Patent ID: 6400242
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A circuit breaker assembly comprising:a circuit breaker having a predetermined rated interrupt current capacity, the circuit breaker including a movable contact lever having a circuit breaker moveable contact disposed thereon, the contact lever having an open position and a closed position; and an auxiliary switch including, a switch housing (28) mounted in an opening defined by the circuit breaker, an auxiliary actuator moveably mounted within the switch housing, an upper portion of the auxiliary actuator protruding into the opening of the circuit breaker from the switch housing, an auxiliary moveable contact member having an auxiliary moveable contact disposed thereon, the member moveably mounted to the auxiliary actuator, a contact spring acting between the auxiliary actuator and the auxiliary moveable contact member, an auxiliary stationary contact arranged in the switch housing for engagement with the auxiliary moveable contact, and a return spring disposed between the switch housing and the auxiliary actuator urging the auxiliary stationary and moveable contacts apart, wherein the auxiliary switch is adapted to switch substantially the rated interrupt current of the circuit breaker through the moveable and stationary auxiliary contacts when the moveable contact lever of the circuit breaker moves from the open position to the close position, thereby depressing the auxiliary actuator to have the auxiliary moveable contact make contact with the auxiliary stationary contact.