Rotating Electrical Contactor Arc Quenching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical contactor systems face challenges in efficiently quenching arcs during the transition from on to off, leading to delayed circuit breaking and potential contact fusion or explosion, especially in high-voltage applications, due to the complexity and cost of sealed inflated air methods and the inefficiency of strong magnetic fields in air media.
Innovation Solution
An electrical contactor system incorporating a rotating member with a magnetic blow-out arc quenching device using permanent magnets and isolation arc quenching devices, which elongate and extinguish arcs through electromagnetic forces, and arc quenching sheets that push arcs towards the magnets, enhancing arc quenching efficiency and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealed inflated air and additional magnetic field are used to quench arcs, then arc quenching efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex sealed inflated air system and additional magnetic field generation components from the design. Instead, it uses a simple permanent magnet to generate the necessary magnetic field for arc quenching, significantly simplifying the device structure while maintaining effective arc extinction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnet automatically generates the magnetic field required for arc quenching without requiring external power sources or control systems. The magnet serves itself by providing the magnetic field continuously whenever the arc occurs, eliminating the need for additional active components
2Reliability
If strong magnetic field in air medium is used to quench arcs, then arc quenching is achieved, but internal space requirement increases limiting miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic field generation approach from requiring large-volume electromagnets to using compact permanent magnets with optimized magnetic properties. This parameter change in the magnetic field source enables effective arc quenching in a much smaller volume, allowing device miniaturization
3Reliability
If conventional arc quenching methods are used, then arc extinction is attempted, but contact fusion and explosion risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The permanent magnet is pre-positioned in the device structure so that the magnetic field is already present and ready to act on the arc as soon as it forms during contact opening. This preliminary preparation of the magnetic field ensures immediate arc quenching action, preventing the arc from growing large enough to cause contact fusion or explosion
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 system effectively accelerates arc quenching, reduces the risk of contact fusion, and allows for miniaturization by leveraging electromagnetic forces and isolation mechanisms, improving the reliability and efficiency of arc extinction.
Implementation Method 1
The permanent magnet is statically disposed in a vicinity of the stationary contactor for elongating an arc between the stationary contact and the moving contact by an electromagnetic force so as to extinguish the arc
Implementation Method 2
The isolation arc quenching device pushes the arc toward the permanent magnet so as to force the arc to move to a vicinity of the permanent magnet
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical contactor system includes a stationary contactor having a stationary contact, a moving contactor having a moving contact, a rotating member, a magnetic blow-out arc quenching device including a permanent magnet, and an isolation arc quenching device. The moving contactor is mounted on the rotating member and is rotatable between a connected position and a disconnected position. The moving contact is in electrical contact with the stationary contact when the moving contactor is rotated to the connected position, the moving contact is separated from the stationary contact when the moving contactor is rotated to the disconnected position. The permanent magnet is statically disposed in a vicinity of the stationary contactor for elongating an arc between the stationary contact and the moving contact by an electromagnetic force so as to extinguish the arc. The isolation arc quenching device pushes the arc toward the permanent magnet so as to force the arc to move to a vicinity of the permanent magnet.