Abstract: A circuit breaker having a movable tulip contact and a vacuum interrupter together connecting a first terminal to a second terminal of the circuit breaker. The tulip contact has a first end having contact fingers removably attached to a stationary contact of the first terminal, and a second end that is electrically connected to the second terminal. The vacuum interrupter has a first electrode assembly that is electrically connected to the first terminal, and a second electrode assembly that is electrically connected to the second terminal. The tulip contact and stationary contact provide a first conductive path from the first terminal to the second terminal when the tulip contact is connected to the stationary contact. The vacuum interrupter provides a second conductive path from the first terminal to the second terminal when the vacuum interrupter is in a closed position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having a movable tulip contact and a vacuum interrupter together connecting a first terminal to a second terminal of the circuit breaker. The tulip contact has a first end having contact fingers removably attached to a stationary contact of the first terminal, and a second end that is electrically connected to the second terminal. The vacuum interrupter has a first electrode assembly that is electrically connected to the first terminal, and a second electrode assembly that is electrically connected to the second terminal. The tulip contact and stationary contact provide a first conductive path from the first terminal to the second terminal when the tulip contact is connected to the stationary contact. The vacuum interrupter provides a second conductive path from the first terminal to the second terminal when the vacuum interrupter is in a closed position.

Abstract: Accessory data collectors coupled to a switch-gear of a power system including at least one circuit breaker are provided. The data collector includes a sensor array configured to sense parameters associated with at least one accessory coupled to the at least one circuit breaker; and data storage configured to store the sensed parameters associated with the at least one accessory for a plurality of operational cycles of the at least one circuit breaker. Related methods and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: A testing apparatus that is usable with a circuit interruption apparatus includes an enclosure that is similar to a switchgear enclosure and within which the circuit interruption apparatus for testing is received. The testing apparatus includes instrumentation that is automatically electrically connected with the circuit interruption apparatus when the circuit interruption apparatus is received within the interior region of the enclosure, and the instrumentation is operable to perform various tests on the circuit interruption apparatus. The testing apparatus further includes output devices and a switching apparatus at the exterior of the enclosure that enable a technician to control testing operations that are performed on the circuit interruption apparatus and to view the results of the testing operations. All of the electrical connections with the circuit interruption apparatus are made within the interior region of the enclosure, and the enclosure itself is configured to resist the transmission of X-rays.

Abstract: A mountable wall receptacle including one or more current sensors and power-line communications circuitry is described herein. In one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the mountable wall receptacle includes power-line communications circuitry, one or more current sensors, a power source, and one or more internal contacts. The wall receptacle is capable of monitoring and recording, using the current sensor(s), an amount of current or energy provided to an accessory device plugged into one or more outlets in communication with the one or more internal contacts. A user device is able to obtain the recorded amount of current or energy from various access points within a residence using one or more power lines located at the residence. The power lines enable the user device to communicate with the wall receptacle using the power-line communications circuitry therein.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus assembly is for a switchgear system. The switchgear system includes a number of circuit stabs and an enclosure having a number of compartments. The electrical switching apparatus assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and a mounting assembly, the terminals being structured to be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the circuit stabs, the mounting assembly comprising a mounting member coupled to the terminals; and a maintaining assembly comprising a plate member and a maintaining member, the plate member being coupled to the mounting member, the maintaining member being coupled to the plate member and structured to engage the enclosure. Responsive to an arc fault event, the maintaining assembly is structured to move between FIRST and SECOND positions. When the maintaining assembly moves from the FIRST position to the SECOND position, the plate member moves away from the terminals.

Abstract: A mountable wall receptacle including one or more current sensors and power-line communications circuitry is described herein. In one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the mountable wall receptacle includes power-line communications circuitry, one or more current sensors, a power source, and one or more internal contacts. The wall receptacle is capable of monitoring and recording, using the current sensor(s), an amount of current or energy provided to an accessory device plugged into one or more outlets in communication with the one or more internal contacts. A user device is able to obtain the recorded amount of current or energy from various access points within a residence using one or more power lines located at the residence. The power lines enable the user device to communicate with the wall receptacle using the power-line communications circuitry therein.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus assembly is for a switchgear system. The switchgear system includes a number of circuit stabs and an enclosure having a number of compartments. The electrical switching apparatus assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and a mounting assembly, the terminals being structured to be mechanically coupled and electrically connected to the circuit stabs, the mounting assembly comprising a mounting member coupled to the terminals; and a maintaining assembly comprising a plate member and a maintaining member, the plate member being coupled to the mounting member, the maintaining member being coupled to the plate member and structured to engage the enclosure. Responsive to an arc fault event, the maintaining assembly is structured to move between FIRST and SECOND positions. When the maintaining assembly moves from the FIRST position to the SECOND position, the plate member moves away from the terminals.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes at least one set of breaker contacts and a contact actuating mechanism configured to open and close the at least one set of contacts. The circuit breaker further includes a polarity sensitive shunt trip mechanism mechanically coupled to the contact actuating mechanism and configured to lock the contact actuating mechanism responsive to a shunt trip voltage of a first polarity to prevent closing of the at least one set of contacts and to unlock the contact actuating mechanism responsive to a shunt trip voltage of a second polarity to enable closing of the at least one set of breaker contacts.

