Automated Q-line circuit breaker

An electric circuit breaker for fully automated assembly comprising:

• a molded plastic case having a plurality of retaining slots and guide channels formed therein;
• a trip unit and terminal assembly consisting of a lug terminal and bi-metal at one end and a contact blade having top and bottom ends at an opposite end joined by means of a braided conductor;
• a magnet assembly consisting of an armature and magnet core, said armature being formed from a single L-shaped metal piece having a narrow top piece and a wider angled bottom piece which includes a latch opening, said magnet core being formed from a single L-shaped metal piece having a top angled piece for providing a pivot to said core, a bottom angled piece and a hook extension for engaging said armature bottom piece which forms a closed magnetic loop in cooperation with said armature bottom piece;
• a cradle formed from a U-shaped piece having a handle tab at a top for engaging a handle, a latch portion at an end of one leg of the U for releasably engaging said latch opening and a circular end member at an end of another leg of the U, said circular member pivotally supporting the cradle within said case;
• and
• a mechanism spring connecting between said cradle and said contact blade to bias a moveable contact on said contact blade into contact with a fixed contact supported on said case when an operating handle is in a closed position for providing current flow through said contacts and for rapidly separating said contacts when said trip unit releases said cradle latch portion from said latch opening upon excess current flow through said contacts.