Patent ID: 6812815
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker comprising:a housing; a first terminal; a second terminal; a set of first contacts mounted in said housing; an operating mechanism mounted in said housing and coupled to said set of first contacts for opening and closing said set of first contacts; an arc plate drawing an arc from one of said first contacts when said operating mechanism opens said set of first contacts; a set of second contacts mounted in said housing, said set of second contacts having an open state and a closed state, and being electrically interconnected with said set of first contacts between said first and second terminals; a first circuit electrically connecting said set of first contacts to said set of second contacts; an actuator mounted in said housing, said actuator selectively moving said set of second contacts between said open and closed states; a second circuit electrically connected between said arc plate and said second terminal; a first magnetic armature coupled to said actuator; and a second magnetic armature, said first and second circuits passing between said first and second magnetic armatures, said first magnetic armature and said second magnetic armature responsive to a first predetermined condition of current flowing in said first circuit and cooperating to hold said set of second contacts in said closed state during said first predetermined condition of current flowing in said first circuit, said first magnetic armature and said second magnetic armature responsive to a second predetermined condition of current flowing in said second circuit and cooperating to hold said set of second contacts in said closed state during said second predetermined condition of current flowing in said second circuit.