Circuit Breaker Trip Device Lever Position Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circuit breakers for electric wiring do not effectively allow users to easily recognize the ON-state when contacts between the mover and stator are fused, leading to potential safety risks due to incorrect manipulation of the manipulation lever.

Innovation Solution

A trip device with a resilient mechanism that maintains the manipulation lever in an ON-state when the mover and stator contacts are fused, utilizing a combination of link members and resilient forces to ensure the lever returns to the ON position, even during abnormal states or incorrect lever manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the manipulation lever is allowed to move freely when contacts are fused, then the lever can respond to trip conditions, but the user cannot easily recognize the actual contact state leading to safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety recognitionVSAvoidstate recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual indication through color changes or position differences of the manipulation lever to show the actual contact state. When contacts are fused, the lever maintains a specific visual state that clearly indicates the abnormal condition to users, resolving the contradiction between safety recognition and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the manipulation lever provides visual feedback about the actual contact state. The lever's position or appearance changes to reflect whether contacts are normal or fused, allowing users to easily recognize the system state and make informed decisions about safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the manipulation lever is forced to move to OFF position when contacts are fused, then safety is improved, but the user cannot easily recognize the ON-state contact condition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidcontact state information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs visual indicators that change color or position to preserve information about the contact state even when the lever is forced to the OFF position. This allows users to distinguish between a normal OFF state and an abnormal fused state, preventing loss of critical information while maintaining safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary visual indication mechanism that mediates between the lever position and the actual contact state. This intermediary provides additional information about the contact condition independent of the lever's physical position, ensuring both safety and information preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a complex locking mechanism is added to prevent incorrect manipulation, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanipulation safetyVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically detects fused contacts and prevents incorrect manipulation without requiring complex external locking mechanisms. The manipulation lever itself or associated simple components provide the safety function, reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the safety function with the existing manipulation lever structure, combining state indication and safety prevention into a unified simple mechanism. This integration avoids adding separate complex locking systems while achieving both safety improvement and maintaining simplicity.

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 allows users to easily recognize the contact state and reduces the risk of accidents by maintaining the ON-state of the manipulation lever when contacts are fused, ensuring safety and preventing incorrect lever manipulation hazards.

Implementation Method 1

a first resilient member (120) returning the manipulation lever (110) to an ON position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilient force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2736064B1Trip device and circuit breaker for electric wiring having same
Publication Date: 2017.06.14 HD HYUNDAI HEAVY IND CO LTD
  • EP2736064B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2736064B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2736064B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

According to the present invention, a trip device and a circuit breaker for electric wiring having the same includes: a manipulation lever which rotates between ON/OFF or trip positions; a switching device which has a first elastic member to return the manipulation lever to the ON position; a locking member which stops the manipulation lever in the OFF position; a stator which is made of a conductor such that current can be induced and flow through the inside thereof; a mover which is rotated depending on whether abnormal current occurs to be in contact with or separated from the stator; and a multi-joint link member which releases the stopping of the locking member in cooperation with the manipulation lever, which rotates into the OFF position, when the mover and the stator are welded with each other.