Abstract: A fastening assembly is for a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a base and a bimetal. The fastening assembly includes a heater element structured to be coupled to the bimetal and the base, and a plurality of fastening members including a nut and a coupling member coupled to the nut. The nut is structured to be disposed between the heater element and the bimetal. The coupling member extends through the heater element and into the nut in order to minimize movement of the heater element with respect to the base.

Abstract: A lever assembly is for an operating mechanism of an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a number of pairs of separable contacts structured to move from a CLOSED position to a TRIPPED OPEN position in response to a trip condition. The operating mechanism has an enclosure member and a number of biasing elements coupled to the enclosure member. The biasing elements are structured to move the separable contacts from the CLOSED position to the TRIPPED OPEN position. The lever assembly includes a lever member structured to engage the enclosure member, and a component located on the lever member. The component is structured to extend through each of the biasing elements in order to lengthen each of the biasing elements when the separable contacts are in the CLOSED position.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly is provided. The adaptor assembly is structured to allow a cable of a first amperage to be coupled to, and placed in electrical communication with, a terminal of a different amperage. That is, an adaptor assembly includes a lug body and an adaptor body. The adaptor body is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the lug body. The lug body includes a cable passage, wherein said cable passage has a cross-sectional area corresponding to a cable of a first amperage. The adaptor body includes a conducting surface, wherein said conducting surface has a surface area corresponding to a conductor terminal end mating surface of a second amperage.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly is provided. The adaptor assembly is structured to allow a cable of a first amperage to be coupled to, and placed in electrical communication with, a terminal of a different amperage. That is, an adaptor assembly includes a lug body and an adaptor body. The adaptor body is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the lug body. The lug body includes a cable passage, wherein said cable passage has a cross-sectional area corresponding to a cable of a first amperage. The adaptor body includes a conducting surface, wherein said conducting surface has a surface area corresponding to a conductor terminal end mating surface of a second amperage.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly is provided. The adaptor assembly is structured to allow a cable of a first amperage to be coupled to, and placed in electrical communication with, a terminal of a different amperage. That is, an adaptor assembly includes a lug body and an adaptor body. The adaptor body is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the lug body. The lug body includes a cable passage, wherein said cable passage has a cross-sectional area corresponding to a cable of a first amperage. The adaptor body includes a conducting surface, wherein said conducting surface has a surface area corresponding to a conductor terminal end mating surface of a second amperage.

Abstract: An adaptor assembly is provided. The adaptor assembly is structured to allow a cable of a first amperage to be coupled to, and placed in electrical communication with, a terminal of a different amperage. That is, an adaptor assembly includes a lug body and an adaptor body. The adaptor body is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the lug body. The lug body includes a cable passage, wherein said cable passage has a cross-sectional area corresponding to a cable of a first amperage. The adaptor body includes a conducting surface, wherein said conducting surface has a surface area corresponding to a conductor terminal end mating surface of a second amperage.

Abstract: A lever assembly is for an operating mechanism of an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a number of pairs of separable contacts structured to move from a CLOSED position to a TRIPPED OPEN position in response to a trip condition. The operating mechanism has an enclosure member and a number of biasing elements coupled to the enclosure member. The biasing elements are structured to move the separable contacts from the CLOSED position to the TRIPPED OPEN position. The lever assembly includes a lever member structured to engage the enclosure member, and a component located on the lever member. The component is structured to extend through each of the biasing elements in order to lengthen each of the biasing elements when the separable contacts are in the CLOSED position.

Abstract: An enclosure is for a slot motor of an electrical switching apparatus. The slot motor includes a number of U-shaped laminations. The enclosure includes a first member and a second member coupled to the first member to form a U-shaped enclosed region for the U-shaped laminations.

Abstract: An enclosure is for a slot motor of an electrical switching apparatus. The slot motor includes a number of U-shaped laminations. The enclosure includes a first member and a second member coupled to the first member to form a U-shaped enclosed region for the U-shaped laminations.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus is usable as a line terminal or load terminal of a circuit interrupter to enable a conductive element that includes a ring terminal to be electrically connected with a conductor of a circuit interrupter. The attachment apparatus employs a conventional lug which serves as a connector. The lug includes a threaded engagement element. The attachment apparatus further includes a connection element having a threaded receptacle that is structured to receive a shank of a threaded fastener. The shank is received through a hole formed in a ring terminal and is further threadably receivable in the receptacle of the connection apparatus to enable the ring terminal and a wire connected therewith to be reliably electrically connected with a line conductor or a load conductor of the circuit interrupter. The threaded shank can be unthreaded from the connection element to permit removal of the ring terminal and associated wire.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus is usable as a line terminal or load terminal of a circuit interrupter to enable a conductive element that includes a ring terminal to be electrically connected with a conductor of a circuit interrupter. The attachment apparatus employs a conventional lug which serves as a connector. The lug includes a threaded engagement element. The attachment apparatus further includes a connection element having a threaded receptacle that is structured to receive a shank of a threaded fastener. The shank is received through a hole formed in a ring terminal and is further threadably receivable in the receptacle of the connection apparatus to enable the ring terminal and a wire connected therewith to be reliably electrically connected with a line conductor or a load conductor of the circuit interrupter. The threaded shank can be unthreaded from the connection element to permit removal of the ring terminal and associated wire.

