Dual Breaking Point Electrical Joint for Arc Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blade-type electrical safety switches face challenges in managing high voltage arcs efficiently while maintaining a small footprint, and they require increased electrical rating with higher voltage and current density, necessitating a solution that can quench arcs effectively and simplify assembly and retrofitting.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves breaking down the voltage across the safety switch in two places, using a tripartite blade-insulator-blade assembly with separate jaws to manage each arc, allowing for higher voltage per pole without increasing the switch's size, and incorporating an arc suppressing housing to quench electrical arcs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single breaking point is used for voltage interruption, then the switch structure is simple, but the arc management becomes difficult and the enclosure size must increase to handle high voltage arcs
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage breaking point is divided into two separate locations: one between the blade and first jaw, and another between the blade and second jaw. This segmentation allows each arc to be managed independently in separate arc regions, improving arc control capability while maintaining a compact enclosure size.
2Power
If higher voltage per pole is required, then the electrical rating increases, but the enclosure size must increase to manage the arcs
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the voltage breaking into two points, each handling a portion of the total voltage, the arc energy at each breaking point is reduced. This allows the enclosure to maintain a compact size while supporting higher overall voltage ratings, as each arc region only needs to contain a fraction of the total arc energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade is configured with conductive portions extending in different directions to engage with first and second jaws positioned at different locations. This spatial arrangement allows voltage breaking at multiple points without increasing the linear dimensions of the enclosure, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space to achieve higher voltage capability in a compact form.
3Power
If more power is distributed through the switch, then the electrical rating increases, but the current density and arc energy increase requiring larger enclosures
Solution Approach 1:
The total power handling capability is distributed across two breaking points, which divides the arc energy into separate regions. This segmentation reduces the current density and arc energy at each individual breaking point, allowing the switch to handle higher overall power without requiring a larger enclosure.
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 approach enables the switch to handle higher voltages like 600 Vdc per pole while meeting current overload requirements, maintaining a compact size and simplifying assembly and retrofitting, with improved arc management and compliance with standards like UL 98.
Implementation Method 1
a first electrically conductive plate (186) attached to and electrically insulated from a second electrically conductive plate (188) via an electrical insulator (84)
Implementation Method 2
incorporating an arc suppressing housing to quench electrical arcs
Data Source
AI summary
Switch assemblies and electrical distribution devices for making and breaking electrical connections in an electrical circuit are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a switch assembly that includes a pair of electrically conductive jaws attached to a platform. The first jaw is configured to electrically connect to an incoming line of the electrical circuit, whereas the second jaw is configured to electrically connect to an outgoing line. The switch assembly also includes a blade having at least two electrically conductive plates that are attached to and spaced from each other via an electrical insulator. The blade is pivotably coupled to the platform to rotate between a disengaged position, whereat the blade is electrically decoupled from the first and second jaws, and an engaged position, whereat the blade delivers an electrical current from the incoming line through the first and second plates to the outgoing line.