Abstract: A removable universal terminal assembly has a molded housing that clips onto an electric power switch and two terminal members that can be alternatively installed in the molded housing to provide either a quick connect termination or a binding post termination.

Abstract: An improved paralleled multiple pole circuit breaker employs a conductive element of known resistance connected in series within each pole. A bridging conductor electrically connects together the poles and balances the current flow therethrough at a location between the sets of separable contacts and the conductive element of each pole. The conductive elements are mass-produced plate-like blades of a material having a resistance that is substantially fixed and is substantially independent of temperature. During operation, the voltage drop across one of the conductive elements can be determined by directly measuring the voltage drop between the ends of the conductive element without additionally interposing copper, solder, or other materials between the locations on the conductive element across which the voltage drop is determined.

Abstract: A trip mechanism having a hatchet plate disposed on a pivot pin assembly having a pivot pin member with at least three pivoting surfaces. First and second pivoting surfaces are located where the pivot pin member engages the supporting side plates. Thus, the pivot pin assembly may rotate in the traditional manner, i.e., both the hatchet plate and the pivot pin assembly rotate between the side plates. An additional pivoting surface is located where the hatchet plate engages the pivot pin assembly.

Abstract: A current limiting power switch has a monolithic stationary conductor with a conductor section that mounts fixed contacts that engage moving contacts on moving contact fingers to form a reverse current loop with the contacts closed. A terminal section projects transversely from one end of the conductor section and an arc runner section extends from the other end. The tapered arc runner has a generally laterally centered tapered area that gathers the arcs and urges them along a raised rib on the arc runner to an arc chute. A reinforcing rib running from the back of the conductor and arc runner sections to the terminal section resists distortion of the monolithic stationary conductor by the high temperatures and closing and electromagnetic forces during interruption.

Abstract: A double-lever mechanism is for the trip actuator of a circuit breaker having a housing, separable contacts and an operating member for opening and closing the contacts. A trip bar opens the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, such as an overcurrent condition. The trip actuator assembly is a self-contained unit including an actuation subassembly comprising the double-lever mechanism and a coil and a plunger housed within an enclosure. First and second trip levers of the double-lever mechanism are pivotally coupled to first and second ends of the enclosure, respectively. In response to the trip condition, the plunger extends, pivoting the first trip lever which engages and pivots the second trip lever in order to actuate the trip bar. The double-lever mechanism provides a mechanical advantage by reducing actuating forces and plunger travel.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is for a short-depth rocker switch including a housing having an opening, a cavity, a base, and a first depth between the opening and base. The actuator assembly includes an operating member having a first end disposed proximate the opening, and a second end extending into the cavity, and, an over-center mechanism disposed proximate the first end of the operating member, distal from the second end of the operating member. The over-center mechanism comprises a one or two-piece shaped element which defines a plurality of operating characteristics of the operating member, and which has a second depth which is less than about 25 percent of the first depth of the housing. This enables the overall depth of the rocker switch to be relatively short in comparison to known designs. A sensor for detecting the position of the second end of the operating member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A removable spacing stabilizer for a jaw meter bus assembly having two pairs of generally parallel flat, elongated busses, each bus having a cantilevered second leg. The removable spacing stabilizer includes a generally planar member made from a generally rigid, non-conductive material. The planar member has a positioning slot for each of the bus cantilevered second legs. Whereby the planar member may be coupled to said jaw meter bus assembly with each bus cantilevered leg disposed in a positioning slot and whereby the bus cantilevered legs are held in a selected orientation.

Abstract: An auxiliary switch actuating mechanism is for a circuit breaker including a housing, separable contacts, an operating mechanism with an operating handle interconnected to the separable contacts by a linkage assembly, and an auxiliary switch having a contact member. The auxiliary switch actuating mechanism includes an actuating lever with first and second ends and a pivot portion engaging the housing proximate the auxiliary switch. A torsion spring biases the actuating lever towards engaging and actuating the contact member of the auxiliary switch. The contact member is actuated when the separable contacts are not tripped open and the linkage assembly is not collapsed. When the circuit breaker trips, the linkage assembly collapses, engaging and pivoting the actuating lever, in order to overcome the bias and disengage and deactivate the contact member.

Abstract: A rotating display device displays a value in a variable viewing orientation. The value is received from an electrical apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, having a first port. The rotating display device includes a housing having a first side and a second side, a display disposed on the first side of the housing, a rotating assembly disposed on the second side, and a second port for receiving the value from the first port of the electrical apparatus. The second port communicates with the display and is coupled to the rotating assembly in order to permit the display to rotate. The rotating assembly permits the rotating display device to rotate in the plane of the surface of the circuit breaker on which it is mounted, thereby permitting the display to be quickly and accurately viewed and interpreted regardless of the orientation of the surface to which it is coupled.

Abstract: The arc plates of an arc chute assembly for a circuit breaker are supported in spaced, stacked relation by a structural shell molded of a gas evolving resin. Generation of arc gases, that cool the arc thereby increasing the current interruption capability of the breaker, can be further enhanced by gas evolving additives included in the resin. Arc gas flow is increased to further cool the arc by molding the interior walls of the structural shell to form venturies between the arc plates. One or more elongated fibers wrapped around the stack of arc plates in an oval strengthen the structural shell to withstand the increased pressure generated by the high arc gas volume.

Abstract: An improved circuit breaker includes an arc extinction system having one or more insulators that generates a desirable gas in the presence of an arc. The exemplary circuit breaker includes gas-generating insulators disposed at three sides of a stationary contact and an arc chute at a fourth side of the stationary contact. The gas promotes the desirable extinction of the arc in a number of exemplary fashions. The presence of the gas on three sides of the stationary contact can resist movement of the arc toward the gas, thereby substantially limiting movement of the arc in a direction other than toward the arc chute. The gas can remove heat from the arc, thereby promoting deionization of the plasma by forming neutral molecular species at a lower temperature state. The presence of the gas can reduce the concentration of ions and electrons within the interior of the circuit breaker and can increase the pressure within the circuit breaker, and these also facilitate extinction of the arc.

