Electromagnetic Reset Module for Safety Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional safety devices for electrical load circuits, such as earth leakage circuit breakers, have unsatisfactory reset times, which can disrupt operations in appliances like microwave ovens and washing machines, and may not safely handle ill-timed openings or testing scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A reset module with an electromagnet and moving element, integrated with a control device, enables automatic and rapid re-closure of safety devices by using an electromagnet to attract a moving element, allowing for quick re-establishment of power supply, with a reset time of less than 100 ms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a thermal actuator is used to heat wax by Joule effect for reset operation, then the reset device can automatically re-close the safety device, but the reset time becomes excessively long and unsatisfactory for electrical appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical system (Joule heating of wax to expand and drive the reset mechanism) with an electromagnetic system. An electromagnet directly actuates a moving element that drives the reset mechanism, eliminating the need for thermal conversion and achieving much faster reset times (less than 100 ms compared to seconds or minutes with thermal actuators).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical principle from thermal expansion to electromagnetic attraction. By using an electromagnet instead of a thermal actuator, the reset operation transitions from a slow thermal process to a rapid electromagnetic response, fundamentally changing the time parameter of the reset operation.
2Reliability
If the safety device opens after an anomaly or test, then user safety is ensured, but power supply to electrical appliances is interrupted causing operational disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic reset system that self-activates when the safety device opens. The control device detects the opened state and automatically triggers the electromagnet to reset the safety device, eliminating the need for manual intervention and rapidly restoring power supply to appliances while maintaining safety monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the control device monitors the state of the safety device through contacts. When the safety device opens, this state is detected and fed back to the control device, which then activates the electromagnet to reset the safety device, creating a closed-loop automatic response system.
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 provides significantly shorter reset times and ensures safe, automatic testing and re-closure of safety devices, minimizing disruptions to electrical appliances and ensuring user safety during testing and potential failures.
Implementation Method 1
a reset actuating apparatus (260) comprising an electromagnet (206) and a moving element (208), said reset actuating apparatus (260) being suitable to bring the bar (204) from the lowered position to the raised position
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnet (206) and a moving element (208), said reset actuating apparatus (260) being suitable to bring the bar (204) from the lowered position to the raised position
Data Source
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AI summary
A reset device (200) is described, which is associable with a safety electrical device of an electric circuit, which is suitable to adopt opened and closed states, comprising mechanical means (250) for transmitting to said safety device a reset motion from the opened to the closed state, and an actuating apparatus (260) for actuating the transmission means. The actuating apparatus (260) comprises an electromagnet (206) for generating a magnetic field and a moving element (208) mechanically coupled to the transmission means (250) and such as to be moved following to variations in said magnetic field to cause the reset of the safety device (100).