Abstract: A circuit breaker including a pair of separable contacts and an arc chamber is provided. The separable contacts include a fixed contact having an upper surface. The arc chamber includes magnetic members disposed on either side of the separable contacts. The magnetic members have a lower surface below the fixed contact upper surface.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a pair of separable contacts and an arc chamber is provided. The separable contacts include a fixed contact having an upper surface. The arc chamber includes magnetic members disposed on either side of the separable contacts. The magnetic members have a lower surface below the fixed contact upper surface.

Abstract: A limiter includes a housing having a number of gas ports, a number of gas vents and a number of gas channels. Each of the number of gas channels is between a corresponding one of the number of gas ports and a corresponding one of the number of gas vents. The limiter also includes a number of first terminals, a number of second terminals, and a number of limiter devices. Each of the number of limiter devices is electrically connected between a corresponding one of the number of first terminals and a corresponding one of the number of second terminals. Each of the number of gas ports is structured to receive a corresponding ionized gas flow for passage through a corresponding one of the number of gas channels to the corresponding one of the number of gas vents.

Abstract: A limiter includes a housing having a number of gas ports, a number of gas vents and a number of gas channels. Each of the number of gas channels is between a corresponding one of the number of gas ports and a corresponding one of the number of gas vents. The limiter also includes a number of first terminals, a number of second terminals, and a number of limiter devices. Each of the number of limiter devices is electrically connected between a corresponding one of the number of first terminals and a corresponding one of the number of second terminals. Each of the number of gas ports is structured to receive a corresponding ionized gas flow for passage through a corresponding one of the number of gas channels to the corresponding one of the number of gas vents.

Abstract: A heater assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The heater assembly includes a heater element and an elongated bimetal. The heater element includes first and second ends, an intermediate portion disposed therebetween and an aperture disposed proximate the first end. The elongated bimetal includes opposing first and second ends, and is movable between first and second positions corresponding respectively to the separable contacts of the electrical switching apparatus being closeable, and to the first end of the elongated bimetal cooperating with a trip bar to cause an operating mechanism to open the separable contacts. The second end of the elongated bimetal is coupled to the intermediate portion of the heater element. When the elongated bimetal is disposed in the first position, the first end of the elongated bimetal extends beyond the upper surface of the first end of the heater element into the aperture of the heater element.

Abstract: A heater assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The heater assembly includes a heater element and an elongated bimetal. The heater element includes first and second ends, an intermediate portion disposed therebetween and an aperture disposed proximate the first end. The elongated bimetal includes opposing first and second ends, and is movable between first and second positions corresponding respectively to the separable contacts of the electrical switching apparatus being closeable, and to the first end of the elongated bimetal cooperating with a trip bar to cause an operating mechanism to open the separable contacts. The second end of the elongated bimetal is coupled to the intermediate portion of the heater element. When the elongated bimetal is disposed in the first position, the first end of the elongated bimetal extends beyond the upper surface of the first end of the heater element into the aperture of the heater element.

Abstract: A lockable fastener connects together a plurality of components of a circuit breaker and maintains electrical conductivity between the components while permitting relative movement therebetween. The lockable fastener includes a first clinch nut member and a second clinch bolt member. The clinch nut member includes a threaded cavity formed therein, a side having opening therein, and a passageway between the side at the opening and a surface proximate the threaded cavity. The clinch bolt member includes a threaded shank. At least a portion of the threaded shank is threadably receivable in the threaded cavity of the clinch nut member, in order to axially align the clinch nut and clinch bolt members. The clinch nut and clinch bolt members are adapted to be locked by deformation of the surface of the clinch nut member to prevent loosening of the members.

Abstract: A support structure for a circuit interrupter latch member includes a first side plate having a first opening, and a second side plate having a second opening. A first hardened bushing includes a first opening and a first perimeter. The first opening of the first hardened bushing is adapted to pivotally mount a first tab of the latch member. The first perimeter is coupled to the first side plate at the first opening thereof. A second hardened bushing includes a second opening and a second perimeter. The second opening of the second hardened bushing is adapted to pivotally mount a second tab of the latch member. The second perimeter is coupled to the second side plate at the second opening thereof. The hardened material of the first and second side plates is harder than the unhardened material of the first and second side plates.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing including a primary cover and a secondary cover having a tab; separable contacts; and an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a cradle pivotally mounted within the housing, the cradle including a latch, and a latch mechanism within the housing. The latch mechanism is adapted to capture the latch of the cradle when the separable contacts are closed. The operating mechanism also includes a rotary interlock pivotally mounted within the housing and cooperating with the latch mechanism and the tab of the secondary cover to release the latch of the cradle and to trip open the separable contacts when the secondary cover is removed from the primary cover.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing and an operating mechanism having a cross bar supported by a first housing surface and moving in an arcuate path between open/tripped and closed positions, a pivotally mounted cradle including a latch, and pivotally mounted primary and secondary latches. The primary latch includes a pivot, an opening and a free end. The cradle latch rests within the opening when the contacts are not tripped open. The secondary latch includes a pivot and a surface. The latches are between a second housing surface and the cross bar in a first position. The cross bar is offset from the latches in a second position. The secondary latch surface and pivot are between the second housing surface and the primary latch pivot. The secondary latch surface engages the primary latch free end when the contacts are not tripped open and maintain the cradle latch within the opening.

