Fuse Board Trigger Bar Mechanism for Vibration Resistant Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical panels for residential and commercial use lack a simple, easy-to-assemble design that provides comprehensive protection against short-circuits, overloads, and misalignments while minimizing bulk and preventing accidental triggering due to vibrations.

Innovation Solution

The electrical panel design incorporates a main module with differential protection, spring-loaded trigger mechanisms, ball joint connections for alignment compensation, counterweights for vibration prevention, and a trigger bar with actuating rods and stop mechanisms for precise operation and easy assembly, ensuring reliable protection against overloads and short-circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional electrical panel design is used, then comprehensive protection against short-circuits and overloads is provided, but the design becomes complex and difficult to assemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against short-circuits and overloadsVSAvoiddesign complexity and assembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical panel is divided into modular functional units (main cut-off module, starting modules, differential protection module) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each module contains its own protection mechanisms, allowing complex protection functions to be distributed across simple, standardized components that are easy to assemble and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If comprehensive protection mechanisms are added to the electrical panel, then reliability improves, but the bulk and size of the panel increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against short-circuits, overloads, and vibrationsVSAvoidpanel bulk and size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protection functions (thermal protection against overloads, magnetic protection against short-circuits, differential protection, and vibration prevention) are integrated into a compact modular architecture. The standardized module design allows these diverse protection mechanisms to be combined in a space-efficient manner, reducing overall panel bulk while maintaining comprehensive protection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the panel is designed for easy assembly, then manufacturing efficiency improves, but precision alignment and consistent operation become difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly ease and manufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidalignment precision and operational consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The module support structure incorporates universal alignment features (such as ball joint connections and standardized mounting interfaces) that automatically compensate for minor misalignments during assembly. This allows modules to be easily assembled without requiring high-precision alignment tools or skills, while the universal design ensures consistent operational performance across all installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If the trigger mechanisms are made sensitive for reliable protection, then protection effectiveness improves, but accidental triggering due to vibrations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidaccidental triggering by vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger bar mechanism incorporates counterweights that balance the trigger bar in its normal position, creating a stable equilibrium that resists unwanted movement. This counterbalancing allows the trigger mechanisms to remain sensitive enough for reliable protection while being sufficiently stable to ignore minor vibrations and prevent accidental tripping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 robust, compact, and reliable protection against electrical overloads and short-circuits, preventing accidental tripping and ensuring consistent operation under various conditions, including vibrations, while maintaining ease of assembly and reduced bulk.

Implementation Method 1

a spring fixed on the one hand, to a support of the reference module and on the other hand, to the trigger bar, so as to polarize the trigger bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the aforementioned supports comprises a counterweight capable of preventing the inadvertent triggering of the mechanisms of the starting and main modules, when vibrations occur

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCounterweight: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2345055B1Fuse board
Publication Date: 2016.03.16 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP2345055B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2345055B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2345055B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fuse board T comprising a so-called main module (10) for cutting the electricity and a so-called initial individual module (1, 2) for cutting the electricity, said main module (10) comprising electrical protection means for preventing short-circuits, and the initial module (1, 2) comprising a circuit for protecting against electrical overloads, the circuit for protecting against electrical overloads comprising triggering means for actuating means for controlling (26) means for triggering the main module (10). The modules are housed in a housing B consisting of a single component, and the control means (26) comprise a single triggering rod (35) having a straight beam (36) supported on its two opposing ends by two so-called end supports (37) rotatably mounted inside the housing B, the beam (36) being restored to its engagement position with the means for triggering initial modules (1, 2) and being rotatably driven by said means in such a way as to actuate the means for triggering the main module.