Curvilinear Neutral Bus Bar for Short Body Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional load centers require long body circuit breakers due to the neutral bus bar's location, limiting the use of short body breakers and increasing overall panel size, which can lead to inefficiencies in electrical distribution and space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a curvilinear neutral bus bar with a plug-on neutral clip that allows for the direct coupling of short body circuit breakers, positioning the neutral bus bar closer to the line connectors and enabling the use of short body breakers by relocating the neutral bus bar internally within the panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the neutral bus bar is positioned at the conventional location in load centers, then the neutral connections are established, but long body circuit breakers are required which increase panel size
Solution Approach 1:
The neutral bus bar is repositioned from its conventional location to a new position adjacent to the line connectors in the medial portion of the panel. This spatial reconfiguration in a different dimension allows short body circuit breakers to engage both line and neutral connections simultaneously, reducing the circuit breaker body length from conventional long body dimensions to compact short body dimensions without compromising connection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The load center design introduces a specific structural configuration where the neutral bus bar acts as an intermediary element positioned between the line connectors and the circuit breaker neutral clip. This intermediary positioning enables the short body circuit breaker to access both line and neutral connections through its compact structure, resolving the contradiction between breaker size and connection capability.
2Quantity of substance
If long body circuit breakers are used to accommodate the neutral bus bar location, then neutral connections are achieved, but space utilization in the panel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning the neutral bus bar to an adjacent location near the line connectors, the invention creates a compact connection zone that accommodates short body circuit breakers. This dimensional reconfiguration increases the quantity of circuit breakers that can be installed in the panel while maintaining installation flexibility through the standardized plug-on neutral connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the line connector and neutral bus bar locations into an adjacent configuration, creating a unified connection zone. This merging allows the short body circuit breaker to access both connections simultaneously, maximizing space utilization while preserving ease of installation through the integrated connection design.
3Length of stationary object
If the neutral bus bar is relocated closer to line connectors, then short body breakers can be used, but the neutral bus bar positioning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The neutral bus bar is repositioned in a different spatial dimension adjacent to the line connectors in the medial portion of the panel. This dimensional change enables short body circuit breaker compatibility while the bus bar's curvilinear configuration manages the complexity by providing both lateral extension for connector access and longitudinal positioning for optimal space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The neutral bus bar employs a curvilinear configuration with curved segments that navigate the spatial requirements of adjacent positioning. The curvature allows the bus bar to extend laterally for connector access while maintaining compact longitudinal dimensions, managing the configuration complexity through geometric optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Load centers with neutral bus bars that allow plug-on neutral circuit breakers to couple thereto and can accommodate short body branch circuit breakers with plug-on clips. The neutral bus bars can have a rectangular profile and can have a curvilinear shape to position one long segment of the neutral bus bar, closer to the line connectors than another shorter segment thereof.