Low Profile Circuit Breaker with Self-Cleaning Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit interrupters face issues with contact corrosion and arc-related deposits due to the separation of energized contacts, leading to interference with electrical communication and safety hazards, while also having a relatively large profile that is not suitable for compact installations.
Innovation Solution
A circuit interrupter design featuring a moveable contact arm assembly with pivots and a biasing mechanism that creates a wiping action between contacts to self-clean and reduce deposits, coupled with an overcurrent tripping device and resetting mechanism for compact and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contacts are separated when the circuit breaker is tripped, then the circuit is interrupted and safety is improved, but contact corrosion and arc-related deposits occur leading to interference with electrical communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful arc effect into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism. When the circuit breaker trips, the contacts separate and an arc is generated. This arc, which would normally cause damage, is instead utilized to vaporize and remove corrosion and deposits from the contact surfaces, leaving them cleaner than before the tripping event.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker performs self-maintenance through the self-cleaning action. The tripping mechanism automatically cleans the contacts during normal operation without requiring external intervention or additional components. The system uses its own operational characteristics (arc generation during tripping) to maintain contact cleanliness.
2Reliability
If the circuit breaker uses conventional contact separation design, then circuit interruption is achieved, but the profile size becomes large which is not suitable for compact installations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reconfigures the contact arm assembly to move in a different dimensional path compared to conventional designs. Instead of simple linear separation, the contact arm follows a curved trajectory that allows for more compact spatial arrangement of components, reducing the overall profile while maintaining the circuit interruption function.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact arm assembly incorporates dynamic movement characteristics with multiple pivots that allow flexible positioning. This dynamic configuration enables the contacts to separate effectively for circuit interruption while allowing the overall structure to be more compact due to the optimized movement path and component arrangement.
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 design effectively reduces corrosion and arc-related issues, enhances safety, and allows for a more compact profile, improving the reliability and usability of circuit breakers.
Implementation Method 1
The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable contact and the stationary contact as the moveable contact and the stationary contact are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts
Implementation Method 2
An electric arc may be generated across this gap if the voltage between the contacts is high enough
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A circuit interrupter includes a stationary contact and a moveable contact arm assembly having a moveable contact positioned thereon, the moveable contact configured to be moveable into and out of physical contact with the stationary contact. The circuit interrupter also includes an overcurrent tripping device coupled to the moveable contact arm assembly via a linkage assembly and configured to move the moveable contact out of physical contact with the stationary contact upon detection of an overcurrent situation. The moveable contact arm assembly is connected to the linkage assembly via at least two pivots positioned on the contact arm assembly, so as to cause a relative sliding action between the moveable and stationary contacts as the moveable and stationary contacts are moved into or out of contact with each other such that a wiping action is created in order to clean the moveable and stationary contacts.