Patent ID: 8885313

Claim:
A circuit breaker comprising: a first terminal; a second terminal; separable contacts; a plurality of conductors electrically connecting said separable contacts between said first terminal and said second terminal; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a current sensor structured to sense current flowing through said separable contacts and output a current value; a number of temperature sensors outputting a number of temperature values corresponding to a number of said plurality of conductors; and an electronic trip circuit cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said electronic trip circuit comprising a processor including a first input inputting the current value from said current sensor, a first routine inputting the current value from the first input and causing said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts responsive to an over-current condition, a number of second inputs inputting the number of temperature values from said number of temperature sensors, and a second routine comparing the number of temperature values to a number of temperature limits and causing said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts responsive to an over-temperature condition, wherein said first terminal is a line terminal; wherein said second terminal is a load terminal; wherein said plurality of conductors comprise a line conductor electrically connected to said line terminal, a load conductor electrically connected to said load terminal and a flexible conductor; wherein said separable contacts comprise a fixed contact and a movable contact; wherein said operating mechanism comprises a movable contact arm carrying said movable contact; wherein the flexible conductor is electrically connected between the movable contact arm and the load conductor; and wherein at least one of said number of temperature sensors is proximate an electrical connection between the flexible conductor and the load terminal, in order to sense a temperature thereof.