US3593235A

US3593235A - Linearly operated circuit breaker

Info

Publication number: US3593235A
Application number: US881502A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald Nicol
Original assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Current assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Priority date: 1969-12-02
Filing date: 1969-12-02
Publication date: 1971-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-13
Also published as: DE2042875A1

Abstract

A circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by the case and a collapsible linkage mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts ''''closed'''' and ''''open'''' positions, the mechanism including a pivotal ''''handle'''' link. The circuit breaker also includes electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip ''''open'''' said contacts at such time. A unitary adapter is secured to the case and includes an actuator movable generally linearly into engagement with the pivotal ''''handle'''' link and automatically retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with the pivotal ''''handle'''' link to operate the mechanism for moving one of the contacts to the contacts ''''closed'''' or ''''open'''' positions while permitting the pivotal ''''handle'''' link to freely move when the mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditions. The circuit breaker also includes an auxiliary switch means responsive to whether said contacts are ''''closed'''' or ''''open.'''' A pushbutton module is secured to the unitary adapter and has a plunger engageable with the unitary adapter for actuating the latter. The pushbutton includes electrical lamps alternately illuminated to indicate whether said contacts are ''''closed'''' or ''''open.

Description

I United States Patent WI 3,5 93,235

[72] Inventor Ronald Nicol 1,388,357 b/l968 Lawson et al. 335/ I 7 Tnmon' Primary ExaminerHarold Broome Appl' L502 Attome Denn and Denn 22 Filed Dec. 2, 1909 y Y Y [45] Patented July I3, I97! Asslsnee annual! Elam-k Company ABSTRACT: A circuit breaker including a case. a pair of contacts enclosed by the case and a collapsible linkage mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts s41 LINEARLY OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER "29F" mechanis") inc'uding a m chins l9 braving Figs. p votal handle link The circuit breaker also mcludes electrlcal means for sensing predetermined electrical Conditions [52] US. Cl SSS/I86, and conapsing said mechanism to electrically m aid 335/13. 335/38 337/66 200/153 contacts at such time. A unitary adapter is secured to the case [S l) Int. Cl flolh 3/54 and indudes an actuator ble generally linearly into em Field Search 335/136- gagement with the pivotal "handle" link and automatically 24; 337/66 62; retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with ZOO/n2 the pivotal "handle" link to operate the mechanism for moving one of the contacts to the contacts "closed" or open" Rehnm cued positions while permitting the pivotal "handle" link to freely UNITED STATES PATENTS move when the mechanism is collapsed on predetermined 1,5 69,4 l 6 H1926 Bates 200/ 153 electrical conditions. The circuit breaker also includes an aux- 2,438,|86 3/ I948 Ran ll 3 iliary switch means responsive to whether said contacts are 2.309.255 |0/|957 ye 8! 3 2 closed or open." A pushbutton module is secured to the 3. l "I asC t aim 337/6 unitary adapter and has a plunger engageable with the unitary 2. l 959 M rris 335/ l 88 adapter for actuating the latter. The pushbutton includes elec- 3,2 7. 23 I 6 Cl rk I trical lamps alternately illuminated to indicate whether said 3,329,913 7/1967 335/38 contacts are closed"oropen."

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LINEARLY OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in pushbutton operating mechanisms used in conjunction with electric circuit breakers of the electromagnetic type.

Circuit breakers of the electromagnetic type are wellknown, for example, one such circuit breaker is shown in Camp US. Pat. No. 3,329,9I3, assigned to the Heinemann Electric Company. The circuit breaker shown in the aforementioned patent has a pivotal handle for manually moving the contacts thereof to the closed or open positions. Many uses exist, however, on panel boards and the like, for a circuit breaker which has a depressable pushbutton to move the contacts to the closed" and "open" positions and which will also illuminate the pushbutton to give a visual indication of the state of the circuit breaker contacts.

It is an object of this invention to modify a circuit breaker of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,329,9l3 with a minimum number of changes and to adopt it for use as a pushbutton operated circuit breaker.

A still further object is to provide three independent subassemblies, that is, a circuit breaker subassembly and an illuminated pushbutton module or subassembly which are interconnected by an adapter subassembly, the latter transferring the linear movement of the pushbutton to a pivotal link of the circuit breaker.

A still further object is to modify the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker so that an auxiliary switch means is actuated to indicate, in cooperation with a device associated with the auxiliary switch means, whether the circuit breaker contacts have been manually closed" or opened."

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a unitary adapter to convert a known circuit breaker linkage mechanism having a pivotal handle to a push button type of circuit breaker.

The circuit breaker includes a case, a collapsible linkage mechanism to move one of its contacts between contacts closed and open" positions. and an electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing the mechanism to electrically trip open the contacts at such time. The unitary adapter is secured to the case and includes an actuator movable generally linearly into engagement with the pivotal handle' link of the circuit breaker mechanism and automatically retracts back to a neutral position out of engagement with the pivotal link to operate the mechanism for moving one of the contacts to the contacts closed" or "open positions while permitting the pivotal link to freely move when the mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditionsv Preferably, the circuit breaker and the pushbutton module have the general shape of quadrilaterals and include mounting means to secure the pushbutton module to the unitary adapter with one axis parallel to the corresponding axis of the circuit breaker or perpendicular thereto.

An auxiliary switch means may also be provided which is responsive to whether the contacts are closed or "open." Also, a pushbutton module having a plunger engageable with the unitary adapter for actuating the latter may be secured to the unitary adapter. The pushbutton module includes electrical lamps illuminated to indicate whether the contacts are closed" or open."

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, the principles of the invention, and the best modes in which I have contemplated applying such principles will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS In the drawings:

FIG. I shows the three subassemblies comprising the inven' tion, the circuit breaker subassembly being shown in side elevation with one of the half-cases partially broken away to expose the operating mechanism in the contacts "open position, the adapter subassembly being shown in section with the actuator in its neutral, initial or return position, and the pushbutton switch subassembly shown in elevation with the push button in its initial or return position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing portions of the adapter subassembly and the upper portion of the pivotal link forming part of in the circuit breaker mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. I looking up at the interior recesses of the adapter;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. I, however, the circuit breaker mechanism is shown in the contacts closed position, the adapter being shown with the actuator in its lowermost position, having driven the pivotal link of the circuit breaker mechanism to its contacts "closed" position, the pushbutton being fully depressed within the pushbutton module and, hence, not shown while the plunger extends within the adapter;

FIG. 6 is a partial, sectional view, showing the operating pivotal link in side elevation and in the contacts closed position, as in FIG. 5, but the actuator in its return position;

