Circuit interrupter with detachable optional accessories

Abstract

A circuit interrupter comprises a housing including a housing wall, an interrupting mechanism including a pair of separable contacts and an operating mechanism, and an optional accessory unit used in connection with an opening operation of the interrupting mechanism. The optional accessory unit may be a unit which includes a movable member operable in connection with the opening operation of the interrupting mechanism, such as an alarm switch, an auxiliary switch, a voltage trip device or an under voltage trip device. The optional accessory unit may be a connecting terminal block connectable between an external circuit and the circuit interrupter. The housing has formed in the outer surface thereof a receptacle cavity for receiving therein the optional accessory unit. When the unit is received in the cavity, no substantial portion of the unit projects from the housing. A fastening means comprises a slider, a guide rail engaging the slider for allowing a sliding movement of the optional accessory unit only in the direction of extension of the guide rail, and a screw for securing the optional accessory unit to the housing wall.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.