Patent ID: 6545584
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker comprising:a casing; separable contacts; an operating mechanism incorporating a latch, the operating mechanism opening the separable contacts when the latch is unlatched; a trip assembly comprising: a trip bar unlatching the latch when moved to a trip position; a trip unit moving the trip bar to the trip position in response to selected conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts; an inertia device preventing movement of the trip bar to the trip position in response to a mechanical shock; wherein the trip bar comprises an elongated member mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and the inertia device comprises at least one mass, and a compliant mount mounting the at least one mass adjacent the elongated member to engage the elongated member in response to mechanical shock and prevent unlatching of the latch; wherein the compliant mount comprises a spring mount; wherein the spring mount comprises a mount support, a mounting rod carrying the at least one mass and slideable relative to the mount support, and a spring coupling the at least one mass to the mount support; and wherein the spring comprises a helical compression spring mounted coaxially with the mounting rod.