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. The housing has a cover securable to a base, with the cover including a downwardly-facing abutment portion. An electrical terminal is releasably disposed within the base and has a tab that abuttingly engages the abutment portion of the cover when the cover is secured to the base. The base also includes channels formed in the sides of the base, and the electrical terminal includes sides that insert into the channels and that include rib portions that frictionally engage the channels upon insertion. The base also includes tapered sides, with the electrical terminal sides being tapered in order to follow or mirror the tapered sides of the base.

Abstract: A gas deflector for a line-in connector of a circuit breaker. The gas deflector is coupled to a collar with a top and a cavity, a threaded opening through the top, a screw threaded in the threaded opening. The collar is attached to the line-in for the circuit breaker. The gas deflector is an L-shaped shield with an integral screw sleeve and a slot sized to allow a terminal strap to pass therethrough. The terminal strap is connected to the collar. The shield device covers the collar top and the cavity and is held in place by the screw passing through the sleeve and by the terminal strap passing through the slot. The shield substantially reduces the amount of ionized gas infiltrating into the collar.

Abstract: A terminal connection for a flat stab of an electrical terminal includes a spring clip which retains a nut in alignment with an aperture in the flat stab. The spring clip is fabricated from a strip of resilient electrically conductive material and has a top wall with a central aperture, side walls extending downward from the top wall and having slots therein, and outwardly projecting flanges on the bottom edge of each of the side walls. A square nut is retained in the spring clip by lateral projections on the nut engaged in the slots in the side walls with the tapped hole in the nut aligned with the aperture in the top wall of the clip. The fastener assembly clips onto the end of the flat stab which is in a recess in the electrical terminal, with the stab between the nut and the top wall of the spring clip.

Abstract: The helical contact compression springs of a circuit breaker are preassembled in a contact clip for easier assembly of the circuit breaker. The bottom wall of an elongated trough formed by the clip is pierced by holes forming cylindrical protrusions extending into the trough. The clip is placed over the springs supported in a row in a fixture. A die head presses on the spring clip to compress all the springs and then simultaneously insert punches into the holes in the clip to expand the protrusions and secure the springs to the clip. The fixture includes a slide mounted on guides for movement between a loading position and an operating position under the die head. A support block is pivoted on the slide to present one of two sets of spring recesses for circuit breakers having different current ratings with the slide in the loading position.

Abstract: The helical contact compression springs of a circuit breaker are preassembled in a contact clip for easier assembly of the circuit breaker. The bottom wall of an elongated trough formed by the clip is pierced by holes forming cylindrical protrusions extending into the trough. The clip is placed over the springs supported in a row in a fixture. A die head presses on the spring clip to compress all the springs and then simultaneously insert punches into the holes in the clip to expand the protrusions and secure the springs to the clip. The fixture includes a slide mounted on guides for movement between a loading position and an operating position under the die head. A support block is pivoted on the slide to present one of two sets of spring recesses for circuit breakers having different current ratings with the slide in the loading position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts housed by the housing; an operating mechanism, for moving the separable contacts between a closed position and an open position thereof, having a first position and a second position corresponding to the open position; a latching and releasing mechanism for latching the operating mechanism in the first position thereof and for releasing the operating mechanism to the second position thereof; a rotatable trip bar rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction for unlatching the latching and releasing mechanism; a sensing mechanism for sensing an electrical condition associated with the separable contacts and for moving the trip bar in the second rotational direction in order to unlatch the latching and releasing mechanism, release the operating mechanism to the second position thereof, and move the separable contacts to the open position thereof; and an adjustable bias spring for biasing the trip bar in the first rotational d

Abstract: A terminal connection for a flat stab of an electrical switch includes a spring clip which retains a nut in alignment with an aperture in the flat stab. The spring clip is fabricated from a strip of resilient electrically conductive material and has a top wall with a central aperture, side walls extending downward from the top wall and having slots therein, an end wall extending downward from the top wall and a bottom wall cantilevered forward from the bottom of the end wall under the top wall and between the side walls. A square nut is retained in the spring clip with its tapped hole aligned with the aperture in the top wall and with either an aperture or a depression in the bottom wall. The fastener assembly clips onto the end of the flat stab with the stab between the nut and the top wall of the spring clip. A screw passed through the apertures in the top wall and the flat stab engages the nut to secure a conductor to the stab.