CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER WITH PLASMA ARC ACCELERATION CHAMBER AND CONTACT ARM HOUSING

An electrical circuit interrupter comprising a housing with an operating mechanism disposed therein and including first and second separable main contact s disposed within the housing is taught. There is an electrically conducting first contact support which has a shape which substantially doubles back upon itself and which has parallel, spaced apart first and second legs forming a central region. An electr ically insulating support member is supplied which is disposed in the central region an d has a substantial portion outboard of the central region in a disposition to shield a portion of the contact support member. It also has a portion which captures the first conta ct support member. In addition, magnetic plates are disposed within the central reg ion for cooperating with other closed loop magnetic plates outside of the support member for providing a slot motor action for the movable contact. An arc runner is provided which is trapped between the support member and the contact support conductor. All of this is disposed upon a protrusion in the housing of the circuit breaker and held in pla ce by way of a securing device. Lastly, a mandrel is provided for supporting the aforementioned external magnetic plates. The mandrel is gas evolving so that und er the influence of the heat of an electrical arc it evolves gas which helps to push th e arc out and away from the opening contacts. The aforementioned gas propels the formed ar c outwardly away from the contacts in an effort to cool and interrupt the arc.