North American Philips Corporation

John C Lucas

Gregory T DiVincenzo

Keith A Singer

Tripping of the poles of a multi-pole breaker requires less force from current sensing actuators, through use of a lost motion linkage including a trip link which unlatches the linkage holding one pole contact set closed before operating the inter-pole tripping elements. Preferably the breaker has a fast forcing arrangement for forcing a movable contact open under short-circuit conditions, faster than the normal contact opening spring can respond. The lost motion linkage is provided by a trip link which first releases a secondary latch to permit contact opening at normal speed, and then operates an inter-pole tripping element. Under short-circuit conditions the trip link engages the movable contact to force it open, between unlatching and engagement of the inter-pole tripping element.

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Salisbury, MD, United States of America

John C Lucas