Circuit Breaker Display Lateral Relocation for Motor Mount Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Molded case circuit breakers with existing electronic visualization and keypad designs become occluded and invisible when a front fitting, such as a motor device, is placed on the circuit breaker, hindering visibility and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The circuit breaker design incorporates a transparent shell-like cover with a dedicated housing for the processing unit and display, positioned laterally to the operating lever, ensuring the display remains visible even with a frontal fitting, and includes a protection element that allows access to selection keys while preventing tampering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a front fitting is placed on the circuit breaker, then the circuit breaker can cooperate with motor devices, but the display and keypad become occluded and invisible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooperation with motor devicesVSAvoidvisibility of display and keypad
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display and keypad are repositioned from the traditional front face to the lateral surface of the circuit breaker body. This spatial relocation in a different dimension (from front to side) allows the display to remain visible and accessible even when a motor device is mounted on the front face, thus resolving the occlusion problem while maintaining versatility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the display is positioned on the front face, then it is easily visible, but it becomes occluded when a motor device is mounted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of displayVSAvoidmounting of motor device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display is relocated from the front face (2D plane) to the lateral surface (different spatial dimension), creating spatial separation between the display location and the motor device mounting location. This dimensional change ensures that both functions can coexist without interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If a transparent shell is used to protect the display, then visibility is maintained, but additional protection against tampering is needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of displayVSAvoidprotection against tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective shell combines two functions: transparency for display visibility and integrated security features (tamper-resistant design) for protection against unauthorized access. By merging these functions into a single integrated component, the solution achieves both visibility and security requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2001036B1Molded case circuit breaker comprising processing unit with data visualization means
Publication Date: 2010.08.11 BTICINO
  • EP2001036B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2001036B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2001036B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Molded case circuit breaker (1) comprising: - a case body (2) with a front face (5) provided with a front portion (6) projecting with respect to said face (5), the projecting front portion (6) being provided with an opening (7), which acts as a passage for an operating lever (8) of the circuit breaker (1); - a processing unit (15) comprising electronic visualization means (16) for displaying data representing operating parameters and/or status information of circuit breaker (1). The electronic visualization means (16) are disposed on said projecting front portion (6) in a lateral position with respect to said opening (7) and said operating lever (8).