Abstract: A switch assembly including a housing. An escutcheon portion on the front surface of the housing has a raised platform. A transition ramp extends from the platform to a rest area and a finger area is adjacent the rest area. A perimeter frame encloses the finger area so that the escutcheon portion defines opposing notches aligned with the rest area. A handle has a hub with an axial bore so that a pivot pin insert through the axial bore rotatably couples the handle to the housing. A finger grip extends from the hub. The finger grip has a surface for selectively abutting against the rest area and a textured portion for manual actuation when a finger in inserted into the finger area.

Abstract: Withdrawable racks for power circuit breakers should be reliably switched. To this end, the movement of the plates of a shutter in the withdrawable rack can be blocked so that the shutter is not permitted to open unintentionally. In a special embodiment, the opening mechanism for the plates can have two V-shaped linkages that are connected to a telescopic rod. The telescopic rod can be locked by a locking element so that the shutter plates, which can be moved by sliders, can no longer be displaced.

Abstract: Withdrawable racks for power circuit breakers should be reliably switched. To this end, the movement of the plates of a shutter in the withdrawable rack can be blocked so that the shutter is not permitted to open unintentionally. In a special embodiment, the opening mechanism for the plates can have two V-shaped linkages that are connected to a telescopic rod. The telescopic rod can be locked by a locking element so that the shutter plates, which can be moved by sliders, can no longer be displaced.

Abstract: A switching gas damper is for low voltage power switches, especially for low voltage power switches which can be inserted into low voltage switching installations. The switching gas damper is arranged above an arc extinguisher of the low voltage power switches and includes at least one inlet for switching gases and at least one outlet for damped deionised switching gases. The switching gas damper is provided with a carrier element which can be arranged directly adjacent to the arc extinguisher and can be fixed to a housing receiving the low voltage power switch. The carrier element forms at least one receiving chamber for a flow element creating a flow resistance for the switching gases, and the at least one receiving chamber can be closed by at least one closing element fixing the at least one flow element. The carrier element forms the at least one inlet and the at least one closing element forms the at least one outlet.

Abstract: An air guidance device is for cooling a switch part of an electrical switch. It includes at least one air guidance element arranged at a distance from the switch part to be cooled, forming at least one air duct which runs vertically when the switch is in the installed position. The air duct includes an inlet area, which points downwards, for cooling air to flow therein, and having an outlet area, which points upwards, for cooling air to flow out thereof. In order to improve the heat dissipation, the air guidance element is shaped such that the inlet area tapers in the direction of the outlet area.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is disclosed for rapidly switching off low-voltage circuit breakers comprising an electronic tripping unit. According to an embodiment, a switching element which is operated in a short-circuit mode during normal operation and to which a fast trip magnet of the low-voltage circuit breaker is connected in parallel is impinged upon by a current that is proportionate to the current monitored by the low-voltage circuit breaker, and the short circuit of the switching element is bypassed when the current monitored by the low-voltage circuit breaker reaches a set threshold value. One respective transformer is serially connected to the power inputs of the electronic tripping unit, the secondary ends of the transformers being interconnected among each other on the direct voltage side while being serially connected to the switching element via bridge rectifiers.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement are disclosed for rapidly switching off low-voltage circuit breakers by impinging a switching element which is operated in a short-circuit mode during normal operation and to which a fast trip magnet is connected in parallel, with a current that is proportionate to the current monitored by the low-voltage circuit breaker while the short circuit of the switching element is bypassed when the current monitored by the low-voltage circuit breaker reaches a set threshold value. The fast trip magnet is at least temporarily short-circuited once again as soon as the monitored current reaches a second given threshold value. A corresponding circuit can be designed such that the switching element is embodied as a switching transistor which can be controlled back into the conducting state by a second monitoring circuit for the current monitored by the low-voltage circuit breaker when a second given threshold value has been reached.

Abstract: A switching gas damper is for low voltage power switches, especially for low voltage power switches which can be inserted into low voltage switching installations. The switching gas damper is arranged above an arc extinguisher of the low voltage power switches and includes at least one inlet for switching gases and at least one outlet for damped deionised switching gases. The switching gas damper is provided with a carrier element which can be arranged directly adjacent to the arc extinguisher and can be fixed to a housing receiving the low voltage power switch. The carrier element forms at least one receiving chamber for a flow element creating a flow resistance for the switching gases, and the at least one receiving chamber can be closed by at least one closing element fixing the at least one flow element. The carrier element forms the at least one inlet and the at least one closing element forms the at least one outlet.

