Auxiliary Switch Lever Reconfiguration for Circuit Breaker Inventory Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary switches for circuit breakers require multiple variants to accommodate different queries and analyses, leading to a wide range of designs and increased inventory needs for each type of circuit breaker.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary switch with a reconfigurable switching lever that can be adapted to various configurations without additional adapter parts, allowing for a uniform appearance and reduced part redundancy, featuring a sliding or pulling element that interacts with the switching mechanism and housing coding for precise mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different auxiliary switches are used for different queries or analyzes of different components, then the function of querying or analyzing the position of a component is optimized, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary switch is designed with a universal housing that can accommodate multiple switching lever configurations. The housing contains multiple receptacles, each designed to receive a specific switching lever configuration. This allows a single auxiliary switch unit to perform multiple different functions by simply changing the switching lever, eliminating the need for multiple separate auxiliary switch variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary switch is divided into separable components: a universal housing and interchangeable switching levers. The switching lever can be removed and replaced with different configurations to match different query or analysis requirements. This segmentation allows the functional part (switching lever) to be changed without replacing the entire auxiliary switch assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple auxiliary switch variants are maintained for different circuit breaker configurations, then the appropriate function can be provided, but the loss of substance and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple auxiliary switch variants are merged into a single universal auxiliary switch design. The housing integrates multiple receptacles for different switching lever configurations, combining what would have been separate products into one unified device. This reduces inventory requirements while maintaining the ability to provide appropriate configuration matching.
3Ease of operation
If auxiliary switches are designed with specific configurations for different components, then the ease of operation for specific queries is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to multiple variants
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is pre-configured with multiple receptacles designed to receive specific switching lever configurations. This preliminary preparation of the housing allows for easy assembly - the appropriate switching lever is simply inserted into the corresponding receptacle. This eliminates complex manufacturing processes that would be required to create entirely different auxiliary switch variants for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The auxiliary switch (10) has rotating element (100) and associated shift lever (310). The shift lever detects the switching state of the electrical switch and transfers the rotating element such that different switching states of the auxiliary switch are adjusted different rotational positions of the rotating element. The rotating element has engagement points (710,720,730) which are engaged with shift lever according to associated switching state.