Circuit Breaker Terminal Box With Expanded Neutral Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circuit breakers do not effectively limit leakage currents from both the input and output sides, leading to a risk of electric shock, particularly in flooded conditions.

Innovation Solution

The circuit breaker terminal box includes neutral line input and output terminal area expansion units made of conductive material to increase the area of neutral line terminals, limiting leakage currents by redirecting them away from the human body and into the expanded neutral lines, while being housed in an insulating structure to prevent exposure and water ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the neutral line terminal area is expanded to limit leakage current, then the leakage current blocking function is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage current blocking functionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the neutral line terminal area expansion unit with the existing terminal box structure, integrating the leakage current blocking function into the housing rather than adding separate components. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability improvement of limiting leakage current through expanded neutral line contact area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the terminal box structure is made more complex to provide leakage current blocking, then the safety function is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety functionVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by expanding the neutral line terminal area specifically at the critical contact points where leakage current occurs, rather than uniformly increasing the entire terminal box structure. This targeted approach improves safety function while minimizing manufacturing complexity and maintaining ease of production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the neutral line terminal area is expanded, then the leakage current is limited, but the area of the terminal box increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleakage current limitationVSAvoidterminal box area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the area conflict by extending the neutral line terminal in the depth dimension (z-direction) rather than increasing the surface area in the x-y plane. This allows the terminal to contact the leakage current source more effectively through extended contact length, achieving leakage current limitation without increasing the terminal box's external footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively minimizes the risk of electric shock by reducing leakage currents through expanded neutral line terminals, even in submerged conditions, ensuring safety by limiting current flow to the human body.

Implementation Method 1

a neutral line input terminal area expansion unit that is in electrical contact with a neutral line input terminal on an input side of an earth leakage circuit breaker to expand an area of the neutral line input terminal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical contact: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a neutral line output terminal area expansion unit that is in electrical contact with a neutral line output terminal on an output side of an earth leakage circuit breaker to expand an area of the neutral line output terminal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical contact: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

an upper housing that is coupled to an upper portion of the lower housing, prevents the internal components accommodated inside the lower housing from being exposed to the outside to protect the internal components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS12548726B2Circuit breaker terminal box having leakage current blocking function

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 VISION TECH CORP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a circuit breaker terminal box having a leakage current blocking function, in which a current leaking from both an input side and an output side of an earth leakage circuit breaker may be limited by expanding areas of a neutral line input terminal and a neutral line output terminal on both the input side and the output side of the earth leakage circuit breaker, and thus the risk of electric shock to the human body due to the leakage current can be minimized.