Patent ID: 7515022
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A trip lever for a shared tripping device, said shared tripping device structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, a primary circuit breaker and a secondary circuit breaker, each circuit breaker having a current path assembly with a pair of separable contacts having a fixed contact and a movable contact, an operating mechanism, a tripping device, and a housing assembly, each said operating mechanism disposed in said housing assembly and structured to move said pair of separable contacts between a first, closed position, wherein said contacts are in electrical communication, and a second, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, thereby preventing electrical communication therebetween, each said operating mechanism including a cage, a cradle and at least one primary spring, said cradle coupled to said movable contact, said spring engaging said cradle and biasing said operating mechanism to move said separable contacts to said open position, each said tripping device structured to arrest the movement of said operating mechanism, thereby allowing said contacts to be maintained in the closed position, each said tripping device further being responsive to an over current condition wherein said tripping device releases said operating mechanism and allows said primary spring to separate said contacts, said primary circuit breaker having an elongated inter-phase link fixedly coupled to said cradle and structured to move with said cradle along a path of travel, each said housing assembly has a shaped opening, said inter-phase link having a distal end extending from said primary circuit breaker through said shaped openings into said secondary circuit breaker, said secondary circuit breaker tripping device having a pivoting trip bar with a trip lever tab, said trip lever comprising: an elongated trip lever body having a mounting end and a distal end; said trip lever body mounting end pivotally coupled to said secondary circuit breaker cage and engaging said secondary circuit breaker trip bar; said trip lever body distal end disposed in said path of travel of said inter-phase link body distal end; and wherein said trip lever body distal end is structured to be engaged by said inter-phase link body distal end as said inter-phase link body distal end moves along said path of travel and said trip lever is structured to actuate said secondary circuit breaker trip bar when said trip lever is engaged by said inter-phase link body distal end.