Movable Contact Traction Member for Rotary Switches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary electric switches face challenges in maintaining optimal electric conduction properties and preventing air gaps between movable and stationary contacts, while also requiring easy assembly and effective longitudinal movement prevention.
Innovation Solution
A movable contact design featuring a pair of contact blades with a traction member that includes a unitary frame and spring portion for attraction and locking, preventing longitudinal movement and ensuring secure contact through a combination of frames, springs, and locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact between movable contact and stationary contact is made tight to prevent air gaps, then electric conduction properties are improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the frame and spring into a single unitary traction member, integrating the supporting structure and contact pressure provision into one component. This reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining the function of tight contact between movable and stationary contacts, thereby improving electric conduction without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The traction member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support for the contact blades, maintains contact pressure between movable and stationary contacts, and prevents longitudinal movement through integrated locking features. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, balancing reliability improvement with controlled complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If a unitary traction member with integrated spring and frame is used, then the number of parts is reduced for easier assembly, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frame and spring are merged into a single unitary traction member made from one piece of material. This integration reduces the number of assembly steps and parts to be handled separately, directly improving ease of manufacture and assembly while the extrusion process provides consistent geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The traction member is formed by extrusion, a manufacturing process that creates consistent geometric parameters along the length of the component. This process ensures uniform cross-sections and precise feature locations, meeting manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining ease of assembly through reduced part count
3Reliability
If locking members are added to prevent longitudinal movement of contact blades, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking features are integrated directly into the unitary traction member structure rather than being separate components. The extruded geometry includes built-in features that prevent longitudinal movement of contact blades, providing reliability improvement without adding separate locking mechanisms that would increase complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The unitary traction member's extruded geometry provides self-contained locking features that automatically prevent longitudinal movement of contact blades. The integrated design means the structure serves its own locking function without requiring additional dedicated locking components, balancing reliability with simplicity
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 design enhances electric conduction by maintaining contact pressure and preventing air gaps, while allowing for easy assembly and secure locking of the contact blades, thus improving the operational reliability and efficiency of rotary electric switches.
Implementation Method 1
a spring portion for pressing one of the contact blades against the other contact blade
Data Source
AI summary
A movable contact of a rotary switch, including a pair of contact blades for making an electrical contact to a stationary contact receivable between the contact blades. The movable contact includes a traction member for providing a traction force between the contact blades, wherein the traction member is a unitary piece including two frame portions for framing the pair of contact blades, the traction member including a spring portion for pressing one of the contact blades against the other contact blade, wherein the spring portion is arranged between the two frame portions arranged at a distance from each other.