Electromagnetic Relay Contact Switch Air Flow Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic relays face issues with flash, burrs, and micro chips generating fine particles that increase contact resistance and lead to faulty electrical continuity, and increasing the number of poles to enhance reliability results in device enlargement.
Innovation Solution
A compact contact switch structure with a guide unit that controls air flow around the movable touch piece, preventing fine particles from adhering to the contact surfaces by directing air flow away from the contact area, thus maintaining reliability without enlarging the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of poles of the contact is increased to enhance contact reliability, then contact reliability is improved, but the occupied space of the contact switch mechanism is increased causing device enlargement
Solution Approach 1:
A guide unit is introduced as an intermediary component to control air flow in the side region of the movable touch piece operating range. This guide unit redirects air flow away from the contact closed position, preventing fine particles from adhering to the contact surfaces. By using this intermediary air flow control mechanism, contact reliability is enhanced without needing to increase the number of contact poles, thus avoiding device enlargement
2Reliability
If cleaning is performed to remove fine particles from components, then contact reliability is improved, but fine particles can still adhere to contact surfaces when the contact opens due to air flow from surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The guide unit is positioned to preemptively control air flow before fine particles can adhere to the contact surfaces. By redirecting air flow in the side region away from the contact closed position, the system prevents fine particle adhesion proactively rather than relying solely on cleaning processes. This preliminary anti-action approach addresses the root cause of particle adhesion during contact opening
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 guide unit effectively prevents fine particle adhesion to contact surfaces, maintaining contact reliability and preventing faulty electrical continuity without the need for increased pole numbers, thereby keeping the device compact.
Implementation Method 1
a guide unit that is provided in a side region with respect to an operating range of the movable touch piece to control an air flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An aspect of the invention provides a compact contact switch structure having high contact reliability of a contact. A movable contact (44) is opened and closed with respect to a fixed contact (39) disposed in an opposite position by operating a movable touch piece (38) provided with the movable contact. The contact switch structure includes a guide unit that is provided in a side region of the movable touch piece to control an air flow in an operating range of the movable touch piece.