Auxiliary switch for molded-case circuit breaker

Claim 1

An electric circuit breaker comprising: a. a molded case having a plurality of compartments; b. a circuit breaker mechanism in one of the compartments including a pair of separable contacts, a releasably latchable trip lever releasable from a latched position to effect separation of the contacts, and thermally and electromagnetically operable tripping means operable to effect release of the trip lever and separation of the contacts; c. an operating handle pivotally mounted in the case, operatively connected to the contacts, and movable to an ON position to close the contacts and to an OFF position to open the contacts; d. an auxiliary switch including a pair of resiliently flexible contact fingers disposed in another of the compartments and having one operating condition in which the contact fingers are in engagement with each other and another operating condition in which the contact fingers are out of engagement with each other; e. a switch operating member pivotally mounted in said other of the compartments, operatively engaged With a first of the contact fingers, and operatively engageable with the operating handle; f. a trip bar mounted for pivotal movement in the case and traversing the compartments; g. a first crank member mounted on the trip bar in said one of the compartments for rotary movement unitarily therewith upon operation of the tripping means; and h. a second crank member mounted on the trip bar in said other of the compartments for rotary movement unitarily therewith and operatively engageable with a second of the contact fingers, the first contact finger being flexed by the switch operating member to place the auxiliary switch in one of the operating conditions upon movement of the operating handle to the ON position, and the second contact finger being flexed by the second crank member to place the auxiliary switch in the other of the operating conditions upon operation of the tripping means.