Self-compensating mechanism for circuit breaker

A circuit breaker 1 comprises a housing 2, a first fixed contact 3, and a second contact 5 located at a first end 6 of a movable contact bridge 4. A connecting part or linkage 8 is connected to a knob or operating lever 7, and a latch 16 is pivotally mounted to the housing, an engagement part 17 of the latch being hook-shaped for engaging a latch seat 18 arranged on the connecting part. The connecting part is a rigid member that is fastened to the contact bridge, and at least one first resilient spring area 9 providing a contact force between the first and second contacts when in a closed state is arranged between the latch seat and the first end of the contact bridge. A second resilient spring area may be arranged between a knob link part 14 of the connecting part and the latch seat, and may be in the form of a circle or semi-ring segment 13. The connecting part may be formed of a single polymer part. The contact bridge and connecting part may be biased with a spring 20 in a direction to open the contacts. The breaker thus compensates for changing geometries due to contact wear.