Spring-Loaded Power Outlet Contact Release for Fast Arc Interruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power outlets struggle to quickly interrupt arcs between fixed and movable contacts, leading to potential damage and suboptimal operating characteristics due to reliance on the restoring force of a leaf spring for separation.
Innovation Solution
A power outlet design incorporating a contact device with a movable member, a return spring, and a holding mechanism that allows the movable member to be quickly moved from a closed to an open position using the urging force of a return spring, enabling rapid separation of contacts and arc interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact only by the restoring force of a leaf spring, then the structure is simple, but the arc cannot be interrupted quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The moving mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a movable member carrying the movable contact, a return spring for urging separation, and a holding mechanism for maintaining the closed position. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling quick arc interruption through the dedicated return spring while keeping the overall structure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding mechanism pre-positions the movable member at the closed position, and the return spring is pre-loaded to provide immediate separating force. When the holding mechanism releases, the pre-stored energy in the return spring is instantly converted to separation motion, achieving quick arc interruption without requiring complex active control systems.
2Speed
If a return spring is introduced to quickly move the movable member from closed to open position, then arc interruption speed improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The return spring is integrated with the movable member structure, and the holding mechanism is combined with the operation member. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device complexity while maintaining the quick separation capability provided by the return spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The return spring automatically provides the separating force without requiring external actuation, and the holding mechanism self-locks in the closed position. These self-service features eliminate the need for complex control systems while achieving rapid arc interruption through the spring's inherent elastic energy.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the movable member is held at the closed position by a holding mechanism, then contact stability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The holding mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operation member and the movable member, providing a simple mechanical locking action that stabilizes the closed position. This intermediary mechanism uses basic mechanical elements like cam surfaces or lugs rather than complex locking systems, achieving contact stability with minimal added complexity.
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
This design allows for quicker arc interruption between fixed and movable contacts compared to systems relying solely on leaf spring restoring force, enhancing the reliability and operational characteristics of the power outlet.
Implementation Method 1
The return spring is a separate member from the movable piece and urges the movable member toward the open position
Implementation Method 2
The return spring may be a coil spring. In this case, the strong return force of the coil spring enables the movable member to be quickly moved from the closed position to the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A power outlet includes a case, a contact device, an operation member, a moving mechanism, a return spring, and a holding mechanism. The contact device includes a fixed contact, a movable contact, and a movable piece. The moving mechanism moves the movable piece in response to operation of the operation member. The moving mechanism includes a movable member and a return spring. The movable member is movable between a closed position in which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact and an open position in which the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. The return spring urges the movable member toward the open position. The holding mechanism is configured to hold the movable member at the closed position, and releases a holding state in which the movable member is held at the closed position in response to operation of the operation member.