FIG. 7 is a partial, sectional view, illustrating the operating pivotal link in side elevation and driven to the contacts open position by the actuator in its lowermost position;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan views showing alternate orientations of the pushbutton module with respect to the adapter;

FIG. 10 is a partial view illustrating the method of coupling the shoe of the pushbutton module to the foot of the adapter;

FIG. II is a partial side elevation view of the end of the pushbutton module in the vicinity of the plunger and the upper end portion of the adapter showing the foot thereof;

FIG. I2 is a plan view taken along the line I2-I2 of FIG. II and illustrating the plate and the shoe of the pushbutton module;

FIG. 13 is a plan view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 11 showing the contour of the foot of the adapter;

FIG. I4 is a partial side elevation view showing the adapter with its sleeve partially cut away and part of the circuit breaker;

FIG. 15 is a partial view and shows an alternate embodiment of the adapter, the pivotal link of the circuit breaker being in the contacts open" position, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. I6 is a sectional view taken along the line I646 of FIG. I5;

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the actuator of FIGS. 15 and I6 in the fully depressed position, but FIG. I7 shows the operating pivotal link of the circuit breaker in the contacts "closed" position, whereas FIG. I8 shows it in the contacts "open" position; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic wiring diagram of the auxiliary switch and the push button module, the dotted line indicating the electrical connection made when the circuit breaker contacts are in the "closed" position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. I, the invention is generally comprised of three subassemblies, a circuit breaker 10, a pushbutton module 12 and an adapter II, located between the pushbutton module I2 and the circuit breaker 10.

The pushbutton module 12 includes a plunger 23 reciprocating in response to the depression of the pushbutton 22 located at the end of the module 12 opposite that of the plunger 23. In addition, the pushbutton module II has terminals III), III, I12 and I14 (only two of which are shown in FIG. I) which are internally connected to indicator lamps II6 II7, Ill and II) (shown schematically in FIG. I9) and which operate in conjunction with an auxiliary switch 34, carried by the circuit breaker It), to indicate the state or condition of the

circuit breaker contacts

42 and 44, as will be explained in further detail hereinafter with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. I9.

Any one of several different types of commercially available pushbutton modules may be used in conjunction with the adapter I] and circuit breaker I of this invention and a typical pushbutton module usable in the invention is commercially available from the Unimax Switch Division of Maxson Electronic Corporation, Wallingford, Conn., under the designation Series 9C. In view of the commercial availability of such pushbutton modules, and their well-known mode of operation, only a brief description will be given herein.

The pushbutton switch I2 is formed of a generally tubular outer casing 2I, closed on one end by an insulating platform (not shown) which supports the terminals 110, III, 112, 113 and I14, and closed at the other end by the push button 22. The pushbutton 22 is directly coupled to the plunger 23 by a shaft (not shown) which is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the casing 21 and extends through a hole in the insulated platform (not shown) which supports the terminals I10, IlI, I12, II3 and 114. The outer casing 21 has four integral legs 26 located at the end of the casing 21 opposite to the pushbutton 22 and extending away therefrom. The legs 26 support a generally diamond shaped plate 27 by means of riveted conncctions, FIGS. I, I0 and II. The plate 27 contains a hole centered on the central axis of the casing 21 through which the plunger 23 extends.

The pushbutton 22 and the plunger 23 are slidably mounted for movement between two extreme positions. The upper first extreme position is shown in FIG. I, wherein the button 22 protrudes above the uppermost portion of the outer casing 21 and the plunger 23, which is coupled to the pushbutton 22, is likewise in its uppermost position extending slightly into the adapter subassembly I2 approximately in contact with the upper surface of the driving piston 10!. The second extreme position is shown in FIG. 5 wherein the pushbutton 22 has been depressed below the uppermost portion of the casing 21 and the plunger 23 extends well into the upper portion of the adapter subassembly II, to thereby exert a driving force on the upper surface of the driving piston I01 and to move it to the position shown in FIG. 5.

A spring (not shown) within the casing 21 normally biases the pushbutton 22 and the plunger 23 to the upper retracted position shown in FIG. I, i.e., with the pushbutton 22 protruding above the casing 21 and the plunger 23 barely in contact with the upper surface of the piston The pushbutton module I2 is mountable in a hole in a panel by means of the resilient mounting clips 28 which extend through suitably shaped holes in the outer casing 21. The outer casing 21 has a lip portion 29 adjacent the pushbutton 22 which overlaps the inner peripheral surface of the hole in the panel 20. As the module 12 is inserted in the hole in the panel 20 the interior surfaces of the hole slide over and compress the clips 28 into the interior of the casing 21. Further movement of the switch I2 into the hole in the panel 20 causes the lip portion 29 of the casing M to come into abutment with the panel 20, the resilient mounting clips 28 springing outward to trap the panel between the lip portion 29 and the end portions of the clips 28.

The uppermost portion or cover ill of the pushbutton 22 is made of a translucent plastic material and is rectangular, having dimensions slightly smaller than those of the hole in the uppermost end of the tubular casing 21. Two indicator lamps II6 and "7, (shown schematically in FIG. I9), located inside the casing 21 are wired to illuminate one-half of the cover 31 to indicate the on or contacts closed" condition of the circuit breaker I0 while two other lights I18 and I19 (also illustrated in H6. I9) are wired to illuminate the other half of the cover 3I to indicate the "off or contacts "open" condition of the circuit breaker II].

A coupling shoe I4 formed ofa resilient metal is attached to the outermost side of the plate 27, the coupling shoe I4 having an inwardly projecting heel portion I7 and two toe portions I8, each having a cam surface. The shoe 14 in conjunction with a foot member I5 located on the uppermost portion of the adapter II serve to couple the pushbutton switch I2 and the adapter II to each other, as explained in greater detail hereinafter. The coupling shoe has, of course, a central hole located along the axis of the casing 21 through which the plunger 23 passes.

The circuit breaker I0, FIG. 1 has a plastic outer casing 40 consisting of two approximate half-cases 37 inside which is received a circuit breaker mechanism M. The circuit breaker mechanism is generally similar to that described in US. Pat. No. 3,329,9 l 3, except that the handle has been eliminated and the upper contour of the handle link has been altered, as described in detail below. Hence, only a brief description of the operating mechanism 41 will be given hereinafter.

The mechanism 41 comprises a movable contact 42 carried by a movable arm 43 and engageable with a stationary contact 44, the latter carried by terminal 45. The movable arm 43 is connected by a flexible conductor 47 to one end of a coil 48 forming part of an electromagnetic device 50. The electromagnetic device 50, on predetermined electrical conditions, causes the collapse of the linkage mechanism 5] to trip open the

contacts

42 and 44 on the occurrence of the predetermined conditions. The electrical circuit of the circuit breaker is completed by connecting the other end of the coil 48 to the terminal 46.

