Abstract: An auxiliary switch terminal housing is provided for a telecommunication system circuit breaker including an enclosure, separable contacts inside the enclosure, line and load terminals in electrical communication with the separable contacts, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and an auxiliary switch which is actuated by the operating mechanism. The auxiliary switch includes outputs and conductors electrically interconnected with the outputs. The terminal housing includes a first portion coupled to the enclosure of the circuit breaker proximate the line and load terminals, a second portion distal from the first portion, a plurality of terminals inside the second portion and electrically interconnected with the conductors and the outputs of the auxiliary switch, and a fastening mechanism, such as a pair of screws or rivets, fastening the terminal housing to the circuit breaker enclosure. An electrical switching apparatus employing a terminal housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A secondary arc chute is for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, a pair of separable contacts enclosed within the housing, and a primary arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by the separable contacts. The primary arc chute has a first end including an arc horn, and a second end. The secondary arc chute includes a chute member made from a magnetic material, such as nickel-plated steel, and including a first portion disposed at or about the arc horn of the primary arc chute, and a second portion. The chute member provides an extension of the primary arc chute in order to facilitate drawing the arc away from the separable contacts and to ground the arc into the housing of the electrical switching apparatus.

Abstract: An arc plate is for a circuit breaker including a housing, a pair of separable contacts enclosed within the housing and an arc chute. The arc chute includes a plurality of the arc plates supported in spaced relation between opposing side walls. Each arc plate includes a first end disposed proximate the separable contacts, and a second end distal from the separable contacts. An arc runner, such as an integral tab extension, protrudes from the second end of the arc plate in order to draw the arc away from the first end thereof. The integral tab extension of at least one arc plate includes a bend such that the extension forms an angle of between about 20 degrees and about 50 degrees with respect to the plane of the arc plate, in order to direct the arc toward the second ends of adjacent arc plate.

Abstract: A moving arm for a moving contact assembly in a telecommunication system circuit breaker is provided. The circuit breaker has a housing assembly, an operating mechanism, a trip device, and a current path assembly. The current path assembly includes a line conductor assembly having a fixed contact. The operating mechanism is constructed to move between an on position, a tripped position, an off position and a reset position. The moving arm assembly also includes a movable contact structured to be disposed on the moving arm. The moving arm has an elongated body with an offset disposed at one end. The offset is structured to displace the movable contact relative to the longitudinal axis of the moving arm body.

Abstract: A non-contact auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker includes a target having first and second positions corresponding to open and closed positions of separable contacts. A non-contact sensor is responsive to the first and second positions of the target to generate first and second output signals. A movable slider member carries the target and is structured to slide within a holder inside the housing of the circuit breaker and to be coupled to and moved by an operating mechanism responsive to the open and closed positions of the separable contacts. This effects one of the first and second positions of the target when the separable contacts are closed and the other of the first and second positions of the target when the separable contacts are open.

Abstract: An inter-phase link for a shared tripping device, wherein the shared tripping device is structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, and the inter-phase link has an elongated body with a mounting end and a distal end. The inter-phase link body mounting end is structured to be coupled to the primary circuit breaker operating mechanism and the inter-phase link body distal end is structured to extend through a primary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening and a secondary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening to engage the secondary circuit breaker trip device.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing having a first insulating portion, a line end, a load end and a pair of separable contacts electrically disposed between the line end and the load end. An operating mechanism includes a second insulating portion and a movable arm carrying one of the separable contacts. The operating mechanism is structured to move the separable contacts between an open position and a closed position. A shunt is electrically interconnected between the movable arm and one of the line and load ends. The first insulating portion is disposed between the separable contacts and a portion of the shunt. The first and second insulating portions cooperate at or about the closed position of the separable contacts to prevent an arc from passing from the separable contacts to the conductor.

Abstract: A trip lever for a shared tripping device, wherein the shared tripping device is structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, a primary circuit breaker and a secondary circuit breaker, the trip lever having an elongated trip lever body with a mounting end and a distal end. The trip lever body mounting end pivotally is coupled to a cage in the primary circuit breaker and engages a trip bar in the secondary circuit breaker. The trip lever body distal end is disposed in a path of travel of an inter-phase link body distal end within the primary circuit breaker. The trip lever body distal end is structured to be engaged by the inter-phase link body distal end as the inter-phase link body distal end moves along the path of travel and the trip lever is structured to actutate the secondary circuit breaker trip bar when the trip lever is engaged by the inter-phase link body distal end.

Abstract: An adjustable magnetic trip device for a molded case circuit breaker is provided where the trip device includes a plunger and a stationary core as well as a plunger support structure with a movable plunger carriage. The position of the plunger assembly and carriage relative to the stationary core is determined by a cam assembly having a body with a plurality of sections, each section having a different radius. The plunger carriage is responsive to rotation of said cam assembly and may be adjusted by rotating the cam. The over-current condition for the trip device is a function of the distance between the plunger assembly and the stationary core. Accordingly, the over-current condition may be changed by rotating the cam. As each section of the cam has a constant radius, the over-current condition remains the same no matter where the carriage contacts a certain section of the cam.