Mechanically Assisted Fuse Breaking for Fast Low-Overcurrent Cutoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fuses are ineffective in quickly cutting off circuits during small overcurrents, especially in situations like short circuits or when electrical equipment is immersed in water, due to reliance on heat accumulation, which is slow, and lack the ability to handle higher voltages and currents reliably without additional mechanical switches.
Innovation Solution
A fuse design that combines current fusing and mechanical breaking, using a hollow shell filled with an arc extinguishing medium, conductive terminals, and a driving device to mechanically break the fusant, forming fractures in the arc extinguishing medium, enhancing breaking capacity and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional fuse uses heat generated by flowing current to perform fusing, then the fuse structure is simple and cost is low, but the fusing time is long when overcurrent is small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines thermal fusing and mechanical breaking into a single fuse device. The fusant is designed with a weak position that can be broken by mechanical force (spring or gravity) while also being susceptible to thermal fusing. This merging allows the fuse to achieve fast breaking for small overcurrents through mechanical force while maintaining the ability to handle large overcurrents through thermal fusing, thus resolving the contradiction between fast response time and high breaking capacity.
2Loss of time
If switch is used to cut off the circuit when overcurrent is small, then the breaking response is fast, but the breaking capacity is weaker and device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse achieves self-service by using its own structural design to enable both fast breaking and high breaking capacity without requiring external control devices. The weak position in the fusant, combined with the spring or gravity mechanism, allows the fuse to automatically break quickly under small overcurrents while maintaining the capability to interrupt large currents, eliminating the need for additional switches or control systems.
3Strength
If spring or gravity is used to elongate fusant fracture, then mechanical breaking capability is improved, but external control cannot be carried out and reliability of multiple fractures is not guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific weak position in the fusant with reduced mechanical strength. This localized weak point ensures that when mechanical force is applied via spring or gravity, the fracture occurs reliably at the intended location. The weak position is designed with specific material properties or structural features that make it the preferred fracture point, guaranteeing consistent and reliable breaking behavior.
4Volume of stationary object
If fuse is designed for small rated current and low rated voltage, then breaking capacity is low, but volume and movement space can be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By merging thermal fusing and mechanical breaking mechanisms, the fuse achieves high breaking capacity in both small and large current scenarios within a compact design. The mechanical breaking component enables fast response for small currents without requiring large dimensions, while the thermal fusing capability ensures adequate breaking capacity for larger currents. This combination allows the fuse to maintain high performance in a reduced volume compared to traditional designs that rely solely on thermal fusing.
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 fuse effectively breaks circuits quickly and reliably across a wider current range, improving arc extinguishing and mechanical breaking capabilities, ensuring safe and efficient protection of electrical equipment.
Implementation Method 1
an arc extinguishing medium filled has the ability to extinguish arc
Implementation Method 2
The traditional fuse uses the heat generated by the flowing current to perform the fusing
Data Source
AI summary
A fuse in form of breaking fusant by fusing breaking and mechanical breaking includes hollow shell; arc extinguishing medium filled in the shell; at least one piece of fusant arranged in the shell; and conductive terminals provided as penetrating through shell wall and capable to be connected to external circuit, two ends of the fusant are respectively connected with the conductive terminals, at least one breaking device that mechanically breaks the fusant is provided in the shell; driving device arranged outside the shell, after receiving external excitation signal, drives the breaking device to break the fusant in one of linear and rotational displacement modes or their combination; blocking structures are arranged between the breaking device and the shell wall; and the fusant located in the arc extinguishing medium is provided with weak positions where mechanical breaking strength of the fusant is reduced and fusing is easy to be achieved.