Circuit Interrupting Safety Device With Manual Reset
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit interrupting safety devices (CISD) are often bulky and difficult to manufacture due to the complexity and number of parts, and they lack effective mechanisms to prevent mis-wiring and open neutral conditions that can lead to unsafe resets.
Innovation Solution
A CISD design featuring a columnar reset switch with a normally open configuration, movable contact arms biased to maintain an open position, and a solenoid pin mechanism that requires manual reset and includes a visible cap for status determination, reducing the need for additional electrical components and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional resettable circuit interrupting devices are designed with electrically activated trip mechanisms and multiple electrical components, then they can detect and respond to faults, but they become bulky and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visual indication function from the electrical circuit system and implements it through a purely mechanical visible cap assembly. The cap is mechanically linked to the contact arms and solenoid mechanism, providing status indication through its physical position rather than through electrical indicators like LEDs or displays. This removes the need for additional electrical components while maintaining fault indication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible cap serves multiple functions: it acts as a protective cover for the reset mechanism, provides visual status indication of the circuit state (tripped vs. reset), and serves as a user interface element that guides operation. By combining these functions into a single mechanical component, the design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Productivity
If traditional devices allow automatic resetting after fault detection, then they restore power quickly, but they may reset unsafe conditions leading to hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by requiring manual intervention through the visible cap assembly before reset can occur. The mechanical linkage ensures that the user must physically interact with the device to reset it, preventing automatic resetting that could occur under unsafe conditions. The tripped state is maintained until deliberate human action is taken to reset the circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible cap provides immediate visual feedback about the circuit state (tripped or reset position), allowing users to understand the device status before attempting reset. This feedback mechanism ensures users are aware of the condition being reset and can assess whether it is safe to proceed, preventing unsafe automatic resetting.
3Device complexity
If devices lack clear status indication mechanisms, then they have fewer components, but users cannot determine device state without additional electrical circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The visible cap utilizes color or transparency changes to indicate device status. The cap can be transparent or translucent to allow viewing of internal components, or change color based on the circuit state (tripped vs. reset). This provides clear visual status indication without requiring additional electrical circuits, LEDs, or electronic display components.
Solution Approach 2:
The visible cap creates a mechanical copy or representation of the internal circuit state through its physical position and appearance. When contact arms are open (tripped), the cap is positioned to indicate this state; when contact arms are closed (reset), the cap moves to indicate the reset state. This mechanical copying provides intuitive status indication without electrical components.
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 enhances manufacturing efficiency, ensures safe operation by preventing unsafe resets, and provides a clear visual indication of the device's status without requiring extra electrical circuits, thereby improving safety and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
the trip mechanism used to cause the mechanical breaking of the circuit (i.e., the conductive path between the line and load sides) includes a solenoid (or trip coil)
Implementation Method 2
movable contact arms biased to maintain an open position
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit interrupting safety device (CISD) interrupts the flow of current through a pair of lines extending between a source of power and a load. The CISD includes a column reset assembly functioning as a circuit breaker and latching device, a relay circuit including a solenoid, and a fault detecting circuit packaged in a circuit assembly.