HVDC Relay Drive Structure With Arc Isolation and Stable Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-voltage direct-current relays face difficulties in assembly due to the U-shaped basket design, which can lead to components deviating and falling off, and the metal material fails to extinguish arcs, resulting in reduced reverse electrical life.

Innovation Solution

A drive structure featuring a retaining frame, stopper piece, movable spring piece, and elastic member with an arc isolation portion, allowing for a bottom-up assembly process that stabilizes component placement and includes insulating materials to isolate arcs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the U-shaped basket is used to accommodate the movable spring piece and main spring, then the components can be contained within a compact structure, but the assembly process becomes difficult as components easily deviate and fall off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompact structureVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the movable spring piece and main spring within the U-shaped basket before final assembly. The components are preliminarily arranged and secured in place, preventing deviation and fall-off during the assembly process. This preliminary positioning ensures that components remain in their correct positions when the basket is clamped with the fixed piece.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If the U-shaped basket is made of metal material, then the structure provides mechanical strength, but it cannot extinguish arcs generated during reverse operation, leading to reduced reverse electrical life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidreverse electrical life
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining metal material for the U-shaped basket to provide mechanical strength with arc extinguishing material (such as insulating material or arc-quenching substance) to suppress arcs during reverse operation. This composite construction allows the basket to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and extinguish arcs, thereby improving reverse electrical life without sacrificing mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 drive structure facilitates easy and efficient assembly while enhancing the service life of the relay by preventing component deviation and effectively isolating arcs, thereby improving durability and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

one end of the elastic member presses against the support plate, the other end of the elastic member presses against the movable spring piece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The stopper piece is provided with an arc isolation portion, the arc isolation portion includes insulating material for isolating arcs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP3998619B1Drive structure for high-voltage direct-current relay
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES (WUHU) CO LTD
  • EP3998619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3998619B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3998619B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a drive structure for a high-voltage direct-current relay, the drive structure comprising: a retaining frame, a stopper piece, a movable spring piece, and an elastic member. The retaining frame comprises two retaining side arms, a support plate, and a drive rod. The two retaining side arms are disposed at two sides of the support plate, and the drive rod is connected to a bottom portion of the support plate. The stopper piece has one end connected to a terminal end of one of the retaining side arms, and the other end connected to a terminal end of the other retaining side arm. The elastic member has one end pressing against the support plate and the other end pressing against the movable spring piece, the movable spring piece presses against the stopper piece, and the stopper piece is provided with an arc isolation portion. The drive structure for a high-voltage direct-current relay has an bottom-up assembly manner, in which the elastic member, the movable spring piece, and the stopper piece are stacked sequentially, and the stopper piece is connected to and retained by the two retaining side arms, thereby realizing a simple and fast assembly process, and increasing assembly efficiency of high-voltage direct-current relays. In addition, the arc isolation portion has an effect of isolating arcs, thereby improving a service life of high-voltage direct-current relays despite reverse arcs.