Further, the movable arm 43 is biased by a spring 52 toward the open position of the

contacts

42 and 44 and is mounted on a pin 53 about which it pivots, the pin 53 being carried by two spaced plates 54 which are integral with an L-shaped member 56 and jointly form a frame 59 for carrying the coil 48. The end portions of the pin 53 extend into holes formed in the opposed sidewalls of the half-cases 37 to properly locate and support the mechanism 4] inside the casing 40.

Another pin 62, carried by the movable arm 43, has end portions which engage the spaced plates 54 to limit the opening movement of the arm 43, as shown in FIG. I.

The movable arm 43 is also connected by a pin 57 to a toggle assembly or latching mechanism 58, the latter being in turn connected to an arm 65 of the pivotal lever or link 60 by a pin 6]. The pivotal link 60 has an approximately W-shaped upper contour formed by a central cam apex 80, and a pair of symmetrical downwardly divergent cam surfaces 81 and 82 which merge with the upwardly

angled surface portions

83 and 84 to form two

inverted shoulders

85 and 86 disposed on opposite sides of the apex 80. When employed with the toggle assembly 58, the pivotal link 60 will normally be held in one or the other of two extreme positions, the contacts "open" position, illustrated in FIG. I, and the contacts "closed position, illustrated in FIG. 5. The pivotal link 60 is moved to either of its extreme positions by the actuator which is part of the adapter subassembly II and will be explained in greater detail below.

The link 60 pivots about a pin 64 having its end portions also carried by the spaced plates 54. A spring 55 is coiled on the pin 64 and has one end attached to one of the frame plates 54 and the other end of the spring 55 is in contact with the pin 61, the spring being stressed at all times so as to bias the link 60 to the contacts "open" position, FIG. 1. After tripping of the toggle assembly 58 in response to an overload, for instance, the link spring 55 automatically moves the link 60 from the contacts closed position, FIG. 5 to the contacts open position, FIG. I.

The frame 59 forms a part of the electromagnetic device 50 to which is secured a time delay tube 63 housing a spring biased magnetizable core (not shown) movable against the retarding action of a suitable fluid to provide a time delay before tripping of the mechanism on certain overloads.

The operation of the type of linkage mechanism 51 and electromagnetic device 50 is specifically set forth in US. Pat. No. 3,329,913 and for purposes of brevity it will only be generally described herein as follows-when the pivotal link 60 is moved from the contacts "open" position, i.e., the off" position, FIG. I, to the contacts closed position, FIG. 5, the toggle assembly 58 and the movable arm 43 all move down, against the bias of the spring 52, and move the contact 42 into engagement with the stationary contact 44 achieving the contacts closed" position, ie, the on position, as illustrated in FIG. 5,

Upon occurrence of a predetermined overload condition, assuming the Circuit breaker to be in the contacts closed" position, the armature 70, which is also part of the electromagnetic device 50, is attracted toward the pole piece 72, either after a time delay period or virtually instantaneously, depending on the overload condition. The armature 70 is pivoted on a pin 74 whose end portions are also carried by suitable holes in the frame plates 54. The armature 70 also in eludes an attractable part 73 and a trip finger 7], and when the attracted part 73 of the armature 70 pivots the piece 72, the trip finger 71 pivots to the right as seen in FIG. 5 and engages and trips the arm 75 forming part of the linkage mechanism 51, which is opposite the trip finger 71 when the toggle assembly 58 is in the contacts closed" position, FIG. 5, whereupon the toggle assembly 58 collapses and the movable arm 43 moves upward under the bias of spring 52 to open the

contacts

42 and 44, The toggle assembly 58 is automatically relatched and simultaneously the pivotal link 60 is also moved to the contacts open position, FIG. I, under the pressure applied by the spring 55. Thus, the pivotal link 60 is returned from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. I whereby it is again in its proper position to receive the actuator I00 and move the linkage mechanism SI to the "on position.

As is well-known, a plurality of U-shaped magnetirable grids 66 are placed adjacent the movable and

stationary con tacts

42 and 44 to minimize any are that may form between the contacts upon opening.

In addition to the main cavity in which the circuit breaker operating mechanism is located, the casing 40 provides for an auxiliary cavity 33 in which the auxiliary switch 34 is located. A more detailed description of the construction of the casing 40 to provide for the auxiliary cavity is given in US. Pat. No. 3,329,793. Briefly, however, the auxiliary cavity 33 is formed by extending one pair of abutting peripheral walls forming part of the half cases 37 outwardly to form an opening. The auxiliary switch 34 is provided with recesses 39 on each side of the auxiliary switch case and associated inward projections (not shown) are located on the half-cases 37 and 38 which interfit into the recesses 39 to locate and support the auxiliary switch 34 within the cavity 33. The auxiliary cavity 33 is located on the margin of the casing 40 containing the

circuit breaker terminals

45 and 46 and is intermediate these terminals. The auxiliary switch 34 carries three

terminals

67, 68 and 69, and operates as a single-pole double-throw switch to connect terminal 67 with either terminal 68 or 69, depending on the position of the operating rod 36. A lever arm 35 is carried by the upper portion of the auxiliary switch 34, the lever arm 35 having its end portion in contact with a portion of the movable arm 43 and its middle portion in contact with the operating rod 36 which is movable between two positions in response to the position of the movable arm 43. More specifically, when the circuit breaker I0 is in the of condition, the movable arm 43 and the operating rod 36 are in the positions shown in FIG, I. In this condition the terminal 67 is in electrical series with the terminal 69.

As the movable arm 43 is moved to the contacts closed position, the portion of the movable arm 43 abutting the end of the lever arm 35 moves downward, transmitting a downward force via the lever arm 35 to the operating rod 36 and moving it down to the position shown in FIG 5. With the operating rod 36 in this position, the common terminal 67 is switched and now placed in electrical series with the terminal 68.

The adapter subassembly I I further comprises a bracket 90 and a column 95, the column 95 being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pushbutton module 12, The bracket 90 has a hole centered along the longitudinal axis of the pushbutton module 12 and aligned with the column 95. The bracket has a body portion 91 which is essentially Ushaped and inverted with arms 93, FIGS. 1 and 2, of the U extending down, toward the circuit breaker casing 40 and the base of the U being spaced from and running approximately parallel to the adjacent upper surface of the casing 40 of the circuit breaker I0 to define a space with which is received the upstanding boss 99 of the circuit breaker 10. The arms 93 are extended to form four legs 92 which fit into corner depressions on the easing 40 and on opposite sides of the casing 40 to straddle the adjacent upper wall of the casing 40, The legs 92 have holes aligned with the holes through the upper corner portions of the casing 40 through which rivets are passed to connect the bracket 90 to the casing 40.

