Circuit breaker latch mechanism integrated into the rotor assembly

A rotor assembly for a circuit breaker, said rotor assembly comprising:

• a rotor that is rotatable relative to an electrically insulative case;
• a contact arm coupled to said rotor and movable between a first position in which a conductive path is closed and a second position in which the conductive path is open;
• and
• a latch mechanism coupled to said rotor, said latch mechanism retains said contact arm in the second position during a short circuit event, said latch mechanism spaced from said contact arm when said contact arm is in the first position, said latch mechanism engages said contact arm when said contact arm is in the second position.

A method of manufacturing a circuit breaker, said method comprising:

• coupling a rotor to the electrically insulative case, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to the electrically insulative case;
• coupling an operating mechanism to the rotor, wherein actuation of the operating mechanism causes the rotor to rotate;
• coupling a movable contact to the rotor, wherein the movable contact is movable between a first position in which a conductive path is closed and a second position in which the conductive path is open, and the movable contact moves between the first position and the second position during a short circuit event;
• and
• coupling a latch mechanism to the rotor, wherein the latch mechanism inhibits movement of the movable contact when the movable contact is in the second position, wherein the latch mechanism is spaced from the movable contact when the movable contact is in the first position, and wherein the latch mechanism engages the movable contact when the movable contact is in the second position.