Patent ID: 8178801

Claim:
An electrical switching apparatus comprising: a number of poles, each of said number of poles comprising: an elongated conductor including a first end, an opposite second end and a first terminal member disposed at the opposite second end, a circuit interrupter electrically connected in series with the elongated conductor at the first end of the elongated conductor, a second terminal member structured to electrically engage said first terminal member, a number of insulative skirts disposed on the elongated conductor between the first end and the opposite second end thereof, and an insulative tube structured to receive said number of insulative skirts, said insulative tube including a first open end and an opposite second end carrying said second terminal member; and a carrier carrying said number of poles between (a) a first position in which said first terminal member electrically engages said second terminal member and said insulative tube receives said number of insulative skirts, and (b) a second position in which said first terminal member is electrically disconnected from said second terminal member and said number of insulative skirts are withdrawn from said insulative tube.