Patent ID: 6437266
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A molded case circuit breaker comprising;at least one pair of electrical contacts for making and breaking an electrical current and for supporting an electrical arc therebetween, said at least one pair of electrical contacts having at least one movable contact; a means for mechanically and electrically connecting to a power source; a means for mechanically and electrically connecting to a protected circuit; at least one contact arm disposed between said power source connecting means and said protected circuit connecting means for moving said at least one movable contact; a trip unit operatively connected to said protected circuit connecting means for transmitting a signal to initiate a trip action to open said at least one pair of electrical contacts upon the existence of an overcurrent condition; an operating mechanism operatively connected to said trip unit and said at least one contact arm for responding to said signal from said trip unit to open said at least one pair of electrical contacts when an overcurrent condition exists; an arc extinguishing assembly for extinguishing an electrical arc drawn between said at least one pair of electrical contacts as said at least one pair of electrical contacts open due to the trip action initiated by said trip unit; a case for partially enclosing and supporting said circuit breaker components; a cover connecting to said case for substantially completing the enclosure of said circuit breaker components; an operating handle operatively connected to said operating mechanism and extending through said cover for manually operating said at least one pair of electrical contacts between an open and closed position; wherein said at least one movable contact having a first surface for making and breaking an electric current, said at least one contact arm having a bonding surface for supporting said at least one movable contact, said at least one movable contact having a second surface for attaching said at least one movable contact to said bonding surface of said at least one contact arm, and said bonding surface of said at least one contact arm having a plurality of projections for bonding to said second surface of said at least one movable contact.