Integrated Conductive Part for Arc Breaker Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing low-voltage electrical current cut-off devices, such as branch circuit breakers, require multiple parts for sealing and potential supply, making them complex and costly to manufacture, especially when a single-piece containment part is used, as drilling is necessary to bring potential, which compromises sealing.

Innovation Solution

A single conductive part integrates both sealing and potential supply functions, reducing the number of components by forming a single part that serves as both the containment part and arcing horn, and includes snap-fastening mechanisms for secure attachment, allowing for a simplified design with reduced parts and constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the containment part is made in one piece, then manufacturing cost and assembly complexity are reduced, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates because drilling is necessary to bring potential, which compromises sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing cost and assembly complexityVSAvoidsealing effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the containment part and arcing horn into a single integrated component. The arcing horn is formed as an integral part of the containment part, eliminating the need for separate assembly and drilling operations while maintaining both sealing effectiveness and electrical potential supply functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated containment part performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical containment, maintains sealing integrity, and supplies electrical potential through the integrated arcing horn. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for separate components

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

2Reliability

If multiple parts are used for sealing and potential supply, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functional parts (containment part and arcing horn) into a single integrated component, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining both sealing and potential supply functions through the integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This solution enables a more cost-effective and simplified design by reducing the number of parts and constraints, allowing for a single-piece containment part while maintaining effective sealing and potential supply, thus lowering manufacturing costs and assembly complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a part able to be brought onto the opening of the interrupting chamber provided in the confinement part, so as to ensure the leaktightness of the interrupting chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

this part also ensures the supply of the potential above the arc extinguishing device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

an arc extinguishing device... to ensure the breaking of the electric arc between the fixed contact and the movable contact during the opening of these

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric arc: Electric Arc

Data Source

PatentEP2743957B1Electric current breaking apparatus, in particular a coupling breaker
Publication Date: 2015.05.06 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP2743957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2743957B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2743957B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The apparatus has an extinguishing chamber (22) partially closed in a watertight manner by a lid. A control drive is brought manually or automatically in an opening position of mobile contacts (7). A conducting part (34) and an arcing horn are provided an electric potential above an arc extinction device (32). The conducting part comprises a portion (38) to be brought on an opening (33) of the extinguishing chamber that is placed in a containment part to ensure the sealing of the extinguishing chamber.