Closing Spring Assembly for Electrical Switching Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-speed switching devices face challenges in rapidly separating moving and stationary contacts during overcurrent conditions due to increasing closing force and rebounding issues caused by toggling springs, which can lead to arcing and damage.
Innovation Solution
A closing spring assembly with a rotating member and coil springs that maintain a substantially constant or decreasing force as the shaft moves from a closed to an open position, minimizing the impact on opening speed and reducing rebounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a toggling spring is used to provide closing force, then the moving contact is held against the stationary contact during routine operation, but the closing force increases substantially as the moving contact translates away from the stationary contact, slowing the switching speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force characteristic parameter of the spring from a toggling spring with increasing force to a constant-force spring or decreasing-force spring. This parameter change ensures that the closing force remains substantially constant or decreases as the moving contact translates away from the stationary contact, preventing the force increase that would slow switching speed while maintaining contact stability during routine operation.
2Reliability
If a toggling spring is used to provide closing force, then the moving contact is held against the stationary contact during routine operation, but the sudden release of energy at the toggling point causes rebounding and arcing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the energy release characteristic by replacing the toggling spring with a constant-force spring or decreasing-force spring. This eliminates the sudden energy release at a toggling point that causes rebounding. The force remains substantially constant or decreases throughout the movement, preventing the abrupt energy discharge that leads to arcing and physical damage to contacts and components.
3Reliability
If the closing force is increased to maintain contact integrity, then the moving contact remains firmly against the stationary contact, but the resistance to opening increases, reducing the opening speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the force profile parameter from a toggling spring that increases force to a constant-force spring or decreasing-force spring. This allows the closing force to remain substantially constant or decrease as the moving contact opens, maintaining contact integrity during routine operation while reducing resistance to opening during fault conditions, thereby preserving opening speed.
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 solution ensures rapid and reliable separation of contacts during overcurrent conditions while maintaining contact integrity during routine operations, reducing arcing and physical damage.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupled to the rotating member and configured to bias the rotating member toward the first position of the rotating member
Data Source
AI summary
A closing spring assembly for an electrical switching device is provided. The closing spring assembly is configured to exert a closing force on a moving contact of the switching device. The closing force helps to maintain physical and electrical contact between the moving contact and an associated stationary contact, so that the moving and stationary contacts form a path for conducing electric current through the switching device. The closing spring assembly is configured so that the closing force remains constant or decreases as the moving contact is driven away from the stationary contact during switching of the current path away from the moving and stationary contacts.