Abstract: A maintaining system is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an electrical switching apparatus cover having an edge portion defining a thru hole. The maintaining system includes a test port cover member and an insert. The test port cover member is structured to be coupled to the edge portion. The test port cover member has a plate portion and a pair of opposing leg portions extending from the plate portion. The leg portions are structured to extend into an interior of the electrical switching apparatus and engage the electrical switching apparatus cover. The insert extends through the plate portion. The insert is structured to engage each of the leg portions in order to prevent the leg portions from deflecting toward each other, thereby maintaining the test port cover member on the electrical switching apparatus cover.

Abstract: A maintaining system is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an electrical switching apparatus cover having an edge portion defining a thru hole. The maintaining system includes a test port cover member and an insert. The test port cover member is structured to be coupled to the edge portion. The test port cover member has a plate portion and a pair of opposing leg portions extending from the plate portion. The leg portions are structured to extend into an interior of the electrical switching apparatus and engage the electrical switching apparatus cover. The insert extends through the plate portion. The insert is structured to engage each of the leg portions in order to prevent the leg portions from deflecting toward each other, thereby maintaining the test port cover member on the electrical switching apparatus cover.

Abstract: An accessory wire retention assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker comprises a housing, separable contacts and an accessory enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of wires adapted to be electrically connected to the accessory. The wires extend from the interior of the housing through an aperture to the exterior. The accessory wire retention assembly includes an insert which cooperates with the housing and to establish a predetermined position of the wires with respect to the accessory and the aperture, and a fastening mechanism which fastens the wires to the insert to maintain the wires in the predetermined position.

Abstract: An accessory wire retention assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker comprises a housing, separable contacts and an accessory enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of wires adapted to be electrically connected to the accessory. The wires extend from the interior of the housing through an aperture to the exterior. The accessory wire retention assembly includes an insert which cooperates with the housing and to establish a predetermined position of the wires with respect to the accessory and the aperture, and a fastening mechanism which fastens the wires to the insert to maintain the wires in the predetermined position.

Abstract: A thermal trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The thermal trip assembly includes a load conductor, a bimetal adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to the shunts. The bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass the bimetal.

Abstract: An operating mechanism including a number of biasing elements and a number of linkage members is provided. The linkage members are operatively coupled to each other and each are movable between a second configuration, an initial tripped configuration, a rebound configuration, and a final tripped configuration. The biasing elements are operatively coupled to the number of linkage members and bias the number of linkage members to the final, first configuration. A stop member is coupled to one of the linkage members. The stop member moves with the associated linkage member. The stop member is positioned to contact a stop surface when the linkage members are in the rebound configuration. Contact between the stop member and the stop surface substantially arrests the motion of the linkage members.

Abstract: A thermal trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The thermal trip assembly includes a load conductor, a bimetal adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to the shunts. The bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass the bimetal.

Abstract: An enclosure is for a slot motor of an electrical switching apparatus. The slot motor includes a number of U-shaped laminations. The enclosure includes a first member and a second member coupled to the first member to form a U-shaped enclosed region for the U-shaped laminations.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, a line terminal, a load terminal, separable contacts disposed on a conductive path between the line terminal and the load terminal, an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a trip bar, and an electronic trip unit. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a trip actuator assembly including an actuator housing coupled to said housing, an actuator coupled to said actuator housing, and a connector structured to electrically connect the actuator to an electronic trip unit. The electrical switching apparatus further includes a current transformer assembly including a rod-shaped conductor electrically coupled to the load terminal and a current transformer disposed around the rod-shaped conductor, wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to electrically control actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, a line terminal, a load terminal, separable contacts disposed on a conductive path between the line terminal and the load terminal, an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a trip bar, and an electronic trip unit. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a trip actuator assembly including an actuator housing coupled to said housing, an actuator coupled to said actuator housing, and a connector structured to electrically connect the actuator to an electronic trip unit. The electrical switching apparatus further includes a current transformer assembly including a rod-shaped conductor electrically coupled to the load terminal and a current transformer disposed around the rod-shaped conductor, wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to electrically control actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: An enclosure is for a slot motor of an electrical switching apparatus. The slot motor includes a number of U-shaped laminations. The enclosure includes a first member and a second member coupled to the first member to form a U-shaped enclosed region for the U-shaped laminations.

Abstract: An operating mechanism including a number of biasing elements and a number of linkage members is provided. The linkage members are operatively coupled to each other and each are movable between a second configuration, an initial tripped configuration, a rebound configuration, and a final tripped configuration. The biasing elements are operatively coupled to the number of linkage members and bias the number of linkage members to the final, first configuration. A stop member is coupled to one of the linkage members. The stop member moves with the associated linkage member. The stop member is positioned to contact a stop surface when the linkage members are in the rebound configuration. Contact between the stop member and the stop surface substantially arrests the motion of the linkage members.

Abstract: An operating mechanism including a number of biasing elements and a number of linkage members is provided. The linkage members are operatively coupled to each other and each are movable between a second configuration, an initial tripped configuration, a rebound configuration, and a final tripped configuration. The biasing elements are operatively coupled to the number of linkage members and bias the number of linkage members to the final, first configuration. A stop member is coupled to one of the linkage members. The stop member moves with the associated linkage member. The stop member is positioned to contact a stop surface when the linkage members are in the rebound configuration. Contact between the stop member and the stop surface substantially arrests the motion of the linkage members.

Abstract: A lever member is for a trip assembly of an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, a signaling mechanism, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The trip assembly includes a mounting assembly disposed on the housing and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes an actuator coupled to the mounting assembly and a plunger disposed on the mounting assembly and being cooperable with the operating mechanism. The lever member includes: a pivot portion structured to engage the mounting assembly; a first arm portion structured to engage the plunger; and a second arm portion disposed between the pivot portion and the first arm portion, the second arm portion being structured to engage the actuator.

Abstract: An operating mechanism including a number of biasing elements and a number of linkage members is provided. The linkage members are operatively coupled to each other and each are movable between a second configuration, an initial tripped configuration, a rebound configuration, and a final tripped configuration. The biasing elements are operatively coupled to the number of linkage members and bias the number of linkage members to the final, first configuration. A stop member is coupled to one of the linkage members. The stop member moves with the associated linkage member. The stop member is positioned to contact a stop surface when the linkage members are in the rebound configuration. Contact between the stop member and the stop surface substantially arrests the motion of the linkage members.

Abstract: A lever member is for a trip assembly of an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, a signaling mechanism, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The trip assembly includes a mounting assembly disposed on the housing and a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes an actuator coupled to the mounting assembly and a plunger disposed on the mounting assembly and being cooperable with the operating mechanism. The lever member includes: a pivot portion structured to engage the mounting assembly; a first arm portion structured to engage the plunger; and a second arm portion disposed between the pivot portion and the first arm portion, the second arm portion being structured to engage the actuator.

Abstract: An improved circuit breaker switch handle extension is described. The circuit breaker switch handle extension is used to control and limit operation of a circuit breaker switch handle to which it is attached. The handle extension includes positive stop features that prevent damage or destruction of the circuit breaker switch handle when excessive or undesirable force is applied to the handle extension.