The column 95 comprises a cylindrical tube 96 which is mounted above the hole in the bracket 90 and in alignment therewith by forming the tube 96 with a first diameter middle portion, which is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole in the bracket 90, and a second diameter end portion which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole in the bracket 90. The tube 96 is attached to the bracket 90 by inserting the smaller diameter end portion into the hole in the bracket and flaring over the end of the tube 96 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The bracket 90 is provided with a keyway 94, FIG. 3, adjacent the hole receiving the tube 96, and a portion of the tube 96 is staked into the keyway for antirotation purposes.

The tube 96 houses an actuator 100 which is connected to the cylindrical driving piston 101 by means of pin 102. The ac tuator I00 is in the shape of a quadrilateral bar having a dimension parallel to the axis of the pin I02 which is constant along the length ofthe bar (FIG. 2). However, in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the pin I02, the actuator has a first, upper section of larger dimension which merges into a second lower tapered section which terminates in a rounded forward tip to facilitate actuation of the pivotal link 60.

The dimension of the actuator 100 along the longitudinal axis of the tube 96 is chosen such that the uppermost surface of the actuator I00 is approximately even with the entrance portion of the cylindrical recess 107. The actuator 100 must be sufficiently long such that the tip of the actuator, during the movement of the operating link 60 from the contacts open to the contacts closed position, stays in engagement with the shoulder 86 until the operating link pin 6] is moved in a clockwise position through an imaginary straight line drawn between the

pins

64 and 57, FIG. 5. Likewise, during the movement of the operating link 60 to the contacts open position, the tip of the actuator I00 must drive the operating link 60 counterclockwise, through engagement with the shouider 85, such that the pin 6| passes through the same imaginary straight line extending through the centers of pins 64 and S7. The movement of the piston I01 and the actuator 100 downward in driving the link 60 must not be limited by the full compression of the spring I09, and neither by seating of the pin 102 at the bottom of the slots 103, until the pin 61 has gone overcenter between an imaginary

line connecting pins

64 and 57. The clockwise rotation of the link 60 toward the con tacts closed position is limited by the abutment of pin 61 with the frame plates 54, FIG. 5, while the counterclockwise rotation of the link 60 in moving to the contacts open position is limited by the abutment of pin 62 on the moveable arm 43 with the frame plates 54.

Downward movement of the actuator 100, during closing of the contacts, is stopped when the pin 61 engages the frame plates 54, the tip of the actuator remaining in contact with the surface 83 at such time, as shown in FIG. 5. However, downward movement of the actuator I00, during opening of the contacts is stopped when the return spring becomes fully compressed, as shown in FIG. 7, or the pin I02 engages the bottom wall defining the slots I03.

The ends of the pin I02 are carried in slots 103 formed in the tube 96, to limit upward axial movement of the pin I02 and also prevent rotation of the driving piston 10] and the actuator 100. The return spring I09 is trapped between a peripheral boss 105 on the lower portion of the driving piston l] and a flange 97 projecting radially inwardly from the tube 96 and preferably integral therewith. The return spring I09 biases the driving piston I01 and the actuator I00 in a direction away from the link 60 in the circuit breaker I0, i.e., toward the plunger 23, thereby forcing the pin 102 to a position in the slots 103 farthest remove from the link 60. A cylindrical sleeve 98 surrounds the tube 96 to prevent the pin I02 from escaping from the slots I03.

The driving piston 10I is formed with two communicating recesses, a first rectangular recess I06 and a second cylindrical recess 107. The rectangular recess 106 houses the upper portion of the actuator I00 and extends in depth above the pin 102. The dimension of the rectangular recess 106 in the direction parallel to the axis of the pin I02 is slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of the actuator 100 to permit the actuator to freely pivot about the pin I02 while main taining its alignment with the pivotal link 60, FIG. 2. The dimension of the rectangular recess 106 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the pin I02 is substantially larger than the corresponding dimension of the actuator 100 in order to allow for the pivotal motion of the actuator I00 about the pin 102, as illustrated in FIGS. and 7. The cylindrical recess 107 has a diameter which is slightly larger than the dimension of the actuator 100 in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the pin 102. However, the exact diameter is not critical so long as it is large enough to permit the pivotal movement of the actuator I00 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The depth of the recess 107 relative to the length of the centering cap 108 along its longitudinal axis is such that the pivotal rotation of the actuator I00 about the pin I02 is limited by the abutment of the open end of the cap 108 with the surface adjacent the top of the recess I07, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. More specifically, as one of the comers on the upper surface of the actuator I00 moves pivotally against the adjacent surface of the cap 108, the cap I08 moves upward against the bias of spring I04 until its open end abuts the surface defining the top of the recess 107. This limiting action prevents the actuator I00 from rotating past the center of the pin 102 in either direction.

A centering mechanism comprising a centering cap 108 and a centering spring I04 is located intermediate the upper surface of the actuator 100 and the top of the recess I07. The centering cap I08 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the recess I07 and has a depth which is smaller than the depth of the recess 107, to thereby permit the cap 108 to move along the axis of the driving piston 10]. The cap I08 has a planar surface at its lower end abutting the upper adjacent planar surface of the actuator I00 and its upper end extends toward and partially encloses the centering spring I04. The centering spring 104 is partially compressed during assembly of the piston I01, cap 108 and actuator 100 to each other to insure that a force is continuously exerted via the centering cap 108 on the upper planar surface of the actuator I00 to align the actuator 100 along the longitudinal axis of the tube 96 which is coincident with a vertical plane through the pin 64 connecting the link 60 to the frame plates 54. The pivotal motion of the actuator I00 further compresses the centering spring 104 to insure the operation of the centering mechanism as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

In operation, assuming the

contacts

42 and 44 and the pivotal link 60 to be in the contacts open" position, FIG. I, when the push button 22 of the pushbutton module 12 is depressed, the plunger 23 will move axially downward protruding to a greater extent into the adapter subassembly 1 l and bearing against the upper surface of driving piston I01. The driving piston IOI, the pin'102 and the actuator I00, being interconnected and normally biased by return spring 109 to the position shown in FIG. I, wherein the pin I02 is at the top of the slots I03, move downward as a unit in response to the downward motion of the plunger 23, along a linear path determined by the portions of the pin I02 which are slidably received in the slots I03. The two slots I03, FIGS. 2 and 14,

are formed opposite to each other in the tube 96 and extend vertically, as shown, and are covered by the sleeve 98.

