Normally Open Electric Switch with Elastic Contact Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric switches for medical applications, such as dosage detection, face challenges with high position tolerances, large series production difficulties, and inadequate overtravel, making them unsuitable for accurate and reliable dosage detection.
Innovation Solution
A normally open electric switch design featuring elastically deformable contact blades and an actuator that allows for precise contact alignment and significant overtravel, with a body made of insulating material and a pivoting actuator that maintains electrical contact while accommodating high rest and active positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pivoting actuator with moveable contact blade is used (prior art design), then the switch can detect dosage activity, but the position tolerances of the contact ends become significant and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The switch is divided into functionally independent modules: a body housing, a push button actuator, a movable contact blade, and fixed contact elements. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled with standardized tolerances, preventing cumulative positioning errors that would occur in integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable contact blade acts as an intermediary element between the push button actuator and the fixed contact elements. It provides a stable, precisely positioned contact surface that mediates the mechanical motion from the actuator into reliable electrical contact, isolating the system from positioning tolerances.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional switch designs are used, then manufacturing is possible, but very large series production becomes difficult and productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The switch components are designed as separate, modular units that can be manufactured using standardized processes and then assembled through simple insertion and connection operations. This modular architecture enables parallel manufacturing of multiple components and facilitates high-volume assembly through automated insertion techniques.
3Reliability
If the actuator is designed for high rest position stability, then the switch maintains reliable contact, but the overtravel distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable contact blade is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to maintain stable contact at the rest position while accommodating significant travel distance during actuation. The blade's mechanical properties enable it to remain stationary during normal operation but move reliably when actuated, providing both stability and overtravel capability.
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 achieves low tolerance for closing travel and significant overtravel, ensuring accurate and reliable electrical switching with minimal actuation force, addressing the limitations of prior art switches.
Implementation Method 1
a first contact blade supported by the body which is elastically deformable under the action of the actuator between: a high rest position in which this first contact blade elastically abuts upwards against a facing portion of the actuator
Data Source
AI summary
An electric switch of the normally open type includes a body made of insulating material, an actuator that is moveable between a high rest position and a low active contact position, a first elastically deformable contact blade supported by the body, and a second elastically deformable contact blade supported by the body. A first contact section of the first contact blade extends above a second contact section of the second contact blade. The first and second contact sections are superposed and are vertically distanced from each other when the actuator is in high rest position, and are in mutual electrical contact when the actuator is in low position so as to establish an electrical switching path.