Abstract: An adjustable trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The adjustable trip assembly includes a load conductor, a magnetic assembly comprising a magnetic member and an armature movably coupled to the magnetic member, and a calibration assembly comprising a calibration bracket cooperating with the armature, and an adjustment mechanism being adjustable to move the calibration bracket and thereby adjust the position of the armature with respect to the magnetic member to calibrate the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly further includes a biasing element that biases the armature away from the magnetic member.

Abstract: An adjustable trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The adjustable trip assembly includes a load conductor, a magnetic assembly comprising a magnetic member and an armature movably coupled to the magnetic member, and a calibration assembly comprising a calibration bracket cooperating with the armature, and an adjustment mechanism being adjustable to move the calibration bracket and thereby adjust the position of the armature with respect to the magnetic member to calibrate the magnetic assembly. The magnetic assembly further includes a biasing element that biases the armature away from the magnetic member.

Abstract: A thermal trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The thermal trip assembly includes a load conductor, a bimetal adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to the shunts. The bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass the bimetal.

Abstract: A thermal trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The thermal trip assembly includes a load conductor, a bimetal adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to the shunts. The bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass the bimetal.

Abstract: A retention system is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a frame having a number of slots, a cover coupled to the frame, an electrical component enclosed by the frame and the cover, separable contacts enclosed by the frame and the cover, and an operating mechanism to open and close the separable contacts. The retention system includes: at least one bundle of wires having a plurality of individual wires extending through a corresponding one of the number of slots to be electrically connected to the electrical component; and at least one restriction mechanism each including an insulative sleeve surrounding a corresponding one of the at least one bundle of wires, and a blocking member connected to the insulative sleeve. The blocking member engages the frame to prevent undesired movement of the individual wires with respect to the corresponding one of the number of slots.

Abstract: A retention system is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a frame having a number of slots, a cover coupled to the frame, an electrical component enclosed by the frame and the cover, separable contacts enclosed by the frame and the cover, and an operating mechanism to open and close the separable contacts. The retention system includes: at least one bundle of wires having a plurality of individual wires extending through a corresponding one of the number of slots to be electrically connected to the electrical component; and at least one restriction mechanism each comprising an insulative sleeve surrounding a corresponding one of the at least one bundle of wires, and a blocking member connected to the insulative sleeve. The blocking member engages the frame to prevent undesired movement of the individual wires with respect to the corresponding one of the number of slots.

Abstract: An interface assembly is for a trip unit of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The trip unit cooperates with the operating mechanism and includes an enclosure, a controller, and a cover member having a plurality of indicia. The interface assembly includes at least one adjustment knob assembly having a post member and a ring member, which includes a cutout. The post member has first and second opposing ends. The ring member is disposed on the second end. The adjustment knob assembly pivots among a plurality of positions to adjust the controller. Each position corresponds to a predetermined setting of the trip unit. The ring member substantially overlays all but one of the indicia, which is exposed by the cutout to indicate the adjustment knob assembly position and corresponding trip unit setting.

Abstract: Circuit breakers include an arc chamber and an arc chute comprising a plurality of arc plates in the arc chamber. The circuit breakers also include a line conductor assembly with at least one arc runner attached to a line conductor in the arc chamber. The arc runner can extend below but adjacent to a bottom arc plate to thereby guide a respective arc into the arc chute.

Abstract: An arc runner assembly for use in a circuit interrupter provides a pair of arc runners that are situated at opposite sides of a stationary contact of the circuit interrupter. If used in a DC application, the arc runner assembly is configured to communicate a positive DC arc along one of the arc runners in a first direction away from the stationary contact and is further configured to communicate a negative DC arc along the other arc runner in another direction away from the stationary contact. The arc runner assembly additionally includes a support that is electrically engaged with a conductor of the circuit interrupter on a surface opposite that on which the stationary contact is disposed. The improved arc runner assembly advantageously facilitates extinction of electrical arc and extinguishes both positive and negative DC arcs in a DC application.

Abstract: A position indicator for a circuit breaker is provided. A circuit breaker housing assembly body has an alignment surface. The position indicator includes an indicator member having an alignment surface and an elongated spacer member. The indicator member is movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing assembly adjacent a terminal screw with the spacer member generally aligned with the terminal screw. The indicator member is structured to move between a first position, wherein the alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the alignment surface is aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface. The spacer member engages the terminal screw and, if the terminal screw is in a terminal screw first position, the spacer member prevents the indicator member from moving into the indicator member second position.

Abstract: Circuit breakers include an arc chamber and an arc chute comprising a plurality of arc plates in the arc chamber. The circuit breakers also include a line conductor assembly with at least one arc runner attached to a line conductor in the arc chamber. The arc runner can extend below but adjacent to a bottom arc plate to thereby guide a respective arc into the arc chute.

