Electric Circuit Breaker Segmented Contact Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric circuit breakers for automobiles face increased power loss due to higher voltages and currents, leading to larger and more expensive devices as they attempt to reduce resistance by increasing the cut cross-sectional area, which requires more power to break the circuit effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electric circuit breaker device with a broken portion comprising base pieces and a separation piece connected by a pressing connection portion, allowing the separation piece to move while in contact with the base piece, reducing the force required to break the circuit by adjusting the frictional force on the contact surfaces, and incorporating an arc-extinguishing portion to manage arcs generated during high-voltage conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the cut cross-sectional area is increased to reduce resistance, then power loss is suppressed, but the power required to cut the cut portion increases and the housing becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The broken portion is divided into separate base pieces and a separation piece that can move independently. This segmentation allows the separation piece to be pushed out by a mobile body without requiring excessive cutting power, while the base pieces remain connected to the electric circuit. The separation piece acts as a movable bridge that can be easily displaced to break the circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation piece is extracted as a distinct movable component from the integral broken portion. By taking out this intermediate element, the design enables circuit breaking through simple displacement rather than forceful cutting, significantly reducing the power requirements while maintaining effective circuit interruption.
2Loss of energy
If the cut cross-sectional area is increased to reduce resistance, then power loss is suppressed, but the size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The broken portion is segmented into base pieces and a separation piece, allowing the housing to accommodate a smaller cross-sectional area while maintaining low resistance through the pressed contact surfaces. The separation piece's movable design enables effective circuit breaking without requiring a large housing volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation piece is designed as a dynamic movable component rather than a static integral part. This dynamic design allows the housing to be more compact, as the separation piece can be easily displaced by a mobile body to break the circuit, eliminating the need for a large cross-sectional area to accommodate high cutting forces.
3Force
If the frictional force on contact surfaces is reduced to ease separation, then the force required to break the circuit decreases, but the contact connection strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surfaces between the separation piece and base pieces are given a specific local quality with controlled roughness to optimize frictional force. This local quality adjustment ensures sufficient connection strength during normal operation while allowing easy separation when the mobile body pushes the separation piece, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and separation ease.
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 device can easily break the electric circuit with reduced power consumption, maintaining a compact size and lower manufacturing costs while effectively extinguishing arcs, thus preventing overcurrents and reducing the risk of electrical disconnection failures.
Implementation Method 1
a pressing connection portion that connects, while pressing, contact surfaces of the base piece and the separation piece
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
The present invention provides an electric circuit breaker device that can suppress an increase in power of a power source and easily break an electric circuit even when resistance of a cut portion is reduced. An electric circuit breaker device 600 includes a broken portion 400 constituting a part of an electric circuit, in which the broken portion 400 includes base pieces 430 on both sides and a separation piece 420 connected between the base pieces 430, and the electric circuit breaker device 600 includes a pressing connection portion 431 that connects, while pressing, contact surfaces of the base piece 430 and the separation piece 420, and is configured such that the separation piece 420 is moved by a power mechanism while being in contact along a contact surface with the base piece 430 and is separated from the base piece 430, and thus connection between the base pieces 430 is broken.