Sloped Conductor Guide Member for Circuit Breaker Terminal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field repair of circuit breaker terminal assemblies is challenging due to difficulties in disconnecting and reconnecting conductors from lower terminals, particularly in aligning connection points, which often requires complete removal of the circuit breaker, increasing repair time and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A conductor guide member with sloping guide surfaces and a recess is integrated into the terminal assembly to facilitate alignment and connection between conductors and terminals, allowing for easier reconnection without disassembling the entire circuit breaker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If field repair of terminal assembly is performed without complete removal, then repair time is reduced, but alignment difficulty between conductor connection points and terminal connection members increases
Solution Approach 1:
A conductor guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the conductor and terminal connection members. The guide member includes alignment features such as ribs or protrusions that physically guide the conductor into proper alignment with the terminal connection members, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment while allowing field repair without complete circuit breaker removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor guide member is pre-installed on the terminal assembly before field repair operations. The guide member's alignment features are already in position to receive and guide the conductor, so when the conductor needs to be reconnected during field repair, it can be simply inserted into the guide member which automatically provides alignment, eliminating time-consuming alignment procedures.
2Ease of operation
If complete removal of circuit breaker is performed for repair, then alignment and reconnection of conductors is simplified, but repair time and operational downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal assembly is segmented into modular components, with the conductor guide member as a separate, independently replaceable component. This allows the guide member to be serviced or replaced without removing the entire circuit breaker, enabling localized repairs that reduce operational downtime while maintaining alignment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor guide member serves as a mediator that enables field repair operations without complete circuit breaker removal. By providing built-in alignment features, it allows conductors to be disconnected and reconnected in place, eliminating the need for complete removal and reducing operational downtime while maintaining ease of alignment.
3Device complexity
If conductor reconnection is performed in field without guide assistance, then device complexity is reduced, but connection precision and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire circuit breaker complex, the conductor guide member introduces localized structural features only where needed - specifically on the terminal assembly where conductor connection occurs. The guide member may include simple ribs, protrusions, or shaped openings that provide alignment assistance only at the connection point, minimizing overall device complexity while improving connection precision locally.
Data Source
AI summary
A conductor guide member for a circuit breaker terminal assembly includes a body having at least one conductor guide surface configured and disposed to facilitate alignment between at least one terminal connection member of the terminal assembly and at least one conductor. The at least one conductor guide surface gradually slopes from a first end to a second end. The second end defines a recess.