Referring to FIG. I, as the actuator I00 moves toward the pivotal link 60, the forward tapered portion of the actuator I00 engages and moves downward along the cam surface 82 of the pivotal link 60, the rounded tip of the actuator 100 engaging the shoulder 36. After engagement of the shoulder 86 by the actuator I00, further downward movement of the actuator I00 causes the link 60 to pivot clockwise about its mounting pin 64 against the bias of spring 55. The clockwise movement of the link 60 is transmitted via the interconnecting pin 6] to the toggle assembly 58 which moves the

contacts

42 and 44 into the contacts closed position, FIG. 5.

As the tapered portion of the actuator I00 moves along the cam surface 82, the actuator I00 pivots counterclockwise about pin 102 to the position shown in FIGv 5. During this counterclockwise pivoting motion of the actuator I00, the upper corner of the actuator I00 bears against the centering cap 108 forcing it upward against the pressure of the spring I07, as can best be seen in FIG. 5, which shows the position of the elements at the point in timcjust prior to the release of the pushbutton 22 and retraction thereof. After the pushbutton 22 is released, the plunger 23 will move upward under the bias of a spring (not shown) in the pushbutton module 12. As the plunger 23 returns to its upper position, the unit comprising the pin I02, the actuator 100, the piston l0I, the cap 108 and the centering spring I04 will all also move upward under the bias ofthe return spring 109, thereby moving the actuator I00 out of engagement with the pivotal link 607 The movement of the pin 102 will continue upward until its movement is limited by the walls defining the top of the slots 103. As the actuator 100 disengages from the pivotal link 60 it will be pivoted clockwise to a position central with the longitudinal axis of the adapter II by the force exerted by the compressed centering spring 109 and the abutment of the lower, planar surface of the centering cap I08 with the upper planar surface of the actuator 100. The downward pressure of the cap 108 on the actuator I00 will impart a pivotal motion to the actuator I00 until the abutting planar surfaces of the actuator and the cen tering cap are in parallel abutment, as shown in FIG. I. The position of the actuator I00 and the pivotal link 60 in the contacts closed condition of the circuit breaker, with the actuator fully returned, is shown in FIG. 6.

If the circuit breaker I0 is in the contacts closed" position, FIG. 6, and it is desired to manually "open" the contacts, the pushbutton 22 is again depressed. The plunger 23 again forces the piston 101, the pin I02 and the actuator I00 to move downward. The pivotal lever 60 being in its contacts closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, now presents the cam surface 8] for engagement by the tapered forward portion of the actuator I00, FIGS. 6 and 7. Further downward movement causes the tapered forward portion of the actuator 100 to now engage the shoulder 85, thereby pivoting the link 60 counterclockwise and moving the toggle mechanism to the open position of the

contacts

42 and 44.

As discussed previously, downward movement of the tapered portion of the actuator 100 along the cam surface 81 results in the pivotal movement of the actuator 100 about pin 102, causing the centering cap 108 to move upwardly relative to the piston I01 and again compresses the centering spring 104. Upon release of the pushbutton 22, the actuator 100 moves upward under the bias of return spring 109 while the centering cap I08 imparts a pivotal movement to the actuator 100 until the force of the centering spring 104, transmitted to the actuator via the centering cap 108, is distributed evenly along the upper surface of the actuator 100, thereby centering the actuator I00 along the longitudinal axis of the adapter I I.

The foregoing operations repeat upon successive depressions of the pushbutton 22, as will be understood.

Upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload condition, the armature 70 will be pivoted such that its trip finger 7] will engage the arm 75, unlatch the toggle mechanism 58 and cause it to collapse, thereby allowing the movable arm to pivot upward under the bias of spring 52 to open the

contacts

42 and 44. The collapse of the toggle mechanism 58 takes place independently of the position of the link 60, i.e., the circuit breaker cannot be held in the contacts closed position by manually holding the pushbutton 22 depressed, this characteristic being known as "trip free" in the art. Upon collapse of the toggle assembly 58 the link 60 will be pivoted counterclockwise under the bias of the spring 55 to the contacts open" position, FIG. 1, wherein the cam surface 82 is presented to or inline with the actuator 100. A subsequent depression of the pushbutton 22 will again operate the mechanism 51 and "close the

contacts

42 and 44 once more, assuming that the armature 70 is not attracted against the pole piece 72 by an overload.

A foot member 15 is attached to the uppermost portion of the tube 96, FIGS. 2, and 13. The foot is generally squareshaped and has four

margins

124, 125, 126 and 127 bounded by

shoulders

150, 151, 152 and 153 defining symmetrically disposed

U-shaped recesses

120, 121, 122 and 123 located about the periphery of the foot 15, one recess being located on each side of the foot. The foot is attached to the tube 96 by flaring over a smaller diameter end portion of the tube 96 in a fashion similar to the attachment of the tube 96 to the body 91 of the bracket 90 as previously described.

The assembled adapter 11 is attached to the pushbutton module 12 by coupling the foot 15 to the shoe 14, as shown in FIG. 10. This is best accomplished by inserting any one of the

margins

124, 125, 126 or 127, for example, the margin 125 into the shoulder formed by the inwardly projecting heel 17 of the shoe [4, as shown in FIG. 10.

Next, the margin 127 (the one opposite to the margin 125) is forced toward the toes 18 of the shoe 14, the cam surfaces on the toes 18 being at this time flexed and pushed outwardly and over the foot 15, trapping the foot 15 between the heel 17 and toes 18. It should be noted that since any two oppositely disposed margins may be inserted within the shoe 14, any one of four orientations of the indicator panel 31, each rotated 90 with respect to each other, is possible relative to the same position of the bracket 90. Two such orientations of the indicator cover 31, displaced 90 with respect to each other, are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The operation of the electrical indicating

lamps

116, 117, 118 and 119, located in the pushbutton module, in conjunction with the auxiliary switch 34, contained in the auxiliary cavity of the casing 40, will now be explained with reference to the wiring diagram of FIG. 19. As noted previously, the

terminals

67, 68 and 69 are part of the single-pole double-throw auxiliary switch 34, FIG. 1. The

auxiliary switch terminals

67, 68 and 69 are connected to

terminals

111, 112, 113 and 114 forming part of the pushbutton module 12, as shown in FIG. 19 and as hereinafter further described.

