Rotary contact assembly for high ampere-rated circuit breakers

A circuit breaker rotary contact assembly employs a rotor assembly (19) to operate the moveable contact arms (21, 22). Separate pivots (20, 27) are provided to the rotor assembly (19) and the moveable contact arms (21, 22) to ensure that the contacts (23, 24, 25, 26) close prior to complete rotation of the rotor assembly (19). The additional rotation force provided by the rotor assembly (19) then translates into lateral displacement of the moveable contacts (23, 25) relative to the fixed contacts (24, 26), resulting in contact wiping function. An alternate embodiment utilizes a common pivot (27) for both the rotor assembly (19) and the moveable contact arms (21, 22), while providing post closure motion by means of a fixed contact compression spring (30).