Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
CIRCUIT BREAKER SUBSYSTEM, CIRCUIT BREAKER UNIT, MOTOR CONTROL CENTER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CIRCUIT BREAKER UNIT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/171706
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A subsystem (200) for a circuit breaker unit (100) and a circuit breaker (10) includes a base assembly with a base plate (108) carried by a bottom surface (104), the base plate (108) being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker (10), and the bottom surface (104) being configured to form a part of a shelf section (102) of the circuit breaker unit (100). An adapter assembly includes an adapter plate (202) and a plurality of conductors (114) detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate (202), the adapter plate (202) being detachably connected to the base plate (108). When assembling the circuit breaker unit (100), the adapter plate (202) is removed from the base plate (108) and replaced with the circuit breaker (10) including detaching the plurality of conductors (114) from the adapter plate (202) and attaching the plurality of conductors (114) to the circuit breaker (10).

Inventors:
PHARNE AJIT (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2015/027426
Publication Date:
October 27, 2016
Filing Date:
April 24, 2015
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
SIEMENS INDUSTRY INC (US)
International Classes:
H01H9/36; H01H71/02; H01H71/08; H01H9/34; H01H11/00; H01H71/52
Foreign References:
US20150053540A12015-02-26
US20110147175A12011-06-23
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GONKA, Tina (3501 Quadrangle Blvd. Ste. 230Orlando, Florida, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
What is claimed is:

1. A subsystem (200) for a circuit breaker unit (100) including a circuit breaker (10) comprising:

a base assembly comprising a base plate (108) carried by a bottom surface (104), the base plate (108) being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker (10), and the bottom surface (104) being configured to form a part of a shelf section (102) of the circuit breaker unit (100), and

an adapter assembly comprising an adapter plate (202) and a plurality of conductors (114) detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate (202), the adapter plate (202) being detachably connected to the base plate (108),

wherein, when assembling the circuit breaker unit (100), the adapter plate (202) is removed from the base plate (108) and replaced with the circuit breaker (10) including detaching the plurality of conductors (114) from the adapter plate (202) and attaching the plurality of conductors (1 14) to the circuit breaker (10).

2. The subsystem (200) of Claim 1, further comprising:

a stab assembly (112) for providing electrical contact between the circuit breaker (10) and further conductive elements using the plurality of conductors (1 14), wherein the plurality of conductors (114) are operably coupled at a second side to the stab assembly (1 12).

3. The subsystem (200) of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the stab assembly (112) is secured to the base plate (108) via the bottom surface (104), wherein a space is formed between the base plate (108) and the stab assembly (1 12), and wherein the plurality of conductors (114) are partially positioned between the base plate (108) and the adapter plate (202).

4. The subsystem (200) as in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the plurality of conductors (114) is arranged in conductor pairs (114a, 114b, 1 14c).

5. The subsystem (200) of Claim 4, wherein the conductor pairs (114a, 114b, 1 14c) are arranged adjacent to each other, and wherein a braid is formed by crossing over outer conductor pairs (114a, 114c) over a middle conductor pair (114b).

6. The subsystem (200) of Claim 5, wherein the middle pair (114b) is connected to a middle slot (1 12b) of the stab assembly (112), and the outer pairs (114a, 1 14c) are connected to outer slots (1 12a, 1 12c) of the stab assembly (112).

7. The subsystem (200) as in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the adapter plate (202) is connected to the base plate (108) by first screws or bolts (204).

8. The subsystem (200) as in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the plurality of conductors (114) is detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate (202) by second screws or bolts (206).

9. A circuit breaker unit (100) including a circuit breaker (10) comprising: a circuit breaker (10) coupled to a base plate (108) of a base assembly, the base assembly further comprising a bottom surface (104) carrying the base plate (108),

a plurality of conductors (114) operably connected at a first side to the circuit breaker (10), and

a stab assembly (112) for providing electrical contact between the circuit breaker (10) and further conductive elements using the plurality of conductors (114),

wherein the plurality of conductors (114) are operably connected at a second side to the stab assembly (1 12) and are routed from the stab assembly (112) below the base plate (108) to input terminals (11) of the circuit breaker (10), and

wherein the bottom surface (104) is configured to form a part of a shelf section (102) of the circuit breaker unit (100).

10. The circuit breaker unit (100) of Claim 9 comprising a height in a range from approximately six inches (approximately 150 mm) to approximately 60 inches (approximately 1500 mm).

