Abstract: An actuator for circuit interrupter has a stationary magnetic boss, a movable magnetic armature and a drive rod. The drive rod is aligned on an axis of the circuit interrupter. The drive rod has two stable positions, circuit interrupter closed and circuit interrupter open. The drive rod has a surface that the armature contacts to move the drive rod from the circuit interrupter closed position to the circuit interrupter open position. In the circuit interrupter closed position, the armature and the surface are separated by a pre-travel distance. The armature is to move towards the stationary magnetic boss and contact the surface, to initiate a circuit interrupter disconnecting motion of the drive rod with a transfer of momentum to the drive rod.

Abstract: Cradle assembly comprises a breaker-engaging frame slidably coupled to an enclosure-engaging frame. The enclosure will have a rear wall provided with forwardly extending stationary terminals. The breaker will have rearwardly facing terminals aligned for engaging the stationary terminals. The rear wall of the enclosure is fixed relative to the side walls of the enclosure. The enclosure-engaging frame of the cradle assembly engages the side walls as the breaker is mounted to the breaker-engaging frame. The cradle assembly facilitates moving the breaker between a connected and disconnected position. In the connected position, the breaker terminals are engaged with the enclosure stationary terminals. In the disconnected position, the breaker terminals are disengaged and spaced from the stationary terminals.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a circuit interrupter comprising a crank and lever pivotally interconnected by a resiliently yielding connecting rod assembly. The connecting rod assembly comprises a coil compression spring and first and second links slidably coupled together to compress the coil compression spring. Rotation of the crank in either direction causes the lever to drive the movable contact of the circuit interrupter into and out of engagement with the stationary contact. The coil compression spring is loaded under compression when the movable contact is driven into engagement with the stationary contact, storing and maintaining a mechanical static load on the movable contact for as long as the movable contact is engaged with the stationary contact.