Circuit Breaker Deionizing Structure for Zero Flashover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing circuit breakers release ionized gas and metal vapor into the surrounding environment, posing safety hazards and increasing production costs due to the need for additional space and materials to contain them.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating deionizing components, such as metal braided mesh or foam metal, within the circuit breaker housing to deionize and contain ionized gas and metal vapor without increasing the device's size or material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a terminal cover is installed outside the circuit breaker to contain ionized gas and metal vapor, then safety is improved, but the occupation space and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoccupation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The deionizing component is nested within the existing housing structure, specifically positioned between the arc extinguishing chamber and the gas outlet passage. This internal placement eliminates the need for external terminal covers while maintaining the containment function, thereby reducing occupation space without compromising safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A deionizing component is introduced as an intermediary element between the arc extinguishing chamber and the external environment. This component neutralizes ionized gas and metal vapor internally, preventing them from escaping without requiring external containment structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a terminal cover is installed outside the circuit breaker to contain ionized gas and metal vapor, then safety is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deionizing function is merged into the existing housing structure by integrating the deionizing component within the interior space. This combines the containment and deionizing functions into a single integrated design, eliminating the need for separate terminal covers and reducing material costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The deionizing component serves as an internal mediator that neutralizes harmful substances before they can escape, replacing the need for expensive external terminal covers with a more cost-effective internal solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If ionized gas and metal vapor are allowed to escape via gas outlet passage, then the structure remains simple, but surrounding circuits and power devices are harmed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidharmful factors
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deionizing component is positioned as an intermediary between the arc extinguishing chamber and the gas outlet passage. It neutralizes ionized gas and metal vapor internally, preventing harmful factors from escaping while maintaining a simple overall structure without external covers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful properties (ionization and conductivity) are extracted from the gas and vapor through the deionizing component. This removes the harmful factors from the exhaust stream before it reaches the gas outlet passage, allowing the simple original structure to remain safe

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Prevents the release of ionized gas and metal vapor into the environment, ensuring safety and significantly reducing manufacturing costs by minimizing space and material requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a deionizing component is arranged between the arc extinguishing chamber and the gas outlet passage in the interior space of the housing, thereby preventing the ionized gas and the metal vapor flying out of the circuit breaker via the gas outlet passages

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeionization: Ionisation

Data Source

PatentEP4220676B1Circuit breaker
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 EATON ELECTRIC INC
  • EP4220676B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4220676B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4220676B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a circuit breaker, including a housing 1 and an arc extinguishing chamber 2 arranged in an interior space of the housing 1, wherein a gas outlet passage is formed in a first sidewall 13 of the housing 1, the gas outlet passage is designed to communicate the interior space of the housing with a surrounding environment of the circuit breaker, at least one deionizing component 3, 4 is arranged between the arc extinguishing chamber 2 and the gas outlet passage, and the deionizing component 3, 4 is configured to allow conductive gases to pass therethrough and designed to cool the conductive gases therethrough. By the circuit breaker having the above-described configuration, the conductive gases are kept inside the housing of the circuit breaker and prevented from flying out of the circuit breaker, thus achieving zero flashover function.