Circuit interrupter and indicator apparatus

摘要

A circuit interrupter includes an indicator apparatus having a pair of movable elements and a connection apparatus that enables the pair of movable elements to be cooperable. One of the movable elements is connected with an indicator element that indicates an OPEN and/or a CLOSED condition of the circuit interrupter. A pair of engagement structures are situated on the pair of movable elements and enable the pair of movable elements to be engageable with one another. A biasing element extends between the pair of movable elements and is configured to absorb some of the kinetic energy of a trip event, which resists breakage of the indicator apparatus. The indicator element changes states when the set of separable contacts are at a relatively small amount of separation and does not require the set of separable contacts to reach the end of their travel before changing state.

主权项

1. An indicator apparatus structured to be used in a circuit interrupter that includes a mechanism which is movable to switch the circuit interrupter between a CLOSED condition and an OPEN condition, the indicator apparatus comprising:
a first movable element structured to be cooperable with the mechanism; an indicator element structured to be movable between a first position that corresponds with the CLOSED condition of the circuit interrupter and a second position that corresponds with the OPEN condition of the circuit interrupter, the indicator element in at least one of the first position and the second position being structured to output an indication representative of the condition of the circuit interrupter; a second movable element cooperable with the indicator element to move the indicator element between the first and second positions; a connection apparatus situated on at least one of the first and second movable elements and structured to enable the first and second movable elements to be cooperable; the second movable element being pivotable between a first position and a second position, the indicator element being in its first position when the second movable element is in its first position, the indicator element being in its second position when the second movable element is in its second position; and wherein the connection apparatus further comprises a biasing element that is structured to bias the second movable element in a direction generally toward its second position.