Field-Configurable Jumpers for Electrical Switching Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers with multiple poles, lack flexibility in wiring configurations due to predetermined internal electrical connections, limiting their application in switchgear and switchboards, especially for high voltage low voltage devices.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of field-configurable jumpers that can electrically connect pairs of separable contacts in series, allowing for customizable connections between input and output terminals, enabling flexible wiring configurations for various pole counts and voltage applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple circuit breakers are tied together or poles are electrically connected internally in predetermined manner, then high voltage capability is achieved, but wiring flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker is divided into multiple independent poles, each with its own separable contacts and terminals. This segmentation allows each pole to be independently connected to jumpers, enabling flexible wiring configurations while maintaining the voltage capability through series connection of multiple poles.
Solution Approach 2:
The jumpers are made field-configurable, allowing the electrical connections between poles to be dynamically changed after installation. This dynamic reconfigurability enables the same physical device to adapt to different wiring requirements and applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If circuit breakers are designed with predetermined internal electrical connections, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but application adaptability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit breaker is divided into multiple independent poles, each with its own separable contacts and terminals. This segmentation allows each pole to be independently connected to jumpers, enabling flexible wiring configurations while maintaining the voltage capability through series connection of multiple poles.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit breaker design incorporates universal features such as standardized terminals and jumpers that can be configured for different applications. The same physical device can serve multiple functions by reconfiguring the jumper connections, achieving multi-functionality without complicating the manufacturing.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
An electrical switching apparatus (100;200;300;400) includes at least one pole (102;202;302;402); a plurality of first terminals (104;204;304;404); a plurality of second terminals (106;206;306;406); a plurality of pairs of separable contacts (108;208;308;408); and a plurality of field-configurable jumpers (110;210;310;410). Each of the plurality of field-configurable jumpers electrically connects two of the pairs of separable contacts in series. Each of the plurality of field-configurable jumpers are electrically connected to: (a) two of the first terminals (204), (b) two of the first terminals (304;404) or two of the second terminals (306;406); or (c) one of the first terminals (104) and one of the second terminals (106).