1 1. The circuit breaker unit (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the stab assembly (1 12) is secured to the bottom surface (104) at a first side, and wherein the base plate (108) is secured to the bottom surface (104) at a second side opposite the stab assembly (112).

12. The circuit breaker unit (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a space is formed between the base plate (108) and the stab assembly (1 12), and wherein the plurality of conductors (114) are partially positioned between the base plate (108) and the adapter plate (202).

13. The circuit breaker unit (100) as in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the plurality of conductors (114) is arranged in conductor pairs (114a, 114b, 114c).

14. The circuit breaker unit (100) of Claim 13, wherein the conductor pairs (114a, 1 14b, 1 14c) are arranged adjacent to each other, and wherein a braid is formed by crossing over outer conductor pairs (1 14a, 1 14c) over a middle conductor pair (1 14b).

15. The circuit breaker unit (100) as in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the circuit breaker (10) is a three pole circuit breaker comprising three sets of contacts for interrupting current in each of three respective electrical phases.

16. A method for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit (100) including a circuit breaker (10) comprising:

providing a subsystem (200) comprising:

a base assembly comprising a base plate (108) carried by a bottom surface (104), the base plate (108) being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker (10), and

an adapter assembly comprising an adapter plate (202) and a plurality of conductors (114) detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate (202), the adapter plate (202) being detachably connected to the base plate (108), wherein the bottom surface (104) is configured to form a part of a shelf section (102) of the circuit breaker unit (100).

17. The method of Claim 16 further comprising:

providing the circuit breaker (10), and

replacing the adapter plate (202) of the adapter assembly with the circuit breaker

(10).

18. The method of Claim 17, wherein the replacing comprises:

detaching the plurality of conductors (114) at the first side from the adapter plate

(202),

removing the adapter plate (202) from the base plate (108),

coupling the circuit breaker (10) to the base plate (108), and

operably connecting the plurality of conductors (1 14) at the first side to input terminals (11) of the circuit breaker (10).

19. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

providing a handle actuation device (16), and

coupling the handle actuation device (16) to the circuit breaker (10) for actuating the circuit breaker (10).

20. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, further comprising:

inserting the shelf section (102) with the circuit breaker (10) and the handle actuation device (16) into an enclosure (302) of a motor control center (300), wherein the handle actuation device (16) comprises an external handle (23) which is positioned outside the enclosure (302).

21. A motor control center (300) comprising:

an enclosure (302), and

a circuit breaker unit (100) positioned inside the enclosure (302), the circuit breaker unit (100) comprising:

a circuit breaker (10) coupled to a base plate (108) of a base assembly, the base assembly further comprising a bottom surface (104) carrying the base plate (108),

a stab assembly (112) for providing electrical contact between the circuit breaker (10) and further conductive elements,

a plurality of conductors (114) operably connected at a first side to the circuit breaker (10) and at a second side to the stab assembly (1 12),

wherein the plurality of conductors (114) are routed from the stab assembly (112) below the base plate (108) to input terminals (11) of the circuit breaker (10), and

wherein the bottom surface (104) is configured to form a part of a shelf section (102) of the circuit breaker unit (100).

22. The motor control center (300) of Claim 21 , wherein the circuit breaker unit (100) further comprises a handle actuation device (16) operably connected to the circuit breaker (10) for actuating the circuit breaker (10).

23. The motor control center (300) of Claim 21 or 22, wherein the further conductive elements comprise stabs of the stab assembly (112) for connecting and disconnecting to bus bars of the motor control center (300).

24. The motor control center (300) as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the motor control center (300) comprises a plurality of circuit breaker units (100) located inside the electrical enclosure (302).

Description:
CIRCUIT BREAKER SUBSYSTEM, CIRCUIT BREAKER UNIT, MOTOR CONTROL CENTER AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CIRCUIT

BREAKER UNIT

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0001] Aspects of the present invention generally relate to circuit breaker subsystems, circuit breaker units, motor control centers and methods for manufacturing circuit breaker units.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Power distribution systems such as motor control centers (MCC) typically include a floor mounted electrical enclosure which houses motor control units, wireways, internal wiring, bus bars, circuit breakers and other equipment. Motor control centers are oftentimes used in factories and industrial facilities which utilize high power electric motors, pumps, and other loads. It is desirable that the footprint of a motor control center be reduced or minimized in order to reduce costs.

