Movable Spring Plate Relay for Arc Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional relays face issues with electric arcs during current conduction, leading to damage and a short service life, as they are unable to effectively extinguish arcs, especially when handling high currents.
Innovation Solution
A movable spring plate structure with a rigid and soft spring plate configuration, including deformation gaps and a connecting portion, which allows for controlled deformation to secure the contact and extinguish electric arcs by distributing deformation forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a permanent magnet is installed adjacent to the two connectors to reduce the electric arc, then the magnetic field interference is introduced, but the electric arc cannot be extinguished effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the permanent magnet from the system and replaces it with a soft spring plate structure that uses elastic deformation to address the electric arc problem without introducing magnetic field interference. The soft spring plate warp portion absorbs deformation forces through material flexibility rather than magnetic fields.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from using magnetic field parameters to using mechanical deformation parameters. The soft spring plate's hardness, elasticity, and deformation gap are optimized to extinguish electric arcs through controlled mechanical movement rather than magnetic field interaction.
2Reliability
If the connectors are in the closed state to conduct current, then the circuit control function is achieved, but electric arcs and repulsive forces cause damage and reduce service life
Solution Approach 1:
The soft spring plate warp portion acts as a cushioning element that absorbs the repulsive forces and deformation stresses before they can damage the connectors. The first deformation gap provides pre-configured space for this cushioning action to occur during normal operation, protecting the contact portion throughout the service life.
3Power
If the controlled circuit transmits high current, then the power handling capability is improved, but the electric arc energy increases and causes severe damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different hardness properties to different parts of the spring plate structure. The contact portion has higher hardness to withstand high current density and resist wear, while the warp portion has lower hardness and higher elasticity to absorb deformation energy from high-power electric arcs, creating localized quality differentiation that addresses both power handling and arc suppression.
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 movable spring plate structure enhances the stability and longevity of relay contacts by preventing electric arcs and minimizing damage, enabling reliable operation in high current and high voltage systems.
Implementation Method 1
the soft spring plate warp portion produces a deformation with respect to the rigid spring plate contact portion. Therefore, the soft spring plate warp portion withstands most of the deformation and secures the movable contact to extinguish the electric arc
Implementation Method 2
an electromagnetic device produces an electromagnetic effect to drive a movable connector to contact a fixed connector in the relay
Data Source
AI summary
A movable spring plate structure for defining an open or closed state with respect to a fixed contact includes a rigid spring plate contact portion, a soft spring plate warp portion, a soft spring plate force-applying portion and a movable contact. The soft spring plate warp portion is coupled to the rigid spring plate contact portion, and a first deformation gap is formed between the rigid and soft spring plate contact portions. The rigid spring plate contact portion is harder than the soft spring plate warp portion. The soft spring plate force-applying portion is disposed at the soft spring plate warp portion, and the movable contact is disposed at the rigid spring plate contact portion. A force applied to the soft spring plate force-applying portion drives the movable and fixed contacts into a closed state.