Removable Current Breaking Element With Inspection Windows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing removable electrical cut-off elements in electrical devices face issues with accidental welding of moving conductors to fixed conductors, making it difficult to unsolder and replace them, leading to costly and time-consuming maintenance operations.

Innovation Solution

A removable electrical cut-off element with through windows allowing visual inspection and tool insertion for unsoldering, enabling direct maintenance without opening the housing, and incorporating features like oblong windows and symmetrical half-shells for easy insertion and desoldering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the housing is sealed and closed, then protection and safety are improved, but accessibility for maintenance and inspection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection and safetyVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance and inspection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented by introducing through-windows that divide the closed structure into observable sections, allowing inspection and maintenance access without compromising the overall sealed protection of the housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If conductors are securely connected, then electrical reliability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical reliabilityVSAvoidease of unsoldering and replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The essential function of conductor connection and inspection is extracted through the through-windows, which provide access to the contact zones for unsoldering and visual inspection without requiring complete disassembly of the housing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The through-windows act as intermediaries that facilitate maintenance operations by providing a pathway for tools and visual inspection between the exterior and the internal conductor connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the housing is opened for maintenance, then accessibility is improved, but operational time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidoperational time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented with through-windows that allow localized access to specific contact zones, enabling maintenance operations without opening the entire housing and thus minimizing operational downtime

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3333864B1Removable current breaking element for an electrical current breaking apparatus and electrical breaking apparatus comprising this removable current breaking element
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IND SAS
  • EP3333864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3333864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3333864B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This removable current-interrupting element (6) for an electrical switching device comprises: - a housing (20); - first and second fixed electrical conductors (22, 24); - a movable electrical conductor (30) that can be positioned between: • a first position, in which the movable electrical conductor electrically connects the first and second fixed electrical conductors, and • a second position, in which the movable electrical conductor is electrically isolated from the first and second fixed electrical conductors. The housing has two through-windows (50, 52), one located opposite a contact area between the movable conductor and the first fixed electrical conductor, and the other located opposite a contact area between the movable conductor and the second fixed electrical conductor.