Terminal barrier system for molded case circuit breaker

A molded case circuit breaker comprising:

• a molded case including a main cover;
• a first terminal and a second terminal inserted in the case;
• a first contact electrically coupled to the first terminal;
• a second contact electrically coupled to the second terminal;
• an operating mechanism having a pivoting member moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position, wherein the pivoting member is coupled to the second contact;
• an intermediate latching mechanism mounted in the case and coupled to the operating mechanism;
• a trip unit coupled to the second contact and the second terminal with the trip unit in selective operative contact with the intermediate latching mechanism;
• an electric arc extinguishing apparatus mounted in the housing and positioned in confronting relation with the first and second contacts;
• and,
• a terminal barrier system comprising:
• a terminal barrier attached to the circuit breaker case at the terminals;
• and,
• a terminal connector configured as a nut plate having a mounting portion aligned at a right angle to a terminal hole portion, with the mounting portion attached to the terminal barrier and the terminal hole portion off-set from the terminal barrier, the terminal connector aligned with at least one of the terminals of the breaker.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a molded housing including a base;
• a means for connecting a load to the circuit breaker, mounted in the housing;
• a means for connecting an electrical line to the circuit breaker;
• a means for coupling electrically to the means for connecting an electrical line;
• a movable means for contacting the means for connecting an electrical line to a means for operating mounted in the housing coupled with the means for operating having a pivoting member movable between an ON position, an OFF position, and a TRIPPED position, with the pivoting member coupled to the movable means for contacting and with the means for operating coupled to an intermediate means for latching the means for operating;
• a means for tripping coupled to the movable means for contacting and the means for connecting a load with the intermediate means for latching, wherein the means for tripping includes a means for releasing under a short circuit condition and a means for releasing under an overload condition;
• a means for extinguishing an electric arc mounted in the housing with the movable means for contacting extending into the means for extinguishing;
• and,
• a means for shielding the means for connecting the load and means for connecting the line, mounted in the base with each means for connecting off-set from the means for shielding.

A method of assembling a terminal barrier and terminal connector system for a molded case circuit breaker having a housing base with a load terminal, a line terminal, an operating mechanism connected to the line terminal, an intermediate latching mechanism in selective contact with the operating mechanism, a trip unit coupled to the intermediate latching mechanism and the load terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a terminal barrier having a mounting post in a terminal connection portion and protrusions on a shield portion;
• providing a terminal connector;
• attaching the terminal connector to the mounting post;
• installing the terminal barrier and attached terminal connector in the housing base of the circuit breaker, the terminal barrier configured with an off-set from the attached terminal connector;
• and;
• securing the terminal barrier and attached terminal connector to the housing and one of the line terminal and load terminal.