Abstract: A ganged auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker comprises at least two auxiliary switches attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship so that they may be inserted into said circuit breaker as a single unit.

Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker, the assembly including an accessory device, an actuator, and a compliant device. The accessory device includes a plunger configured for movement between a retracted position and a protruded position. The actuator includes a first free end and a second free end, the second free end configured for mechanical cooperation with the plunger. The compliant device is disposed intermediate the operating mechanism and the actuator, the compliant device is configured for mechanical cooperation with the second free end of the actuator. A force is applied from the operating mechanism to the accessory device, the force for resetting the accessory device is transmitted from the operating mechanism to the compliant device, from the compliant device to the actuator, and from the actuator to the plunger for resetting the plunger from the protruded position to the retracted position.

Abstract: An assembly designed for connecting a motor operator mechanism to side frames of a circuit breaker operating mechanism is disclosed. The assembly comprising a plate connected between the side frames of the operating mechanism and a bracket portion secured to the plate and engages the motor operating mechanism. The bracket portion couples and aligns the motor operator mechanism and the circuit breaker operating mechanism.

Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a circuit breaker operating mechanism includes a primary latch with a cross bar and a first pair of elongated leg members flexibly mounted to the cross bar. A secondary latch is pivotally mountable to the circuit breaker operating mechanism, with the first pair of elongated leg members being in removable engagement with the secondary latch. In one embodiment, the cross bar is flexible and deflects at a point along a longitudinal axis thereof. In another embodiment, the cross bar is flexible and twists about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A clip designed to retain a conductive strap to a circuit breaker case is disclosed. The clip comprises a main body portion and a flange. The main body portion includes a first edge and a second edge. The flange depends from the first edge of the main body portion and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the flange is configured for attachment to the conductor strap and the second end of the flange and the main body portion configured to secure the conductor strap in mounting stability within the case and to prevent movement of the conductor strap relative to the case.

Abstract: An indicator on a stored energy motor operator indicates that the circuit breaker is “on” when the contacts are closed and the handle is in an on position and when the contacts are open and the handle is in an on position. The indicator only indicates that the circuit breaker is “off” when the contacts are open and the handle is in an off position. To achieve these conditions, the stored energy motor operator includes a flag bearing on and off indicia, the flag attached to one end of a connecting bar, the other end of the connecting bar pivotally connected within the stored energy motor operator. A lever is attached to a central portion of the connecting bar at a spring, the lever including a hook portion for hooking onto a pin within the motor operator. When the contacts are closed, thus indicating an “on” condition, the lever remains hooked onto the pin.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a circuit breaker comprises: an operating handle movable between on and off positions extending substantially up at a point between the on and off positions; a crank for controlling a contact arm of the circuit breaker to cause the contact arm to move between open and closed positions; mechanism spring connected between the operating handle and the crank, causing said crank to move when discharged and when the operating handle is moved between said on and off positions; a trip latch configured to restrain the mechanism spring from discharging unless moved; and means for moving the trip latch upon removal of an electronic trip unit.

Abstract: A trip actuator includes a trip arm configured to provide an actuating force for unlatching the circuit breaker operating mechanism and an actuator mechanism for changing the state of the circuit breaker accessory. The actuator mechanism includes a first lever biased to rotate in a first direction about a first axis and a latch assembly releasably restraining the first lever from rotating in the first direction. The latch assembly includes a second lever and a slide. The slide is operably coupled to the second lever, and the slide releasably restrains the first lever. The second lever moves the slide to release the first lever when the actuating force is applied to the second lever.

Abstract: A four-pole molded case circuit breaker is provided with connecting rods for simultaneously driving the contact arms in all four poles while at the same time allowing for a staggered contact depression in the fourth pole relative to the other three poles. A stabilizer clamp locks the connecting rods together to eliminate relative motion between the rods without interfering with the staggered contact depression. By staggering the contact depression in the fourth pole, a three-pole operating mechanism can effectively toggle a four-pole device since the load of the contact depression springs in all four poles is not seen by the operating mechanism at the same time.

Abstract: A circuit breaker modular device reset allows modular devices to be reset in a confined space with a minimal operating stroke. Modular devices include actuators such as flux shift units and accessories such as shunt trip devices and undervoltage devices. The reset device includes a support, a first leg and a second leg connected to the support via a trunk. A head is located at the distal end of the first leg. The modular device includes a reset tab. An interface used to reset an actuated modular device projects from the second leg and engages the reset tab during a modular device reset stroke.

