Power-supply device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy supply devices for furniture can cause undesired spark gaps and open arcs when movable furniture parts move, leading to damage and disruption in power supply due to sudden changes in power input, especially when contacting a current supply rail.
Innovation Solution
An energy supply device with a switchable load-switching element, such as a semiconductor component, and a contacting device with a contact element that can galvanically conductively contact the current supply rail, enabling a controlled current supply to electrical consumers, even during movements of furniture parts, using a spring contact with pivotable fingers for secure connection and voltage-controlled switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a contacting device directly contacts the current supply rail during movement of furniture parts, then power supply to electrical consumers is enabled, but spark gaps and open arcs occur causing damage and disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The load-switching element is activated before the contacting device establishes contact with the current supply rail. This preliminary switching action ensures that the electrical consumer is already connected to the power supply through the load-switching element, preventing sudden power input changes and spark gap formation when the contacting device makes contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The load-switching element acts as an intermediary between the current supply rail and the electrical consumer. It provides an alternative power supply path that bypasses the problematic direct contact between the contacting device and current supply rail during movement, thereby preventing spark gaps while maintaining power supply.
2Ease of operation
If the contacting device contacts the current supply rail during furniture movement, then electrical consumers receive power, but sudden power input changes cause spark gaps and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The load-switching element is switched on in advance before the contacting device contacts the current supply rail during furniture movement. This ensures that power is already being supplied to the electrical consumer through the load-switching element, preventing sudden power input changes that would otherwise cause spark gaps and damage to electrical contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The load-switching element serves as a protective intermediary that handles the power supply function during furniture movement, preventing the contacting device from being exposed to harmful conditions that would cause damage while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If a load-switching element is introduced to control power supply, then spark gaps are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load-switching element is designed to be automatically controlled by the position of the movable furniture part. The system self-regulates by detecting whether the furniture part is in the retracted or extended position and automatically switching the load-switching element on or off accordingly, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms while maintaining spark gap prevention.
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
Prevents spark gaps and damage by ensuring a stable power supply to electrical consumers on furniture, allowing for safe and reliable operation even when furniture parts move, with the ability to detect and adjust connections based on position and voltage, ensuring continuous power without high power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a contacting device (9) with a contact element (10) for galvanically conductively contacting the at least one current supply rail (8)
Implementation Method 2
at least one load-switching element (11) for enabling a current supply from the current supply rail (8) to the at least one electrical consumer (7) via the contacting device (9)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a power-supply device for an item of furniture that has a furniture carcass and at least one movable furniture part for supplying at least one electrical load with electrical power, the device comprising: at least one current-supply bar, wherein the current-supply bar can be arranged on the furniture carcass or on the movable furniture part; at least one contacting device, wherein the contacting device can be arranged at least in part on the movable furniture part or on the furniture carcass; wherein the contacting device comprises at least one contact element for galvanically conductively contacting the at least one current-supply bar, and at least one switchable load-switch element for allowing a current supply from the current-supply bar to the at least one electrical load via the contacting device.