ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS, AND MOVABLE CONTACT ASSEMBLYAND SHIELD THEREFOR

摘要

A shield is provided for a circuit breaker including a housing, a movable contact, a stationary contact, and an operating mechanism for moving the movable contact into and out of electrical contact with the stationary contact. The operating mechanism includes a crossbar, a biasing member, and a movable contact assembly. The movable contact assembly has a movable contact arm pivotably coupled to the crossbar, and includes a first end carrying the movable contact, and a second end biased by the biasing member, thereby biasing the movable contact toward the stationary contact. The shield comprises an elongated barrier element having an opening which receives the movable contact arm. The elongated barrier element is coupled to the operating mechanism crossbar proximate the second end of the movable contact arm in order to shield at least the biasing member. A movable contact assembly, and electrical switching apparatus are also provided.