Electrical switch, conductor assembly, and independent flexible conductive elements therefor

A conductor assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a stationary contact assembly having a number of stationary electrical contacts, said conductor assembly comprising:

• a load conductor;
• a movable contact assembly including a number of movable contact arms;
• a number of movable electrical contacts mounted on said movable contact arms of said movable contact assembly, said movable electrical contacts being structured to move into and out of electrical contact with said stationary electrical contacts of said stationary contact assembly;
• and
• a plurality of flexible conductive elements electrically connecting said load conductor and said movable contact assembly, each flexible conductive element of said plurality of flexible conductive elements comprising:
• a first end electrically connected to said load conductor,
• a second end electrically connected to a corresponding one of said movable contact arms of said movable contact assembly, and
• a plurality of bends between the first end and the second end,
• wherein a first one of said bends is in a first direction and at least a second one of said bends is in a second direction,
• wherein the second direction of said at least a second one of said bends is generally opposite the first direction of said first one of said bends,
• wherein said each flexible conductive element has a predetermined shape, and
• wherein said each flexible conductive element is structured to substantially maintain said predetermined shape, without employing a separate structure between the first end of said flexible conductive element and the second end of said flexible conductive element to hold said flexible conductive element in position.

A conductor assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said conductor assembly comprising:

• a load conductor;
• a movable contact assembly including a number of movable contact arms;
• a plurality of flexible conductive elements, each of said flexible conductive elements including a first end electrically connected to said load conductor, a second end electrically connected to a corresponding one of said movable contact arms of said movable contact assembly;
• and
• at least one pin,
• wherein said load conductor is a single solid load conductor including a single elongated recess,
• wherein said single elongated recess receives the first end of every one of said flexible conductive elements, and
• wherein at least one of said at least one pin is inserted through the first end of every one of said flexible conductive elements within said single elongated recess of said single solid load conductor.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor housed by said housing;
• a stationary contact assembly including a number of stationary electrical contacts, said stationary contact assembly being electrically connected to one of said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor;
• and
• a conductor assembly electrically connected to the other of said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor, said conductor assembly comprising:
• a load conductor,
• a movable contact assembly including a number of movable contact arms;
• a number of movable electrical contacts mounted on said movable contact arms of said movable contact assembly, said movable electrical contacts being operable between a closed position in which said movable electrical contacts are in electrical contact with said stationary electrical contacts of said stationary contact assembly, and an open position in which said movable electrical contacts are out of electrical contact with said stationary electrical contacts, and
• a number of flexible conductive elements electrically connecting said load conductor and said movable contact assembly, each flexible conductive element of said number of flexible conductive elements comprising:
• a first end electrically connected to said load conductor,
• a second end electrically connected to a corresponding one of said movable contact arms of said movable contact assembly, and
• a plurality of bends between the first end and the second end,
• wherein a first one of said bends is in a first direction and at least a second one of said bends is in a second direction,
• wherein the second direction of said at least a second one of said bends is generally opposite the first direction of said first one of said bends,
• wherein said each flexible conductive element has a predetermined shape, and
• wherein said each flexible conductive element is structured to substantially maintain said predetermined shape, without employing a separate structure between the first end of said flexible conductive element and the second end of said flexible conductive element to hold said flexible conductive element in position.