Current limiting circuit breaker operating mechanism

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a stationary contact;
• a movable contact;
• a blade having a first end and a second end, said first end having said movable contact secured thereto, said blade being rotatable about a pin between a BLOWN OPEN position and a CLOSED position, wherein said movable contact is separated from said stationary contact when said blade is in the BLOWN OPEN position and said movable contact engages said stationary contact when said blade is in the CLOSED position, said second end of said blade having a protrusion portion extending therefrom;
• a catcher pivotally coupled to a pivot pin, said catcher having a nose portion for overlapping engagement with said protrusion portion when said blade is in the BLOWN OPEN position;
• a spring mounted about said pivot pin and engaging said catcher for biasing said catcher towards said blade whereby said nose portion rests against said protrusion portion of said blade when said blade is in the CLOSED position and said nose portion overlaps and engages said protrusion portion when said blade rotates to the BLOWN OPEN position thereby holding said blade in the BLOWN OPEN position.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a stationary contact;
• a movable contact;
• a blade having said movable contact secured at a first end and a protrusion portion extending from a second end, said blade being rotatable about a pin between a CLOSED position, an OPEN position and a BLOWN OPEN position, wherein said movable contact engages said stationary contact when said blade is in the CLOSED position and said movable contact is separated from said stationary contact when said blade is in the OPEN position and the BLOWN OPEN position;
• a blade carrier coupled to said blade, said blade carrier rotates about a pin for moving said blade between the OPEN position and the CLOSED position, said blade carrier remains stationary when said blades moves to the BLOWN OPEN position;
• a catcher rotatably coupled to a pivot pin and being biased towards said second end of said blade, said catcher having a nose portion which rest against said protrusion portion when said blade is in the CLOSED position, said nose portion overlaps said protrusion portion when said blade rotates from the CLOSED position to the BLOWN OPEN position thereby holding said blade in the BLOWN OPEN position and preventing said blade from returning to the CLOSED position.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a frame;
• a stationary contact;
• a movable contact;
• a blade having a first end and a second end, said first end having said movable contact secured thereto, said blade being rotatable about a pin between a BLOWN OPEN position and a CLOSED position, wherein said movable contact is separated from said stationary contact when said blade is in the BLOWN OPEN position and said movable contact engages said stationary contact when said blade is in the CLOSED position;
• and
• a catcher pivotally coupled to said frame, said catcher pivotal about a pin and biased into overlapping engagement with said second end of said blade when said blade is in the BLOWN OPEN position.