Busbar Holding Adapter Touch Switch to Prevent DC Arcing

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Solution Overview

Problem

DC power supplies in power tracks pose a risk of sparking or arcing when contacts are close to or break contact with conductors, which is not an issue with AC power supplies.

Innovation Solution

A holding adapter with a touch switch that ensures electrical connection only after mechanical contact is established, using an IGBT and microswitch to electronically control the power supply, preventing arcing by ensuring contacts are not live during mechanical contact or disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If DC power supply is used in power tracks, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but risk of sparking or arcing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidsparking or arcing risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The touch switch is activated in advance during the approach movement of the holding adapter, closing the switch before the contacts make full mechanical contact with the conductors. This preliminary action ensures the IGBT is already conducting, preventing sparking or arcing when the contacts engage, while still allowing efficient DC power transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The IGBT acts as an intermediary electronic switch between the DC power supply and the mechanical contacts. By controlling the IGBT through the touch switch, the patent mediates the power transmission process to eliminate direct arcing between mechanical contacts, thus reducing harmful sparking while maintaining efficient DC power delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If mechanical contacts are made close to conductors, then electrical connection is improved, but risk of arcing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidarcing during contact making or breaking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical switching system with an electronic switching system using an IGBT controlled by a touch switch. This substitution eliminates the harmful arcing associated with mechanical contacts making or breaking under DC load, while maintaining reliable electrical connection through the electronic switch that operates without direct mechanical contact under load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Prevents arcing and limits glow discharge to prevent thermal damage, ensuring safe and reliable power transmission in DC power tracks.

Implementation Method 1

a touch switch (2), which conductively connects at least one pole (L, N) of the DC voltage internally in the holding adapter (1) if previously in the course of the approach movement between the contacts (3) of the holding adapter (1) and the conductors of the busbar the contacts (3) have already safely contacted the conductors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

These problems include, for example, the risk of spark gaps or arcing when the contacts are close to the conductors when making or breaking contact between the contacts of the holding adapter and the conductors of the busbar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical switching: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP4611190A1Holding adapter with touch switch for DC bus bar
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP4611190A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4611190A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4611190A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system comprises: - A DC voltage supply with an amplitude in the range of 200 V to 1000 V, - A busbar supplied from the DC voltage supply, - A holding adapter with a plurality of contacts which are designed for detachable electrical connection to DC voltage-carrying conductors in the busbar, wherein the holding adapter has a touch switch which, through mechanical contact with the busbar, only electrically connects at least one of the contacts internally in the holding adapter when the contact has previously come into contact with the associated conductor during the connecting movement of the holding adapter.A holding adapter is provided with a plurality of contacts which are designed for detachable electrical connection with DC voltage-carrying conductors in a busbar, wherein the holding adapter has a touch switch which, by mechanical contact with the busbar, electrically connects at least one of the contacts internally in the holding adapter only when the contact has previously come into contact with the associated conductor during the connecting movement of the holding adapter.