Abstract: A two-pole circuit breaker has an internal rotating trip bar that causes a second pole to trip (i.e., interrupt power) in response to a first pole tripping. A first pole may trip when the two-pole circuit breaker senses an electrical fault in the first pole. The tripping of the second pole in response to the first pole tripping may be referred to as common tripping. The trip bar may be connected to a tripping mechanism in each pole and may have interface features that result in less force required to trip the second pole, greater trip bar design tolerances, and/or ultimately more reliable common tripping. Methods of assembling a two-pole circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: There is disclosed a circuit breaker overcurrent tripping device. This tripping device includes: a fixed iron core accommodating a bimetallic strip in which a flow of an electric current is present, the bimetallic strip bending when an overcurrent is present; a movable iron core attracted to the fixed iron core when the electric current becomes a short circuit accident current; a tripping mechanism operated both by the movement of the movable iron core or the bending of the bimetallic strip; a fixed contact point connected via a connecting wire to a load terminal; a movable contact point fixed to the movable iron core and connected via a conductor wire to a fixed end of the bimetallic strip; and a flexible conductor for connecting a free end of the bimetallic strip to the load terminal. In this configuration, the fixed iron core is wound with at least one turn of the flexible conductor, thereby increasing the magnetic force attracting the movable iron core to the fixed iron core.

Abstract: A low-voltage circuit breaker of compact design has a housing of insulating material with several parallel disposed chambers. A switching mechanism designed as a structural unit is provided in one of the chambers. The other chambers comprise compartments for switching path contacts. The switching mechanism comprises a U-shaped carrier for all moving parts. In particular, a drive shaft with a coupling part, such as a key, as well as a tripping shaft, likewise having a coupling part such as a slot, are provided. A pole control shaft is provided for actuating the switch contacts and is provided at its end with a coupling part such as a slot which comes into engagement with the coupling part of the drive shaft of the switching mechanism if the latter is built into the switch gear.

Abstract: A combined switch and circuit breaker device. The circuit breaker includes trip means for interrupting current flow when the current exceeds a predetermined level and for preventing the resumption of current flow until the trip means is reset. The device is adapted such that after interruption of current flow by the trip means, opening the switch resets the trip means.

Abstract: A pushbutton circuit breaker switch, including two sets of contacts, connected in series. One set of contacts, the switch contacts (24, 30), open and close during normal on-off switch cycling. The other set of contacts, the breaker contacts (36, 42, 54), open only on overload, leaving the switch contacts closed. Of the three breaker contacts, two are stationary (36, 42) and one is a movable bridging contact (54). This movable contact is mounted on an insulative slide block (44), and an overload slides into an insulative enclosure (10g) in the housing (10) of the switch. Thus the movable contact is almost completely surrounded by insulative material cutting off any arc formed. The switch contacts are opened and closed by a W-cam (16). The actuator for the W-cam is a trapeze spring (14), the length of the horizontal portion of which is greater than the width of the W-cam, so that the center high point (16a) of the W-cam passes through the actuator without interference therewith.

Abstract: A multi-pole circuit breaker system includes a plurality of individual circuit breakers and at least one tripping action transfer device disposed between adjacent circuit breakers. The tripping action transfer device includes a lever pivotally supported at one end and carrying a rod shaped transfer member at its other end. The transfer member extends into the interior of the housings of adjacent circuit breakers and cooperates with their tripping mechanisms. A tripping operation of one circuit breaker engages the transfer member and causes actuation of the tripping mechanism of the adjacent breaker to initiate simultaneous tripping thereof.