Patent ID: 7449983

Claim:
A shared tripping device structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, a primary circuit breaker and a secondary circuit breaker, each circuit breaker having a current path assembly with a pair of separable contacts, a fixed contact and a movable contact, an operating mechanism, a tripping device, a handle assembly and a housing assembly, each said operating mechanism disposed in said housing assembly and structured to move said pair of separable contacts between a first, closed position, wherein said contacts are in electrical communication, and a second, open position, wherein said contacts are separated, thereby preventing electrical communication therebetween, each said operating mechanism including a cage, a cradle and at least one primary spring, said cradle coupled to said movable contact, said spring engaging said cradle and biasing said operating mechanism to move said separable contacts to said open position, each said tripping device structured to arrest the movement of said operating mechanism, thereby allowing said contacts to be maintained in the closed position, each said tripping device further being responsive to an over current condition wherein said tripping device releases said operating mechanism and allows said primary spring to move said cradle along a path of travel and thereby separate said contacts, said secondary circuit breaker tripping device having a pivoting trip bar with a trip lever tab, each said housing assembly has a shaped opening, each handle assembly having a handle member coupled to said operating mechanism and extending from said housing assembly, said shared tripping device comprising: an inter-phase link coupled to said primary circuit breaker and a trip lever coupled to said secondary circuit breaker, said inter-phase link having an elongated body with a mounting end and a distal end; said inter-phase link body mounting end coupled to said primary circuit breaker operating mechanism whereby said inter-phase link is structured to move along a path of travel corresponding to said path of travel of said cradle as said cradle moves; and said inter-phase link body distal end extending through said primary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening and said secondary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening and engaging said secondary circuit breaker trip device.