Abstract: A motor operator mechanism is disclosed for moving a breaker handle of a circuit breaker between off and on positions. The motor operator mechanism comprises of a first pin biased to engage the breaker handle in a direction to close the circuit breaker, a pin latch configured to releasably engage the first pin when the breaker handle is in a position intermediate to the off and on positions, wherein releasing the pin latch allows the first pin to move the breaker handle to the on position.

Abstract: An operating handle assembly is provided having an improved handle engagement arrangement, thereby enabling the operating handle assembly to be adaptable for both human and machine interaction without the requirement of special attachment hardware. An operating handle assembly having a handle base and handle stem can accept a first handle extension suitable for human interaction or a second handle extension suitable for machine interaction. Assembly features provide for proper assembly of the handle extension to the handle stem while maintaining appropriate electrical clearances to live parts. The two part operating handle assembly, handle base with handle stem plus handle extension, provides for improved manufacturability of the host device, whereby the end-use construction of the host device need not be identified until a late point in the production cycle. The host device may be, but is not limited to, a standard circuit breaker, a rotary circuit breaker, a switch, or a disconnect device.

Abstract: A circuit breaker cover is provided with a spring loaded pushbutton assembly that is self-captivated within the cover, thereby enabling the assembly and operation of the pushbutton unit without the need for additional hardware or fixation devices. The pushbutton unit is pivotally arranged within the cover and spring biased against a stop surface in the cover. A top-down assembled, self-captivated pushbutton unit provides for improved manufacturability of the host device, which may be but is not limited to a standard circuit breaker, a rotary circuit breaker, a switch, or a disconnect device. Host devices utilizing such pushbutton units are employed in residential, commercial, industrial or utility applications, and may be employed in single device enclosures or in electrical distribution panels.

Abstract: A ganged auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker comprises at least two auxiliary switches attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship so that they may be inserted into said circuit breaker as a single unit.

Abstract: A cross bar designed to securely retain a conductive strap to a circuit breaker case is disclosed. The cross bar comprises a main body portion having a first end and a second end. The main body portion is configured for attachment to the conductive strap and the first and second ends are configured for attachment to the circuit breaker case. The cross bar secures the conductive strap in mounting stability to the circuit breaker case to prevent movement of the conductive strap relative to the case.

Abstract: A motor operator mechanism is disclosed for moving a breaker handle of a circuit breaker between off and on positions. The motor operator mechanism comprises of a first pin biased to engage the breaker handle in a direction to close the circuit breaker, a pin latch configured to releasably engage the first pin when the breaker handle is in a position intermediate to the off and on positions, wherein releasing the pin latch allows the first pin to move the breaker handle to the on position.

Abstract: An indicator on a stored energy motor operator is disclosed. The indicator indicates that the circuit breaker is “on” when the contacts are closed and the handle is in an on position and when the contacts are open and the handle is in an on position. The indicator only indicates that the circuit breaker is “off” when the contacts are open and the handle is in an off position. To achieve these conditions, the stored energy motor operator includes a flag bearing on and off indicia, the flag attached to one end of a connecting bar, the other end of the connecting bar pivotally connected within the stored energy motor operator. A lever is attached to a central portion of the connecting bar at a spring, the lever including a hook portion for hooking onto a pin within the motor operator. When the contacts are closed, thus indicating an “on” condition, the lever remains hooked onto the pin.

Abstract: An operating mechanism comprises an operating handle movable between on and off positions, the operating handle extending substantially up at a point between said on and off positions; a crank for controlling a contact arm of a circuit breaker to cause the contact arm to move between open and closed positions when the crank moved; mechanism springs connected between the operating handle and crank so that the crank moves when the mechanism springs are discharged and when the operating handle is moved between on and off positions; a trip latch restraining the mechanism springs from discharging unless moved; and a trip lever having a lever arm, the trip lever being biased by a tripping spring to cause the trip lever to extend substantially up from the operating mechanism and move the trip latch and discharge said mechanism springs unless the trip lever is prevented from rotating under the influence of said tripping spring.

Abstract: A rotary contact circuit breaker employs a crank to couple a switching mechanism to the rotary contact pole structure. The use of a crank allows for the mechanism and pole structure the individually optimized without effecting the performance of the other. In particular the crank allows for a mechanism that is able to achieve maximum torque delivery to the pole structure.