Vacuum operated circuit breaker apparatus for replacing air-magnetic circuit breaker assemblies

A replacement power protection circuit breaker assembly for use in a switchgear having a cubicle, said cubicle having an interior enclosed by a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, said top and bottom walls being in a spaced apart and generally parallel relationship, said first and second side walls being in a spaced apart and generally parallel relationship and also being generally perpendicular to and intersecting with said top and bottom walls, said cubicle having at least one pair of connectors extending through said top wall and into the interior of said cubicle, each of said at least one connector pairs forming an open electrical circuit to an associated external power circuit, said replacement circuit breaker assembly comprising,

• means defining a frame, said frame having a size and shape and being arranged for insertion into the interior of said cubicle;
• at least one vacuum operated circuit breaking means defining electrical contact means for providing an electrical circuit path to carry electrical current, each of said circuit breaking means having a first operative state wherein said contact means provide a discontinuous circuit path and a second operative state wherein said contact means provide a continuous circuit path;
• control means for causing a selected one of said at least one vacuum operated circuit breaking means to switch from one of said first and second operative states to the other of said first and second operative states, and
• means defining at least one pair of contact poles, each of said contact poles being non-conductively secured to said frame and projecting generally towards said cubicle top wall when said assembly is in orientation for insertion into said cubicle, each of said contact poles being generally adjustable along a plane generally defined parallel with said cubicle top wall for mechanical and electrical engagement with a respective cubicle connector, each of said at least one pair of contact poles being electrically coupled in series with a respective one of said at least one vacuum operated circuit breaking means whereby each of said at least one circuit breaking means is connected in electrical series with a respective one of said at least one connector pairs and across said associated external open circuit to provide a continuous electrical path for current to flow in said associated external electrical circuit when said breaking means is in said first operative state and to provide a discontinuous circuit path to stop current from flowing when said breaking means is in said second operative state.