Air Circuit Breaker Position Indicator via Worm Gear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air circuit breakers have position indicators that are obscured by the handle insertion part, making it difficult to accurately check the position of the circuit breaker body, and lack a mechanism to limit handle rotation, complicating precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A position indicator system that converts rotational motion into horizontal translational motion using a worm gear and worm wheel mechanism, with a link part and movement member to position the indicator above the handle insertion part, and includes a button part and movement adjustment lever to limit handle rotation, allowing accurate indication of the circuit breaker body's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the indicator is positioned below the handle insertion part, then the structure is simple, but the indicator is obscured by the handle insertion part making it difficult to check the position
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator is repositioned from below the handle insertion part to above it, utilizing the vertical space in another dimension. This dimensional change allows the indicator to be visible without interfering with the handle insertion part, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and indicator visibility.
2Ease of operation
If the handle can rotate freely, then the operation is flexible, but the circuit breaker body cannot be accurately positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The handle rotation mechanism is made dynamic with variable characteristics: it allows free rotation during normal operation for flexibility, but automatically limits rotation at specific positions (drawn-out, test, drawn-in) through the worm gear's self-locking property. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between operational flexibility and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The worm gear mechanism provides mechanical feedback by creating natural stopping points at specific positions. When the handle is rotated, the worm gear engages and disengages at predetermined positions, providing tactile feedback to the operator and ensuring accurate positioning without requiring additional sensors or complex control systems.
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 clear indication of the circuit breaker body's position while preventing unwanted handle rotation, facilitating precise positioning and user-friendly operation.
Implementation Method 1
a worm gear rotated according to rotation of the handle inserted in the handle insertion part; a worm wheel rotated in association with the worm gear; a link part connected to the worm wheel in one end and connected to a movement member in the other end and moving the movement member in a horizontal direction according to rotation of the worm wheel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In the present disclosure, a link part is connected to a worm wheel rotated according to rotation of a worm gear and a movement member is connected to the link part, whereby a rotational motion of the worm wheel is changed to a translational motion in a horizontal direction through the link part and the movement member. Thus, although an indicator is positioned on an upper side of a handle insertion part, a position according to movement of a circuit breaker body may be easily indicated, while using a simple structure.