Copper-Steel Static Contact Support for Circuit Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing static contact supports for small circuit breakers either generate excessive heat due to high resistivity or fail to extinguish arcs due to low mechanical strength and magnetic permeability, making them inadequate for handling abnormal currents and arc extinguishing.
Innovation Solution
A static contact support comprising a copper-based base layer for minimal heat generation and a steel-based reinforcing layer for enhanced mechanical strength and magnetic permeability, combined through a metal-combining process, which channels the arc into an extinguishing mechanism while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If copper-plated steel is used for static contact support, then mechanical strength is improved, but heat generation increases due to high resistivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining copper and steel layers in a static contact support. The copper layer provides low resistivity and excellent electrical conductivity to minimize heat generation, while the steel layer provides high mechanical strength and magnetic permeability. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between mechanical strength and heat generation by integrating the advantages of both materials.
2Temperature
If pure copper is used for static contact support, then heat generation is reduced due to low resistivity, but mechanical strength and arc extinguishing capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure with copper and steel layers. The copper layer (base layer) provides low resistivity for minimal heat generation during normal current carrying, while the steel layer (reinforcing layer) provides the necessary mechanical strength and magnetic permeability for arc extinguishing capability. This composite approach allows the support to excel at both functions simultaneously.
3Strength
If copper-plated steel is used for static contact support, then structural integrity is improved, but energy loss increases due to high resistivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure with a copper base layer and steel reinforcing layer. The copper layer's low resistivity minimizes energy loss during current transmission, while the steel layer provides the required structural integrity. This composite design resolves the contradiction between structural integrity and energy loss by assigning each material its optimal function.
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 effectively reduces heat generation, enhances mechanical strength, and facilitates quick arc extinguishing by utilizing the base layer's heat-conducting and electrically conductive properties, along with the reinforcing layer's magnetic permeability, ensuring efficient current transfer and arc management in circuit breakers.
Implementation Method 1
The base layer is for transferring current passing through the circuit breaker
Implementation Method 2
good heat-conducting properties in the base layer enable the static contact support to cool the arc
Implementation Method 3
the magnetically permeable reinforcing layer can channel the arc into the arc extinguishing mechanism of the circuit breaker
Implementation Method 4
The reinforcing layer has good mechanical strength and magnetic permeability. On the one hand, this means it can reinforce the mechanical strength of the base layer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A static contact support (12) for a circuit breaker, comprising a base layer (122) and a reinforcing layer (124). The base layer is made of a material with good heat-conducting and electricity-conducting properties. The reinforcing layer is superposed on the base layer, and made of a material with good mechanical strength and magnetic permeability. The base layer has good electricity-conducting and heat-conducting properties, so on the one hand, produces very little heat; on the other hand, the base layer enables the static contact support to cool the arc, helping to extinguish it. The reinforcing layer on the one hand can reinforce the mechanical strength of the base layer; on the other hand, the magnetically permeable reinforcing layer can channel the arc into an arc extinguishing mechanism of the circuit breaker, so it is extinguished quickly. Furthermore, being superposed, the base layer and reinforcing layer can be conveniently fitted into the circuit breaker.