Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a crank for coupling a rotary arm breaker mechanism to the cradle. The crank has a protrusion which cooperates with a handle yoke to restrict movement of the operating handle when the contacts of the circuit breaker are welded. The crank protrusion is arranged such that it does not interfere with the handle under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a support frame, a trip unit, a crossbar, and a trip bar, is disclosed. The trip unit is responsive to an electric current for generating a trip force, the crossbar is directly coupled to the trip unit and to the support frame, and the trip bar is directly coupled to the support frame. The electric current at the trip unit generates a trip force that acts upon the trip bar to trip the circuit breaker. The crossbar remains substantially stationary during the tripping action.

Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a calibration system is disclosed. The calibration system includes a retainer, a tripping member responsive to an electric current, an actuator retained by the retainer, a spring adjuster adjustably engaged with the actuator and the tripping member, and a bias spring disposed for biasing the actuator in a first direction. Movement of the spring adjuster absent movement of the actuator and the tripping member results in a change in the bias spring force and no change in the position of the tripping member, and movement of the tripping member absent movement of the spring adjuster results in a change in the position of the tripping member and no change in the bias spring force.

Abstract: A molded case, cassette type circuit breaker for a multi-pole electrical distribution circuit includes a number of cassettes equal to the number of poles in the multi-pole electrical distribution circuit and a pin disposed through each cassette. The pin is formed from a dielectric material. The pin may be further disposed through a portion of an operating mechanism for aligning the cassettes and the operating mechanism. Each cassette may include a rotor, a pair of electrical contacts, and a contact arm supported in the cassette by the rotor. In this embodiment, the pin may be a cross pin that extends between each rotor. The dielectric material may include phenolic, melamine, silicone, epoxy, polyester, fiberglass and the like. Alternatively, the pin includes a steel bar coated with the dielectric material, where the dielectric material may include, for example, epoxy, silicon, Teflon, and the like. A pair of end caps may be disposed over end surfaces of the rotor.

Abstract: A molded insulator cover for a circuit breaker molded case includes a terminal connector attachable to the strap terminal. The terminal connector is disposed in the circuit breaker molded case and an insulator discrete from the molded case is disposed around the terminal connector. The insulator is trapped into the circuit breaker molded case by attachment of the terminal connector to the strap terminal. The insulator is configured to be used with a plurality of different field installable terminal connectors.

Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of linkages arranged to transmit mechanical energy from the operating mechanism to a plunger of an accessory device for changing a state thereof. The system of linkages is configured to compensate for any over-travel resulting from possible tolerance variations.

Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a calibration system is disclosed. The calibration system includes a retainer, a tripping member responsive to an electric current, an actuator retained by the retainer, a spring adjuster adjustably engaged with the actuator and the tripping member, and a bias spring disposed for biasing the actuator in a first direction. Movement of the spring adjuster absent movement of the actuator and the tripping member results in a change in the bias spring force and no change in the position of the tripping member, and movement of the tripping member absent movement of the spring adjuster results in a change in the position of the tripping member and no change in the bias spring force.

Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a support frame, a trip unit, a crossbar, and a trip bar, is disclosed. The trip unit is responsive to an electric current for generating a trip force, the crossbar is directly coupled to the trip unit and to the support frame, and the trip bar is directly coupled to the support frame. The electric current at the trip unit generates a trip force that acts upon the trip bar to trip the circuit breaker. The crossbar remains substantially stationary during the tripping action.

Abstract: A molded insulator cover for a circuit breaker molded case includes a terminal connector attachable to the strap terminal. The terminal connector projects outwardly from the circuit breaker molded case and an insulator discrete from the molded case is disposed around the terminal connector. The insulator is trapped into the circuit breaker molded case by attachment of the terminal connector to the strap terminal. The insulator is configured to be used with a plurality of different field installable terminal connectors.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a crank for coupling a rotary arm breaker mechanism to the cradle. The crank has a protrusion which cooperates with a handle yoke to restrict movement of the operating handle when the contacts of the circuit breaker are welded. The crank protrusion is arranged such that it does not interfere with the handle under normal operating conditions.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for actuating a trip latch in a circuit breaker. The magnet assembly includes a core and an armature. The core is disposed around a conductor forming a primary current path in the circuit breaker, and includes an end forming a pole face. The armature is biased by a force acting in a direction away from the pole face. The armature includes a generally planar surface and a projection extending from the generally planar surface toward the pole face. The generally planar surface is separated from the pole face by a first air gap, and the projection is separated from the pole face by a second air gap. The first air gap is larger than the second air gap.

Abstract: A molded case, cassette type circuit breaker for a multi-pole electrical distribution circuit includes a number of cassettes equal to the number of poles in the multi-pole electrical distribution circuit and a pin disposed through each cassette. The pin is formed from a dielectric material. The pin may be further disposed through a portion of an operating mechanism for aligning the cassettes and the operating mechanism. Each cassette may include a rotor, a pair of electrical contacts, and a contact arm supported in the cassette by the rotor. In this embodiment, the pin may be a cross pin that extends between each rotor. The dielectric material may include phenolic, melamine, silicone, epoxy, polyester, fiberglass and the like. Alternatively, the pin includes a steel bar coated with the dielectric material, where the dielectric material may include, for example, epoxy, silicon, Teflon, and the like. A pair of end caps may be disposed over end surfaces of the rotor.

Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of linkages arranged to transmit mechanical energy from the operating mechanism to a plunger of an accessory device for changing a state thereof. The system of linkages is configured to compensate for any over-travel resulting from possible tolerance variations.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for actuating a trip latch in a circuit breaker. The magnet assembly includes a core and an armature. The core is disposed around a conductor forming a primary current path in the circuit breaker, and includes an end forming a pole face. The armature is biased by a force acting in a direction away from the pole face. The armature includes a generally planar surface and a projection extending from the generally planar surface toward the pole face. The generally planar surface is separated from the pole face by a first air gap, and the projection is separated from the pole face by a second air gap. The first air gap is larger than the second air gap.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a cassette. The cassette includes a separable current path having a movable contact arm, two arc receptors each disposed for receiving an electrical arc in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition, and two slot motors each disposed proximate the movable contact arm for magnetically driving the movable contact arm to a blown open position in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition. The slot motors each have two side legs opposing each other and defining a space therebetween for receiving the movable contact arm, each side leg having a magnetic core and an insulative layer and being biased toward the interior of the side walls of the cassette, wherein each side leg is restrained from being magnetically attracted toward the movable contact arm during a short circuit condition.

Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of linkages arranged to transmit mechanical energy from the operating mechanism to a plunger of an accessory device for changing a state thereof. The system of linkages is configured to compensate for any over-travel resulting from possible tolerance variations.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for a multi-pole electrical distribution circuit includes a cassette associated with each pole in the multi-pole electrical distribution circuit. Each cassette includes a housing, a pair of electrical contacts disposed in the housing, and a thermal and magnetic trip unit supported by the housing. The housing includes a first compartment having the electrical contacts disposed therein and a second compartment having at least a portion of the thermal and magnetic trip unit disposed therein. A wall separates the first and second compartments for isolating the second compartment from gasses generated by separation of the first and second contacts. A duct adjacent to the second compartment allows the gasses to pass to an exterior portion of the housing. The housing includes a pair of opposing slots formed therein for receiving edges of a load terminal.