Claims
- 1. A trip spring electrical isolation device for a circuit breaker operating mechanism assembly, said operating mechanism assembly having an operating arm and a cradle member with a trip spring disposed therebetween, said isolation device comprising a non-conductive barrier structured to be coupled to either end of said trip spring.
- 2. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 1, wherein said operating arm includes a spring tab and wherein, said non-conductive barrier is disposed on said operating arm spring tab.
- 3. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 2, wherein said non-conductive barrier is a bushing.
- 4. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 3, wherein said bushing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: phenolic, plastic, ceramic, or rubber.
- 5. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 1, wherein said trip device includes:
said cradle member having a trip spring projection; and wherein said non-conductive barrier is disposed on said trip spring projection.
- 6. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 5, wherein said non-conductive barrier is a bushing.
- 7. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 6, wherein said bushing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: phenolic, plastic, ceramic, or rubber.
- 8. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 1, wherein said non-conductive barrier is incorporated into said trip spring.
- 9. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 8, wherein said trip spring is made from a non-conductive material.
- 10. The trip spring electrical isolation device of claim 8, wherein said trip spring is made from rubber.
- 11. A circuit breaker comprising:
a non-conductive housing defining a an operating mechanism cavity; a first terminal conductor and a second terminal conductor; said first terminal conductor and second terminal conductor coupled to said housing assembly external to said operating mechanism cavity and having conductive tabs extending into said operating mechanism cavity; at least one pair of separable contacts having a fixed contact and a movable contact structured to move between a first, closed position and a second, open position; and an operating mechanism assembly structured to move said contacts between said first, closed position and said second, open position, said operating mechanism assembly having an operating arm, a cradle member with a trip spring disposed between said operating arm and said cradle member, and a non-conductive barrier structured to be coupled to either end of said trip spring.
- 12. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein said operating arm includes a spring tab and wherein, said non-conductive barrier is disposed on said operating arm spring tab.
- 13. The circuit breaker of claim 12, wherein said non-conductive barrier is a bushing.
- 14. The circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein said bushing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: phenolic, plastic, ceramic, or rubber.
- 15. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein said trip device includes:
a cradle member having a trip spring projection; and wherein said non-conductive barrier is disposed on said trip spring projection.
- 16. The circuit breaker of claim 15, wherein said non-conductive barrier is a bushing.
- 17. The circuit breaker of claim 16, wherein said bushing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of: phenolic, plastic, ceramic, or rubber.
- 18. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein said non-conductive barrier is incorporated into said trip spring.
- 19. The circuit breaker of claim 18, wherein said trip spring is made from a non-conductive material.
- 20. The circuit breaker of claim 10, wherein said trip spring is made from rubber.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to commonly assigned, concurrently filed:
[0002] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, 2003, entitled “Circuit Breaker Operating Mechanism With A Metal Cradle Pivot” (Attorney Docket No. 02-EDP-201);
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, 2003, entitled “Self-Contained Mechanism on a Frame” (Attorney Docket No. 02-EDP-203); and
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed ______, 2003, entitled “Circuit Breaker Including Magnetic Trip Mechanism” (Attorney Docket No. 02-EDP-237).