Universal Circuit Breaker Anti-Jamming Handle Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Universal circuit breakers face issues with jamming due to machining and fitting errors between the latch and ratchet, leading to difficulties in energy storage and reduced lifespan of components, and uneven overtravel and contact pressure across phases.

Innovation Solution

An anti-jamming device with a flange-shaped anti-jamming plate and a reset spring is introduced to separate the latch and ratchet, preventing jamming and ensuring proper energy storage, along with a wear-preventing shaft to reduce wear on the aluminum disk during electric energy storage, and adjustable connecting rods for consistent overtravel and contact pressure across phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the ratchet rotates excessively due to machining error and fitting error, then the latch and ratchet are in contact in the initial position, but the energy storage handle cannot be rotated enough to complete energy storage operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining error and fitting errorVSAvoidenergy storage operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

An anti-jamming plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the latch and ratchet. This plate prevents direct contact between the latch and ratchet in the initial position, eliminating the jamming effect caused by excessive ratchet rotation due to machining and fitting errors, while still allowing proper energy storage operation when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the gap between the energy storage handle in initial state and mask is very small, then there is no enough space to move the energy storage handle, but the handle needs to be rotated by a certain angle to buckle the latch with the ratchet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegap spaceVSAvoidhandle rotation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The anti-jamming plate serves as a mediator that allows the latch and ratchet to be separated in the initial position, creating the necessary space for handle rotation within the limited gap, while still enabling proper engagement when energy storage is required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the aluminum disk is in clearance fit with the V-shaped shaft, then assembly is facilitated, but the blind hole in the aluminum disk is worn out greatly during electric energy storage process

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveassemblyVSAvoidcomponent life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A wear-preventing shaft is introduced as an intermediary component between the aluminum disk and V-shaped shaft. This shaft acts as a sacrificial element that prevents direct contact and wear between the aluminum disk's blind hole and the V-shaped shaft, while still allowing clearance fit assembly for ease of manufacture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Device complexity

If the same components are used across phases, then device complexity is reduced, but the overtravel of phases away from B phase is worse than B phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent varietyVSAvoidovertravel consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting rod lengths are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adaptation to compensate for positional variations. This enables the system to maintain consistent overtravel across different phases while still using the same component types, resolving the contradiction between component standardization and performance consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3531436B1Universal circuit breaker energy storage handle Anti-jamming apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 ZHEJIANG CHINT ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3531436B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3531436B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3531436B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An anti-jamming device for an energy storage handle of a universal circuit breaker comprises a circuit breaker body, and an operating mechanism mounted on one side of the circuit breaker body. The energy storage handle is mounted on the outside wall of one side of the operating mechanism. The energy storage handle is rotated to manually store energy for the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism comprises a V-shaped rotating shaft, wherein one end of the V-shaped rotating shaft extends out of one sidewall of the operating mechanism, and the other end of the V-shaped rotating shaft is sleeved with a ratchet which is in linkage with the energy storage handle. A latch which is in linkage with the ratchet is arranged on one side, facing the ratchet, of the energy storage handle. The energy storage handle is rotated to drive the ratchet to rotate through the latch. An anti-jamming structure which prevents the latch and the ratchet from being jammed is arranged between the latch and the ratchet. The anti-jamming structure comprises an anti-jamming plate. The anti-jamming plate is configured to separate the latch from the ratchet when the energy storage handle is in an initial state.