Two indicator lamps,

lamps

118 and 119, are wired in parallel and located to illuminate the oh half portion of the indicator cover 31 while two

other lamps

116 and 117, also connected in parallel, are situated to illuminate the on" half portion of the cover 31. Illumination of the oft lamps indicates that the

contacts

42 and 44 are separated, i.e., are in the open" position, while illumination of the on lamps indicates that the

contacts

42 and 44 are engaged, i.e., are in the closed position. The terminal 69 is connected to the terminal 112 while the terminal 68 is connected to the terminal 1 i 1.

When the

contacts

42 and 44 are in the open position shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary switch terminal 67 is electrically connected to the terminal 69, as shown by the connecting solid line in FIG. 19. In this position, the parallel combination cun' sisling of

lamps

118 and 119 will be in series with the source of potential by way of

terminals

67, 69, 112 and 110, and will illuminate the 011" half portion of the indicator cover 31.

As the movable arm 43 moves downward to close the contacts 42 and 4-4 it depresses the rod 36, changing the electrical connection within the switch 34 to that shown by a dotted line in FIG. 19, Le, electrically disconnecting terminal 67 from terminal 69 and connecting it to terminal 68 instead. In this position the parallel combination consisting of

lamps

116 and 117 is placed in series with the supply potential via

terminals

67, 68, 111 and 110, thereby, illuminating the on" half portion of the cover 31.

Any subsequent change in the condition of the

contacts

42 and 44 of the circuit breaker will be reflected as a change in the illumination of the indicator lamps. Thus, if the circuit breaker is tripped upon an overload, the "off half of the cover 31 will be illuminated resulting from the upward movement of the movable arm 43 which permits the auxiliary switch 34 to assume the position corresponding to the one shown by the solid line in FIG. 19 between

terminals

67 and 69.

FIGS. 15 to 18, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of the invention having a modified form of adapter subassembly. In this embodiment, the bracket of the adapter comprises a body 151 which is generally flat and is contiguous with the upper adjacent surface of the circuit breaker casing 153. The part of the bracket body 151 adjacent the handle" boss 152 of the casing 153 has an inverted U-shaped hat 155, as viewed in FIG. 15, with the open end of the hat extending toward the "handle" boss 152 of the casing 153 so as to overlie the "handle" boss 152. The bracket 150 is formed with four cars 17], which fit into corner depressions on the casing 153 and on opposite sides of the casing 153 to straddle the adjacent upper wall of the casing 153. The ears 171 have holes aligned with holes through the upper corner portions of the casing 153 through which rivets are passed to connect the bracket 150 to the casing 153.

A cylindrical tube 156 is mounted on the closed end of the hat by locating it in a cylindrical groove formed in the upper surface of the hat 155 and suitably brazing or soldering it in position.

The hat 155 is formed with a generally rectangular hole 158 centrally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tube and the pin 185 which supports the pivotal link 180. The dimension of the hole 158 perpendicular to the axis of the pin 172 is substantially greater than the corresponding dimension of the actuator 157, to permit free pivotal movement of the actuator 157 about the pin 172, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. However, the transverse dimensions of the hole 158 are smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 156 to thus provide a shelf 154 on which the return spring 159 rests. The return spring 159 is trapped between the shelf 154 and the lower peripheral surface of the driving piston 170, biasing the driving piston upwardly at all times.

The actuator 157 and the driving piston 170 have shapes similar to the corresponding elements in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 14 and are connected together by a pin 172. However, the length of the pin 172 is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube 156 and the pin 172 does not extend beyond the outer periphery of the driving piston 170.

A central V-shaped recess 1'73, FIGS. 15 and 16, in the driving piston 170 houses a centering spring 174 which is trapped between the upper surface of the actuator 157 and the top of the V-shaped recess 173.

Central nipples

175 and 176 are pro vided on the upper surface of the actuator 157 and the interior surface of the piston adjacent the base of the recess 173, respectively, to properly align the centering spring 174.

The two

straps

178 and 179 have inverted V-shapes and are secured to the hat 155 at opposite corners of the hole 158 and positioned parallel with the side of the actuator 157 and perpendicular to the pin 186. The apexes of the V-shapes of the

straps

178 and 179 are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tube 156 and with a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the pin for the link 180. The

straps

178 and 179 ex tend into the tube 156, as shown, short of engagement with the pin 172 or the piston 170, it being seen that in the lowermost position of the piston 170 the upper portions of the

straps

178 and 179 are received within the enlarged portion of the recess 173.

The distance between the

straps

178 and 179 parallel to the axes of the

pins

172 and 186 is only slightly greater than the corresponding dimension of the actuator 157 to substantially prevent rotation of the actuator 157 relative to the pivotal link 180. That is, the actuator 157 is bounded on two sides by the

parallel straps

178 and 179 which are spaced apart from each other by a distance slightly greater than the width of the actua tor 157, as shown in FIG. 16, to permit free movement, up and down, of the actuator 157, but substantially no rotation thereof. A centering pin 186 is carried by the lower portion of the actuator 157 to assure central alignment of the actuator when it returns to its uppermost position, FlGS. 15 and 16. The length of the centering pin 186 is greater than the distance between the opposed inner sides of the

straps

178 and 179, to thereby limit the upward movement of the actuator 157, by abutment of the pin 186 with the apex of the V- shaped straps, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 18 operates in a fashion similar to that of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 14. Briefly, assuming the circuit breaker contacts to be open and the pivotal link 180 to be in the position shown in FIG. 15, the driving piston 170 will be biased to its uppermost position by the return spring 159, this position being determined by the abutment of the pin 186 with the apex of the inverted V-shaped straps, I78 and 179, the pin 186 being trapped therein. Downward movement of the plunger 184, the latter forming part of the pushbutton module, 169, only partially shown in PK]. 15, will move the driving piston I70 and the actuator 157 downward against the bias of the return spring 159, the lower tip of the actuator 157 engaging the cam surface 182 on the link 180 and the root thereof, which then pivots in a clockwise direction about the pin 185.

This clockwise rotation of the link 180 moves the circuit breaker contacts to the contacts closed" position as explained more specifically in reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 14. As the tip of the actuator 157 moves downward along the cam surface 182 it engages the root thereof and then the actuator 157 pivots counterclockwise about the pin 172, E16. 17, thereby distorting and compressing the centering spring 174. It should be noted that the side of the centering spring 174 adjacent the upwardly moving right-hand corner of the actuator 157 is compressed to a greater extent than the opposite side of the centering spring 174. Upon the retraction of the plunger 184, the piston 170 and actuator 157 move upwardly under the bias of the return spring 159, the actuator 157 being returned to its central position by the sliding movement of the pin 186 in the inverted V- shaped guides formed by the two

opposed straps

178 and 179. Concurrently with the upward movement ofthe actuator 157, the centering spring 174, previously compressed to a greater degree on its side in the direction of the movement of the actuator 157 along the cam surface 182, exerts an unbalanced force on the upper surface of the actuator 157 also tending to center it along the axis of the tube 156.

