Abstract: A movable arm assembly for a circuit breaker includes a unitary structure having two blade portions being connected by a bend location. The bend location forms a gapless surface region. A contact is connected to the unitary structure wherein the gapless surface region and a contact surface of the contact are connected to form a joint therebetween. A method for forming a movable arm assembly includes forming a blank from a conductive sheet, the blank including a unitary structure having two blade portions, bending the blade portion at a bend location to form a gapless surface region at the bend location and joining a contact to the unitary structure on the gapless surface region at the bend location to form a movable arm assembly.

Abstract: A movable arm assembly for a circuit breaker includes a unitary structure having two blade portions being connected by a bend location. The bend location forms a gapless surface region. A contact is connected to the unitary structure wherein the gapless surface region and a contact surface of the contact are connected to form a joint therebetween. A method for forming a movable arm assembly includes forming a blank from a conductive sheet, the blank including a unitary structure having two blade portions, bending the blade portion at a bend location to form a gapless surface region at the bend location and joining a contact to the unitary structure on the gapless surface region at the bend location to form a movable arm assembly.

Abstract: A direct mount rotary handle operating mechanism for operating a circuit breaker having electrical contacts. The handle mechanism includes a driver coupled to the circuit breaker and a handle having a socket for receiving the driver. The socket is configured to allow the handle to rotate relative to the driver. The handle further includes a movable locking pin. A lock latch is associated with the driver, wherein the lock latch includes a flange portion. When the electrical contacts of the circuit breaker are welded closed and a torque is applied to the handle, the handle rotates to a position in which the pin is blocked from being inserted into the locking hole by the flange portion thereby preventing the handle from being locked in an OFF position when the contacts are welded together.

Abstract: A method and an extended rotary operating mechanism for a circuit breaker having a movable operating handle coupled to a shaft, and electrical contacts, the extended rotary operating mechanism comprising a handle operator defining a socket. A blocking plate mounted in the socket, with the blocking plate including a blocking shape. A shaft adapter is coupled to the blocking plate and the shaft. If the electrical contacts of the circuit breaker are welded closed and a torque is applied to the operator handle, the blocking shape prevents the handle operator from being locked in an “OFF” position independently of the operating handle position, by covering a locking hole. The shaft adapter may include one of an extended socket and a recessed socket configured to engage the shaft.

Abstract: A method of adjusting spacing between first and second jaw structures of a plug-in base for receiving a circuit breaker is provided. The method includes providing a plug-in base 10 having first and second jaw structures constructed and arranged to receive stabs of a circuit breaker. The first jaw structure 14 is disposed in a first housing 18 and the second jaw structure 16 is disposed in a second housing 20. Each of the first and second housings has an upper surface 22 and an opposing lower surface 24. A first spacer 26 is placed between the first jaw structure 14 and the upper or lower surface of the first housing 18 and a second spacer 28 is placed between the second jaw structure 16 and the upper or lower surface of the second housing 20 to define a certain spacing between the first and second jaw structures.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for moving a circuit breaker (12) with respect to a circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14) so as to connect or disconnect the circuit breaker from the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. The mechanism includes a draw bracket assembly (29) having a draw bracket (30) constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14) so as to be generally adjacent to a side of the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. A guide engaging member (36) is mounted for generally vertical movement with respect to the draw bracket (30). The guide engaging member (30) has a slot structure (42) therein having surfaces constructed and arranged to receive and engage a guide (26) associated with the circuit breaker (12) for moving the circuit breaker with respect to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14). A drive member (55) is provided and has a movable element (56).

Abstract: A circuit breaker movement structure 10 is provided for use with a circuit breaker 12 to move the circuit breaker 12 to be connected with or be disconnected from a circuit breaker connecting apparatus 14. The circuit breaker connection apparatus 10 has slot structure 78 in a rear surface. The movement structure 10 comprises bracket assembly constructed and arranged to engage with a circuit breaker to move the circuit breaker with respect to the connecting apparatus. The bracket assembly has a pair of draw brackets 68 and 70 disposed in spaced relation. Each draw bracket includes hook structure 74 constructed and arranged to engage with associated slot structure 78 of the connecting apparatus, and a detent 80 constructed and arranged to engage a surface 82 of the connecting apparatus 14 in an interference fit when the hook structure 74 is engaged in the slot structure 78.

Abstract: A circuit breaker movement (10) structure is provided for use with a circuit breaker (12) to move the circuit breaker be connected with or be disconnected from a circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14). The movement structure comprises a draw bracket assembly (68) and (70) constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. A guide assembly (16) is constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker (12). The draw bracket assembly includes drive structure constructed and arranged to be actuated to engage the guide assembly and cause the circuit breaker to move with respect to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. The draw bracket assembly includes a movable structure (108) coupled thereto so as to be moved in a linear manner between first, second, and third positions while maintaining the movable structure in one of the positions.

Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) including a terminal barrier system (140). The terminal barrier system (140) includes a terminal barrier (142) attached to a circuit breaker base (12) at the terminals (16, 18), line and load, of the breaker (10) and a terminal connector (144) mounted in the terminal barrier (142) to align with a terminal (16, 18) of the breaker (10). Several embodiments of the terminal barrier (142) and terminal connector (144) are provided which allow flexibility in combining the various terminal barriers and terminal connectors for a given current rating of the breaker (10). The terminal barrier system (140) protects the terminals (16, 18) of the circuit breaker during short circuit condition operations, prevents pole to pole electrification and prevents accidental contact with live electrical wires in the contacts (42, 44).

Abstract: A circuit breaker terminal shield with integral securing and installation and removal features apparatus, means and system for use with a circuit breaker assembly having at least one circuit breaker terminal, at least one fastening aperture associated with a circuit breaker projecting end member and another circuit breaker projecting end member, the circuit breaker terminal shield apparatus having at least one terminal shield main frame member having a first terminal shield fastening member adapted to fasten the terminal shield main frame member to the circuit breaker projecting end member of the circuit breaker assembly, and further having a second terminal shield fastening member adapted to further fasten the terminal shield main frame member to the another circuit breaker projecting member of the circuit breaker assembly.

Abstract: A stored energy apparatus for association with an operating handle of a circuit breaker contains springs that store energy when charged and that release energy when discharged. Energy is stored when a movement translation assembly is moved in a charging direction by an operator gear, and stored energy is released when a release apparatus releases the operator gear, causing the movement translation assembly to move in a discharging direction. The circuit breaker operating handle is moved to ON position by the charging movement of the movement translation assembly, and as stored energy is released, the discharging movement of the movement translation assembly moves the operating handle to OFF position. The operator gear is operated via an operator handle, operator shaft, and pinion gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly has a carrier pivotally associated with the operator shaft and a pinion gear that rotates the operator gear.

Abstract: A circuit breaker terminal shield with integral securing and installation and removal features method for fastening a circuit breaker terminal shield apparatus to at least one terminal end of a circuit breaker assembly having at least one circuit breaker terminal, at least one fastening aperture associated with a circuit breaker projecting end member and another circuit breaker projecting end member, the method for fastening the circuit breaker terminal shield apparatus comprising the steps of fastening a first terminal shield fastening member, which is adapted to fasten the terminal shield main frame member, to the circuit breaker projecting end member of the circuit breaker assembly, and fastening a second terminal shield fastening member, which is adapted to further fasten the terminal shield main frame member, to the another circuit breaker projecting end member of the circuit breaker assembly.

Abstract: A pinion gear carrier assembly for use with an operator handle, operator handle shaft assembly and main operator gear that is used to drive a movement translation assembly so as to charge a stored energy assembly of a stored energy circuit breaker actuation apparatus, the pinion gear carrier assembly comprising a pinion gear carrier having an operator handle shaft aperture and an idler pinion gear mounting member, wherein the pinion gear carrier is mounted on the operator handle shaft using the operator handle shaft aperture; a driver pinion gear mounted on the operator handle shaft; an idler pinion gear mounted on the idler pinion gear mounting member; wherein the driver pinion gear and the idler pinion gear contact one another so that the idler pinion gear rotates when the driver pinion gear is rotated by the operator handle and operator handle shaft.

Abstract: A circuit breaker draw apparatus, means and system for use with a circuit breaker assembly, where the circuit breaker assembly has a circuit breaker unit that is adapted for connection to or disconnection from a circuit breaker connecting apparatus. The circuit breaker movement apparatus, means and system includes a movement bracket assembly adapted for mounting to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus, a guide assembly adapted for mounting to the circuit breaker unit, and a drive assembly adapted for mounting to the bracket assembly and for causing the guide assembly to move with respect to the bracket assembly.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.

Abstract: A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.

Abstract: A motor operated mechanism for transferring energy to the energy storing mechanism of a circuit breaker of the type which utilizes the energy to close the primary contacts of the circuit breaker. The mechanism includes a motor for driving a cam and follower assembly. The cam and follower assembly cooperate with a linkage to supply rotational motion of an energy delivery shaft, wherein the energy delivery shaft is coupled to the energy storing mechanism of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A charging handle assembly for charging the closing springs of a stored energy mechanism which closes the contacts of a circuit breaker. The charging handle has a generally U-shape and is pivotally attached to the circuit breaker cover. The handle is adapted to cooperate with the stored energy mechanism such that the cover and handle are easily removed from the circuit breaker. Additionally, the handle cooperates with the cover and the stored energy mechanism so that energy is transferred to the springs of the mechanism by pumpiing the handle.

Abstract: A barrier for isolating the electrical contacts of a circuit breaker from the operating mechanism for the contacts. The barrier includes openings to allow the operating mechanism to pass through the barrier, and venting channels for venting gas from within the circuit breaker to the exterior of the circuit breaker.