Patent ID: 7800466
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A magnetic trip mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said magnetic trip mechanism comprising: a magnetic member structured to be coupled to the housing of said electrical switching apparatus; an armature including a first end being structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side facing said magnetic member and a second side facing away from said magnetic member, said armature being structured to move among a first position corresponding to said separable contacts of said electrical switching apparatus being tripped open, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being closeable; an armature restraint including a first portion and a second portion distal from the first portion; and a biasing element removably coupled to the first portion of said armature restraint, wherein, when said armature is disposed in said first position, a portion of the first side of said armature engages said magnetic member, wherein, when said armature is disposed in said second position, a portion of the second side of said armature engages the second portion of said armature restraint, wherein said armature restraint and said biasing element comprise a sub-assembly, wherein the first portion of said armature restraint is structured to removably couple said sub-assembly to said magnetic member, and wherein, after said sub-assembly is removably coupled to said magnetic member, said biasing element is chargeable to bias said armature away from said first position toward said second position.