[0003] The motor control center enclosure includes typically one or more large frame circuit breakers, such as for example Siemens VL 250A circuit breakers. Further, the enclosure includes shelf sections having a range of heights, for example, from 60 inches to 6 inches. In one embodiment, a large frame circuit breaker is located on a relatively tall shelf section. It is desirable to locate a large frame circuit breaker in a short shelf section, for example to locate a 250A large frame circuit breaker in a 6 inch high shelf section.

SUMMARY

[0004] Briefly described, aspects of the present invention relate to a circuit breaker subsystem, a circuit breaker unit, a motor control center comprising a circuit breaker unit, and a method for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit. [0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides a subsystem for a circuit breaker unit including a circuit breaker comprising a base assembly comprising a base plate carried by a bottom surface, the base plate being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker, and the bottom surface being configured to form a part of a shelf section of the circuit breaker unit, and an adapter assembly comprising an adapter plate and a plurality of conductors detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate, the adapter plate being detachably connected to the base plate, wherein, when assembling the circuit breaker unit, the adapter plate is removed from the base plate and replaced with the circuit breaker including detaching the plurality of conductors from the adapter plate and attaching the plurality of conductors to the circuit breaker.

[0006] A second aspect of the present invention provides a circuit breaker unit including a circuit breaker comprising a circuit breaker coupled to a base plate of a base assembly, the base assembly further comprising a bottom surface carrying the base plate, a plurality of conductors operably connected at a first side to the circuit breaker, and a stab assembly for providing electrical contact between the circuit breaker and further conductive elements using the plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of conductors are operably connected at a second side to the stab assembly and are routed from the stab assembly below the base plate to input terminals of the circuit breaker, and wherein the bottom surface is configured to form a part of a shelf section of the circuit breaker unit.

[0007] A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit including a circuit breaker comprising providing a subsystem comprising a base assembly comprising a base plate carried by a bottom surface, the base plate being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker, and an adapter assembly comprising an adapter plate and a plurality of conductors detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate, the adapter plate being detachably connected to the base plate, wherein the bottom surface is configured to form a part of a shelf section of the circuit breaker unit.

[0008] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a motor control center comprising an enclosure, and a circuit breaker unit positioned inside the enclosure, the circuit breaker unit comprising a circuit breaker coupled to a base plate of a base assembly, the base assembly further comprising a bottom surface carrying the base plate, a stab assembly for providing electrical contact between the circuit breaker and further conductive elements, a plurality of conductors operably connected at a first side to the circuit breaker and at a second side to the stab assembly, wherein the plurality of conductors are routed from the stab assembly below the base plate to input terminals of the circuit breaker, and wherein the bottom surface is configured to form a part of a shelf section of the circuit breaker unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 generally illustrates an exemplary circuit breaker of the type used in a motor control center in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a handle actuation device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective side view of a final circuit breaker unit including a circuit breaker assembled to a shelf section in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective side view of a circuit breaker subsystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the circuit breaker subsystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the circuit breaker subsystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic perspective top view of the circuit breaker subsystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 8 illustrates an electrical enclosure of a motor control center in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and features of the present invention, they are explained hereinafter with reference to implementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they are described in the context of being a circuit breaker subsystem, herein also referred to as subassembly, and a circuit breaker unit for motor control centers, a motor control center and a method for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit. Embodiments of the present invention, however, are not limited to use in the described devices or methods.

[0019] The components and materials described hereinafter as making up the various embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many suitable components and materials that would perform the same or a similar function as the materials described herein are intended to be embraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 generally illustrates an exemplary circuit breaker 10 of the type used in a motor control center (MCC) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the circuit breaker 10 may be a commercially available circuit breaker such as a VL series circuit breaker manufactured by Siemens. The circuit breaker 10 includes a circuit breaker handle 12 that moves between known "on", "off, "trip" and "reset" positions (i.e. ON, OFF, TRIP and RESET positions) each indicating a corresponding operating state of the circuit breaker 10. In particular, a force is applied to a protruding member 14 of the handle 12 to move the protruding member 14 between ON, OFF and RESET positions. When the circuit breaker handle 12 is in the ON and OFF positions, the circuit breaker contacts are closed and open, respectively. In addition, the handle 12 moves to the TRIP position when a circuit breaker mechanism within the circuit breaker 10 is tripped. The circuit breaker 10 is reset after a trip event by moving the handle 12 beyond the OFF position and then to the ON position in a known manner. The circuit breaker 10 may be a three pole breaker with three input terminals 11 and having three sets of contacts for interrupting current in each of three respective electrical phases. Although the present invention is described in the context of a three phase circuit breaker, it is contemplated that a single phase circuit breaker or other multiphase circuit breakers may be used.

