Bottom-Mounted Circuit Breakers for Moisture-Protected Power Inlet Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior art metal power inlet boxes with circuit breakers accessible from the front wall are susceptible to moisture ingress from rain, snow, or ice, potentially leading to exposure and malfunction of circuit breakers.

Innovation Solution

A power inlet assembly with circuit breakers mounted on the bottom wall and protected by a downwardly extending housing design, where reset buttons are accessible from below, ensuring protection from atmospheric moisture and elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If circuit breakers are made accessible from the front wall of the power inlet box, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to moisture ingress from rain, snow, or ice

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of circuit breakersVSAvoidprotection from moisture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional front-access design by placing circuit breakers on the bottom wall and providing access from below. This inversion allows the reset buttons to be accessible while the main circuit breaker components remain protected within the housing from moisture ingress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from horizontal (front wall) access to vertical (bottom wall) access. By moving the circuit breakers to the bottom wall and extending sidewalls downwardly, the design creates a new dimensional approach that maintains accessibility while providing environmental protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If circuit breakers are protected from moisture by enclosing them, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to reduced accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from moistureVSAvoidaccessibility of reset buttons

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different qualities to different parts of the housing. The sidewalls extend downwardly to create a protected environment for the circuit breakers, while the bottom wall incorporates openings or recesses that allow local access to reset buttons. This localized differentiation enables both protection and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is segmented into protected zones (where circuit breakers are enclosed) and accessible zones (where reset buttons are exposed). This segmentation allows the design to simultaneously achieve moisture protection for critical components and ease of operation for user interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12113341B2Power inlet box with circuit protection

Publication Date: 2024.10.08 RELIANCE CONTROLS CORPORATION

AI summary

A power inlet box has as housing with sidewalls and a bottom wall that define an interior. A socket is secured to the housing, to enable power from a power source to be provided to the power inlet box. Circuit breakers are secured to the bottom wall for providing overload protection in the power inlet box. Each circuit breaker includes a reset button located below the bottom wall within a recess defined by the housing.