Articulated clinch joint for molded case circuit breaker

A movable contact conductor assembly for a circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly including a housing assembly, a conductor assembly, and an operating mechanism, said housing assembly defining a substantially enclosed space, said conductor assembly including a fixed contact conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space, said fixed contact conductor assembly including a fixed contact, said operating mechanism including an actuator coupling first component, said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said conductor assembly and structured to move a movable contact arm assembly between an open, first position and a closed, second position, said movable contact conductor assembly comprising:

• a cross bar assembly including a primary pivot first component and a secondary pivot first component;
• a conductive base conductor assembly including a clinch joint first component;
• a movable contact arm assembly including an elongated member including a distal tip, a first end, a medial portion, an actuator coupling second component, a primary pivot second component, a secondary pivot second component, a clinch joint second component, a second end, and a proximal tip;
• said conductive base conductor assembly clinch joint first component engageably coupled to said movable contact arm assembly member clinch joint second component;
• said cross bar assembly primary pivot first component pivotally coupled to said contact arm assembly body primary pivot second component;
• said cross bar assembly secondary pivot first component pivotally coupled to said contact arm assembly body secondary pivot second component;
• wherein, during an over-current event, said movable contact arm assembly member generates a loop force;
• wherein a loop force first portion is disposed on a first longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot second component, and, a loop force second portion is disposed on a second longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot second component;
• wherein said loop force first portion has a greater longitudinal length than said loop force second portion;
• and
• wherein at least one of said movable contact arm assembly member first end and said movable contact arm assembly member medial portion includes a conductive shunt.

A circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly comprising:

• a housing assembly defining a substantially enclosed space;
• a conductor assembly including a fixed contact conductor assembly and a movable contact conductor assembly;
• said fixed contact conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space and including a fixed contact;
• an operating mechanism including an actuator coupling first component;
• said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said conductor assembly and structured to move a movable contact arm assembly between an open, first position and a closed, second position;
• said movable contact conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space and including a cross bar assembly, a conductive base conductor assembly, and a movable contact arm assembly;
• said cross bar assembly including a primary pivot first component and a secondary pivot first component;
• said conductive base conductor assembly including a clinch joint first component;
• said movable contact arm assembly including an elongated member including a distal tip, a first end, a medial portion, an actuator coupling second component, a primary pivot second component, a secondary pivot second component, a clinch joint second component, a second end, and a proximal tip;
• said conductive base conductor assembly clinch joint first component engageably coupled to said contact arm assembly body clinch joint second component;
• said cross bar assembly primary pivot first component pivotally coupled to said contact arm assembly body primary pivot second component;
• said cross bar assembly secondary pivot first component pivotally coupled to said contact arm assembly body secondary pivot second component;
• said operating mechanism actuator coupling first component coupled to said movable contact arm assembly member actuator coupling second component;
• wherein, during an over-current event, said movable contact arm assembly member generates a loop force;
• wherein a loop force first portion is disposed on a first longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot second component, and, a loop force second portion is disposed on a second longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot second component;
• wherein said loop force first portion has a greater longitudinal length than said loop force second portion;
• and
• wherein at least one of said movable contact arm assembly member first end and said movable contact arm assembly member medial portion includes a conductive shunt.

A movable contact arm assembly for a circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly including a housing assembly, a conductor assembly, and an operating mechanism, said housing assembly defining a substantially enclosed space, said conductor assembly including a fixed contact conductor assembly and a movable contact conductor assembly, said conductor assembly substantially disposed in said housing assembly enclosed space, said fixed contact conductor assembly including a fixed contact, said movable contact conductor assembly including a cross bar assembly and a conductive base conductor assembly, said cross bar assembly including a primary pivot rod and a secondary pivot rod, said conductive base conductor assembly including a clinch joint first component, said operating mechanism including an actuator coupling first component, said operating mechanism operatively coupled to said movable contact conductor assembly and structured to move a movable contact arm assembly between an open, first position and a closed, second position, said movable contact arm assembly comprising:

• an elongated member including a distal tip, a first end, a medial portion, an actuator coupling second component, a primary pivot opening, a secondary pivot slot, a clinch joint second component, a second end, and a proximal tip;
• wherein, during an over-current event, said movable contact arm assembly member generates a loop force;
• wherein a loop force first portion is disposed on a first longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot opening, and, a loop force second portion is disposed on a second longitudinal side of said movable contact arm assembly member primary pivot opening;
• and
• wherein at least one of said movable contact arm assembly member first end and said movable contact arm assembly member medial portion includes a conductive shunt.