Residual Current Device Pivotal Assembly Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of residual current devices with circuit-breakers is cumbersome and difficult due to the need for simultaneous electrical and mechanical interconnection, which involves complex handling and alignment of perpendicular components.
Innovation Solution
A residual current device design featuring pivotally hinged parts with interconnection terminals and mechanical coupling means, including a release pin and key pins, that allows for easy alignment and secure mechanical connection with a circuit-breaker, facilitating quick and comfortable assembly by ensuring proper electrical and mechanical coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If residual current device and circuit-breaker are manufactured as separate modular units for assembly, then manufacturing flexibility and stocking efficiency are improved, but assembly complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrical interconnection terminals and mechanical coupling means into a single integrated assembly structure. The connection member features both electrical terminals for wire connection and mechanical elements (such as positioning protrusions and locking features) that work together as one unit, eliminating the need for separate electrical and mechanical assembly steps and reducing handling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical terminals and mechanical coupling elements are pre-positioned and pre-aligned on the connection member during manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the modular units are brought together for assembly, the electrical and mechanical connections are already aligned, eliminating the need for complex field alignment and reducing assembly difficulty.
2Reliability
If electrical interconnection and mechanical coupling are provided simultaneously, then connection reliability is improved, but assembly difficulty and handling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates electrical terminals and mechanical coupling means into a single connection member assembly. This merging ensures that both electrical and mechanical connections are established simultaneously through one assembly action, maintaining connection reliability while reducing the number of separate operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection member is designed as a distinct modular component that separates the electrical connection function from the mechanical coupling function in terms of design, while integrating them in terms of assembly. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently while ensuring they work together seamlessly during a single assembly operation.
3Volume of moving object
If perpendicular interpenetration of mechanical members is used for assembly, then space utilization is improved, but alignment precision and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection member incorporates pre-formed positioning protrusions and corresponding recesses that are precisely manufactured during production. These pre-positioned features guide the perpendicular alignment of modular units during assembly, eliminating the need for complex field alignment procedures and ensuring high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection member acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the electrical terminals and mechanical coupling elements. It provides a unified interface with integrated positioning features that facilitate perpendicular alignment, serving as a mediator that translates the spatial relationship between modular units while maintaining both electrical and mechanical connection integrity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The residual current device (2; 200) associable to an electric circuit-breaker (1), the residual current device (2;200) comprising: - interconnection electric terminals (22) suitable to establish, by co-operating with respective electric terminals of the circuit-breaker (1) that are accessible through a first face (6) of the latter, an electrical connection between the device (2;200) and the electric circuit-breaker (1); and - mechanical coupling means (15,16) suitable to allow a mechanical interaction between the device (2;200) and the circuit-breaker (1) through a second face (12) perpendicular to said first face (6). The device (2;200) comprises first (20,21;221) and second (24;220) parts, which are pivotally connected to each other and carry said interconnection electric terminals (22) and said mechanical coupling means (15,16), respectively.