Miniature circuit breaker with multipurpose auxiliary member

Abstract

Miniature circuit breaker apparatus is taught which includes side-by-side ganged cases where one of the ganged cases includes the main circuit breaker operating mechanism and contacts and where the other case includes an actuable micro-switch, which is interconnected with an indicating device for providing either a bell alarm function for the circuit breaker system or an auxiliary switch function for the circuit breaker system. The bell alarm function is provided by extending the rotatable axis of the trip mechanism of the main circuit breaker into the case of the secondary circuit breaker casing for movement of an auxiliary switch. The auxiliary switch indicates a trip function when the main circuit breaker contacts have been tripped opened, thus providing a bell alarm indication, for example. The handles of the two circuit breaker cases are also tied together, so that when the circuit breaker mechanism of the first casing is opened, the handles of the second casing are moved in conjunction therewith to also actuate the auxiliary switch by the separate actuating mechanism located in the second enclosure to provide an auxiliary switch indication that the contacts of the main circuit breaker portion are opened. Common circuit breaker components are available for use in either case, but only those components are actually utilized for the function desired.