Abstract: A busway fitting bus assembly for a busway fitting, wherein the busway fitting has a housing assembly defining an enclosed space, the housing assembly having a top end, a bottom end, and a sidewall, the sidewall having a side opening, at least one tap bus extending between the side opening and the enclosed space. The busway fitting bus assembly includes a plurality of elongated, main bus members, the main bus members structured to extend the length between the busway fitting housing assembly bottom end and the busway fitting housing assembly top end, and a support assembly having an extruded body structured to enclose and support the plurality of main bus members.

Abstract: A multiple-hole terminal lug is for a circuit breaker including a load terminal and a conductive terminal extension coupled thereto. The multiple-hole terminal lug includes a mounting portion and a receiving portion having a plurality of receptacles for electrically coupling a corresponding plurality of electrical cables to the load terminal. Secondary mounting holes in the mounting portion align with primary mounting holes in the terminal extension in order to receive fasteners therein and secure the multiple-hole terminal lug in a first or second mounting configuration sloping upward or downward with respect tot the longitudinal axis of the terminal extension.

Abstract: Moisture-resistant flange structures and side assemblies are for an outdoor electrical enclosure adapted to be mounted in an opening, for example, in the wall of a building. The moisture-resistant flange structures include flange elements disposed on side members of the outdoor electrical enclosure without having an aperture extending through the flange element and not having a passageway extending between the flange element and the side member into the opening. The moisture-resistant side assemblies include at least one adjustable generally L-shaped flange element coupled to the first and second side members by fasteners extending through elongated apertures in the adjustable flange elements. Extensions coupled to the side members overlap a portion of each side member and a portion of at least one of the at least one generally L-shaped adjustable flange elements and the elongated aperture extending therethrough.

Abstract: A mechanism assembly is for a vacuum circuit interrupter including a vacuum housing including a stationary contact and a moveable contact, and an operating mechanism including a drive rod. The mechanism assembly cooperates with the drive rod to open and close the contacts. The mechanism assembly includes a housing having a pair of first longitudinal openings and a pair of second longitudinal openings, the first longitudinal openings defining a first plane, the second longitudinal openings defining a different second plane. A first trunnion member is pivotally and translationally mounted with respect to the first longitudinal openings. The first trunnion member is coupled to the moveable contact. A second trunnion member is pivotally and translationally mounted with respect to the second longitudinal openings. The drive rod is pivotally connected to the second trunnion member. A pair of compression springs are biased between the first and second trunnion members.

Abstract: A linkage for a solenoid actuated circuit breaker operating mechanism is provided. The operating mechanism includes a trip device and a close device. Either the trip device or the close device is coupled to a solenoid, by an ultra-lightweight connection member. The ultra-lightweight connection member is so light as to not create a sufficient force to effect the trip device or the close device even when the circuit breaker is subjected to a shock load.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a housing, separable contacts, a cradle rotatably mounted within the housing, an alarm switch mounted within the housing, and an interface lever disposed between the cradle and the alarm switch. The cradle is adapted to rotate about a first axis in a first direction when the circuit breaker moves to a tripped position in which the separable contacts are separated from one another. The alarm switch includes an actuation lever movable in an actuation direction, wherein movement of the actuation lever in the actuation direction causes the alarm switch to activate an alarm device electrically connected thereto. When the cradle rotates in the first direction, the cradle exerts a first force against the interface lever that causes the interface lever to exert a second force against the actuation lever that causes the actuation lever to move in the actuation direction.

Abstract: A shutter assembly for a shuttered bus assembly is provided. The shuttered bus assembly is coupled to a circuit breaker housing assembly. The circuit breaker housing assembly is structured to enclose a circuit breaker assembly. The circuit breaker assembly is structured to move generally horizontally in and out of the circuit breaker housing assembly. The circuit breaker assembly has a plurality of finger connectors extending generally horizontally from the back side of the circuit breaker assembly. The shuttered bus assembly has at least one pair of conductors which extend toward the front of said housing assembly. The finger connectors are structured to engage the conductors. The shutter assembly includes a mounting assembly and a door panel. The mounting assembly is structured to be coupled to the housing assembly.

Abstract: An improved circuit breaker includes a case, a movable arm, and a bumper retained within a receptacle formed on the case. The bumper is retained in the receptacle by a number of spaced ribs that engage certain portions of the bumper yet permit deformations of other portions of the bumper into an expansion region. By employing a bumper made of a material having a low coefficient of restitution, deformation of the bumper tends to dissipate the energy of a removable arm impacting the bumper. The bumper can be installed, removed, and replaced substantially without requiring the use of an adhesive. The movable arm engages the bumper on a corner of the bumper to provide the bumper with an effectively progressive spring rate.

Abstract: An interlock assembly for a circuit breaker housing assembly and a circuit breaker extraction device wherein the interlock assembly has a first and second component. The first component is coupled to a circuit breaker housing assembly and the second component is coupled to a circuit breaker extraction device. The first component includes a rail obstruction assembly that is structured to move between a first position, wherein the movable rail obstruction element blocks a circuit breaker wheel from traveling over a circuit breaker housing assembly rail, and a second position, wherein the movable rail obstruction element is spaced from the circuit breaker housing assembly rail so that a wheel may travel over the circuit breaker housing assembly rail. The second component is structured to engage the first component when the circuit breaker extraction device is brought adjacent to the circuit breaker housing assembly and to move the movable rail obstruction element from the first position to the second position.