D.C. circuit breaker with magnets for reducing contact arcing

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing defining an internal chamber;
• a circuit breaker mechanism provided in said chamber and including a movable contact arm pivotably mounted in said housing for movement from a closed to an open position in response to an overcurrent condition that is detected by said circuit breaker mechanism;
• a movable contact provided on said movable contact arm,
• a fixed contact provided for engagement by said movable contact when said movable contact arm is in the closed position,
• said movable and fixed contacts generating an arc current upon opening of said movable contact arm, said arc current providing a first magnetic field set up by said arc current, said first magnetic field being circular about an axis generally oriented between said fixed and movable contacts,
• a non-magnetic cradle supported in slots provided in said housing,
• a pair of permanent magnets disposed in said non-magnetic cradle, the pair of permanent magnets supported on opposing sides of said arc current and said first magnetic field axis, said pair of permanent magnets generating a second magnetic field oriented transverse to said first magnetic field axis and being otherwise not coupled magnetically, said first and second magnetic fields combining to create a resultant magnetic field to deflect the arc current away from said movable contact arm and from said movable and fixed contacts for lengthening the path of said arc current;
• and
• whereby said arc current is extinguished without the need for splitter plates disposed in said housing.