Abstract: A pole shaft catch assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to the pole shaft. The pole shaft catch assembly includes a catch arm. The catch arm moves between an engaged position in which the catch arm engages the yoke assembly to restrict movement of the yoke assembly and the pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which the catch arm disengages the yoke assembly. A biasing element biases the catch arm toward the disengaged position. A trigger translates movement of the yoke assembly into movement of the catch arm.

Abstract: A pole shaft catch assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to the pole shaft. The pole shaft catch assembly includes a catch arm. The catch arm moves between an engaged position in which the catch arm engages the yoke assembly to restrict movement of the yoke assembly and the pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which the catch arm disengages the yoke assembly. A biasing element biases the catch arm toward the disengaged position. A trigger translates movement of the yoke assembly into movement of the catch arm.

Abstract: A pole shaft catch assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to the pole shaft. The pole shaft catch assembly includes a catch arm. The catch arm moves between an engaged position in which the catch arm engages the yoke assembly to restrict movement of the yoke assembly and the pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which the catch arm disengages the yoke assembly. A biasing element biases the catch arm toward the disengaged position. A trigger translates movement of the yoke assembly into movement of the catch arm.

Abstract: A pole shaft catch assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to the pole shaft. The pole shaft catch assembly includes a catch arm. The catch arm moves between an engaged position in which the catch arm engages the yoke assembly to restrict movement of the yoke assembly and the pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which the catch arm disengages the yoke assembly. A biasing element biases the catch arm toward the disengaged position. A trigger translates movement of the yoke assembly into movement of the catch arm.

Abstract: A position indicator assembly is provided for a levering assembly of an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The levering assembly includes a drive shaft and a racking member movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing. The drive shaft cooperates with the racking member to facilitate racking the circuit breaker into and out of a cassette. The position indicator assembly includes a number of indicator gears cooperating with the drive shaft, an indication rack cooperating with the indicator gears, and an indicator cooperating with the indication rack to provide a visual indication indicative of the position of the circuit breaker with respect to the cassette. When the circuit breaker is moved with respect to the cassette, the drive shaft pivots. In response, the indicator gears move, thereby moving the indication rack and the indicator in order to provide the visual indication.

Abstract: A charging handle is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing having an exterior, an interior and a recess extending from the exterior toward the interior, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a charging assembly. A first end of the charging handle is coupled to the charging assembly within the interior of the housing. The second end includes a finger pull. An elongated body extends between the first and second ends and includes first and second sides, and inner and outer surfaces. The charging handle is movable among first and second positions. The finger pull is disposed on the outer surface of the elongated body at or about the second end of the charging handle, and is readily accessible from all of the second end and the first and second sides of the charging handle.

Abstract: A position indicator assembly is provided for a levering assembly of an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The levering assembly includes a drive shaft and a racking member movably coupled to the circuit breaker housing. The drive shaft cooperates with the racking member to facilitate racking the circuit breaker into and out of a cassette. The position indicator assembly includes a number of indicator gears cooperating with the drive shaft, an indication rack cooperating with the indicator gears, and an indicator cooperating with the indication rack to provide a visual indication indicative of the position of the circuit breaker with respect to the cassette. When the circuit breaker is moved with respect to the cassette, the drive shaft pivots. In response, the indicator gears move, thereby moving the indication rack and the indicator in order to provide the visual indication.

Abstract: An auxiliary switch tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of auxiliary switches. The housing has a mounting mechanism. The auxiliary switch tray includes a module having first and second sides, and a plurality of mounts disposed on the first side. At least a plurality of the mounts is structured to receive a corresponding one of the auxiliary switches. A base is disposed on the second side of the module and is coupled to the mounting mechanism in order to install the auxiliary switches in a predetermined position with respect to the actuating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The module, the mounts, and the base comprise one single-piece molded member. At least a plurality of the mounts are molded compartments of the single-piece molded member.

Abstract: An accessory assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing. The accessory assembly includes at least one accessory and a mounting member structured to mount such accessory within the housing of the circuit breaker. The mounting member includes at least one mounting portion. Such mounting portion receives and secures a corresponding one of the at least one accessory, without a number of separate fasteners. The corresponding accessory is removable from such mounting portion, without a number of separate tools. The at least one mounting portion may be a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, and the at least one accessory may be a plurality of primary accessories coupled to the first mounting portion, and a number of secondary accessories coupled to the second mounting portion.

Abstract: A strain relief mechanism is provided for an accessory for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The accessory includes an enclosure having a first end with an aperture, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a number of electrical conductors, such as wires, extending through the aperture and outwardly from the first end of the accessory enclosure. The strain relief mechanism includes a support extending outwardly from the first end of the enclosure, and being proximate the aperture and the number of electrical conductors extending therethrough. A fastening mechanism, such as a wire tie, wraps around the electrical conductors and the support in order to secure the number of electrical conductors to the support and resist undesired movement thereof. First and second portions of the enclosure are fastened together without a plurality of separate fasteners.

