Circuit breaker panelboard lock assembly

A lock assembly comprising:

• an escutcheon comprising a top wall joined by a pair of opposing side walls and a bottom wall, said escutcheon further including a recess defined between said side walls and said bottom wall;
• a latch comprising a rectangle having a central orifice, a lock cylinder received within said central orifice, said latch further including a pair of side extensions, one on each side of said rectangle, said extensions being received within rails formed on said escutcheon side walls for guiding said latch in and out of said recess;
• a latch projection formed on a front surface of said latch;
• a latch projection slot located in said escutcheon bottom wall, wherein said latch projection is adapted to be moved in and out of said latch projection slot in response to forward and reverse movement of said latch;
• a spring clip positioned over said latch projection for providing wear resistance to said latch projection;
• a predetermined clearance gap between said spring clip and said latch projection. wherein said predetermined clearance gap is determined so as to prevent said spring clip and said latch projection from being moved out of the latch projection slot upon the provision of gas pressure to said escutcheon and said latch;
• a latch spring means on said escutcheon for biasing said latch in a first direction within said escutcheon recess and retaining said latch within said escutcheon recess;
• and
• door spring means on said escutcheon for retaining said escutcheon and said latch within a door.