of the spring(s) (11) and decoupling during the loading of the spring(s), between a crank or a motor and the drive shaft (1) of a circuit breaker switch of the apparatus. The mechanical free wheel device is integrated into a toothed wheel (2) of the control and comprises at least one pawl (7, 70) engaging or otherwise with internal toothing (4) of the toothed wheel (2).