Contactor Button Anti-Vibration Blade Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Day/Night contactors in electrical panels face issues with mechanical instability due to vibrations and shocks, causing unintended returns to automatic positions, which can lead to malfunctions and safety concerns, and the use of springs complicates assembly and increases the risk of incorrect positioning.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating anti-vibration blades made of flexible plastic, which are integrated into the button, providing mechanical grip and deformation capabilities to maintain the contact carrier in a stable position during forced operation and facilitate return to automatic position without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring is used to return the button from forced-on position to automatic position, then the return function is achieved, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The return function is merged into the button structure itself through the flexible blade that is integrally formed with the button body. This eliminates the need for a separate spring component, reducing device complexity while maintaining the return function from forced-on to automatic position.
Solution Approach 2:
The button structure serves its own return function through the flexible blade that automatically returns to its initial position when the magnetic circuit is energized, eliminating the need for external return mechanisms and simplifying assembly.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical means are used to retain the button in forced-on position, then the forced operation is achieved, but the stability is insufficient under vibrations and shocks
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible anti-vibration blade is introduced to provide vibration damping and shock absorption capabilities. This flexible element works in conjunction with the mechanical retention means to stabilize the button in the forced-on position during panel vibrations and shocks, preventing unintended returns to automatic position.
3Reliability
If the button is made stable in forced-on position, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-vibration blade is integrally formed with the button structure, merging the stabilization function into the existing button component. This approach improves reliability by providing vibration resistance while avoiding the complexity of adding separate stabilization 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 anti-vibration blades enhance mechanical stability and eliminate the need for springs, reducing assembly complexity and ensuring reliable operation by maintaining the contact carrier in the forced position and facilitating smooth transitions between operational states.
Implementation Method 1
the button comprises anti-vibration means cooperating with the contact carrier in the forced operating position. These anti-vibration means consist of at least one flexible anti-vibration blade per moving contact carrier
Implementation Method 2
the elastic return means are arranged to bring the button back from its forced-on position to its automatic position when the mechanical means for retaining the button in the forced-on position are put out of action
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The system has a contactor button (1) placed between stable positions corresponding to automatic operation by which an electromagnetic apparatus is controlled by a magnetic circuit and forced to close/open contacts by driving a movable contact carrier towards/remote from fixed contacts and maintain the system in the forced operating position by an attachment unit between the button and the carrier. The button has a flexible antivibratory blade (11) cooperating with the carrier in the operating position, where the blade and a flexible return blade (3) are formed from a plastic molded piece.