Relay Movable Contact Member Extended Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
High electromagnetic repulsion caused by electric current in relays can prevent stable contact between fixed and movable contacts, leading to arc discharges that damage the relay, especially at high currents.
Innovation Solution
The relay design includes a movable contact member with extended sections and opposed sections that reduce current density by overlapping with the fixed contact area, allowing more current to flow in the moving direction, thereby minimizing electromagnetic repulsion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high current flows in the relay, then the relay can handle higher power loads, but large electromagnetic repulsion acts on the movable contact member preventing stable contact
Solution Approach 1:
The movable contact member is designed with extended sections that protrude in the moving direction (vertical dimension) beyond the contact area, creating a three-dimensional structure. This dimensional extension allows current to flow through multiple paths including the extended sections, reducing current density in the orthogonal direction and thereby reducing electromagnetic repulsion while maintaining contact stability under high current conditions
2Ease of manufacture
If the movable contact member is made in plate-like shape extended only in orthogonal direction, then manufacturing is simple, but electromagnetic repulsion is not reduced effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The movable contact member is segmented into distinct functional sections: a center section and extended sections. The extended sections are specifically designed to protrude in the moving direction, creating separate current flow paths. This segmentation allows the structure to reduce electromagnetic repulsion through the extended sections while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized forming processes
3Object-affected harmful factors
If extended sections are added to movable contact member, then electromagnetic repulsion is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended sections are merged with the center section to form an integrated movable contact member. This unified structure combines the simplified center section with the extended sections that reduce electromagnetic repulsion, achieving the beneficial effect without requiring separate components or complex assembly processes
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 effectively reduces electromagnetic repulsion, stabilizes contact between fixed and movable contacts, and prevents arc discharges, even at high currents, enhancing the relay's operational reliability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a coil (44) and a movable iron core (72) arranged to be movable in the moving direction D1 when the coil (44) is operated
Implementation Method 2
The electromagnetic repulsion is the Lorentz force that acts on the electric current of a predetermined direction flowing in the movable contact member in a direction of moving the movable contact member away from the fixed contacts
Data Source
AI summary
A relay includes: a pair of fixed terminals, each being arranged to have a fixed contact on a one-end face; a movable contact member arranged to have a pair of movable contacts that are correspondingly opposed to the respective fixed contacts; and a driving structure operated to move the movable contact member. In a moving direction of the movable contact member, a side where the fixed contacts are located is called a first side, and a side where the movable contacts are located is called a second side. The movable contact member includes: a center section located between the pair of movable contacts and located on the second side relative to the movable contacts; and a pair of extended sections located between the center section and the pair of movable contacts and extended in a direction including a component of the moving direction. At least one of the pair of extended sections has a specific relationship of being overlapped at least partly with the one-end face located on same side relative to the center section in vertical projection of the relay onto a predetermined plane perpendicular to the moving direction.