Abstract: A load conductor for use with a circuit breaker includes a load terminal and a conductive tang engaged with one another. The load terminal is manufactured out of a first material having a first electrical conductivity, and the tang is manufactured out of a second material having a second electrical conductivity. The first electrical conductivity of the first material is such that the load terminal remains at a desirably high temperature during operation of the circuit breaker to avoid interference with the function of a bimetallic strip mounted on the load terminal. The tang extends across a bend formed in the load terminal to avoid the bend from becoming undesirably hot during operation of the circuit breaker. The tang also provides additional conductive cross-section and a higher conductivity surface to reduce the temperature of the load terminal in the vicinity of the clamped joint between the load terminal and the load. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A load conductor for use with a circuit breaker includes a load terminal and a conductive tang engaged with one another. The load terminal is manufactured out of a first material having a first electrical conductivity, and the tang is manufactured out of a second material having a second electrical conductivity. The first electrical conductivity of the first material is such that the load terminal remains at a desirably high temperature during operation of the circuit breaker to avoid interference with the function of a bimetallic strip mounted on the load terminal. The tang extends across a bend formed in the load terminal to avoid the bend from becoming undesirably hot during operation of the circuit breaker. The tang also provides additional conductive cross-section and a higher conductivity surface to reduce the temperature of the load terminal in the vicinity of the clamped joint between the load terminal and the load. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A pneumatic operator has a reciprocally mounted actuator is mechanically coupled to an operating handle from a molded case circuit breaker or a molded case switch for moving the operating handle between an open position or, alternatively, to a closed position. The pneumatic operator includes a piston for driving a handle actuator assembly which is coupled to the handle. The pneumatic piston may be coupled to a remote high pressure gas source or to a high pressure gas cylinder located adjacent to the molded case circuit breaker. The pneumatic operator may be controlled either remotely or by a handle mounted adjacent to the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A flux transfer shunt trip actuator has an elongated seat member extending between the legs of a U-shaped magnetically permeable frame member. A plunger is magnetically latched against the seat formed by the seat member in a retracted position by permanent magnets positioned adjacent the seat. The field generated by permanent magnets produces a latching force which exceeds a bias force generated by a helical compression spring extending along the elongated seat member and biasing the plunger toward an actuated position spaced from the seat. A coil surrounding the elongated seat member and the spring, generates an electromagnetic field when energized which bucks the permanent magnet field so that the plunger is driven to the actuated position by the spring. Preload on the spring is adjusted by an adjusting member positioned along a threaded shaft coaxial with the spring and extending from the bight of the U-shaped frame in the opposite direction from the pair of legs of the frame.

Abstract: Molded case electric power switches such as circuit breakers, disconnects and transfer switches have an energy storage spring which rotates a cam assembly to close and initiate opening of the switch contacts. The cam assembly includes a drive cam with a cam lobe which engages a drive cam follower on the moving contact assembly. Due to space limitations, the cam assembly is positioned so that the drive cam follower initially moves toward the cam assembly during closing. To accommodate for this, the cam lobe has a generally radial leading edge to prevent binding of the drive cam follower. A single latch mechanism latches the cam assembly in a spring charged position and in a closed position. A Y-shaped latch member has one leg which is engaged by a latch, a second leg which engages stops on the drive cam at the charged position and the closed position, and a third leg which sequentially engages the stops to reset the latch mechanism.

Abstract: The outside poles of a three pole circuit breaker are each provided with a blow open latch which includes a latch hook having an open slot forming jaws pivotally mounted on the contact arm. A torsion spring biases the jaws to a cocked position in which they are aligned for engagement with a fixed stop member toward which the contact arm rotates as it blows open in response to the magnetic repulsion forces generated by a short circuit. As the jaws engage the stop member, the latch hook is rotated to mechanically latch the latch hook on the stop member thereby preventing rebound and reclosing of the contacts. A leaf spring mounted on the crossbar holds the latch hook in mechanical engagement with the stop member. As the circuit breaker responds to the overcurrent condition and rotates the crossbar, the leaf spring disengages from the latch hook so that the torsion spring can rotate the latch hook back to the cocked position for disengagement from the stop member upon reclosing of the circuit breaker.