Abstract: An improved electrical interruption apparatus provides an improved wear indicator that is configured to depict an amount of wear that has been experienced by a set of separable contacts of a vacuum interrupter. At an easily visible location on a drive rod of the circuit interruption apparatus, the wear indicator indicates the extent to which the set of contacts have degraded. The wear indicator is attached to a spring-loaded over-travel mechanism that engages together the set of electrical contacts.

Abstract: A circuit breaker panel board includes a housing including a door structured to open, a circuit breaker receiving area disposed in an interior area of the housing, and at least one illumination unit disposed outside the circuit breaker receiving area and including at least one light oriented to provide light in a direction of the circuit breaker receiving area.

Abstract: A circuit breaker panel board includes a housing including a door structured to open, a circuit breaker receiving area disposed in an interior area of the housing, and at least one illumination unit disposed outside the circuit breaker receiving area and including at least one light oriented to provide light in a direction of the circuit breaker receiving area.

Abstract: A wiretap connection assembly is for a circuit protection system. The circuit protection system includes at least one wire conductor and at least one circuit interrupter. The circuit interrupter includes a line conductor and a load conductor. The wire conductor has an electrically conductive inner core and an electrically insulating outer covering. The wiretap connection assembly includes a wire severing assembly structured to sever the wire conductor, and a number of wiretap assemblies. Each wiretap assembly includes a tapping portion and a connecting portion. The tapping portion is structured to pierce through the electrically insulating outer covering of a corresponding portion of the wire conductor and into the electrically conductive inner core. The connecting portion is structured to electrically connect the electrically conductive inner core of the corresponding portion of the wire conductor to a corresponding one of the line conductor and the load conductor.

Abstract: An improved modular vacuum interruption apparatus includes a vacuum interrupter, a first connection module, and a second connection module, with the first and second connection modules each being connectable and disconnectable with a pair of electrodes of the vacuum interrupter. The first connection module is selected from among a plurality of connection modules that are similar yet different and can be used interchangeably to form various permutations of the improved modular vacuum interruption apparatus. The second connection module is likewise selected from among a plurality of connection modules that are similar yet different and that are interchangeably usable with the vacuum interrupter to form different permutations of the modular vacuum interruption apparatus.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes at least one set of breaker contacts and a contact actuating mechanism configured to open and close the at least one set of contacts. The circuit breaker further includes a polarity sensitive shunt trip mechanism mechanically coupled to the contact actuating mechanism and configured to lock the contact actuating mechanism responsive to a shunt trip voltage of a first polarity to prevent closing of the at least one set of contacts and to unlock the contact actuating mechanism responsive to a shunt trip voltage of a second polarity to enable closing of the at least one set of breaker contacts.

Abstract: A testing apparatus that is usable with a circuit interruption apparatus includes an enclosure that is similar to a switchgear enclosure and within which the circuit interruption apparatus for testing is received. The testing apparatus includes instrumentation that is automatically electrically connected with the circuit interruption apparatus when the circuit interruption apparatus is received within the interior region of the enclosure, and the instrumentation is operable to perform various tests on the circuit interruption apparatus. The testing apparatus further includes output devices and a switching apparatus at the exterior of the enclosure that enable a technician to control testing operations that are performed on the circuit interruption apparatus and to view the results of the testing operations. All of the electrical connections with the circuit interruption apparatus are made within the interior region of the enclosure, and the enclosure itself is configured to resist the transmission of X-rays.

Abstract: An enclosure housing assembly for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The enclosure housing assembly includes a sidewall assembly, a movable carriage assembly, a ground bus bar assembly and a movable terminal assembly with an extendable conductor assembly. The sidewall assembly includes a number of sidewalls defining an enclosed space. The movable carriage assembly is movable between a withdrawn, first position. Wherein the movable carriage assembly is disposed partially outside the enclosure sidewall assembly enclosed space, and an inserted, second position, wherein the movable carriage assembly is disposed substantially inside the enclosure sidewall assembly enclosed space. The ground bus bar assembly is coupled to the first sidewall. The movable terminal assembly is coupled to the movable carriage assembly whereby the movable terminal assembly moves with the movable carriage assembly.

Abstract: Accessory data collectors coupled to a switch-gear of a power system including at least one circuit breaker are provided. The data collector includes a sensor array configured to sense parameters associated with at least one accessory coupled to the at least one circuit breaker; and data storage configured to store the sensed parameters associated with the at least one accessory for a plurality of operational cycles of the at least one circuit breaker. Related methods and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: An improved electrical interruption apparatus provides an improved wear indicator that is configured to depict an amount of wear that has been experienced by a set of separable contacts of a vacuum interrupter. At an easily visible location on a drive rod of the circuit interruption apparatus, the wear indicator indicates the extent to which the set of contacts have degraded. The wear indicator is attached to a spring-loaded over-travel mechanism that engages together the set of electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus assembly is for a switchgear system. The switchgear system include an enclosure and a plurality of electrical bus members. The enclosure includes a number of compartments and a gas barrier having a plurality of thru holes. The electrical switching apparatus assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus, movable between a connection position and a disconnected position, and a pin assembly. The housing of the electrical switching apparatus includes a cover member having a plurality of apertures. The pin assembly includes a plurality of pins. When the electrical switching apparatus is disposed in the connected position, the apertures of the cover member align with the thru holes of the gas barrier to receive the pins and secure the electrical switching apparatus to the enclosure.