Electromechanical Circuit Breaker Arc Blow-Out Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromechanical circuit breakers face challenges in breaking low currents effectively due to insufficient magnetic force to displace arcs into the arc chute, making them polarity sensitive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A blow-out device with a magnetising coil and radially directed magnetic fields generated by permanent magnets, which also activates the magnetising coil to create a driving force for the arc into the arc extinguishing device, ensuring effective arc displacement regardless of current direction and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a permanent magnet is used to generate magnetic field for low current breaking, then the magnetic force is sufficient to displace the arc, but the circuit breaker becomes polarity sensitive and cannot break current in either direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric arrangement of permanent magnets with opposite polarities on either side of the arc path. This asymmetric configuration creates a magnetic field that always exerts force in the same direction (toward the arc chute) regardless of current direction, eliminating polarity sensitivity while maintaining sufficient force for low current breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single permanent magnet that creates a uniform field, the patent inverts the approach by using two permanent magnets with opposite polarities positioned symmetrically. This inversion strategy ensures that when current direction reverses, the magnetic field configuration also reverses, but the resulting force on the arc remains in the same direction due to the interaction between the reversed current and reversed field.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main current is used to generate magnetic field for arc displacement, then the circuit breaker is not polarity sensitive, but the generated force is insufficient when current is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two magnetic field sources: the electromagnetic field generated by the main current and the permanent magnetic fields from the permanent magnets. This combination allows the system to benefit from both sources - the main current provides polarity-insensitive operation while the permanent magnets provide sufficient force magnitude even at low current levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnets act as an intermediary that amplifies and directs the magnetic field interaction. They provide a baseline magnetic field that enhances the interaction with the arc, ensuring sufficient force is generated even when the main current is low, while the main current's magnetic field ensures polarity insensitivity.
3Productivity
If electromagnetic force is used to drive arc into arc-chute, then the breaking operation is effective for high currents, but the force becomes insufficient for very low currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic field parameters by introducing permanent magnets with fixed field strength and polarity configuration. This ensures that the magnetic force parameter remains above a sufficient threshold across all current levels, particularly preventing the force from becoming too weak at low currents while maintaining effectiveness at high currents.
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
Enables precise and secure breaking of currents, including low currents, with improved solidity, longevity, and cost-effectiveness, maintaining high breaking performance and security.
Implementation Method 1
the blow-out device comprising electrode means electrically connected to the magnetising coil and adapted to cooperate with said arc in such a manner that the latter generates said magnetising current in the magnetising coil, the magnetic field for driving the arc being generated by the action of said arc
Implementation Method 2
a magnetising coil traversed by a magnetising current for producing a magnetic field adapted to drive an arc generated by the separation of said two contact elements into an arc extinction means
Implementation Method 3
the blow-out device further comprises magnetic means for producing a magnetic field radially directed with respect to the arc and adapted to generate a force on the arc in order to displace the latter so that the arc is forced to contact the electrode means
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the present invention is an electromechanical circuit breaker intended to establish and break the current in a main circuit (3, 4) and comprising a fixed contact element (5) and a moving contact element (6) which in a first position are in electrical contact with each other for carrying the current of the main circuit (3, 4), said moving contact element (6) being adapted to be displaced to a second position in which it is separated from the fixed contact element (5) so that the current in the main circuit is cut off. The circuit breaker is provided with a blow-out device (2) comprising a magnetising coil (11) traversed by a magnetising current for producing a magnetic field (B) adapted to drive an arc (17) generated by the separation of said two contact elements (5, 6) into an arc extinction means (1). The blow-out device (2) comprises electrode means (9, 10) electrically connected to the magnetising coil (11) and adapted to cooperate with said arc (17) in such a manner that the latter generates said magnetising current in the magnetising coil (11), the magnetic field (B) for driving the arc (17) being generated by the action of said arc (17). The blow-out device (2) further comprises magnetic means (15, 16) for producing a magnetic field (B15, B16) radially directed with respect to the arc (17) and adapted to generate a force (F15, F16) on the arc (17) in order to displace the latter so that the arc (17) is forced to contact the electrode means (9, 10).