Miniature Circuit Breaker Button-Driven Visual State Indicator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing miniature circuit breakers do not intuitively indicate the switching-on or switching-off states when operated using a button mechanism, posing safety risks during electricity consumption.

Innovation Solution

A miniature circuit breaker design that incorporates an indicating apparatus driven by the button mechanism, which shields an indicating hole or wire removal hole to visually indicate the switching-on state, thereby enhancing safety by warning users not to disconnect or connect wires.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a button mechanism is used to switch on/off the circuit breaker, then the device can be miniaturized and operated conveniently, but the switching state cannot be intuitively judged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of button operationVSAvoidvisibility of switching state
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an indicating apparatus with different colored regions (first region and second region) that rotate to display different colors through an observation window. When the circuit breaker is switched on, the first region faces the observation window; when switched off, the second region faces the window. This color change mechanism provides intuitive visual feedback about the switching state while maintaining compact button mechanism operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Volume of moving object

If the circuit breaker is miniaturized to meet installation needs, then the device size is reduced, but the indication mechanism becomes more difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of circuit breakerVSAvoidcomplexity of indication mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the indication mechanism with the existing button mechanism by using the button's rotational movement to directly drive the indicating apparatus. The same mechanical action that switches the circuit breaker on/off also rotates the indicating component to display the corresponding state. This integration eliminates the need for separate indication mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining miniaturization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The button mechanism serves dual functions: it both switches the circuit breaker on/off and simultaneously indicates the switching state through the rotating indication apparatus. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, allowing the circuit breaker to be miniaturized while still providing clear visual feedback about its state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3905297B1Compact circuit breaker
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 ZHEJIANG CHINT ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3905297B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3905297B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3905297B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of low-voltage electric appliances, and more particularly, to a miniature circuit breaker, which includes a circuit breaker housing, a button mechanism, and an indicating apparatus, wherein the circuit breaker housing includes an indicating hole arranged in one side thereof, the button mechanism is in sliding fit with the circuit breaker housing, the indicating apparatus is in driving fit with the button mechanism, and when the button mechanism is pressed to switch on the miniature circuit breaker, the button mechanism drives the indicating apparatus to shield the indicating hole; and according to the miniature circuit breaker of the invention, the indicating apparatus thereof may indicate a switching-on state of the circuit breaker when the circuit breaker is switched on, thus improving a safety of electricity consumption.