Patent ID: 8563887

Claim:
A trip latch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft, said trip latch assembly comprising: a trip latch structured to be pivotably coupled to the housing, said trip latch being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position; a trip latch reset spring structured to bias said trip latch toward the latched position; a spring housing at least partially overlaying said trip latch reset spring; and a trip latch spring link including a first end structured to be movably coupled to said pole shaft and a second end structured to cooperate with said spring housing, wherein, when said electrical switching apparatus needs to be reset, said trip latch spring link is structured to engage said spring housing, in order apply torque to said trip latch reset spring, and wherein, when said electrical switching apparatus is closed, the bias of said trip latch reset spring on said trip latch is removed.