A circuit breaker includes a short-circuit trip and an overcurrent trip. The short-circuit trip has a trip coil, and the overcurrent trip has a bimetallic element. A first terminal of the trip coil is conductively connected to a fixed contact carrier of the circuit breaker. The bimetallic element is connected in series with the trip coil. The bimetallic element is connected at least indirectly to a first connection terminal of the circuit breaker, and the first connection terminal is connected to the fixed contact carrier by a bypass line.

A circuit breaker includes a short-circuit trip and an overcurrent trip. The short-circuit trip has a trip coil, and the overcurrent trip has a bimetallic element. A first terminal of the trip coil is conductively connected to a fixed contact carrier of the circuit breaker. The bimetallic element is connected in series with the trip coil. The bimetallic element is connected at least indirectly to a first connection terminal of the circuit breaker, and the first connection terminal is connected to the fixed contact carrier by a bypass line.

A method and an apparatus for controlling a circuit breaker in an electrical energy supply network. A switching signal is generated by a protective or control device of the energy supply network and the switching signal is transmitted to a control unit of the circuit breaker. The control unit is caused to open the switching contacts of the circuit breaker upon reception of the switching signal. In order to ensure a switching operation which is as fast as possible even in those energy supply networks in which phases of the current to be switched by a circuit breaker which are free of zero crossings can occur, a current flowing through the circuit breaker is recorded and is checked for the occurrence of zero crossings. The transmission of the signal for opening the switching contacts is prevented until at least one zero crossing has been detected.

A method and an apparatus for controlling a circuit breaker in an electrical energy supply network. A switching signal is generated by a protective or control device of the energy supply network and the switching signal is transmitted to a control unit of the circuit breaker. The control unit is caused to open the switching contacts of the circuit breaker upon reception of the switching signal. In order to ensure a switching operation which is as fast as possible even in those energy supply networks in which phases of the current to be switched by a circuit breaker which are free of zero crossings can occur, a current flowing through the circuit breaker is recorded and is checked for the occurrence of zero crossings. The transmission of the signal for opening the switching contacts is prevented until at least one zero crossing has been detected.

A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact arm assembly having a moveable contact positioned thereon, the moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact. The circuit interrupter also includes an overcurrent tripping device coupled to the moveable contact arm assembly via a linkage assembly and configured to move the moveable contact out of physical contact with the stationary contact upon detection of an overcurrent situation. The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable and stationary contacts as the moveable and stationary contacts are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts.

A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact arm assembly having a moveable contact positioned thereon, the moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact. The circuit interrupter also includes an overcurrent tripping device coupled to the moveable contact arm assembly via a linkage assembly and configured to move the moveable contact out of physical contact with the stationary contact upon detection of an overcurrent situation. The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable and stationary contacts as the moveable and stationary contacts are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts.

A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact arm assembly having a moveable contact positioned thereon, the moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact. The circuit interrupter also includes an overcurrent tripping device coupled to the moveable contact arm assembly via a linkage assembly and configured to move the moveable contact out of physical contact with the stationary contact upon detection of an overcurrent situation. The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable and stationary contacts as the moveable and stationary contacts are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts.

A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact arm assembly having a moveable contact positioned thereon, the moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact. The circuit interrupter also includes an overcurrent tripping device coupled to the moveable contact arm assembly via a linkage assembly and configured to move the moveable contact out of physical contact with the stationary contact upon detection of an overcurrent situation. The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable and stationary contacts as the moveable and stationary contacts are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts.

A circuit breaker includes a short-circuit trip and an overcurrent trip. The short-circuit trip has a trip coil, and the overcurrent trip has a bimetallic element. A first terminal of the trip coil is conductively connected to a fixed contact carrier of the circuit breaker. The bimetallic element is connected in series with the trip coil. The bimetallic element is connected at least indirectly to a first connection terminal of the circuit breaker, and the first connection terminal is connected to the fixed contact carrier by a bypass line.

A circuit breaker includes a short-circuit trip and an overcurrent trip. The short-circuit trip has a trip coil, and the overcurrent trip has a bimetallic element. A first terminal of the trip coil is conductively connected to a fixed contact carrier of the circuit breaker. The bimetallic element is connected in series with the trip coil. The bimetallic element is connected at least indirectly to a first connection terminal of the circuit breaker, and the first connection terminal is connected to the fixed contact carrier by a bypass line.