On a subsequent downward movement of the plunger 184, the lower tip of the actuator 15? will move along the other cam surface 181 of the link 180, FIG. 18. Again, when the plunger 184 returns, the actuator 157 will be guided by the sliding movement of the pin 186 in the inverted V-shaped

straps

178 and 179 and the unbalanced force exerted by the compressed centering spring 174, the actuator l5! coming to rest along the axis of the tube 156 and at an upward position determined by the apex of the inverted V-shaped

straps

178 and 179.

It is possible, of course, to use a modified adapter similar to the one shown in FIG. 1, in conjunction with the circuit breaker 10, without the necessity of incorporating the pushbutton module 12 to activate the adapter 11. For example, by simply eliminating the module 12 and lengthening the driving piston 101 of the adapter 11 of HO. 1 to protrude above the top of the tube 96 a suitable amount, the circuit breaker could be operated by finger pressure applied to the upper surface of the driving piston 101. The diameter of the piston 101 may, of course, vary but preferably is smaller than the width of an adult finger. The operation of the circuit breaker and adapter would be identical to that of the embodiment of HO. 1. The indicator lights normally contained in the module 12 could be remotely located or mounted in an adjacent panel near the circuit breaker.

When the driving piston 10] is extended as described above, the foot 15 is preferably omitted. Instead, the upper portion of the tube 96 is threaded so as to secure it to an opening in a panel (not shown) by use of a nut (also not shown). Alternately, instead of threading the tube 96, the body 91 of the bracket may be provided with suitable threaded holes (not shown) to receive screws to secure the bracket to the panel (not shown).

Having described this invention, what 1 claim is:

1. In combination,

a circuit breaker including a case,

a pair ofcontacts enclosed by said case,

a collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts closed" and open" positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism,

electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip open" said contacts at such time, and

a unitary adapter secured to said case and including an actuator, movable generally linearly into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts closed or "open" positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is collapsed on redc termined electrical conditions, said adapter being mounted upon said case as a separate subassembly.

2v The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker includes an auxiliary switch means responsive to whether said contacts are "closed or open," and a pushbutton module having a plunger engageable with said unitary adapter for actuating the latter, said pushbutton including electrical lamps alternately illuminated to indicate whether said contacts are closed or open,"

said pushbutton module being secured to said unitary adapter, and

said pushbutton module and said auxiliary switch each having terminal means connectable to each other so that said pushbutton module will indicate by illumination of the appropriate lamp whether said contacts are closed or 3. The combination recited in claim I wherein said case includes two portions,

said adapter has legs extending along the side of said case,

and

rivets securing the case portions to each other and to said legs.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said unitary adapter includes a bracket secured to said case,

a tube secured to said bracket,

a linearly movable unit movable back and forth within said tube from an initial position to a depressed position, said unit including a return spring for returning said unit to its initial position,

said unit further comprising,

an actuator movable into engagement with said pivotal link to actuate said mechanism, and

wall means forming part of said adapter to limit movement of said unit from said depressed position to said initial position.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said pivotal link has two surfaces to alternately receive said actuator,

IOIOSO 0024 said unit including a depressable piston and a pin connecting said actuator to said piston, and

means for centering said actuator relative to said piston.

6. The combination recited in claim wherein said tube is provided with elongated guide walls,

said pin connecting said actuator to said piston has end portions cooperating with said walls to limit the movement of said unit away from said pivotal link.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means for centering said actuator includes a centering cap slidably received by said piston and a centering spring for urging said centering cap toward said actuator, and

said centering cap and actuator having mating, abuttable planar surfaces.

8. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes a flange upon which is seated one end portion of said return spring,

said depressable piston having a peripheral margin against which the other end portion of said return spring is seated,

said case including an upstanding boss,

said case including two case portions,

said bracket including legs,

rivets extending through said case and said legs to secure said case portions to each other and said bracket to said case, and

said bracket having an inverted U-shaped in cross section uniformly extending along the width of said circuit breaker to provide a space within which said boss is received.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said bracket has a keyway into which a portion of said tube is staked to provide an antirotation feature between said tube and said bracket, and

a sleeve surrounding said tube.

10. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes spaced opposed walls,

said actuator being received between said opposed walls and confined thereby against rotation,

said actuator carrying a second pin,

said opposed walls being formed with V-shaped recesses receiving said second pin as said actuator returns to its initial position for centering the latter relative to said pivotal link and limiting the movement of said unit away from said pivotal link.

11. The combination recited in claim It) wherein said means for centering said actuator further includes a centering compression spring whose longitudinal axis is coincident with the longitudinal axis of said tube,

said tube being aligned with said pivotal link.

12. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes a shelf upon which is seated one end portion of said return spring,

said case including an upstanding boss,

said case including two case portions,

said bracket including ears, and

rivets extending through said case and said ears to secure said case portions to each other and said bracket to said case, and

said bracket having a U-shaped central portion when viewed along the width of said circuit breaker to provide a space within which said boss is received and substantially flat portions overlying said case on either side of said boss.

13. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said circuit breaker and said pushbutton module have the general shape of quadrilaterals,

said pushbutton module and said unitary adapter include mounting means to secure said pushbutton module to said unitary adapter with one axis parallel to the correspond ing axis of said circuit breaker or perpendicular thereto.

M. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said mounting means includes a mounting plate secured to said unitary adapter and to which said pushbutton module is secured and a spring means secured to said pushbutton module engageable with said mounting plate to secure said pushbutton module thereto, said mounting plate having substantially the same shape when viewed along transverse, perpendicular axes, whereby said pushbutton module may be mounted with one axis parallel to the corresponding axis of said circuit breaker or perpendicular thereto. 15. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said unitary adapter includes a linearly movable unit movable back and forth from an initial position to a depressed position, said linearly movable unit having an outer dimension smaller than that ofan adult finger, and said linearly movable unit extends outwardly of said adapter sutficiently to be manually engaged and depressed by said finger. 16. In combination, a circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by said case, an automatically resettable collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts "closed" and "open" positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism, electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip "open" said contacts at such time, and an adapter secured to said case and including an actuator,

movable into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts closed" or open positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditions, a tube, a driving piston connected to said actuator, a return spring for returning said actuator to its initial position, a cap slidably movable relative to said piston and carried thereby, and means biasing said cap into engagement with said actuator to align said actuator along the longitudinal axis of said tube upon its return to its initial position, said adapter being mounted upon said case as a separate subassembly. 17. In combination, a circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by said case, an automatically resettable collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts closed" and open" positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism, electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip open" said contacts at such time, and a push-type adapter secured to said case and including an actuator, movable into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to an initial position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts "closed" or "open" positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is col lapsed on predetermined electrical conditions, said adapter including a driving piston,

a return spring disposed between said case and said piston,

wall means limiting upward movement of said actuator on its return to said initial position, and wherein said actuator is restrained from travelling downward only after said mechanism is moved to the contacts closed or open positions.