[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a handle actuation device 16 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 16 includes a stationary frame 18 and a faceplate 20 having an external handle assembly 22. The external handle assembly 22 serves as disconnect operating handle which is accessible from a front panel of an electrical enclosure, for example an electrical enclosure of a MCC. The external handle assembly 22 includes an external handle 23 which is manually moveable by an operator between ON, OFF and RESET/PARK positions that correspond to the ON, OFF and RESET positions, respectively, of the circuit breaker handle 12 (see FIG. 1). In FIG. 2, the external handle 23 is shown the ON position.

[0022] The stationary frame 18 includes first and second horizontal supports 24, 26 which extend from first and second vertical supports 28, 30 to form a substantially reverse L-shaped configuration. The device 16 further includes a rotatable frame 32 having first and second horizontal elements 34, 36 which extend from first and second vertical elements 38, 40, respectively. A cross member 42 is attached between upper ends of the first and second vertical elements 38, 40. The cross member 42 includes an opening 44 for receiving the protruding member 14 of the handle 12.

[0023] The first and second vertical elements 38, 40 are rotatably attached to the first and second horizontal supports 24, 26 by respective first pivot elements 46 thus enabling rotation of the rotatable frame 32 relative to the stationary frame 18 about a first rotational axis 48. It is understood that other portions of the rotatable frame 32 may be rotatably attached to the first and second horizontal supports 24, 26, such as at the intersection of the first and second vertical elements 38, 40 and the first and second horizontal elements 34, 36.

[0024] The device 16 further includes a rotatable bracket 50 having a bracket member 52 located between first and second vertical arms 54, 56. The first and second vertical arms 54, 56 are rotatably attached to the first and second horizontal elements 34, 36, respectively, of the rotatable frame 32 by respective second pivot elements 58 to enable rotation of the rotatable bracket 50 relative to the rotatable frame 32 about a second rotational axis 60. The bracket member 52 is affixed to an attachment arm 62 that extends from the external handle assembly 22. An arm axis 64 of the attachment arm 62 is offset from a bracket axis 66 transverse to the second rotational axis 60.

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective side view of a final circuit breaker unit 100 including a circuit breaker 10 assembled to a shelf section 102 used for example in an enclosure of a MCC in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The shelf section 102 includes a bottom surface 104 located between side walls 106. The bottom surface 104 includes a circuit breaker base plate 108 with brackets for securing the circuit breaker 10. The handle actuation device 16 is positioned such that the protruding member 14 of the circuit breaker 10 is located within the opening 44 in the cross member 42. The circuit breaker 10 is located between the first and second horizontal supports 24, 26, first and second horizontal elements 34, 36 and first and second vertical arms 54, 56 (see FIG. 2). The device 16 is then secured to the shelf section 102 via fasteners 110.

[0026] In addition, the device 16 includes a spring 63 that is attached between an upper portion of the stationary frame 18 and the first vertical element 38. When the circuit breaker 10 trips, the protruding portion 14 of the circuit breaker handle 12 moves to the TRIP position. The spring 63 then pulls on the first vertical element 38 to cause clockwise rotation of the rotatable frame 32 and rotatable bracket 50 about the first and second rotational axes 48, 60, respectively. This displaces the attachment arm 62 in an upward direction (see FIG. 2, arrow 78) by a sufficient amount to cause the external handle 23 to move to a corresponding TRIP position.

[0027] FIG. 3 further shows a stab assembly 112 coupled to the shelf section 102, in particular to the bottom surface 104 of the shelf section 102. The stab assembly 112 provides electrical contact between the circuit breaker 10 and further conductive elements. The further conductive elements can be for example stabs or conductive elements of the stab assembly 112 for connecting and disconnecting to bus bars of the MCC, for example vertical bus bars of the MCC. Bus bars conduct electricity for example from a power supply of the MCC on the line side of the circuit breaker 10.

[0028] A plurality of flexible conductors 114, for example cables, is operably connected at a second side to the stab assembly 112. The conductors 114 are operably connected at a first side to the circuit breaker 10. The conductors 114 are positioned in an area within the shelf section 102. The conductors 114 provide an electrical connection between the circuit breaker 10 and the stab assembly 112.

