Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a molded housing having a base and a cover forming a recess. A cylindrical steel pivot pin is disposed in the recess of the housing. Fixed and movable separable contacts are disposed within the molded housing. An operating mechanism is disposed within the molded housing for moving the separable contacts between an open position and a closed position. The operating mechanism includes a cradle having a latch portion and a generally U-shaped pivot portion which pivotally engages the cylindrical steel pivot pin. A trip mechanism cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a portion which engages the latch portion of the cradle when the separable contacts are in the closed position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a molded housing having a base and a cover forming a recess. A cylindrical steel pivot pin is disposed in the recess of the housing. Fixed and movable separable contacts are disposed within the molded housing. An operating mechanism is disposed within the molded housing for moving the separable contacts between an open position and a closed position. The operating mechanism includes a cradle having a latch portion and a generally U-shaped pivot portion which pivotally engages the cylindrical steel pivot pin. A trip mechanism cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a portion which engages the latch portion of the cradle when the separable contacts are in the closed position.

Abstract: A reverse fed single pole miniature ground fault circuit breaker includes a housing, a line termination on the lower portion of the housing, and a load termination on the upper portion of the housing. Separable contacts are disposed between the line termination and the load termination. A handle and operating mechanism form a manual mechanism for manually operating the separable contacts. The handle has an upper position in which the separable contacts are closed and a lower position in which the separable contacts are open. A ground fault circuit interruption trip circuit opens the separable contacts in response to predetermined ground fault current conditions and is powered through those separable contacts.

Abstract: An auxiliary switch, mounted in a compartment in the molded housing of a circuit breaker separate from the compartment in which the circuit breaker mechanism is mounted, is actuated, when the circuit breaker contacts are open, by cascaded actuating members, one of which engages, through a housing panel dividing the compartments, the latchable cradle of the circuit breaker mechanism to actuate the auxiliary switch when the circuit breaker is tripped, and the second of which is spring biased against a cam surface on an operating member incorporating the circuit breaker handle to actuate the auxiliary switch when the handle is in the off position.

Abstract: A miniature circuit breaker with two thermal-magnetic poles has an electronic trip device providing ground fault, and sputtering arc fault (if desired), protection located entirely in a large central compartment of a molded housing between compartments housing the two mechanical poles. The current rating of the circuit breaker is increased by a gas vent channel extending between the two mechanical pole compartments adjacent the respective breaker contacts which allows gases generated by arcing during current interruption to expand into both outer compartments, thereby permitting the circuit breaker to interrupt larger short circuit currents. The gas vent channel extends through, but does not communicate with, the central electronics compartment.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit breaker has line and neutral bus bars extending through the center apertures of two laterally spaced toroidal coils to form the primaries of ground fault sensing transformers. The bus bars have flat center sections extending between the two coils parallel to the coil end faces and offset laterally by flat laterally extending legs at each end which are bent transverse to the end faces of the coils and extend through the coil apertures in flat confronting relation. The leg on one end of the neutral bus bar has a terminal portion bent into a plane parallel to the center section with a crimp at the end for attachment to a neutral pigtail.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit breaker in which both the fixed and movable contacts of the ground fault test switch are directly secured to the printed circuit board on which the ground fault detection circuit is implemented, with the movable contact also providing the spring bias for the test button.

Abstract: Insulating barriers for flat, confronting C-shaped bus bars with facing, depending end portions are integrally formed with a pair of confronting C-shaped insulating members conforming to the shape of the bus bars and joined by a pair of projections extending between and electrically insulating the facing, depending end portions from each other. Preferably, the insulating barrier is formed with flat linear sections joining the confronting C-shaped members which are then folded to form the projections. The C-shaped insulating members have edge extensions covering the edges of the bus bars. Grippers formed integrally with the edge extensions snap under the bus bars to secure the insulating members in place.