Electrical switching apparatus and trip unit including one or more fuses

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a circuit breaker frame comprising:
• a housing,
• at least one pole comprising:
• a line terminal,
• a load terminal, and
• separable contacts electrically connected between said line terminal and said load terminal,
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, and
• a latch cooperating with said operating mechanism to open said separable contacts when actuated;
• and
• a trip unit comprising:
• a housing,
• at least one pole comprising:
• a line end terminal electrically connected to a corresponding load terminal of said circuit breaker frame,
• a load end terminal, and
• a fuse including a plunger, said fuse being housed by the housing of said trip unit and being electrically connected between said line end terminal and said load end terminal, and
• an interface mechanism structured to actuate the latch of said circuit breaker frame after said interface mechanism is engaged by the plunger of said fuse,
• wherein the housing of said circuit breaker frame includes an opening structured to receive the housing of said trip unit, and
• wherein the line end terminal of said trip unit is electrically and mechanically connected to the load terminal of said circuit breaker frame by a fastener which is accessible external to the housing of said circuit breaker frame and the housing of said trip unit when the opening of said circuit breaker frame receives the housing of said trip unit in order that said trip unit which houses said fuse is field mountable or field replaceable.

A trip unit for a circuit breaker frame including a housing having an opening, a latch and a load terminal, said trip unit comprising:

• a housing;
• a first terminal structured to be electrically connected to the load terminal of said circuit breaker frame;
• a second terminal;
• at least one fuse including a plunger, said at least one fuse being housed by said housing and being electrically connected between said first terminal and said second terminal;
• and
• an interface mechanism structured to actuate the latch of said circuit breaker frame when said interface mechanism is engaged by the plunger of said at least one fuse,
• wherein the housing of said trip unit is structured to be received by the opening of the housing of said circuit breaker frame, and
• wherein the line end terminal of said trip unit is structured to be electrically and mechanically connected to the load terminal of said circuit breaker frame by a fastener which is accessible external to the housing of said circuit breaker frame and the housing of said trip unit when the housing of said trip unit is received by the opening of the housing of said circuit breaker frame in order that said trip unit which houses said fuse is field mountable or field replaceable.