Molded case circuit breaker with an apertured molded cross bar for supporting a movable electrical contact arm

An electrical circuit breaker comprising

• first and second separable electrical contacts, said first electrical contact having a base portion at one longitudinal end thereof, and
• operating means for opening and closing said first and second electrical contacts, said operating means comprising a rotatable cross bar having at least one enclosed opening formed therein for the receipt of said base portion,
• said operating means further including means for retaining said base portion in said opening in a manner enabling both rotational movement of said first electrical contact in unison with said cross bar and movement of said first electrical contact independently of rotation of said cross bar, said retaining means comprising a compression spring disposed in said opening and a spring follower at least partially disposed in said opening, said spring follower being disposed between said base portion and said compression spring to bias a first surface of said base portion into contact with an interior surface of said cross bar for enabling movement of said first electrical contact in unison with the movement of said cross bar, said spring follower being deflectable to permit the disengagement of said first surface from said interior surface for enabling rotational movement of said first electrical contact independently of rotation of said cross bar, said spring follower being configured to contact a second surface of said base portion subsequently to the independent rotational movement of said first electrical contact to retain said first electrical contact separated from said second electrical contact.

An electrical circuit breaker comprising:

• a first electrical contact;
• a second elongated movable electrical contact rotatable about a pivot axis between a CLOSED position contacting said first contact and a BLOWN-OPEN position;
• and
• compression spring means for biasing said second contact, said compression spring means exerting a biasing force on said second contact along a line of action disposed on one side of said pivot axis to bias said second contact in said CLOSED position and exerting a biasing force on said second contact along a line of action disposed on said one side of said pivot axis to retain said second contact in said BLOWN-OPEN position.