Abstract: A position indicator for a circuit breaker is provided. A circuit breaker housing assembly body has an alignment surface. The position indicator includes an indicator member having an alignment surface and an elongated spacer member. The indicator member is movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing assembly adjacent a terminal screw with the spacer member generally aligned with the terminal screw. The indicator member is structured to move between a first position, wherein the alignment surface is not aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface, and a second position, wherein the alignment surface is aligned with the housing assembly body alignment surface. The spacer member engages the terminal screw and, if the terminal screw is in a terminal screw first position, the spacer member prevents the indicator member from moving into the indicator member second position.

Abstract: An arc runner assembly for use in a circuit interrupter provides a pair of arc runners that are situated at opposite sides of a stationary contact of the circuit interrupter. If used in a DC application, the arc runner assembly is configured to communicate a positive DC arc along one of the arc runners in a first direction away from the stationary contact and is further configured to communicate a negative DC arc along the other arc runner in another direction away from the stationary contact. The arc runner assembly additionally includes a support that is electrically engaged with a conductor of the circuit interrupter on a surface opposite that on which the stationary contact is disposed. The improved arc runner assembly advantageously facilitates extinction of electrical arc and extinguishes both positive and negative DC arcs in a DC application.

Abstract: A motor operator for an electric power switch having a handle moveable along a rectilinear path includes a threaded shaft mounted for rotation parallel to movement of the handle. A molded flexible coupling has a drive section with a threaded through bore engaging the threaded shaft and a yoke section having a hole engaged by the handle. The yoke section is joined to the drive section by an integral flexible intermediate section formed by a pair of slits extending generally parallel to the through bore. As the threaded shaft is rotated by a motor, the drive coupling, and with it the handle, are driven between OFF and ON positions. During startup of the motor, toggling of the handle by a toggle mechanism in the switch, and deceleration at the end of travel, when the drive section of the drive coupling and the yoke section travel at different speeds, one or the other of the slits closes as the intermediate section bends to dampen the effect.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electrically insulating housing, an arc chamber, line and load terminals, separable contacts in series with the terminals, and an operating mechanism. The open position of the separable contacts causes arcing therebetween and the development of ionized gases. The housing includes a first wall, an opposite second wall, a pair of side walls, and a barrier wall forming a compartment for containing the line terminal. The barrier wall has an opening between the arc chamber and the compartment. The first wall has an aperture aligned with the line terminal. A baffle member includes a base portion, a flap and a pair of leg members. The flap extends over the aperture and is deflectable by a tool inserted through the aperture for adjustment of the line terminal. The leg members engage the side walls, thereby supporting the baffle member within the compartment.

Abstract: A terminal wire clamp is provided with a fastener and a connection plate, in which the connection plate has a connection surface that is formed with a retention channel, and in which the retention channel is structured to receive a wire therein and resist movement of the wire after the wire has electrically conductively engaged a conductor. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Strain relief for the electrical leads of attachment devices for electric power switches is provided by pairs of diverging through apertures extending through a molded wall of the switch casing from a first face to a second face to form opposed acute angles at the second face. Each lead is routed through a first aperture of a diverging pair from the first face to the second face, then along the second face and back through the second aperture to the first face. Separate pairs of diverging apertures can be provided for each lead, or they may all be routed through a common, laterally widened pair of apertures. Any tension applied to the leads so routed causes the edges created by the opposed acute angles to bite into and restrain the leads. An adhesive can be injected into the apertures to prevent the leads from being pushed back through the apertures.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. A trip mechanism is disposed in the housing and has an automatic trip assembly that selectively generates a tripping operation to cause the operating mechanism to open the contacts upon a predetermined current threshold. The automatic trip assembly includes a magnetic yoke, an armature, and an electrical terminal. The magnetic yoke has pivot supports on which are positioned pivot arms of a head portion of the armature. A clamp member applies a clamping force to the head portion of the armature in a direction to normally rotationally displace a bottom portion of the armature away from the yoke and the terminal.

Abstract: A motor operator for a circuit breaker has a motor driven carriage which engages a circuit breaker handle and drives it between an on position and a reset position beyond off. When the carriage drives the handle to the on position, an on limit switch is actuated to deenergize the motor. A fastener releasably secures a bracket slidably mounted on the carriage to a fixed member when the carriage reaches the on position of the handle so that if the circuit breaker is not reset and rebounds toward a trip position, the bracket is extended and maintains actuation of the on limit switch. Hence, the motor is not repeatedly energized and burned out in unsuccessful attempts to turn on the circuit breaker. A similar arrangement prevents the motor from cycling when the off relay is latched.