Electrical switching apparatus and limiter including trip indicator member

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a circuit interrupter comprising:
• a housing;
• a first terminal;
• a second terminal;
• separable contacts electrically connected between said first terminal and said second terminal;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts;
• a limiter comprising:
• a housing including a surface;
• a third terminal electrically connected to the second terminal of said circuit interrupter;
• a fourth terminal;
• a fusible conductor electrically connected between said third terminal and said fourth terminal;
• an indicator member disposed proximate the surface of the housing of said limiter, said indicator member including a first end and a second end having a first opening, a second opening and a conduit therein between the first opening and the second opening thereof, said fusible conductor passing from said third terminal, through the first opening of said indicator member, through the conduit of said indicator member, through the second opening of said indicator member, and to said fourth terminal;
• a spring biasing said indicator member away from the surface of said housing;
• wherein said fusible conductor, when electrically connected between said third terminal and said fourth terminal, holds the second end of said indicator member proximate the surface of said housing;
• wherein said spring, when said fusible conductor is electrically disconnected from at least one of said third terminal and said fourth terminal, moves said indicator member away from the surface of said housing;
• and
• wherein said indicator member includes a shoulder disposed between the first end and the second end, said shoulder including a first edge and a second edge, said spring biasing said first edge;
• wherein the second surface of said housing of said limiter includes an external opening;
• and wherein said spring, when said fusible conductor is electrically disconnected from at least one of said third terminal and said fourth terminal, moves the first end of said indicator member through the external opening of the second surface of said housing of said limiter until the second edge of said shoulder engages the second surface of said housing of said limiter.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a circuit interrupter comprising:
• a housing;
• a first terminal;
• a second terminal;
• separable contacts electrically connected between said first terminal and said second terminal;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts;
• a limiter comprising:
• a housing including a surface;
• a third terminal electrically connected to the second terminal of said circuit interrupter;
• a fourth terminal;
• a fusible conductor electrically connected between said third terminal and said fourth terminal;
• an indicator member disposed proximate the surface of the housing of said limiter, said indicator member including a first end and a second end having a first opening, a second opening and a conduit therein between the first opening and the second opening thereof, said fusible conductor passing from said third terminal, through the first opening of said indicator member, through the conduit of said indicator member, through the second opening of said indicator member, and to said fourth terminal;
• a spring biasing said indicator member away from the surface of said housing;
• wherein said fusible conductor, when electrically connected between said third terminal and said fourth terminal, holds the second end of said indicator member proximate the surface of said housing;
• wherein said spring, when said fusible conductor is electrically disconnected from at least one of said third terminal and said fourth terminal, moves said indicator member away from the surface of said housing;
• wherein said indicator member includes a generally cylindrical body;
• and wherein the first and second openings are disposed proximate the second end of said indicator member and pass through said generally cylindrical body;
• and
• wherein the second end includes a generally flat surface;
• wherein the first and second openings are generally defined by first and second U-shaped openings, respectively, in the generally flat surface and by third and fourth opposing U-shaped openings, respectively, in the generally cylindrical body.