Patent ID: 6710688
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker comprising:a housing; a pair of separable contacts mounted in said housing; an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts; a first terminal electrically interconnected with a first one of said separable contacts; a second terminal electrically connected to a second one of said separable contacts; an electrically conductive support mechanism mounted in said housing; and a bimetal overcurrent assembly responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through said separable contacts for actuating said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said bimetal overcurrent assembly having first and second legs and a free intermediate section which deflects in response to said selected conditions of current to actuate said operating mechanism, with the first leg engaging and being electrically connected to said support mechanism, with the second leg electrically connected to said first terminal, with said operating mechanism carrying and being electrically connected to said first one of said separable contacts, and with said support mechanism supporting and being electrically connected to said operating mechanism.