Patent ID: 9653224
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: H01H

Claim:
1. An interruption apparatus comprising: a plurality of conductors; a contact arm apparatus comprising a plurality of contact arms; a contact apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of separable contacts, each set of separable contacts of the plurality of sets of separable contacts comprising a movable contact and a stationary contact, the movable contact being situated on a corresponding contact arm of the plurality of contact arms, the stationary contact being electrically connected with a first portion of a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors and the movable contact being electrically connected with a second portion of the corresponding conductor; a trip unit that is operably connected with each contact arm of the plurality of contact arms, the trip unit being movable between an ON condition wherein the plurality of contact arms are positioned such that the plurality of sets of separable contacts are each in a CLOSED state and an OFF condition wherein the plurality of contact arms are positioned such that the plurality of sets of separable contacts are each in an OPEN state; a plurality of actuators, each actuator of the plurality of actuators being electrically connected with a corresponding conductor of the plurality of conductors, each actuator of the plurality of actuators comprising a support, a detector, and an engagement element, the engagement element being situated on the support and being movable between a first position with respect to the support and a second position with respect to the support, the first position and the second position being different than one another, the engagement element in one of the first position and the second position being engageable with the operating mechanism when the operating mechanism is in the ON condition, responsive to the detector experiencing a predetermined event, the engagement element moving from the first position toward the second position and undergoing a change in its state of engagement with the operating mechanism by becoming one of engaged with the operating mechanism and disengaged from the operating mechanism; and responsive to fewer than all of the engagement elements undergoing the change in state of engagement with the operating mechanism, the trip unit becoming thereby triggered to release the operating mechanism to move from the ON condition to the OFF condition.