Abstract: An air guidance device is for cooling a switch part of an electrical switch. It includes at least one air guidance element arranged at a distance from the switch part to be cooled, forming at least one air duct which runs vertically when the switch is in the installed position. The air duct includes an inlet area, which points downwards, for cooling air to flow therein, and having an outlet area, which points upwards, for cooling air to flow out thereof. In order to improve the heat dissipation, the air guidance element is shaped such that the inlet area tapers in the direction of the outlet area.

Abstract: A contact blade for a circuit breaker configured such that the current path in the blade produces a magnetic field which affects an arc present at the contact of the blade. The configuration of the blade produces a substantially U-shaped current loop in the blade, wherein one leg of the current loop has its main component substantially parallel to, but in the direction opposite to, the main component of the current in the second leg of the loop. When an arc is formed at the contact, the current from the second leg flows through the contact and into an arc, while the current in the first leg of the loop produces a magnetic field which acts upon the arc and forces the arc off of and away from the contact.

Abstract: A single piece contact barrier for separating and maintaining the spacing of the contact blades in a circuit breaker. The barrier is also adapted to form an insulating barrier between the contact blades and produce an arc quenching vapor. Under certain circumstances, when one contact and its associated contact are separated, an arc is formed between the contacts. The heat generated by the arc causes the barrier to vaporize in near the arc such that the vapor tends to quench the arc.

Abstract: A pivoting electrical connected useable in a molded case circuit breaker including a pair of contact plates for contacting the circular contact member of a contact carrying arm. The pivoting electrical connection provides at least three contact locations between the contact plates and the circular contact member. The contact locations provide current paths between a first terminal coupled to the contact plates and an electrical contact fixed to the contact carrying arm. The pivoting electrical connection allows the contact on the arm and an electrical contact coupled to a second terminal to be opened and closed.

Abstract: A member for reinforcing the juction between the molded half portions of the housing for a molded case circuit breaker. The member is interposed between the portions and extends along the sidewalls of the portions and rest in a channel in each portion adapted to accept the member. The member serves to strengthen the juction between the housing portions.

Abstract: A barrier for isolating the electrical contacts of a circuit breaker from the operating mechanism for the contacts. The barrier includes openings to allow the operating mechanism to pass through the barrier, and venting channels for venting gas from within the circuit breaker to the exterior of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: An assembly adapted to commutate arcs from between the main contacts of a circuit breaker to an arcing contact such that a single arc at the arcing contact can be extinguished and dispersed within an arc chute. The assembly is adapted to be pivotally attached to the ends of the main contact carrying arms and includes arc channeling members joined to form a contact surface. An arcing contact can be fixed to the contact surface such that the arcs from the main contacts are channelled into one arc at the arcing contact.

Abstract: A crossbar spanning the poles of a multiple pole circuit breaker. The crossbar is formed from a structural member such as beam having an I-shaped cross-section, wherein an insulating material such as plastic is molded to the beam. The shape of the structural member is such that it provides a high strength to weight ratio. The plastic is molded such that it includes means for inhibiting arcing between the poles of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: An interlock scheme is provided for preventing access to a draw-out mechanism of a drawout circuit breaker which is in a contact "closed" position and preventing the contacts from being closed when the circuit breaker is only partially connected to the power bus. A sliding door, carried by the front cover of the circuit breaker, is movable between a first position providing access to a driver shaft assembly for operation of the drawout mechanism and a second position preventing access to the driver shaft assembly. A plunger and slider assembly is operable associated with the access door to prevent the door from being moved from the second position to the first position unless the contacts within the circuit breaker are open. A trip arm prevents the contacts from being closed when the circuit breaker is only partially connected to the power bus.

Abstract: An assembly for protecting a circuit breaker drawout mechanism from damage which may be caused if excessive torque is applied to operate the mechanism. The invention relates to drawout circuit breakers of the type utilizing a worm gear assembly (34, 36) to operate a driven shaft (12) to move the circuit breaker into and out of an electrical compartment. A two-part driver shaft assembly (38) is used which includes a head (50) and a driver shaft (62). The head has a collar portion (52) which includes a ridge (54) and the driver shaft is provided with a channel (68) adapted to receive the ridge. A shoulder screw (60) connects the head to the driver shaft while a coil spring (66) encircling the screw biases the head against the driver shaft, retaining the ridge within the channel unless an excessive amount of torque is applied to the head causing the ridge to slip from the channel and preventing additional torque from being imparted to the worm.