Circuit breaker carrier assembly with spring guide

A spring guide for a carrier assembly including a carrier body, a plurality of movable contact arms pivotably coupled to said carrier body, and a plurality of contact springs, each of said contact springs being disposed between a portion of said carrier body and a corresponding number of said movable contact arms, said spring guide comprising:

• a guide member structured to maintain alignment between a corresponding one of said contact springs of said carrier assembly and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms,
• wherein said corresponding number of said movable contact arms is at least two movable contact arms;
• wherein said guide member comprises a planar portion including a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side;
• wherein the first side of the planar portion is structured to span said at least two movable contact arms;
• and wherein the second side of the planar portion is structured to engage said corresponding one of said contact springs.

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

• a carrier body;
• a plurality of movable contact arms pivotably coupled to said carrier body;
• a plurality of contact springs, each of said contact springs being disposed between a portion of said carrier body and a corresponding number of said movable contact arms;
• and
• at least one spring guide comprising:
• a guide member disposed between a corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, said guide member comprising a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first side engaging at least one of said corresponding number of movable contact arms, the second side cooperating with said corresponding one of said contact springs,
• wherein said at least one spring guide maintains alignment between said corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• wherein said corresponding one of said contact springs biases said guide member, thereby pivotably biasing said corresponding number of movable contact arms with respect to said carrier body.

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

• a carrier body;
• a plurality of movable contact arms pivotably coupled to said carrier body;
• a plurality of contact springs, each of said contact springs being disposed between a portion of said carrier body and a corresponding number of said movable contact arms;
• and
• at least one spring guide comprising:
• a guide member disposed between a corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms,
• wherein said at least one spring guide maintains alignment between said corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• wherein said corresponding number of said movable contact arms is at least two movable contact arms;
• wherein said guide member of said at least one spring guide comprises a planar portion including a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side;
• wherein the first side of the planar portion of said guide member spans said at least two movable contact arms;
• and wherein the second side of the planar portion of said guide member engages said corresponding one of said contact springs.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a number of stationary contacts;
• and
• at least one carrier assembly comprising:
• a carrier body,
• a plurality of movable contact arms pivotably coupled to said carrier body,
• a plurality of movable contacts disposed on said movable contact arms, each of said movable contacts being movable into and out of electrical contact with a corresponding one of said number of stationary contacts,
• a plurality of contact springs, each of said contact springs being disposed between a portion of said carrier body and a corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• at least one spring guide comprising:
• a guide member disposed between a corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, said guide member comprising a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first side engaging at least one of said corresponding number of movable contact arms, the second side cooperating with said corresponding one of said contact springs,
• wherein said at least one spring guide maintains alignment between said corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• wherein said corresponding one of said contact springs biases said guide member, thereby pivotably biasing said corresponding number of movable contact arms with respect to said carrier body.

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• a number of stationary contacts;
• and
• at least one carrier assembly comprising:
• a carrier body,
• a plurality of movable contact arms pivotably coupled to said carrier body,
• a plurality of movable contacts disposed on said movable contact arms, each of said movable contacts being movable into and out of electrical contact with a corresponding one of said number of stationary contacts,
• a plurality of contact springs, each of said contact springs being disposed between a portion of said carrier body and a corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• at least one spring guide comprising:
• a guide member disposed between a corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms,
• wherein said at least one spring guide maintains alignment between said corresponding one of said contact springs and said corresponding number of said movable contact arms, and
• wherein said corresponding number of said movable contact arms of said at least one carrier assembly is at least two movable contact arms;
• wherein said guide member of said at least one spring guide comprises a planar portion including a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side;
• wherein the first side of the planar portion of said guide member spans said at least two movable contact arms;
• and wherein the second side of the planar portion of said guide member engages said corresponding one of said contact springs.