Patent ID: 8471657

Claim:
An electrical switching apparatus comprising: separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip mechanism cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said trip mechanism comprising a trip latch; an arc chamber operatively associated with said separable contacts, said arc chamber comprising a plurality of arc plates and a barrier disposed between said arc plates and said trip latch, said barrier having an opening therein; and a trip member disposed in or about the opening of the barrier of said arc chamber, wherein during interruption of current flowing through said separable contacts, pressure arising from an arc in said arc chamber pushes said trip member away from the barrier of said arc chamber to engage the trip latch and cause said trip mechanism to trip open said separable contacts; wherein said trip member comprises a spring structured to return said trip member to a seated position within the opening of said barrier after interruption of said current flowing through said separable contacts, a first portion having a shape guided by the opening, a second portion having a recess accepting an end of said spring, and a third portion offset from the first portion and extending from the second portion; and wherein gas pressure arising from the arc in said arc chamber pushes said first portion along the opening to cause the third portion to engage said trip latch lever.