Air Circuit Breaker Deformable Side Wall Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical switching devices with separable contacts face challenges in quickly interrupting electrical current during faults due to inadequate reaction times, leading to potential device damage and safety hazards, and existing solutions complicate manufacturing and are unreliable under modern operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with elastically deformable side walls and a rigid protrusion that triggers the control mechanism upon pressure increase from an electric arc, eliminating the need for intermediate components and simplifying the design, allowing for rapid contact opening without additional mechanical chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a piston is added to transmit pressure from the breaking chamber to the control mechanism, then the opening speed of electrical contacts is improved, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston from the mechanical chain, extracting the intermediate component that caused complexity and reliability issues. The pressure from the breaking chamber now acts directly on the control mechanism through the deformable side wall, eliminating the piston while maintaining the speed improvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of the piston with the side wall structure by making the side wall itself deformable under pressure. This combines the pressure transmission function and the structural containment function into a single integrated component, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the mechanical chain.
2Speed
If a piston is added to transmit pressure from the breaking chamber to the control mechanism, then the opening speed of electrical contacts is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston from the mechanical chain, extracting the intermediate component that caused complexity and reliability issues. The pressure from the breaking chamber now acts directly on the control mechanism through the deformable side wall, eliminating the piston while maintaining the speed improvement.
3Loss of time
If fluidic communication is established between the breaking chamber and the piston, then the control mechanism can be triggered faster, but the reliability deteriorates due to pollution from breaking gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the piston from the mechanical chain, extracting the intermediate component that caused complexity and reliability issues. The pressure from the breaking chamber now acts directly on the control mechanism through the deformable side wall, eliminating the piston while maintaining the speed improvement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the dimensions of breaking devices are reduced to meet current requirements, then the adaptability to contemporary products is improved, but the opening speed of electrical contacts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the piston with the side wall structure by making the side wall itself deformable under pressure. This combines the pressure transmission function and the structural containment function into a single integrated component, reducing the number of parts and simplifying the mechanical chain.
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 solution enables quick and reliable interruption of electrical current upon faults, simplifies manufacturing, and enhances robustness by avoiding pollution risks, while maintaining operational integrity under increased current demands.
Implementation Method 1
the side walls are elastically deformable, from a state of rest to a deformed state, when the pressure which reigns inside the casing increases
Implementation Method 2
An electric arc then appears between these electrical contacts
Implementation Method 3
when the pressure which reigns inside the casing increases
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
This electrical current interruption device comprises: - a switching assembly that can be switched between an open and a closed state; - a control mechanism including a triggering element (42) for triggering the switching of the switching assembly to the open state; - a housing (5) comprising side walls (51, 52). The side walls are elastically deformable when the pressure inside the housing (5) increases, one of the side walls (52) having, on its inner face (521), a rigid protrusion (53), the deformation of said wall causing a displacement of the protrusion, the protrusion being arranged relative to the triggering element such that its displacement causes the displacement of the triggering element to its tripping position.