Plug-In Circuit Breaker Button With Integrated Contact State Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plug-in circuit breakers face challenges in accurately indicating the break-contact and make-contact states due to space constraints, leading to poor position accuracy and increased assembly complexity, which can result in safety hazards and reduced product quality.
Innovation Solution
A plug-in circuit breaker design that incorporates an indicating member within the operating button, utilizing an indicating hole and slot mechanism to intuitively display the break-contact and make-contact states, allowing for accurate observation and reducing internal assembly space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate indicating apparatus is arranged inside the circuit breaker housing, then the break-contact and make-contact states can be indicated, but the internal assembly space is insufficient and processing errors amplify position errors
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating member is integrated into the operating button structure, merging two previously separate components (indicating apparatus and operating button) into one unified component. This eliminates the need for separate indicating apparatus arrangement inside the housing, reduces assembly complexity, and eliminates the amplification of processing errors between multiple components while maintaining clear state indication capability
Solution Approach 2:
The indicating member is nested within the operating button, with the indicating slot positioned inside the button structure and the indicating surface visible through the indicating hole. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization within the existing button volume, eliminating the need for additional internal space while maintaining clear visual indication
2Loss of information
If a stand-alone indicating apparatus is installed inside the circuit breaker, then the indication function is achieved, but it occupies larger internal space
Solution Approach 1:
The indicating function is merged with the operating button by positioning the indicating slot and indicating surface within the button structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate indicating apparatus and the associated internal space occupancy while maintaining clear visual indication of circuit states through the indicating hole
Solution Approach 2:
The operating button is given dual functionality: it serves both as the manual operating component for making/breaking contacts and as the indicating apparatus display structure. The indicating slot and surface are integrated into the button, allowing one component to perform multiple functions and eliminating the need for additional space-consuming separate indicating devices
Data Source
AI summary
A plug-in circuit breaker with an operating button that includes a button inner end inserted inside the circuit breaker and a button outer end. An indicator slot is arranged inside the operating button, an indicating hole is arranged on the button outer end. The plug-in circuit breaker further includes an indicating member slidably inserted inside the indicator slot and one end of which is provided with a make-contact indicating surface and a break-contact indicating surface. When the plug-in circuit breaker is in a break-contact state, the break-contact indicating surface is arranged opposite to the indicating hole, thus during pressing the operating button, the indicating member moves inside the indicator slot. After the make-contact state, the make-contact indicating surface is arranged opposite to the indicating hole. The indicating member is arranged inside the operating button to save space and to indicate the break-contact and make-contact state through the indicating hole.