Abstract: A terminal connecting device has a plurality of movable contacts which are biased toward each other by springs to an extent limited by a spacer carried by the frame. The device is easily assembly by fitting shafts through bores in the contacts and using spring holders inserted between pairs of contacts and locked by wedges to exert a biasing force urging opposed contacts together. The shafts are held by support and frame members having open recesses, as opposed to bores, therein.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter comprises a housing including a housing wall, an interrupting mechanism including a pair of separable contacts and an operating mechanism, and an optional accessory unit used in connection with an opening operation of the interrupting mechanism. The optional accessory unit may be a unit which includes a movable member operable in connection with the opening operation of the interrupting mechanism, such as an alarm switch, an auxiliary switch, a voltage trip device or an under voltage trip device. The optional accessory unit may be a connecting terminal block connectable between an external circuit and the circuit interrupter. The housing has formed in the outer surface thereof a receptacle cavity for receiving therein the optional accessory unit. When the unit is received in the cavity, no substantial portion of the unit projects from the housing.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter which comprises a pair of separable contact structures each including a contact element, at least one of the contact structures being movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the other contact structure for opening and closing an electric circuit extending through the circuit interrupter, the movable contact structure having an arm support that is pivotable about an axis, a movable contact arm pivotally supported on the arm support and extending in a parallel and an opposite direction to the other contact structure for generating an electromagnetic repulsive force therebetween, and a biasing means connected between the arm support and the movable contact arm for biasing the movable contact arm to a predetermined position with respect to said arm support, and an operating mechanism connected to the arm support of the movable contact structure for separating the movable contact structure from the stationary contact structure in response to an overcurrent flowing t

Abstract: A circuit interrupter which comprises, in a compartment defined in an electrically insulating housing, a pair of separable contacts defining, when separated, an arcing region therebetween, and an operating mechanism, including a tripping unit and an operating handle, for opening and closing the separable contacts. The housing which includes an electrically insulating bottom wall has a gas exhaust passage having an inlet opening in the inner surface of the housing. The inlet of the gas exhaust passage is located in the bottom wall at a position effective for exhausting an arced gas generated in the arcing region without contacting the operating mechanism.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an air circuit breaker including a compression coil; a second spring holder to compress the compression coil in the axial direction thereof; and a first spring holder which is subjected to the compression force of the compression coil, the second spring holder being constructed in such a manner that it is formed of a plate material in a rectangular shape, a pair of projected pieces are provided on both sides of the plate material, and a pin is held to pass between the pair of projected pieces in the direction of thickness of the plate so as to be able to support one end of the energy accumulating spring at four points with the pair of projected pieces and the pin in a compressible manner. After compression of the energy accumulating spring by pressure application thereto, its pressure application is released to stretch the energy accumulating spring so as to close a pair of contact points through the first and second spring holders.

Abstract: A drawer-type circuit breaker of the type adapted to be disposed in an engaged and disengaged position within a housing and a disengaged position outside the housing on extendable support rails is provided with latches which will prevent the extension of the guide rails until the circuit breaker is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position within the housing. The movement of the circuit breaker to the disengaged position operates the latches to permit extension of the support rails while still preventing movement of the circuit breaker onto the support rails. Movement of the support rails to the fully extended position allows the latches to be released by movement of the circuit breaker to allow the circuit breaker to be withdrawn out of the housing onto the support rails.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air circuit breaker including, in combination, a rotational shaft connected with a motor, a cam which rotates in one direction through a ratchet by a handle operation to accumulate energy in an energy accumulating spring for contact closure, an engaging part provided on the outer periphery of the rotational shaft, and a latch which slides on and along the engaging part of the rotational shaft such that the latch means remains disengaged from the engaging part when the cam is rotated by the handle operation so that the rotational shaft remains stationary, and which causes the cam to rotate together with the rotational shaft by engaging the engaging part of the rotational shaft when the rotational shaft is rotated in one and the same direction by the driving motor.

Abstract: The present invention describes an air circuit breaker having a bounce preventive device which is provided on the direction changing lever interposed between the link mechanism to drive the contact opening and closing mechanism for closure of the contact and the contact opening and closing mechanism, so as to prevent the bouncing phenomenon from occuring at the time of the OFF-operation, thereby making it possible to secure accurate circuit breaking action.

Abstract: A terminal assembly for a circuit interrupter has a plurality of pairs of metallic spaced parallel flat load terminals with the flat surfaces of the terminals of a pair opposed to each other, the pairs of terminals being positioned side-by-side with spaces therebetween, there being one pair for each phase of the interrupter. Two side walls of insulating material are provided between each side-by-side pair of terminals and abutting each other, and two end walls of insulating material are provided on the outside of the outermost pairs of the terminals. The side walls and end walls have grooves therein holding the side edges of the terminals, the terminals projecting outwardly from between the side walls and end walls. Bolts extend through aligned bolt receiving holes.

Abstract: The disclosed terminal assembly for a circuit interrupter comprises three pairs of opposite source and load terminals, each pair being carried on both lateral sides by a pair of first and second side plates by having each lateral side and a recess on that side engaging an associated groove and a raised portion on the front surface of each side plate respectively and connected to adjacent pairs of the opposite source and load terminals through different pairs of the first and second side plates interconnected back to back. All the terminals and side plates are assembled into a unitary structure between two metallic plates by means of bolts and nuts. A supporting strut includes two notches fitted onto the lateral surfaces of end portions of each pair of the opposite source and load terminals and is disposed on each of the side plates.

Abstract: An arc-suppressing apparatus for a circuit breaker has a pair of side plates having a plurality of first and second grooves formed therein, the second grooves being shallower than the first grooves and extending linearly from the ends of the first grooves to an end of each of the side plates. The side plates are separated by a spacing strut and loosely connected by a bolt and nut so that a space exists between the plates which is large enough to allow a plurality of grids to slide along the second grooves into the first grooves. Thereafter, the nut and bolt are tightened to firmly secure the grids in the first grooves.

Abstract: A drawer-type circuit breaker of the type adapted to be disposed in an engaged and disengaged position within a housing and a disengaged position outside the housing on extendable support rails is provided with latches which will prevent the extension of the guide rails until the circuit breaker is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position within the housing. The movement of the circuit breaker to the disengaged position operates the latches to permit extension of the support rails while still preventing movement of the circuit breaker onto the support rails. Movement of the support rails to the fully extended position allows the latches to be released by movement of the circuit breaker to allow the circuit breaker to be withdrawn out of the housing onto the support rails.