Interchangeable Circuit Breaker Poles Using Universal Kinematic Couplings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current low-voltage circuit breakers require separate design and manufacturing processes for poles in free air and sealed poles, limiting manufacturing flexibility and increasing costs due to the lack of interchangeable components and standardized parts.

Innovation Solution

A modular low-voltage circuit breaker design that allows for easy conversion between poles in free air and sealed poles using a single control mechanism and interchangeable kinematic couplings, enabling compatibility with both types of poles and reducing the number of required parts for assembly and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate design and manufacturing processes are used for poles in free air and sealed poles, then each pole type can be optimized for its specific application, but manufacturing flexibility is limited and costs increase due to lack of interchangeable components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepole performance optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism is designed with universal compatibility to work with both sealed poles and poles in free air. The kinematic coupling system uses standardized interfaces that can accommodate different pole types, allowing a single control mechanism to perform multiple functions across different circuit breaker configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit breaker is divided into modular components: the control mechanism is separated from the poles, and the kinematic coupling is designed as an interchangeable interface. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component while maintaining overall system flexibility and interchangeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepole performance optimizationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism and kinematic coupling are designed as universal components that can be used with both sealed and non-sealed poles. This universality reduces the number of unique parts that need to be manufactured, standardized, and inventoried, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining pole-specific optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows for parameter changes in the pole configuration (sealed vs. non-sealed) while maintaining the same control mechanism and kinematic coupling interface. This enables manufacturers to produce standardized control components in high volumes while only varying the pole-specific components, reducing overall manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If separate design and manufacturing processes are used for poles in free air and sealed poles, then each pole type can be optimized for its specific application, but the number of required parts for assembly and maintenance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepole performance optimizationVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If separate design and manufacturing processes are used for poles in free air and sealed poles, then each pole type can be optimized for its specific application, but interchangeability of components is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepole performance optimizationVSAvoidcomponent interchangeability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1909304B1A low-voltage circuit breaker with interchangeable poles.

Publication Date: 2015.04.29 ABB SPA

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AI summary

A low-voltage circuit breaker that comprises: a containment structure (2); a control mechanism (3); a plurality of circuit breaking poles (4), chosen between a first type of pole (40) that comprises a first housing (41) containing a first fixed contact (42) and a corresponding first moving contact (43) that can be coupled to said first fixed contact by means of its rotation around a point (45), and a second type of pole (50) that comprises a second housing (51) containing a second fixed contact and a corresponding second moving contact that can be coupled to said second fixed contact by means of a translatory movement along an axis (55); a first kinematic coupling (6) between said control mechanism (3) and said first moving contact, in the case of said poles belonging to said first type of pole (40), or a second kinematic coupling (7) between said control mechanism and said second moving contact, in the case of said poles belonging to said second type of pole (50).