Electrical Conductor Mount for Circuit Breaker Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, is the limited space for mounting accessories, leading to potential incorrect installation and safety issues due to blind installation requirements and the need to maintain electrical conductors in a specific orientation to avoid interference with the operating mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an electrical conductor mount with a resilient hook or molded barb that retains electrical conductors in a predetermined position, ensuring they do not obstruct the operation of the actuator and are securely fastened within the accessory module, using a single-piece molded member with a receiving portion and retaining portion to maintain the conductors' orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If accessories are mounted in limited space within circuit breaker housing, then space utilization is improved, but installation accuracy deteriorates due to blind installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mounting guide as an intermediary component that facilitates accurate accessory installation in blind mounting locations. The guide structure provides physical guidance and alignment features that enable precise positioning of accessories without requiring visual access, thereby resolving the contradiction between maximizing space utilization and maintaining installation accuracy.
2Area of stationary object
If electrical conductors are routed tightly within accessory module, then space constraints are improved, but conductor orientation control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing specialized conductor routing features at specific locations within the accessory module. These localized guiding structures, such as channels or slots in the mounting guide, ensure proper conductor orientation only where needed, allowing tight space utilization while maintaining precise conductor positioning and orientation control.
3Area of stationary object
If accessories are installed in blind locations within circuit breaker, then space utilization is improved, but installation reliability deteriorates due to potential incorrect installation
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting guide serves as a reliable intermediary that ensures correct accessory installation in blind locations. The guide incorporates alignment features, positioning stops, and guidance channels that physically constrain the installation process to the correct orientation and position, eliminating the possibility of incorrect installation and thereby improving installation reliability while maintaining space utilization.
4Area of stationary object
If electrical conductors are positioned close to actuator mechanism, then space utilization is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates due to potential interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing specialized clearance features or shielding structures at specific locations where conductors pass near the actuator mechanism. These localized solutions ensure that conductors maintain adequate clearance or are protected from interfering with actuator operation, allowing tight space utilization while preserving operational reliability of the circuit breaker.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical conductor mount (400,400') is provided for an accessory (150,150') including a number of electrical conductors (158,158') and an actuator (159). The electrical conductor mount (400,400') includes an accessory enclosure (151,151') from which or to which the electrical conductors (158,158') extend. A mounting element (402) is disposed on the enclosure (151,151') proximate the electrical conductors (158,158') external to the accessory enclosure (151,151'). The mounting element (402) includes a receiving portion (404) structured to receive the electrical conductors (158,158'), and a retaining portion (406) retains the electrical conductors (158,158') within the receiving portion (404). The mounting element (402) mounts the electrical conductors (158,158') in a position in which they do not obstruct operation of the actuator (159). The mounting element (402) may be a resilient hook (408) including a first end (412) disposed on the enclosure (151,151') of an accessory module. The retaining portion (406) may be a hook (410) disposed on the second end (414) of the resilient hook (408).