Coupling Breaker Shaft Thermal Compensation Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-voltage electrical current cut-off devices, such as branch circuit breakers, often require a large number of parts and complex assembly processes due to the use of rods and multiple intermediate components for thermal protection and compensation mechanisms, making them difficult to assemble and maintain.
Innovation Solution
The design brings the second axis of rotation of the movable contact carrier shaft and the axis of rotation of the bimetallic compensation strip closer, allowing the movable contact carrier shaft to rotate and re-engage the compensation bimetallic strip directly, reducing the number of parts and eliminating the need for rods, thereby simplifying the assembly and operation of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rods and multiple intermediate components are used for thermal protection and compensation mechanisms, then the device achieves reliable thermal protection and compensation, but the number of parts increases and assembly becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the movable contact carrier shaft and the bimetallic compensation strip into a single integrated component. The movable contact carrier shaft is designed with a bimetallic structure that provides both the movable contact carrier function and the thermal compensation function, eliminating the need for separate rods and intermediate components while maintaining reliable thermal protection and compensation.
2Reliability
If rods and multiple intermediate components are used for thermal protection and compensation mechanisms, then the device achieves reliable thermal protection and compensation, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into a single integrated movable contact carrier shaft with bimetallic structure. This consolidation reduces the total number of parts while maintaining all necessary functions including movable contact carrying, thermal protection, and temperature compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable contact carrier shaft is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it carries the movable contacts, provides thermal protection through its bimetallic structure, and enables temperature compensation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
3Reliability
If rods and multiple intermediate components are used for thermal protection and compensation mechanisms, then the device achieves reliable thermal protection and compensation, but assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the movable contact carrier shaft and bimetallic compensation strip into a single component, dramatically simplifying the assembly process. The integrated design eliminates the need for assembling multiple separate parts including rods and intermediate components, making manufacturing and assembly much easier while maintaining reliable thermal protection functionality.
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 design reduces the complexity and number of parts, facilitating easier assembly and operation while maintaining effective thermal protection and compensation for ambient temperature variations, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the current cut-off mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a so-called compensation metal, intended to compensate for the variations that changes in the ambient temperature determine in the temperature of the circuit
Implementation Method 2
a thermal protection device capable of actuating the control mechanism so as to open the contacts on the occurrence of a an overcurrent in the circuit to be protected, the thermal protection device comprising a so-called active bimetal capable of producing heating when an overcurrent occurs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The apparatus has a movable contact carrier shaft (8) whose rotation axis (33) is brought closer to a rotation axis (29) of a rotation compensating thermal switch (27). The shaft comprises a part (34) that cooperates with another part (35), where the latter part is rotationally fixed to the switch. The two parts are arranged relative to each other such that the former part rotates the latter part and the switch in a direction opposite to a releasing direction of a mechanism until obtaining re-attachment of the switch and an active thermal switch (26) relative to each other. USE : Electric current breaking apparatus i.e. coupling breaker, for arrangement between a meter and an electric switchboard (all claimed) in an electrical supply network. ADVANTAGE : The two parts are arranged relative to each other such that the one of the parts rotates the other part and the rotation compensating thermal switch in the direction opposite to the releasing direction of the mechanism until obtaining re-attachment of the switch and the active thermal switch relative to each other, so that requirement of additional rods or adapters is avoided, thus reducing number of parts in the apparatus, and hence assembling the apparatus in a simple manner. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows a perspective view of an electric current breaking apparatus with two elements in a closed position of a non-triggered mechanism. 8 : Movable contact carrier shaft 26 : Active thermal switch 27 : Rotation compensating thermal switch 29 : Rotation axis of rotation compensating thermal switch 33 : Rotation axis of carrier shaft 34, 35 : Parts.