Cam Follower Upper Post for Shunt Separation in Circuit Breakers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Circuit breakers experience misalignment of cam and arm during high interruption shots, leading to shunt travel onto the contact arm, which prevents full resetting and proper contact re-establishment after the interruption, causing operational issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a cam follower with an upwardly extending post that resides on one side edge, cooperating with the shunt to maintain separation during high interruption shots, ensuring proper alignment and resetting of the breaker.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cam follower design is modified to include an upwardly extending post, then shunt separation is maintained during high interruption shots, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshunt separation during high interruption shotsVSAvoidcam follower structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upwardly extending post is merged with the cam follower body as a single integrated component. This combining approach adds the necessary shunt-separation function without requiring a separate additional part, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cam follower has different local qualities: the main body provides cam following functionality while the upwardly extending post provides localized shunt separation. This local differentiation allows the component to perform multiple functions with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 prevents shunt travel onto the contact arm, allowing the breaker to fully reset and maintain proper contact, enhancing operational reliability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the shunts are pulled together by the electrically generated magnetic fields

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic fields: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS9218921B2Shunt separating cam followers for circuit breakers and related methods

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

Circuit breakers with a cam follower having an upper post with the cam follower held by a cross bar to prevent cam/arm misalignment during high interruption shot on the breaker. Related cam followers have an upwardly extending post located on one side edge portion and cooperates with a shunt to provide shunt separation during high interruption breaker shots.