Patent ID: 6225881
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker comprising:a circuit breaker housing having an indicator opening;a current path within said circuit breaker housing;a pair of separable contacts mounted within said circuit breaker housing, said pair of separable contacts within said current path;an operating mechanism within said circuit breaker housing, said operating mechanism arranged to separate said separable contacts;a first trip ratchet arranged to restrain said operating mechanism from separating said separable contacts during quiescent current transfer through said current path;a second trip ratchet arranged to restrain said first trip ratchet from releasing said operating mechanism during quiescent current transfer through said current path;a first trip lever including first, second and third ends, said first end interacting with said second trip ratchet to remove said restraint of said first trip ratchet, said second end interacting with said operating mechanism to engage said restraint of said first trip ratchet on said operating mechanism;a first trip bar pivotally disposed in said circuit breaker, said first trip bar including first, second and third ends, said first end of said first trip bar releasably engaging said third end of said first trip lever, said second end of said first trip bar selectively visible through said indicator opening; anda first sensing unit interacting with said third end of said first trip bar, said first sensing unit in response to a first trip condition pivots said first trip bar to release said third end of said first trip lever thereby urging said first end of said first trip lever to interact with said second trip ratchet thereby urging said second trip ratchet to remove said restraint of said first trip ratchet to release restraint on said operating mechanism to separate said separable contacts and pivots the position of said second end of said first trip bar relative to said indicator opening to provide visual indication of the separation of said separable contacts.