Shared-Shaft Crossbar Assembly for Compact Trip Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trip devices in molded case circuit breakers require excessive space for the rotation of crossbars and instant bars, leading to increased device sizes and potential electrical interference between different phases.
Innovation Solution
A crossbar assembly is designed with a structure that integrates the rotation spaces of the crossbar and instant bar, using a shared rotation shaft and a specific coupling mechanism to minimize space requirements and prevent electrical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If crossbar and instant bar are provided separately with separate rotation shafts, then each bar can be controlled independently, but excessive space is required for rotation and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotation shafts of the crossbar and instant bar into a single shared rotation shaft. This allows both bars to rotate independently around the same axis, achieving independent control capability while significantly reducing the rotation space required compared to having separate rotation shafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The single rotation shaft serves multiple functions by supporting both the crossbar and instant bar rotations. This multi-functional design enables one component to fulfill the role of what would traditionally require separate components, thereby reducing overall device size and space requirements.
2Ease of operation
If metal bar is arranged to cross between frames through which currents of different phases flow, then movement of crossbar is enabled, but electrical interference between currents of different phases occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the metal bar that causes electrical interference and replaces it with an insulating material rotation shaft. This removal of the harmful metallic component eliminates the electrical interference between different phase currents while preserving the necessary rotational movement functionality through the insulating shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating material is introduced as an intermediary between the rotation mechanism and the current-carrying frames. This intermediary component enables the crossbar movement while preventing direct electrical contact between phases, thereby eliminating interference while maintaining operational capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If crossbar and instant bar are spaced apart and rotated on separate shafts, then independent rotation is possible, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple rotation shafts into a single shared rotation shaft that supports both the crossbar and instant bar. This merging reduces structural complexity by eliminating redundant components while maintaining the independent rotation capability through appropriate positioning and support structures on the single shaft.
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 integrated rotation space design reduces the overall size of the trip device and circuit breaker, enhances arc extinguishing ability by increasing the arc cooling time, and minimizes electrical interference between different phases.
Implementation Method 1
a magnitude of an overcurrent causing the rotation of the crossbar 1200 may be adjusted by a distance between the crossbar 1200 and a bimetal 1500. That is, when an overcurrent occurs, the bimetal 1500 is curved toward the crossbar 1200 to hit the crossbar 1200.
Implementation Method 2
When a fault current flows, an electromagnet 1410 is magnetized and an armature 1420 is moved. At this time, since the armature 1420 is connected to the instant bar 1300 through an elastic body, the instant bar 1300 is also moved and hits the crossbar 1200.
Data Source
AI summary
A crossbar assembly and a trip assembly comprising same are disclosed. The crossbar assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a crossbar and an instant bar. The crossbar and the instant bar can be rotatably coupled so as to be rotatable around the same rotary shaft. Therefore, the space required for rotation can be reduced to be less than when the crossbar and the instant bar are individually rotated. In addition, the crossbar can move in a longitudinal direction when coupled to the instant bar. Therefore, a metallic bar for movement of the crossbar is unnecessary. Therefore, interference between different-phase currents flowing through the trip assembly can be minimized.