Magnet-Assisted Arc Extinguishing Unit for Low-Current DC Breakers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DC air circuit breakers face challenges in effectively extinguishing arcs generated by small currents due to weak arc power and the absence of a zero point, leading to prolonged arc presence that can damage components and pose safety risks.
Innovation Solution
An arc extinguishing unit with a magnetic field structure that guides and extinguishes arcs generated by small currents, utilizing a magnet unit to form a path for arc movement and include side plates, grids, and a magnet unit to enhance magnetic field strength without excessive space or design changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnet unit is added to form a magnetic field for guiding arcs, then arc extinguishing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet unit is nested within the existing arc extinguishing unit structure, integrated with the grid and side plate assembly. This nesting approach allows the magnetic field guiding function to be added without creating a separate independent system, thereby improving arc extinguishing efficiency while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The arc extinguishing unit is designed to perform multiple functions: arc guidance through magnetic field, arc extinguishing through grid compression, and structural support through the side plates. By making the arc extinguishing unit multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated components for each function, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If magnets are disposed adjacent to the outermost grid to form magnetic field, then arc movement control is improved, but space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic fields are applied locally only at critical positions where arcs need guidance, specifically adjacent to the outermost grid. This localized application of magnetic field ensures effective arc movement control at the most critical points while avoiding unnecessary space occupation throughout the entire device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnet units are disposed in a specific spatial arrangement adjacent to the outermost grid, utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently. By positioning magnets at strategic locations rather than distributing them uniformly, the patent achieves effective arc movement control while minimizing the overall space occupied by the magnetic field generating components.
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 quickly moves and extinguishes arcs, reducing damage to components and ensuring user safety by enhancing arc movement and extinguishing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet unit forming a magnetic field for changing a path of an arc formed between a fixed contact and a movable contact
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an arc extinguishing unit and an air circuit breaker comprising the same. An arc extinguishing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention provides: side plates spaced apart from each other and disposed to face each other; a plurality of grids disposed between the side plates, spaced apart from each other, and coupled to the side plates, respectively; a magnet unit forming a magnetic field for changing a path of an arc formed between a fixed contact and a movable contact disposed to be spaced apart from the fixed contact, and disposed adjacent to the outermost grid adjacent to the fixed contact among the plurality of grids.