Electrical switching apparatus, and trip actuator reset assembly and lever arm assembly therefor

A trip actuator reset assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft, said trip actuator reset assembly comprising:

• a cradle assembly including a first end structured to be pivotably coupled to said pole shaft, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and at least one side member extending between the first end and the second end, said cradle assembly being movable among a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being open;
• a reset lever structured to be pivotably coupled to said housing;
• a trip actuator including an actuating element which, in response to a trip condition, moves said reset lever;
• and
• a lever arm assembly comprising:
• at least one linking element including a first end pivotably coupled to a corresponding one of said at least one side member of said cradle assembly, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end of said at least one linking element, and a pivot structured to pivotably couple said at least one linking element to said housing, and
• a deflection assembly comprising a deflection member disposed on a corresponding one of said at least one linking element and being cooperable with said reset lever,
• wherein, after said trip condition, said actuating element of said trip actuator must be reset,
• wherein, when said cradle assembly moves from said first position toward said second position, said at least one side member of said cradle assembly moves said corresponding one of said at least one linking element, thereby moving said deflection member into engagement with said reset lever, in order to pivot said reset lever,
• wherein, when said deflection member pivots said reset lever, said reset lever moves said actuating element of said trip actuator, thereby resetting said trip actuator, and
• wherein, after said trip actuator has been reset, if said cradle assembly continues to move beyond said second position, then said deflection assembly deflects to accommodate any additional motion of said cradle assembly.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• separable contacts enclosed by said housing;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft;
• and
• a trip actuator reset assembly comprising:
• a cradle assembly including a first end pivotably coupled to said pole shaft, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and at least one side member extending between the first end and the second end, said cradle assembly being movable among a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being open,
• a reset lever pivotably coupled to said housing,
• a trip actuator including an actuating element which, in response to a trip condition, moves said reset lever, and
• a lever arm assembly comprising:
• at least one linking element including a first end pivotably coupled to said corresponding one of said at least one side member of said cradle assembly, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end of said at least one linking element, and a pivot pivotably coupling said at least one linking element to said housing, and
• a deflection assembly comprising a deflection member disposed on a corresponding one of said at least one linking element and being cooperable with said reset lever,
• wherein, after said trip condition, said actuating element of said trip actuator must be reset,
• wherein, when said cradle assembly moves from said first position toward said second position, said corresponding one of said at least one side member of said cradle assembly moves said corresponding one of said at least one linking element, thereby moving said deflection member into engagement with said reset lever, in order to pivot said reset lever,
• wherein, when said deflection member pivots said reset lever, said reset lever moves said actuating element of said trip actuator, thereby resetting said trip actuator, and
• wherein, after said trip actuator has been reset, if said cradle assembly continues to move beyond said second position, then said deflection assembly deflects to accommodate any additional motion of said cradle assembly.