[0029] One way to reduce size, in particular height of the final circuit breaker unit 100 and the shelf section 102 is to provide a specific arrangement of the plurality of flexible conductors 114 within the shelf section 102. The conductors 114 feed electrical energy to the circuit breaker 10, which is for example three-phase, medium-voltage power. For each phase of the three-phase power, two electrical conductors 114 are provided. In an embodiment, the assembled unit 100 comprises six conductors 114, for example six cables, arranged in pairs. However, different types of power, for example for a single phase or other multi-phase circuit breakers 10 may be used. Similarly, different numbers of conductors 114, for example one conductor or three conductors may be used.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flexible conductors 114 are routed from the stab assembly 112 below the circuit breaker base plate 108 and are then attached to the line side of the circuit breaker 10. Because of the limited height of the shelf section 102, which can be for example six inches, the stab assembly 112 is arranged essentially next to the circuit breaker 10 at a same height via the bottom surface 104 and the base plate 108. At a same height means that the stab assembly 112 is arranged in relation to the circuit breaker 10 so that there is substantially no offset between the stab assembly 112 and the circuit breaker 10. A particular tight bending of the flexible conductors 114 is required in order for the conductors 114 be connected at a first side to the stab assembly 112 and at a second side to the line side of the circuit breaker 10 within the limited space of the shelf section 102. Existing assembly lines are not set up for handling such tight bending of the conductors 114. Thus, a subsystem 200 is provided in order to be able to manufacture the final circuit breaker unit 100 within the shelf section 102. FIGS. 4-7 illustrate such a subsystem 200 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic perspective side view of a circuit breaker subsystem 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The subsystem 200 comprises the before described components bottom surface 104 of the shelf section 102, base plate 108, stab assembly 112, and flexible conductors 114. The subsystem 200 is pre-assembled and then used when the final circuit breaker unit 100 is being assembled. The subsystem 200 comprises a specifically designed adapter plate 202 detachably connected to the base plate 108 via fastening means, which can be for example first screws or bolts 204. Many other fastening means for providing a temporary joint between the adapter plate 202 and the base plate 108 may be used, for example brackets.

[0032] When producing the subsystem 200, the conductors 114 are properly connected, i.e. operably connected, at a second side to the stab assembly 112. As described before, in this exemplary embodiment, the conductors 114 conduct 3-phase, medium voltage power, wherein for each phase two cables are provided. At a first side, the conductors 114 are detachably coupled to the adapter plate 202, by for example second screws or bolts 206. Thus, the adapter plate 202 can comprise respective holes or bores for receiving the second screws or bolts 206. Many other detachable connections may be provided between the conductors 114 and the adapter plate 202, for example brackets. The stab assembly 112 is secured to the base plate 108 via the bottom surface 104, wherein a space is formed between the base plate 108 and the stab assembly 112, and wherein the plurality of conductors 114 are partially positioned between the base plate 108 and the adapter plate 202. Thus, the conductors 114 are arranged in a space- saving manner within the subsystem 200. The stab assembly 112 is secured to the bottom surface 104 at a first side, and wherein the base plate 108 is secured to the bottom surface 104 at a second side opposite the stab assembly 112. [0033] The adapter plate 202 serves as place holder for the circuit breaker 10. This means that the circuit breaker 10 takes the place of the adapter plate 202 when assembling the final circuit breaker unit 100. The adapter plate 202 is used to hold the flexible conductors 114 in their respective positions until assembly of the final unit 100. During the assembly of the final circuit breaker unit 100, the adapter plate 202 is removed and substituted with the circuit breaker 10 required for the unit 100. The subsystem 200 with the adapter plate 202 is designed so that quick replacement of the adapter plate 202 with the circuit breaker 10 is allowed and a formation and arrangement of the conductors 114 is kept intact. After removing the adapter plate 202, the adapter plate 202 can be reused for producing another subsystem 200.

[0034] The adapter plate 202 can comprise many different shapes and can comprise for example metal or plastic material. In an embodiment as for example shown in FIG. 4, the adapter plate 202 comprises a rectangular shape that essentially corresponds to the shape and/or size of the base plate 108. The adapter plate 202 further comprises vertical members 208, 210 of a specific height which establish a distance (arrow 212) between the adapter plate 202 and the base plate 108. In particular, the vertical members 208, 210 comprise such a height that the distance (arrow 212) provided between the base plate 108 and the adapter plate 202 corresponds to a distance between the base plate 108 and positions/heights of conductor input terminals of the later inserted circuit breaker 10. Thus, the conductors 114 can be easily removed from the adapter plate 202 and connected to the circuit breaker 10. In another exemplary embodiment, in order to keep the formation of the conductors 114 intact when replacing the adapter plate 202 with the circuit breaker 10, the conductors 114 are bent and/or formed in a particular manner so that only very little unbending of the conductors 114 occurs.