Abstract: An electrical conductor mount is provided for an accessory including a number of electrical conductors and an actuator. The electrical conductor mount includes an accessory enclosure from which or to which the electrical conductors extend. A mounting element is disposed on the enclosure proximate the electrical conductors external to the accessory enclosure. The mounting element includes a receiving portion structured to receive the electrical conductors, and a retaining portion retains the electrical conductors within the receiving portion. The mounting element mounts the electrical conductors in a position in which they do not obstruct operation of the actuator. The mounting element may be a resilient hook including a first end disposed on the enclosure of an accessory module. The retaining portion may be a hook disposed on the second end of the resilient hook.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coil apparatus includes a ferrous coil frame having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A coil assembly includes a conduit, a number of coils within the ferrous coil frame and being disposed on the conduit, and a ferrous plunger movable in the conduit. A first ferrous heel member is disposed proximate the first end of the ferrous coil frame. A second ferrous top plate member has an opening and is disposed proximate the second end of the ferrous coil frame. A magnetic flux enhancer is external to the conduit and is at least partially external to the ferrous coil frame. The magnetic flux enhancer includes a ferrous conduit coupled to the second ferrous top plate member and cooperates with the opening thereof to form a passageway. A portion of the ferrous plunger of the coil assembly passes through the passageway.

Abstract: An accessory tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories. The housing has a cavity with a first end and the second end, and is disposed beneath the operating mechanism. The accessory tray includes an elongated member including first and second ends and is structured to receive the circuit breaker accessories. A guide mechanism guides the elongated member into and out of the cavity, in order to install the circuit breaker accessories beneath the operating mechanism. When the elongated member is disposed within the cavity, the first end is disposed at or about the cavity first end and the second end is disposed at or about the cavity second end. The accessory tray may be a single-piece molded member having a plurality of mounting portions for removably securing a plurality of circuit breaker accessories.

Abstract: An over running clutch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The over running clutch assembly includes a sprocket and a hub assembly. The hub assembly is rotatably coupled to the sprocket and structured to rotate in a charging direction relative to the sprocket. The sprocket is fixed to a motor shaft. The hub assembly is structured to be disengagably fixed to a cam shaft in the charging assembly. A manual charging handle is also coupled to the cam shaft and is structured to rotate the cam shaft in a charging direction. In this configuration, an operator may charge the closing springs of the electrical switching apparatus using either the handle assembly or the motor. When the handle assembly is used to charge the closing springs, the cam shaft causes the hub assembly to rotate over the sprocket. Thus, the rotation of the cam shaft is not transferred to the motor. When the motor is used, the motor turns both the sprocket and the hub assembly.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly is for an electromagnetic coil including a movable stem. The electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly includes a coil frame having a first end and an opposite second end. A housing includes a plurality of interior surfaces, a first end and an opposite second end. The second end of the housing has an opening structured to receive the movable stem of the electromagnetic coil. A number of the interior surfaces of the housing are structured to selectively hold the coil frame in either one of a first position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing first end and the coil frame second end faces the housing second end, and a second position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing second end and the coil frame second end faces the housing first end.

Abstract: An over running clutch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The over running clutch assembly includes a sprocket and a hub assembly. The hub assembly is rotatably coupled to the sprocket and structured to rotate in a charging direction relative to the sprocket. The sprocket is fixed to a motor shaft. The hub assembly is structured to be disengagably fixed to a cam shaft in the charging assembly. A manual charging handle is also coupled to the cam shaft and is structured to rotate the cam shaft in a charging direction. In this configuration, an operator may charge the closing springs of the electrical switching apparatus using either the handle assembly or the motor. When the handle assembly is used to charge the closing springs, the cam shaft causes the hub assembly to rotate over the sprocket. Thus, the rotation of the cam shaft is not transferred to the motor. When the motor is used, the motor turns both the sprocket and the hub assembly.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly is for an electromagnetic coil including a movable stem. The electrical switching apparatus accessory sub-assembly includes a coil frame having a first end and an opposite second end. A housing includes a plurality of interior surfaces, a first end and an opposite second end. The second end of the housing has an opening structured to receive the movable stem of the electromagnetic coil. A number of the interior surfaces of the housing are structured to selectively hold the coil frame in either one of a first position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing first end and the coil frame second end faces the housing second end, and a second position in which the coil frame first end faces the housing second end and the coil frame second end faces the housing first end.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coil apparatus includes a ferrous coil frame having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A coil assembly includes a conduit, a number of coils within the ferrous coil frame and being disposed on the conduit, and a ferrous plunger movable in the conduit. A first ferrous heel member is disposed proximate the first end of the ferrous coil frame. A second ferrous top plate member has an opening and is disposed proximate the second end of the ferrous coil frame. A magnetic flux enhancer is external to the conduit and is at least partially external to the ferrous coil frame. The magnetic flux enhancer includes a ferrous conduit coupled to the second ferrous top plate member and cooperates with the opening thereof to form a passageway. A portion of the ferrous plunger of the coil assembly passes through the passageway.

Abstract: An accessory tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories. The housing has a cavity with a first end and the second end, and is disposed beneath the operating mechanism. The accessory tray includes an elongated member including first and second ends and is structured to receive the circuit breaker accessories. A guide mechanism guides the elongated member into and out of the cavity, in order to install the circuit breaker accessories beneath the operating mechanism. When the elongated member is disposed within the cavity, the first end is disposed at or about the cavity first end and the second end is disposed at or about the cavity second end. The accessory tray may be a single-piece molded member having a plurality of mounting portions for removably securing a plurality of circuit breaker accessories.

Abstract: A strain relief mechanism is provided for an accessory for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The accessory includes an enclosure having a first end with an aperture, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and a number of electrical conductors, such as wires, extending through the aperture and outwardly from the first end of the accessory enclosure. The strain relief mechanism includes a support extending outwardly from the first end of the enclosure, and being proximate the aperture and the number of electrical conductors extending therethrough. A fastening mechanism, such as a wire tie, wraps around the electrical conductors and the support in order to secure the number of electrical conductors to the support and resist undesired movement thereof. First and second portions of the enclosure are fastened together without a plurality of separate fasteners.