| 摘要 |
A circuit breaker having a movable load contact arm (14'), which pivots between an open position and a closed position, and a stationary line contact arm (16'). The circuit breaker includes an arcing contact structure (210) which is pivotally mounted on the stationary line contact arm. The arcing contact structure is generally "J" shaped, having a straight portion and a curved portion. The straight portion includes a bearing surface (211) which engages a bearing surface (221) on the bottom side of the line contact arm. The curved portion of the arcing contact extends beyond the end of the line contact arm and includes an electrical contact (212) which extends above the line contact arm when the load contact arm is in the open position. The arcing contact structure includes a biasing spring (214) which biases the arcing contact toward the load contact arm when the load contact arm is in the open position but allows the load contact arm to engage both the arcing contact structure and the electrical contact on the load contact arm when the load contact arm is in the closed position. As the load contact arm moves from the closed position to the open position, the spring urges the arcing contact structure to maintain an electrical connection with the electrical contact on the load contact arm as the load contact arm breaks electrical connection with the line contact arm. By breaking electrical contact with the load contact arm after the line contact arm has broken electrical contact with the load contact arm, electrical arcing between the electrical contacts on the load contact arm and line contact arm are significantly reduced.
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