Claims

1. In combination, a circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by said case, a collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts ''''closed'''' and ''''open'''' positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism, electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip ''''open'''' said contacts at such time, and a unitary adapter secured to said case and including an actuator, movable generally linearly into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts ''''closed'''' or ''''open'''' positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditions, said adapter being mounted upon said case as a separate subassembly.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker includes an auxiliary switch means responsive to whether said contacts are ''''closed'''' or ''''open,'''' and a pushbutton module having a plunger engageable with said unitary adapter for actuating the latter, said pushbutton including electrical lamps alternately illuminated to indicate whether said contacts are ''''closed'''' or ''''open,'''' said pushbutton module being secured to said unitary adapter, and said pushbutton module and said auxiliary switch each having terminal means connectable to each other so that said pushbutton module will indicate by illumination of the appropriate lamp whether said contacts are ''''closed'''' or ''''open.''''

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said case includes two portions, said adapter has legs extending along the side of said case, and rivets securing the case portions to each other and to said legs.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said unitary adapter includes a bracket secured to said case, a tube secured to said bracket, a linearly movable unit movable back and forth within said tube from an initial position to a depressed position, said unit including a return spring for returning said unit to its initial position, said unit further comprising, an actuator movable into engagement with said pivotal link to actuate said mechanism, and wall means forming part of said adapter to limit movement of said unit from said depressed position to said initial position.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said pivotal link has two surfaces to alternately receive said actuator, said unit including a depressable piston and a pin connecting said actuator to said piston, and means for centering said actuator relative to said piston.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said tube is provided with elongated guide walls, said pin connecting said actuator to said piston has end portions cooperating with said walls to limit the movement of said unit away from said pivotal link.

7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said means for centering said actuator includes a centering cap slidably received by said piston and a centering spring for urging said centering cap toward said actuator, and said centering cap and actuator having mating, abuttable planar surfaces.

8. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes a flange upon which is seated one end portion of said return spring, said depressable piston having a peripheral margin against which the other end portion of said return spring is seated, said case including an upstanding boss, said case including two case portions, said bracket including legs, rivets extending through said case and said legs to secure said case portions to each other and said bracket to said case, and said bracket having an inverted U-shaped in cross section uniformly extending along the width of said circuit breaker to provide a space within which said boss is received.

9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein said bracket has a keyway into which a portion of said tube is staked to provide an antirotation feature between said tube and said bracket, and a sleeve surrounding said tube.

10. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes spaced opposed walls, said actuator being received between said opposed walls and confined thereby against rotation, said actuator carrying a second pin, said opposed walls being formed with V-shaped recesses receiving said second pin as said actuator returns to its initial position for centering the latter relative to said pivotal link and limiting the movement of said unit away from said pivotal link.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said means for centering said actuator further includes a centering compression spring whose longitudinal axis is coincident with the longitudinal axis of said tube, said tube being aligned with said pivotal link.

12. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said unitary adapter includes a shelf upon which is seated one end portion of said return spring, said depressable piston having a peripheral margin against which the other end portion of said return spring is seated, said case including an upstanding boss, said case including two case portions, said bracket including ears, and rivets extending through said case and said ears to secure said case portions to each other and said bracket to said case, and said bracket having a U-shaped central portion when viewed along the width of said circuit breaker to provide a space within which said boss is received and substantially flat portions overlying said case on either side of said boss.

13. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said circuit breaker and said pushbutton module have the general shape of quadrilaterals, said pushbutton module and said unitary adapter include mounting means to secure said pushbutton module to said unitary adapter with one axis parallel to the corresponding axis of said circuit breaker or perpendicular theReto.

14. The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said mounting means includes a mounting plate secured to said unitary adapter and to which said pushbutton module is secured and a spring means secured to said pushbutton module engageable with said mounting plate to secure said pushbutton module thereto, said mounting plate having substantially the same shape when viewed along transverse, perpendicular axes, whereby said pushbutton module may be mounted with one axis parallel to the corresponding axis of said circuit breaker or perpendicular thereto.

15. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said unitary adapter includes a linearly movable unit movable back and forth from an initial position to a depressed position, said linearly movable unit having an outer dimension smaller than that of an adult finger, and said linearly movable unit extends outwardly of said adapter sufficiently to be manually engaged and depressed by said finger.

16. In combination, a circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by said case, an automatically resettable collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts ''''closed'''' and ''''open'''' positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism, electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip ''''open'''' said contacts at such time, and an adapter secured to said case and including an actuator, movable into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to a neutral position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts ''''closed'''' or ''''open'''' positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditions, a tube, a driving piston connected to said actuator, a return spring for returning said actuator to its initial position, a cap slidably movable relative to said piston and carried thereby, and means biasing said cap into engagement with said actuator to align said actuator along the longitudinal axis of said tube upon its return to its initial position, said adapter being mounted upon said case as a separate subassembly.

17. In combination, a circuit breaker including a case, a pair of contacts enclosed by said case, an automatically resettable collapsible mechanism to move one of the contacts between contacts ''''closed'''' and ''''open'''' positions, said mechanism including a pivotal link to operate said mechanism, electrical means for sensing predetermined electrical conditions and collapsing said mechanism to electrically trip ''''open'''' said contacts at such time, and a push-type adapter secured to said case and including an actuator, movable into engagement with said pivotal link and automatically retracted back to an initial position out of engagement with said pivotal link, to operate said mechanism for moving one of said contacts to the contacts ''''closed'''' or ''''open'''' positions while permitting said pivotal link to freely move when said mechanism is collapsed on predetermined electrical conditions, said adapter including a driving piston, a return spring disposed between said case and said piston, said driving piston carrying centering means for returning said actuator to a position in alignment with said pivotal link and limiting pivotal motion of said actuator, said adapter being mounted upon said case as a separate subassembly.

18. The combination recited in claim 17 and further including wall means limiting upward movement of said actuator on its return to said initial position, and wherein said actuator is restrained from travelling downward only after said mechanism is moved to the contacts ''''closed'''' or ''''opeN'''' positions.