Contact Bridge Arrangement for Electrical Switching Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact bridge arrangements for electrical switching elements are complicated to assemble and require excessive construction space, often leading to tilting or twisting of the contact bridge during movement due to lack of proper guidance.
Innovation Solution
The contact bridge arrangement features a stop and spring base located on the side of the spring element facing away from the contact bridge, eliminating the need for a second stop on the actuating member and allowing for a more compact design with guiding apertures and legs that secure the stop, reducing assembly complexity and space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a contact bridge is borne between two stops on an actuating member with spiral pressure springs, then the contact bridge can be pressed against a stop, but the assembling becomes unnecessarily complicated and the contact bridge can tilt or twist due to lack of guiding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the stop and spring base into a single integrated component on the actuating member. The stop serves dual functions: it limits the movement of the contact bridge and provides a mounting base for the spring element. This merging eliminates the need for separate stops and spring bases, simplifying assembly while maintaining contact bridge stability and preventing tilting or twisting.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop on the actuating member is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical stop to limit contact bridge movement, serves as a mounting base for the spring element, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall assembly while ensuring reliable contact bridge positioning.
2Reliability
If a contact bridge cage or contact bridge fitting is provided to guide the contact bridge, then tilting and twisting are prevented, but the design becomes unnecessarily complicated, manufacturing costs increase and construction space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidance function from separate components (contact bridge cage or fitting) and integrates it directly into the actuating member through the stop design. The stop itself provides the necessary guidance by constraining the contact bridge movement along the actuating direction, eliminating the need for additional guiding structures and reducing overall design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding function is merged with the stop component on the actuating member. The stop not only limits movement but also provides guidance surfaces that prevent the contact bridge from tilting or twisting. This integration eliminates separate guiding components, reducing design complexity, manufacturing costs, and construction space while maintaining reliable contact bridge guidance.
3Force
If a stop is provided on the upper side of the contact bridge, then the contact bridge can be pressed against the stop by a spring, but less space is available for contact surfaces on the upper side of the contact bridge
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the stop on the upper side of the contact bridge (which would reduce contact surface area), the patent inverts the arrangement by placing the stop on the actuating member. The spring element is positioned between the stop on the actuating member and the contact bridge, allowing the contact bridge to be pressed against the stop from below. This inversion maximizes the available contact surface area on the upper side of the contact bridge while still providing effective spring force application.
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
This configuration simplifies assembly, reduces construction space, and ensures secure guidance of the contact bridge, preventing tilting and twisting while maintaining effective contact surface area and spring force application.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element, which is inserted between a spring base on the actuating member and the contact bridge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A contact bridge arrangement (1) for an electrical switching element such as a contactor or a relay, with a contact bridge (3), an actuating member (5), on which the contact bridge (3) is held in a moveable manner along an actuating direction (B), and with at least one spring element (7), which is inserted between a spring base (53) on the actuating member (5) and the contact bridge (3), and with at least one stop (9), against which the contact bridge (3) is pressed by the at least one spring element (7). In order to provide a contact bridge arrangement, which is of smaller overall size, stable and which is fast and easy to assemble, it is intended according to the invention that the at least one stop (9) and the spring base (53) are located on the side (83) of the at least one spring element (7) which faces away from the contact bridge (3).