Bistable Switch Linkage for High-Current Arc Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switching devices fail to prevent vaporization and arc formation during high-current short circuits, and they are not bistable, requiring significant installation space and weight.
Innovation Solution
A bistable switching device with a drive unit, transmission unit, and mechanical linkage mechanism that includes a plurality of contact points and a cam or lever mechanism to increase contact normal force, reducing current density and stabilizing the device during short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single contact point is used in switching devices, then the device structure is simple, but the current density at the contact point is too high during high-current short circuits, leading to vaporization and arc formation
Solution Approach 1:
The contact arrangement is segmented into multiple contact points (at least two) instead of using a single contact point. This segmentation distributes the high current across multiple points, reducing the current density at each individual contact point and preventing vaporization and arc formation during short circuits.
2Reliability
If the contact normal force is increased to prevent contact separation during short circuits, then the stability improves, but the mechanical stress on the switching device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact arrangement is segmented into multiple contact points that share the mechanical load. By distributing the contact normal force across multiple points, the mechanical stress on any single point and the overall switching device structure is reduced while maintaining stable contact during short circuits.
3Reliability
If traditional solenoid coil switching devices are used for high currents, then switching speed is high, but the devices are not bistable and require significant installation space and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device is designed with bistable capability using a mechanical linkage mechanism (such as a cam mechanism) that allows the device to maintain its own position without continuous external power. The device can stay in either the first stable position or the second stable position autonomously, eliminating the need for continuous energy input and reducing the weight compared to traditional solenoid-based devices.
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
The device prevents vaporization and arc formation while maintaining stability, reducing installation space and weight, and allows for efficient switching of high currents and voltages.
Implementation Method 1
the high short-circuit currents can lead to separation of the contacts, as the effect of magnetic levitation is intensified
Implementation Method 2
the high power at the contact point, which generally has the highest contact resistance, leads to damage such as vaporization
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bistable switching device (10, 10') for switching an electric circuit between a first position, in which a movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) and a mating contact arrangement (200, 1200) are in a first stable state, and a second position, in which the movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) and the mating contact arrangement (200, 1212, 1214, 1222, 1224) are in a second stable state. The switching device (10) comprising: a drive unit (300) with a motor (310), wherein the drive unit (300) generates a contact normal force in order to press the movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) against the mating contact arrangement (200, 1212, 1214, 1222, 1224) in at least one of the first position and the second position; a transmission unit (400, 1400) arranged between the drive unit (300) and the movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) for moving the movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) between the first position and the second position; wherein the movable contact arrangement (100, 1100) comprises a plurality of contact points (132_1, 132_2), the plurality of contact points (132_1, 132_2) reducing a current density in each of the contact points (132_1, 132_2); and the transmission unit (400) further comprising a mechanical linkage mechanism (410, 420, 430, 1410, 1420, 1430), wherein the mechanical linkage mechanism (410, 420, 430, 1410, 1420, 1430) increases the contact normal force for the sum of the contact points of the plurality of contact points (132_1, 132_2) in at least one of the first position and the second position.