Asymmetrical Latching Disk for Safe Manual Spring Tensioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical circuit breakers with stored-energy spring drives and manual winding devices pose a risk to operators in case of malfunction or incorrect operation due to lack of feedback and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The circuit breaker incorporates a rotatable latching disk with an asymmetrical latching tooth system, allowing force transmission only in a specified direction, and a manual operating device connected to a latching pawl, ensuring controlled tensioning of the spring and preventing unintended force transmission during malfunctions or incorrect operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual winding device with a two-stage worm gear mechanism is used, then the stored-energy spring drive can be tensioned, but operators may be put at risk in the event of malfunction or incorrect operation due to lack of feedback and control
Solution Approach 1:
The latching tooth system is designed with asymmetrical teeth that allow force transmission only in the desired rotation direction. The latching pawl engages with these asymmetrical teeth to permit spring tensioning in one direction while preventing any feedback or unintended operation in the opposite direction, thereby ensuring operator safety without requiring complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The latching pawl acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the manual operating device and the latching disk. It provides controlled guidance and physical interruption, allowing the latching disk to rotate only when the pawl is properly positioned, thus mediating the force transmission and preventing direct feedback to the operator during malfunctions
2Productivity
If the latching disk rotates quickly during spring tensioning, then the spring can be tensioned efficiently, but force may be transmitted back to the operator causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetrical latching tooth system converts the potentially harmful rapid rotation and feedback force into a beneficial unidirectional force transmission mechanism. The asymmetrical teeth are designed to engage smoothly during forward rotation, allowing efficient spring tensioning, while automatically disengaging or sliding during reverse motion, thereby converting what could be harmful feedback into a safety feature that prevents operator injury
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design prevents operator risk by ensuring that force transmission is only possible in the intended direction, preventing feedback and unintended operation, thus ensuring safe and controlled tensioning of the spring even in case of malfunctions or incorrect operation.
Implementation Method 1
the latching tooth system is asymmetrical in such a way that transmission of force from the latching pawl to the latching disk is possible only along the desired rotation direction
Implementation Method 2
the latching disk slides along the latching pawl when the latching disk rotates along the desired rotation direction more quickly than the latching pawl
Data Source
AI summary
An electric circuit breaker including a spring energy store drive having a spring and a manual winding device for manually tensioning the spring. In accordance with an embodiment, the manual winding device includes a rotatable latching disk, a latching pawl arranged next to the disk, and a manual actuating device connected to the latching pawl. The latching pawl is guidable into a latching toothed portion of the disk. The pawl is also capable of moving, owing to an actuation of the actuating device. As a result, the disk is capable of rotating along a preset desired rotation direction for tensioning the spring. The latching toothed portion is asymmetrical and a force transmission from the pawl onto the disk is possible along the desired rotation direction. The disk slides along the pawl when the disk rotates along the desired rotation direction more quickly than the pawl.