DC Socket Contact Timing and Magnetic Arc Extinguishing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The generation of arcs between direct current sockets and plugs during plug insertion and removal leads to prolonged burning, damaging the socket and connected equipment, with no effective zero-crossing point to extinguish the arc, reducing the service life and posing safety risks.

Innovation Solution

A direct current socket design featuring a positive wiring assembly with separated terminal and insertion sleeve sections, an arc extinguishing assembly generating a magnetic field, and a moving contact assembly driven by the plug's ground pin to control conductive connections, ensuring precise timing and rapid arc extinction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If direct current is used for power transmission, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but arc generation during plug insertion and removal causes damage to the socket and equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidarc damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ground pin makes contact first during plug insertion, triggering the moving contact assembly to rotate and establish the circuit connection before the positive and negative pins contact. During removal, the ground pin breaks contact first, causing the moving contact assembly to rotate back and disconnect the circuit before the positive and negative pins separate. This preliminary action of establishing/disconnecting the circuit through the ground pin prevents arc generation at the positive and negative terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The arc extinguishing assembly uses the magnetic field to convert the harmful arc into a beneficial effect. When the circuit is disconnected, any generated arc is quickly extinguished by the magnetic field produced by the arc extinguishing assembly, transforming the potentially harmful arc phenomenon into a controlled process that protects the socket and equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the terminal section and insertion sleeve section are separated, then arc damage is reduced and service life is extended, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesocket service lifeVSAvoidwiring assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positive wiring assembly is segmented into a terminal section and an insertion sleeve section that are separated from each other. The terminal section is coupled to the housing and the insertion sleeve section is positioned to receive the plug's positive pin. This segmentation allows precise control of conduction and disconnection timing, and the separated structure reduces arc damage by ensuring the circuit is already disconnected when the positive pin separates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the moving contact assembly is driven by the ground pin to rotate, then circuit connection timing is ensured and reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit connection stabilityVSAvoidmoving contact assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground pin serves multiple functions: it provides the ground connection and simultaneously acts as the driving force to rotate the moving contact assembly. By making the ground pin perform both electrical connection and mechanical actuation functions, the patent reduces the need for separate actuation mechanisms, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

The solution effectively reduces arc damage, extends the socket's service life, and enhances safety by ensuring stable and reliable power transmission through precise control of circuit conduction and disconnection.

Implementation Method 1

an arc extinguishing assembly coupled to a location of conductive connection between the terminal section and the insertion sleeve section and adapted to generate a magnetic field at least covering the location of conductive connection

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4693760A1Direct current socket
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP4693760A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4693760A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4693760A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a direct current socket. The direct current socket comprises a housing; a positive wiring assembly coupled to the housing and comprises a terminal section and an insertion sleeve section separated from each other; the arc extinguishing assembly coupled to a location of conductive connection between the terminal section and the insertion sleeve section and adapted to generate a magnetic field at least covering the location of conductive connection; and a moving contact assembly coupled to the housing and adapted to be driven by a ground pin of a plug inserted into the direct current socket to rotate relative to the housing so as to establish the conductive connection between the terminal section and the insertion sleeve section after a positive pin of the plug is inserted into the insertion sleeve section.