Heavy Current Reed Switch Contact Arc Discharge Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reed switch contacts in small switches are prone to erosion and adhesion due to electric arcs, which limits their ability to handle large current loads and reduces their service life, as traditional arc-extinguishing devices cannot be effectively integrated into volume-limited switch structures.
Innovation Solution
A large-current reed switch contact design featuring elastic reed electrodes with protruding arc discharge devices that rapidly transfer electric arcs away from the contact surfaces, utilizing electroplated arc-resistant layers and optimized distances to quench the arcs, thereby reducing surface erosion and improving the switches' current-carrying capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional reed switch contacts are used in large current circuits, then the switch can operate in high current environments, but electric arcs cause severe contact erosion and adhesion, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the arc discharge function from the contact surfaces by adding protruding arc discharge devices that extend beyond the contact edges. These dedicated arc reception structures capture and confine arcs away from the main contact surfaces, preventing contact erosion while allowing the switch to operate at high currents.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding arc discharge devices serve as intermediary structures between the contacts and the arc plasma. They provide a dedicated path for arc discharge, acting as a mediator that protects the main contact surfaces from direct arc exposure while maintaining electrical connectivity.
2Reliability
If traditional arc-extinguishing devices are added to reduce contact erosion, then contact protection improves, but the switch structure becomes too complex for volume-limited applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the arc discharge function with the contact structure itself by making the arc discharge devices integral parts of the reed electrodes. The protruding portions are formed directly from the reed electrode material, combining the contact and arc protection functions into a single unified structure rather than adding separate external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating protruding arc discharge devices only at specific locations where arcs are most likely to occur (near the contact edges). The reed electrodes maintain their standard planar structure in other areas, providing arc protection only where needed rather than redesigning the entire structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional auxiliary structural components are used to prevent electric arcs, then some arc prevention is achieved, but arcs cannot be transferred away from contact surfaces, limiting effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of arcs into a beneficial outcome by providing dedicated protruding structures that intentionally attract and concentrate arcs. Instead of trying to prevent arc formation, the design harnesses the arc discharge phenomenon and directs it to specific sacrificial protruding portions, protecting the main contact surfaces while utilizing the arc energy in a controlled manner.
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 solution effectively reduces contact surface damage from electric arcs, enhances the switches' on/off ability, and increases their service life by quickly transferring and quenching arcs within the arc discharge devices, thereby improving the switches' ability to handle larger current loads.
Implementation Method 1
an extremely hot and bright gas, which is called an electric arc, is produced in gaps between the contacts
Implementation Method 2
The opposite sides of the side shoulders (15, 152) of the electrode and the side shoulders (17, 172) of the arc discharge device are electroplated with an arc resistant electroplated layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A heavy current reed switch contact structure comprises at least one set of elastic reed electrode (11, 12) or at least one fixed electrode (12) and an elastic reed electrode (11). The reed electrode (11, 12) is made of a conductive material. Contacts (13, 14) are arranged on opposing surfaces of mutually overlapping ends. A side of the end having the contacts is disposed with an arc discharge device (16, 162). The reed switch employs a specially designed contact structure, and the arc discharge structure device is additionally disposed on the basis of a traditional switch contact structure. As a result, the reed switch quickly transfers to the contact arc discharge structure device an instantons arc generated upon switching the switch contact, thereby easing burnout resulting from an arc on the contact surfaces of the contacts, enabling the contacts to be less prone to being adhered together, and considerably increasing a bearing current and a switching capacity of the reed switch. The heavy current reed switch contact structure has a simple structure and provides a heavy bearing current.