CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH BYPASS FOR REDIRECTING HIGH TRANSIENT CURRENT AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

摘要

A bypass conductor (101) is provided for use in a miniature type circuit breaker (1). In one embodiment, the bypass conductor (101) can include an elongated flat strap positioned in a circuit breaker housing (3). A first end (106) of the bypass conductor (101) is positioned to be adjacent to a contact arm (35) in an open circuit position of the circuit breaker (1) to receive current flow, especially high transient current flow. A second end (118) of the bypass conductor (101) is electrically coupled and/or mechanically connected to a load terminal (71) of the circuit breaker to provide a path for current between the first and second ends (106, 108). In this manner, the bypass conductor (101) provides an alternate path for electrical current through the circuit breaker (1). The bi-metallic components (65) and other sensitive elements within the circuit breaker (1) can therefore resist the loss of useful life and other adverse operational effects caused by a high transient current event.