Circuit breaker including a cradle and a pivot pin therefor

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing including a recess, said housing being made of a first material;
• a pivot pin disposed in the recess of said housing, said pivot pin being made of a second material, which is substantially harder than said first material;
• separable contacts disposed within said housing;
• an operating mechanism disposed within said housing for moving said separable contacts between an open position and a closed positions, said operating mechanism including a cradle having a pivot portion which pivotally engages said pivot pin;
• and
• wherein said housing further includes a base, a cover and a plurality of fasteners attaching said cover to said base;
• wherein said base includes a first arcuate recess having a first end;
• wherein said cover includes a second arcuate recess having a second end, wherein said pivot pin has a cylindrical shape with a first portion and a second portion;
• wherein one of said first and second arcuate recesses engages the first portion of said pivot pin;
• wherein another one of said first and second arcuate recesses engages the second portion of said pivot pin;
• and wherein the pivot portion of said cradle engages said pivot pin between the first and second ends of said first and second arcuate recesses.

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing including a recess;
• a steel pivot pin disposed in the recess of said housing;
• separable contacts disposed within said housing;
• an operating mechanism disposed within said housing for moving said separable contacts between an open position and a closed position, said operating mechanism including a cradle having a latch portion and a pivot portion which pivotally engages said steel pivot pin;
• a trip mechanism cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said trip mechanism including a portion which engages the latch portion of said cradle when said separable contacts are in the closed position;
• and
• wherein said housing is a molded insulated housing including a molded base, a molded cover and a plurality of fasteners attaching said molded cover to said molded base;
• wherein said molded base includes a first arcuate recess having a first end;
• wherein said molded cover includes a second arcuate recess having a second end;
• wherein said steel pivot pin has a cylindrical shape with sit upper portion and a lower portion;
• wherein the first arcuate recess of said molded base engages the lower portion of said steel pivot pin;
• wherein the second arcuate recess of said molded cover engages the upper portion of said steel pivot pin;
• and wherein the pivot portion of said cradle engages the upper portion of said steel pivot pan between the first and second ends of said first and second arcuate recess.