[0035] FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the circuit breaker subsystem 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the specific arrangement/formation of the conductors 114 which are tied together so that only very little unbending takes place. The conductors 114 can be arranged in pairs. The present example shows three pairs of conductors 114 arranged adjacent to each other. The conductors 114 comprise a first pair 114a, second pair 114b and third pair 114c. When bending the conductors 114, the two outer pairs 114a and 114c are crossed over the middle pair 114b thereby forming a braid. By braiding the conductor pairs 114a, 114b, 114c, unbending and/or unfolding of the conductors 114 is prevented. Referring again to FIG. 4, the middle pair 114b is connected to a middle slot 112b of the stab assembly 112, wherein the two side pairs 114a and 114c are connected to outer slots 112a, 112c of the stab assembly 112.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4-5, the subsystem 200 further comprises edge protectors 214, for example two edge protectors, located between the base plate 108 and the bottom surface 104. The edge protectors 214 can comprise for example plastic material. The protectors 214 keep the conductors 114 in place below the base plate 108. The subsystem 200 can comprise more than two edge protectors 214.

[0037] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the circuit breaker subsystem 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As described before, the flexible conductors 114 are detachably coupled to the adapter plate 202 by second screws or bolts 206 and optional washers 216. Each conductor 114 comprises a coupling member 218 including a hole or bore for connecting the respective conductor 114 to the adapter plate 202 via the screws or bolts 206 and washers 216. As described before, the conductors 114 are arranged in pairs, wherein the two conductors of each pair 114a, 114b, and 114c are coupled to the adapter plate 202 about each other using one screw or bolt 206 and washer 216 per each pair 114a, 114b, 114c. One of ordinary skill in the art understands that many other configurations of detachably coupling the conductors 114 to the adapter plate 202 are available. The coupling members 218 are also used for operably connecting the conductors to the later inserted circuit breaker 10.

[0038] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic perspective top view of the circuit breaker subsystem 200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. When assembling the final circuit breaker unit 100 (see FIG. 3), the adapter plate 202 is replaced with the circuit breaker 10. All other components of the subsystem 200, for example base plate 108, bottom surface 104, conductors 114 remain and are part of the final unit 100. [0039] FIG. 8 illustrates an electrical enclosure 302 of a motor control center 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The external handle 23 and faceplate 20 (see FIG. 2) are shown located on a front panel 304 of the electrical enclosure 302. In this view, the shelf section 102, which includes the circuit breaker 10 and the actuation device 16 (see FIG. 3), is located inside the electrical enclosure 302. As previously described, the external handle 23 is manually moveable by an operator between ON, OFF and RESET/PARK positions. In an embodiment, the motor control center 300 comprises a plurality of circuit breaker units 100 located inside the electrical enclosure 302.

[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of a method 400 for manufacturing a circuit breaker unit 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that some steps are not required to be performed in any particular order, and are hereby provided for exemplary purposes. For example, producing/providing components of the subsystem 200 can be performed in any desired order.

[0041] In step 410, a subsystem 200 is provided comprising a base assembly comprising a base plate 108 carried by a bottom surface 104, the base plate 108 being dimensioned to receive the circuit breaker 10, and an adapter assembly comprising an adapter plate 202 and a plurality of conductors 114 detachably connected at a first side to the adapter plate 202, the adapter plate 202 being detachably connected to the base plate 108, wherein the bottom surface 104 is configured to form a part of a shelf section 102 of the circuit breaker unit 100. In step 420, a circuit breaker 10 is provided. In step 430, the adapter plate 202 is replaced with the circuit breaker 10, and in step 440, the subsystem 200 with the circuit breaker 10 is inserted into a shelf section 102 of the circuit breaker unit 100. The step of replacing 430 comprises detaching the plurality of flexible conductors 114 from the adapter plate 202, removing the adapter plate 202 from the base plate 108, coupling the circuit breaker 10 to the base plate 108, and operably connecting the plurality of flexible conductors 114 to input terminals 11 of the circuit breaker 10. In step 450, a handle actuation device 16 is provided and coupled to the circuit breaker 10 for actuating the circuit breaker 10. In step 460, the shelf section 102 with the circuit breaker 10 and the handle actuation device 16 is inserted into an enclosure 302 of a motor control center 300. The external handle 23 of the handle actuation device 16 is positioned outside the enclosure 302.

[0042] While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in exemplary forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and its equivalents, as set forth in the following claims.