ARC chute for a 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 housing 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;
• and,
• an electric arc extinguishing apparatus mounted in the housing and positioned in confronting relation with the first and second contact, the arc extinguishing apparatus comprising:
• a first sidewall in a spaced relationship with a second side wall;
• a U-shaped top arc plate mounted between the first and second sidewall and having an arc runner;
• a plurality of U-shaped intermediate arc plates mounted in a spaced apart relationship from each other between the first and second sidewalls below and apart from the top arc plate;
• a U-shaped bottom arc plate mounted between the first and second sidewalls below and apart from the intermediate plates, wherein the sidewalls and U-shaped plates form an arc chute along the path traveled by the contacts with the arc runner extending between the legs of the U-shaped plates of the arc chute and between the sidewalls;
• and,
• two end caps with each end cap having an interior cavity, with one leg of each U-shaped arc plate removably received in the cavity of one end cap and the other leg of each U-shaped arc plate received in the cavity of the other end cap.

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 mounted in the housing;
• a means for coupling the means for connecting a load-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;
• and
• a means for extinguishing an electric arc mounted in the housing with the movable means for contacting extending into the means for extinguishing, wherein the means for extinguishing includes a plurality of U-shaped arc plates and two end caps with each end cap having an interior cavity, with one leg of each U-shaped arc plate removably received in the cavity of one end cap and the other leg of each U-shaped arc plate received in the cavity of the other end cap.